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Aloe Vera, along with other natural herbal ingredients is increasingly used in suntan creams and after sun lotions. Is this just a trendy fad? Or is there more to it? Could it be that Aloe Vera sap has a genuine benefit for people who love to spend time in the sun, or even overdo their time in the sun?
Shortly after my first child was born, a friend came to visit. Instead of the usual bootees and fleecy blanket gifts, she brought me a strange cactus like plant.
“What is this?”, I asked, somewhat perplexed. For it was not the most attractive of pot plants and only had four ‘leaves’, and it definitely had no flowers! Therefore not quite the celebratory bouquet of flowers one normally receives as a gift.
“A baby Aloe Vera”, my friend replied.
“Keep it on the kitchen window sill, and if ever you or the baby get burnt, just break a stem, and squeeze the juice onto the burn. It will really help.”
So I duly placed the plant in situ, watered it occasionally, but thought very little about it for months. One day, while cooking, I burnt my finger quite badly on the oven. Previously I would have run cold water on the burn, but on this occasion, I remembered the advice from my friend. I broke a stem, and squeezed the gel on the burn. Remarkably the pain abated immediately. The next day, there was no red burn mark, nor was there any pain at all. This was the beginning of my fascination with Aloe Vera.
So why does Aloe gel (or juice) help so effectively with burns? The answer lies in the myriad of natural substances contained in the plant, which includes amino-acids, vitamins, hormones and a host of other healing constituents.
There are two key compounds which are particularly powerful in combating burns and skin damage: Lignin and Salicylic Acid. It is the lignin in Aloe Vera that provides the penetrative power, helping to carry the other constituent benefits deep into the skin through the first outer layer (epidermis) and beyond. In this way, the soothing properties of the juice are able to reach any burnt and damaged cells.
Healing takes place partly by increasing blood flow to the area, therefore providing oxygen to the cells and thus increasing cell rejuvenation whilst at the same time breaking down infectious bacteria and dead skin cells.
Additionally, the juice contains salicylic acid, which acts as a natural pain reliever due to its anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties. Fatty acids and Vitamin E are also inherent to the juice of the plant. These both have calming and rejuvenating properties for skin cells.
Aloe gel is made up of approximately 99% water, however the remaining 1% clearly has fascinatingly powerful constituents. Other research (Danhof) has shown that Aloe gel is able to penetrate the outer layer of skin (epidermis) four times faster than water alone. Combined with the penetrative power of the lignin (see above) this means not only is it extremely effective in treating compromised skin, it is claimed it helps to protect the skin against sun damage by keeping skin moisturised.
Current thinking is that one of the sap’s components (polysaccharides) actually help ‘reorganise’ the cells in the uppermost skin layers, making them fit more tightly and therefore restoring the skin cells as a natural barrier. Collagen (an integral protein found in skin, bone and tissue) production has been found to increase with a topical (on the skin) application of Aloe Vera gel.
Although some studies undertaken on the efficacy of Aloe sap to heal wounds have resulted in conflicting results, a more recent study (“The efficacy of Aloe Vera for burn wound healing: a systematic review”, Burns 33, 713-718, 2007, Maenthaisong et al.) concludes that “cumulative evidence tends to support that Aloe Vera (might be) an effective intervention used in burn wound healing for first and second degree burns.”
In fact, whether or not clinical research is able to prove the healing power of this plant, it is well known that Aloe Vera gel is routinely used in burn trauma units in the USA, Canada and the UK.
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What is particularly good to know is that Aloe gel is completely natural and tends to be organically produced (i.e. without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilisers) and has very few side effects when applied topically. The most widely reported side effect is that of mild stinging when applied to open sores. It is not recommended however for deep surgical wound healing and it should be noted that although rare, a small percentage of people will be allergic to Aloe.
Nevertheless the restorative nature of Aloe has prompted a rapid rise in its popularity as a key ingredient for skin creams, moisturisers and sun lotions and this humble plant is now referred to by those convinced of its many benefits as, “the First Aid plant”, or, “the Burn Plant” and “the Potted Physician”.
Article by AloeVeraCream.net, permission to republish is granted provided this paragraph (and the link contained within) is reproduced in full and without modification.
