by Glory Lennon

Created on: September 11, 2008

It is a little known fact that the Aloe Vera plant caused a war. Just like there was the face that launched a thousand ships, namely that troublesome Helen of Troy, there was also the plant that made ruthless War-mongers go all out to seize control of it. Why would a plant of little importance cause such radical action as war? Well, back in the day Aloe Vera was not a plant of little import. It was said to have extraordinary healing powers. Such was the case back then with poor reliable methods of communication that a little praise of an herb by the noted healers of Egypt could quickly escalate into amazing powers, powers which Alexander the Great heard about and desperately wanted to keep for himself and his soldiers and especially deny to all his enemies. Therefore he seized an island off the coast of Somalia in search of it. Alexander the Great always sought whatever would give him the upper hand in war and more often than not got it.

We, however, need not go to war for Aloe. There are around five hundred different types of Aloe, a member of the Liliaceae family whose other members include Lily, Garlic and Tulip. It is the Aloe Vera in particular which has the ability to heal wounds, soothe cuts, burns and scrapes and to help prevent infection. It even has an extremely strong laxative effect. In fact it is so strong everyone advises against taking it internally. Let us make it quite clear, Aloe Vera should only be used externally.

The Aloe Vera , botanically also called Aloe Barbadensis, looks like something out of the discarded drawings of Dr. Seuss, kind of weird, like a frozen-in-place, upside-down octopus. This succulent has fleshy, upright growing stems in a light green color often with tiny white spots and a serrated edge. They grow to form spiraling rosettes and often produce offshoots that will root themselves to form ever-expanding clusters. They take drought very happily but will tolerate regular water if the soil is well draining. Poor soil doesn't bother it one bit.

Aloe Vera is remarkably easy to grow indoors and thrives on neglect so even those poor "Brown Thumbers" can have this marvelous living medicine cabinet on a sunny window sill. How to use it is even more simple. Cut a piece of an older leaf, those close to the bottom of the main stem and slice it open lengthwise to reveal the gel within. This gel is then placed on the clean wound and allowed to dry. It can also be used for sunburns, insect bites, in treating hemorrhoids, chapped and dry skin and to soothe winter dryness. a cut off leaf can be kept refrigerated for a cooling gel for sunburns and burns while cooking. As for the plant, it heals itself as well as it heals you.

We have all seen many products in the cosmetic aisle at the store with Aloe Vera as an ingredient but don't be fooled. That is stabilized Aloe and has none of the healing powers of the fresh stuff. Thus it really is a good idea to buy yourself a plant to keep indoor. If you are lucky enough to live in frost-free temperate, subtropical or tropical areas you can have it right outside your kitchen door growing wild for instant relief when bugs start to bite.

Incidentally, Cleopatra used it religiously on her skin to give herself a glowing complection. Must have worked. She had Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony after her. So, break yourself off a piece of Aloe Vera, rub it on your skin, whether or not you have a wound, and see if you have to beat the opposite sex off with a stick. Isn't nature wonderful?

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