Aloe vera has been a plant used since ancient times, it is part of herbal medical practice. In addition, its consumption and topical use can offer you great benefits Sananga.
In developing countries, herbal medical practice has been applied since the beginning of civilization, as in the case of the Incas in Peru or the Aztecs in Mexican territory. This type of traditional use of botanicals has played a fundamental role in the treatment of diseases that afflict the individual.
Traditional herbal medicine can be defined as the use of various types of plants and herbal extracts as a method to treat various pathologies. This practice is considered part of complementary medicine and over the years, the population has taken greater interest in the healing properties of plants and the benefits that they can bring to the patient’s health.
For its part, phytomedicine can offer various substances such as vitamins, minerals, phenolic compounds such as tannins and flavonoids, which act for the patient’s health due to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and photoprotective biological activities.
What is Aloe vera?
Aloe vera, also known as aloe vera, belongs to the Asphodelaceae family and is from the Liliopsida class. Since ancient times, it is a plant commonly used as a healing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, laxative, etc. Aloe vera is considered one of the plants of traditional herbal medicine with a broader therapeutic application.
The portion of Aloe vera that is usually the most used are the leaves. In the meta-analysis developed by (Sadoyu, et. al, 2021) it is recommended that aloe vera be obtained only from plants that are 3 to 5 years old, since at that age the leaves are fully mature and offer a greater amount of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. , enzymes, among other main components of the plant.
Aloe vera mainly offers two substances that are used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Within them we can find the transparent gel and the acíbar or yellow latex. The transparent gel is used in beauty products and skin treatments such as lotions, creams and ointments. While acíbar or yellow latex is the product that can be used to treat constipation, it is usually consumed orally. However, it is recommended to use it according to the instructions for use and under the supervision of your doctor.
Nutritional composition of Aloe vera
Aloe vera is characterized by having various nutritional components, many of them essential for the correct maintenance of the body’s internal balance such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and some enzymes.
Aloe vera has vitamins and minerals that are considered antioxidants. Some micronutrients that we can find in the plant are vitamins A, C, D and those of the B complex (B1, B2, B6, B7, B9) and the minerals magnesium, manganese, calcium, iron, chlorine, phosphorus, sodium and zinc. It has been shown (Sadoyu, et. Al, 2021) that Aloe vera has seven of the nine essential amino acids, within which we can find phenylalanine, leucine, lysine, methionine, isoleucine, threonine and valine.
What uses can be given to Aloe vera?
Aloe vera is a very versatile plant, it can be consumed as an infusion accompanied by other ingredients capable of enhancing its flavor such as honey, ginger or cinnamon.
Finally, Aloe vera can serve as a good accompaniment to fruit drinks, because it adds texture to the juices.