I Love Aloe In The Morning, I Love Aloe In The Night

November 15, 2006 · Print This Article

Okay, that s a bit much, but I do like Aloe, which begs the question Why?

Well because…

Because it has an ancient history because it can cure a myriad of infirmities why back in the old west those barkers used to sell it as a cure all (not really, made that up) but did not make this up.

Aloe has been used as a healing remedy for over 4,000 years. The following is from the website aloeveraproducts.com

For over 3,500 years, tales of “healing Aloe Vera” plants have been handed down through centuries by word of mouth. From the Bible’s mention of removing Christ from the cross and wrapping his body in aloes and myrrh, (John 19:39), we find Aloe Vera mysteriously appearing in every phase of history, with many testimonials to its great medicinal values. The earliest documented use of Aloe Vera comes from the ancient Egyptians, but it was also grown and used by King Solomon, who was said to have valued it highly.

Alexander the Great conquered the island of Socotra in order to have the Aloe for his army. During his fabled travels in the Orient, among the many marvels recorded by Marco Polo were his descriptions of the many applications of the Aloe Vera plant. The Spanish Conquistadors discovered various herbal medicines in use in Tenochtitl n. At the heart of many of the Aztec cures, it is known that Aloe Vera was the effective agent. These Aztec herbal medicines were transported back to Europe by the Spanish, during the sixteenth century, where they became the foundation for modern Western medicine.

Wow , now that is some history and it survives today.

And well it should since its varieties are many; a little google clicking told me there are over 200 species, all the way from small one inch varieties to others resembling small trees.

If you re looking for aloe in its natural state, it grows in tropical climates, but there are many of us (read me) that have a little plant growing at home. It s hearty in some ways, delicate in others. You can over water it (ask me how I know) and it should be obvious it doesn t like the cold (remember it grows in the tropics), but then neither do I. You can remove one of the spears; store it carefully for a long time (I have not tested how long) then use that spear to start a new plant. No wonder the ancient Egyptians liked it, since they believed strongly in the after-life, and thus their mummies.

Variety is the spice of life. Here are only some of the uses for aloe.

Satisfying health drink
Cosmetics
Deodorants Lipsticks
Moisturizers
Healing salve
Shampoo
Soap
Food Supplement (it s packed with amino acids and vitamins and minerals)
Healing Cuts and Scrapes
Burns
Skin Problems
Cholesterol
Pain
And some say Vision

It’s benefits are many and is certainly something one should add to their daily regimen.
That’s all for now… June