What is the Aloe?

Aloe is any of various chiefly African plants of the genus Aloe, having rosettes of succulent, often spiny-margined leaves and long stalks bearing yellow, orange, or red tubular flowers.

Origin of Aloes

Aloe is a plant with more than 360 varieties and presents several origins, but the most recognised is probably the Aloe Barbadensis, better known as Aloe Vera. Although most Aloes have medicinal properties it is this particular variety that has taken the west by storm in recent years.

Aloe in History

The knowledge of the aloe and its healing properties goes back to the antiquity. In the most remote times the virtues of the Aloe in East and the Mediterranean were already known.

The attractiveness and beauty of Cleopatra is attributed to the use of the Aloe oils. Egyptian Nefertiti queen is also famous by the use of aloe in baths. In fact, the origin of aloetherapy and aloe spa is there.

Main Aloe Properties

Four vegetables are indispensable for the well-being of man: wheat, the grape, the olive and the aloe. The first nourishes him, the second raises his spirit, the third brings him harmony and the fourth cures him."
- Christopher Columbus

The Aloe plant

The main wild or cultivated aloe species, used basically in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and beauty, toiletry and food and beverages industries are the following:

1. Aloe vera
2. Aloe Saponaria
3. Aloe Arborescens Miller
4. Aloe Ferox
5. Aloe Perryi
6. Aloe Chinensis

Human use of Aloes are primarily as a herbal remedy in alternative medicines and "home first aid". It is very common to have an aloe plant in your garden or inside your house, usually in the kitchen. Both the translucent inner pulp (inner aloe gel) as well as the resinous yellow exudate known as aloe bitter or aloe sap, are used externally to relieve skin discomforts and internally as a laxative.

To date, much research has shown aloe having different positive medicinal benefits for external and internal uses. In the research section of the Aloetrade America main site we offer extensive information about that.

The more used part of the aloe plants are their leaves and in particular their internal transparent gel.

The aloe gel is liquid, transparent and a colorless one composed mainly by water in approximately a 98% of its weight. The remaining 2% of weight, that it would obtain by elimination of the water, are a complex mixture of chemical substances, some of which already isolated and have been identified, knowing its farmacological and cosmetological effects.

This main element of the Aloe plant is a thick and mucilaginous gel. Externally, it can be applied directly to any number of skin complaints such as burns, rashes, cuts, acne, stings and cold sores. Aloe gel can also provide instant relief from sunburn and will eliminate blemishes caused by over-exposure to the sun when used over a prolonged period of time. It will also greatly reduce scarring and other unsightly damaged skin tissue. The aloegel is the main raw material used into our aloe-spa treatments.

It works by penetrating the injured tissue, reducing inflammation, relieving pain and dilating capillaries to increase the blood flow to the wound. It has an intriguing, and effective, mix of antibiotic, astringent, coagulating, pain inhibiting and cell growth stimulating properties. It has been cited as a possible preventative of the aging effect, though this could be down to its intense moisturising qualities. For that reasons, it is highly used in many cosmetic and beauty preparations. Internally, aloe juices made from aloe gel without aloe sap or aloin, are to help to the digestive system, with indigestion, heartburn, ulcers, heart system and the immune system.

There is also a bitter yellow juice that is produced in the thick leaf epidermis of the plant which is used, often in conjunction with the gel and other natural remedies, for the treatment of internal ailments. The products made from the extracts of Aloe Vera (usually called aloe sap, aloe blood, aloin or acibar in spanish) are aimed to cure the constipation and indigestion. The processed aloin is also reported to help with arthritis, asthma, insomnia and haemorrhoids.

At the present time they are numerous scientific works related to the aloes and their products. In the United States from 1950 to date, close to 200 Patents of Invention covering from aloe processing to new aloe derived industrial products have been registered, for medicines, cosmetics, foods, as much for its application in humans like for animals and vegetables.

Aloe External Uses

Main Aloe Constituents

Aloe is a natural pharmacy for you. Like no other natural plant, aloe has hundreds of research, medical papers and clinical trials to demonstrate its wide properties. Following is a description of its main constituents.

Amino Acids

Aloe provides 20 of the 22 human required amino acids and 7 of the 8 essential ones. The amino acids provides the basic building blocks of proteins in the production of muscle tissue etc, and the human body cannot manufacture them.

Anthraquinones

Aloe provides 12 anthraquinones: Aloe emodin, Aloetic Acid, Aloin, Anthracine, Antranol, Barbaloin, Chrysophanic Acid, Emodin, Ethereal Oil, Ester of Cinnamonic Acid, Isobarbaloin, Resistannol.

In relatively small concentrations together with the Gel fraction they provide Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antifungal and Antiviral activity. In high concentration on their own they can be toxic. Are also known as aloe bitter, aloe bitter sap, aloe gum, or aloe laxatives.

The antraquinones are found in the sap. The anthraquinone derivatives (anthrones and chromones) comprise the phenolic fraction of the sap. The primary sap component is Aloin/Barbaloin anthrone derivative.

Enzymes

Aloe provides 8 enzymes: Aliiase, Alkaline Phosphatase, Amylase, Carboxypeptidase, Catalase, Cellulase, Lipase, Peroxidase. The enzymes help breakdown of food sugars and fats aiding digestion and enhancing nutrient absorbtion.

Hormones

Auxins and Gibberellins. Wound Healing and Anti-inflammatory.

Lignin

It is a cellulose based substance.Thought to provide penetrating power in Aloe vera skin preparations and may act as a carrier for other components

Minerals

Aloe provides 9 minerals: Calcium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc Minerals are essential for good health and is known to work in certain combination with each other, vitamins and other trace elements

Salicylic Acid

Aspirin like compound. It is an analgesic.

Saponins

Are there any aloe vera side effects in our Aloe-Spa treatments? Are there any aloe vera contraindications?

In general terms, aloe vera may be used both for internal and external uses.

During thousand of years aloe vera has been used for its medicinal, health and beauty properties (particularly in skin care). While Cleopatra used Aloe to enhance her beauty, Alexander Magnus conquered the Socotra island to have aloe vera supplies for its soldiers.

Aloe vera offers numerous benefits due to its properties and is used in ulcers, burns and many diseases from general infections to arthritis, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, haemorroids, cardiac disease, mosquito bites, tendinitis or urinary infections, among others.

When you drink aloe vera you must have certain precautions, particularly for the laxative effects. Anyway, such laxative effects has relationship with the final aloin content of the juice or capsule. More aloin it has, more laxative effects.

However, in our Aloe-Spa treatments, most products are for external uses, where aloe vera has many possitive effects for the skin and it´s applied to most types of skin with benefitial results.

The case is different for our Aloe-Spa tretaments where aloe has internal use, because it must be drink or eaten. Aloe vera has unusual side effects in very rare ocassions. If any side effects appears when using aloe vera, one must stop inmediately and consult a doctor or health care professional. At some cases, aloe vera side effects may be caused by a long term use of aloe juice, gel, capsule or pill.

In our detox and nutrition programs, the spa goer health conditions must be verified, and franchisee must check if the customer has a good health condition and the cases where aloe may have any contraindication.

Aloe Vera Clinical Trials

The aloe vera plant, aloe constituents and aloe products have hundreds of clinical trials and research performed over almost 50 years. Perhaps no other plant in nature has the quantity of research, document, papers and clinical trials as the aloe vera. You may see the main aloe vera research into the Aloetrade America main page.

Aloe vera is perhaps one of the most known plants for everyone.

But what are the benefits of aloe vera in our Aloe-Spa body or facial treatments? 

See excerpts of a post published by Professional Free Press Release News Wire.