Aloe Vera is one of the lily plants that originates in the Middle East. Due to the many different positive properties, the medicinal plant is widely used and, thanks to the ingredients contained, is mainly used for wound care and skin diseases. Aloe Vera is also frequently used in the cosmetics industry.
Another area of use for Aloe Vera is textiles. Mattress and pillowcases, bed linen and sheets, as well as underwear and socks are now often treated with Aloe Vera to make them particularly skin-friendly and supple.
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Origin and appearance
Going back many years, people knew how to use the medicinal plant and its healing powers. Even then, the population used the juice or the aloe vera gel for skin care or as a cure for skin diseases. Through the Arabs, the plant arrived in Europe at the time of the Crusades and was bred and cultivated as a healing plant in monastery gardens.
The plant grows without a trunk and forms rosette-like leaves, which run pointedly and have spiny leaf edges. Depending on the location, the aloe can reach a height and a diameter of 60 centimeters. At the beginning of each year, the medicinal plant forms a long stem between the leaves, on which – depending on the variety – yellow, red or orange tubular flowers can be found.
Properties
An excellent feature of the plant is that it can heal itself. After cutting off a sheet, a thin film appears on the wound of the sheet within seconds. This film is the juice of the plant, which turns into a rubber-like layer within a few minutes and protects the plant from further moisture loss as well as from heat.
On human skin, the juice of aloe vera has the same effect, which is why we find aloe vera in a wide variety of cosmetics, ointments and gels.
Care of the plant
An Aloe Vera is used to dry climate conditions and therefore requires very little water. It can easily cope without liquid for weeks. However, the amount of water influences the rate of growth, because the more water the plant gets, the faster it will grow. Nevertheless, the combination of little light and plenty of water can cause the aloe to start to rot. One sign that your plant is getting too little water is when the tips start to turn red.
Aloe Vera is a plant that grows mainly in width, so it is advisable to repot it every two years in a larger pot so that it can thrive better.
Use
Aloe Vera products have become increasingly popular in recent years, so we now have a variety of products in which the plant is a component. For example, cold pressed juices, mixed aloe vera drinks or capsules are used to strengthen the immune system and detoxify the body. The aloe vera gel is also said to have an anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating property, so it is often used to support wound healing in case of burns or injuries.