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Glow with aloe NATURE has dedicated Aloe Vera, a wonder plant to the beauty of women. It looks very ordinary but in reality, it abounds in many qualities. It’s the only plant whose extract is applied direct from the plant to your face in its pure and natural form, without giving it an oily shine. M’lady, it is age-defying as it combats wrinkles. All you have to do is cut its fleshy stem in the centre transversely. And viola! Out oozes an odourless, viscous, translucent, non-allergic and non-toxic gel — the wonder remedy for various skin ailments. Spread it on your face. Within minutes it works towards a younger you, which chemical concoctions have failed to do. What’s more, unused gel can be stored in the fridge for six months with absolutely no preservatives. You can even grow your anti-wrinkle plant in a flowerpot. Cosmetologists have
hailed it as ‘water of youth.’ With age, walls of blood vessels
thicken, reducing blood supply to epidermis. As a result, the
metabolism of the epidermis slows down. The skin dries, causing
wrinkles. Aloe Vera’s chemistry allows it to penetrate quickly and
deeply, and it is retained by the skin three to four times faster than
water. It’s enzymes removes dead cells, grows new ones, provides
moisture and nutrition, rids dryness and restores the skin’s
elasticity. Moreover, it acts as a sunscreen blocking ultra violet
rays, so harmful to the skin. |
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Regarded as ‘plant of immortality’, ancient Egyptians buried it with pharaohs in tombs. Cleopatra, Queen of Nile, used it lavishly. Sumerians extensively traded with Egypt where hieroglyphics of 4,000 B.C. mention aloe. Galen, Pliny, Dioscorides as well as Surushta and Charaka, our ancient physicians, praised its values. It was brought to the USA from Africa in the sixteenth century. Only cosmetologists have ‘rediscovered’ it today. Touted as a modern ‘herbal’ avatar, mixed with other ingredients plus a few drops of perfume, it is labelled under fancy names and sold at exorbitant prices at select counters. A native of North Africa and Mediterranean, this succulent botanically named as Aloe Barbadensis and commonly as medicine or burn plant, belongs to Liliaceae family, comprising more than 200 varieties mostly in Africa and Madagascar. It contains glycosides collectively called aloin. It has thick, fleshy, dagger-shaped, tooth- margined green leaves bearing dull red and yellow flowers and grows both wild and cultivated. Bulk of aloe is filled with gel, 96 per cent water and 4 per cent containing 75 substances like vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, anthraquinones, lignin, saponins, fatty acids, salicylic acid, amino acids, etc. Extremely bitter, mothers once used it to discourage children from biting their fingernails. Superstitious Indian and Chinese drove away evil spirits with Aloe Vera. Being renowned for it’s healing, softening and soothing qualities for skin, Aloe’s gel gives relief from lupus, sunburn, minor cuts, burns, acne, skin irritations, insect bites, dry skin and even frostbite apart from screening out radiation caused by x-rays. To treat minor cuts and burns, cut and squeeze out a bit of gel from aloe on the affected part. It’s a mild anti-septic, relieves itching, swelling, pain and is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, increases blood flow to wounds and stimulates fibroblasts, hardening into a natural bandage. Historians opine that Alexander the Great captured Socotra Island for its aloe to treat his wounded soldiers. It has diuretic qualities too. Its pulp
banishes menstrual irregularities like delayed and painful periods,
thereby removing pelvic spasms. Every part of aloe is useful. It’s
roots cure colic disorders. Aloe gel cooked in a bit of pure ghee,
relieves one of chronic gastritis, constipation and distension of
stomach. Large doses of aloe act as purgative, killing intestinal worms. |
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