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Often called the 'Miracle Plant' or the 'Natural Healer',
Aloe Vera is a plant of many surprises. It flourishes in warm and dry
climates, and many people mistake it for a cactus, but, in fact, it is a
member of the Lily family. It stays moist where other plants would wilt
and die, closing its pores to prevent the loss of moisture. There are over
200 varieties of aloes, but it is the Aloe Barbadensis Miller (Aloe Vera)
plant which has been of most use to mankind because of the medicinal
properties it displays.
Ancient records show that the benefits of Aloe Vera have
been known for centuries. Its therapeutic advantages and healing
properties have survived more than 5000 years.
George Ebers first discovered its antiquity in 1862, in an Egyptian
papyrus dated 1500 BC. Greek and Roman physicians used it to great effect
as a medicinal herb. Researchers have also found both the ancient Chinese
and Indian cultures used Aloe Vera. Egyptian queens associated its use
with their quest for physical beauty, whilst in the Philippines it is used
with milk for kidney infections. Aloes are referred to in the Bible, and
legend suggests that Alexander the Great even conquered the island of
Socotra in the Indian Ocean, so that he had a supply of aloes available to
treat the battle wounds of his soldiers. However, the rapid improvement of
documented medical science in the western world, and the movement towards
less temperate climates, led to a decline in the popularity and
availability of Aloe Vera and it fell into disuse.
Nowadays, although medicines and drugs can be very
effective in treating ailments, long term use often involves side effects
for patients. Consequently more consumers and scientists are turning back
to look at more traditional, and often natural therapies which have been
neglected for so long. As a result, Aloe Vera is once again attracting
attention as it can provide many benefits to our health and lifestyle.
Hardly a week goes by without the benefits of Aloe Vera being highlighted
in the 'health' pages of major national newspapers.
However, the popularity of Aloe Vera in climates where
it does not grow is only made possible by a process called stabilisation.
For example, if you slice an apple and leave it open to the air, the fruit
quickly discolours. So it is with aloe. In the wild, the inner leaf Gel is
well protected by the fleshy outer rind that prevents moisture loss and
protects it from the atmosphere. Once the leaf is cut, the process of
oxidation begins and, if left unchecked, would rob the precious Gel of
many of its beneficial properties. Stabilisation is the method of preserving the Gel, in a
state as close as possible to its original form, without losing the
original potency and effectiveness of the fresh leaf. Without
stabilisation, spoilage would occur, even under refrigeration. Forever
Living Products owns patents on the stabilisation process, enabling it to
develop an expertise in aloe that is second to none.
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