Pure Aloe Vera Gel is a precious gift to us from a very special plant. Although there are well over 200 species of Aloe, probably just four or five of these have medicinal properties, the most potent being Aloe Barbadensis Miller - or the true Aloe.
Why is its Gel precious? Because it lies in a sense at the heart of the plant that over many centuries has been aptly called the Natural Healer, the Miracle Plant, Wand of Heaven, Plant of Immortality and other names that bear testimony to its distinctive powers.
Close examination of an Aloe Vera leaf will reveal three protective layers before its inner Gel is reached. First comes its rind, a hard layer fifteen cells thick, and then its sap, which is high in anthraquinones - powerful laxatives. Mucilage comes next, acting as a barrier that keeps the inner Gel (where the leaf stores all its seventy-five nutrients) very sterile.
The ancient Egyptians recognised Aloe Vera's potency, as evidenced by a papyrus dated 3500 BC including its Gel in a collection of herbal remedies. Aloe was used too by both the ancient Indian and Chinese cultures, as well as by such respected Roman and Greek physicians as Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides.
Alexander the Great is said to have been persuaded by Aristotle to capture the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean to get its rich supplies of Aloe to heal his soldiers' wounds, while the legendary Cleopatra and Nefertiti used it in their beauty regime.
More recently, Gandhi wrote in a letter to his biographer Romain Rolland: 'You ask me what were the secret forces which sustained me during my long fasts. Well, it was my unshakable faith in God, my simple and frugal life style, and the Aloe whose benefits I discovered upon my arrival in South Africa at the end of the nineteenth century.'
So I wasn't exaggerating when I began by describing pure Aloe Vera Gel as a precious gift, was I? Whether you drink it or apply it topically to your skin its benefits to both human and animal health are well documented. As it is a natural anti-inflammatory it can help with conditions as seemingly different as Asthma, Arthritis and IBS.
It is also a great source of vitamins (vitamin A, B-group including trace elements of vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E and folic acid) and minerals (calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, chromium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc).
How best, then, to harvest the essence of this 'medicine' plant, which takes four years to reach maturity?
One way, of course, is to grow it yourself and break off a leaf whenever you need it - knowing that its inner Gel will then be fresh. Yes, you're guaranteed freshness but - even if you can provide the right conditions for its optimum growth - this is not necessarily a practical or desirable long-term method.
Especially not if you're planning on drinking Aloe Vera as Gandhi did and as millions now do for their daily health.
Better, I felt, to find a source of products where the Aloe Vera Gel content was essentially identical to that harvested from a freshly picked leaf. An impossible task in today's market? Difficult, yes, but not impossible I finally found.
For the largest grower, manufacturer and distributor of Aloe Vera products globally avoids the use of herbicides and pesticides and has a unique patented stabilization process. This ensures that their Aloe Vera is essentially identical to the inner leaf Gel.
And Forever have a big commitment to quality and purity. Using only inner leaf Aloe, they start with 100% pure Aloe Vera Gel, adding just enough other ingredients to produce outstanding products. And they guarantee the quality of their Aloe, which is always their main ingredient.
Case closed: my search was over!
Pamela Glynn is the owner of MY ALOE VERA, a website giving you a wealth of info about Aloe. To stay updated with the latest Aloe news you can subscribe to her Aloe Vera Blog. FREE online Product & Opportunity videos!
Why is its Gel precious? Because it lies in a sense at the heart of the plant that over many centuries has been aptly called the Natural Healer, the Miracle Plant, Wand of Heaven, Plant of Immortality and other names that bear testimony to its distinctive powers.
Close examination of an Aloe Vera leaf will reveal three protective layers before its inner Gel is reached. First comes its rind, a hard layer fifteen cells thick, and then its sap, which is high in anthraquinones - powerful laxatives. Mucilage comes next, acting as a barrier that keeps the inner Gel (where the leaf stores all its seventy-five nutrients) very sterile.
The ancient Egyptians recognised Aloe Vera's potency, as evidenced by a papyrus dated 3500 BC including its Gel in a collection of herbal remedies. Aloe was used too by both the ancient Indian and Chinese cultures, as well as by such respected Roman and Greek physicians as Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides.
Alexander the Great is said to have been persuaded by Aristotle to capture the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean to get its rich supplies of Aloe to heal his soldiers' wounds, while the legendary Cleopatra and Nefertiti used it in their beauty regime.
More recently, Gandhi wrote in a letter to his biographer Romain Rolland: 'You ask me what were the secret forces which sustained me during my long fasts. Well, it was my unshakable faith in God, my simple and frugal life style, and the Aloe whose benefits I discovered upon my arrival in South Africa at the end of the nineteenth century.'
So I wasn't exaggerating when I began by describing pure Aloe Vera Gel as a precious gift, was I? Whether you drink it or apply it topically to your skin its benefits to both human and animal health are well documented. As it is a natural anti-inflammatory it can help with conditions as seemingly different as Asthma, Arthritis and IBS.
It is also a great source of vitamins (vitamin A, B-group including trace elements of vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E and folic acid) and minerals (calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, chromium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc).
How best, then, to harvest the essence of this 'medicine' plant, which takes four years to reach maturity?
One way, of course, is to grow it yourself and break off a leaf whenever you need it - knowing that its inner Gel will then be fresh. Yes, you're guaranteed freshness but - even if you can provide the right conditions for its optimum growth - this is not necessarily a practical or desirable long-term method.
Especially not if you're planning on drinking Aloe Vera as Gandhi did and as millions now do for their daily health.
Better, I felt, to find a source of products where the Aloe Vera Gel content was essentially identical to that harvested from a freshly picked leaf. An impossible task in today's market? Difficult, yes, but not impossible I finally found.
For the largest grower, manufacturer and distributor of Aloe Vera products globally avoids the use of herbicides and pesticides and has a unique patented stabilization process. This ensures that their Aloe Vera is essentially identical to the inner leaf Gel.
And Forever have a big commitment to quality and purity. Using only inner leaf Aloe, they start with 100% pure Aloe Vera Gel, adding just enough other ingredients to produce outstanding products. And they guarantee the quality of their Aloe, which is always their main ingredient.
Case closed: my search was over!
Pamela Glynn is the owner of MY ALOE VERA, a website giving you a wealth of info about Aloe. To stay updated with the latest Aloe news you can subscribe to her Aloe Vera Blog. FREE online Product & Opportunity videos!
