If you were given 30 seconds to think about how many different ways you could use aloe vera, what would you come up with? Applying it on sunburns and mosquito bites, as a moisturizer for your face, in drinks for a delicious texture, on your eyes to relieve irritation and puffiness…the list can actually be quite long! So when you think about how popular aloe vera is, whether as a plant, for medicinal usage, in skincare or food, it’s clear to see why this plant is so widely cultivated.

As one of the world’s most used natural plants, the market worth of aloe vera is estimated to be about $13 billion per year! This makes manufacturing aloe vera one of the largest botanical industries in the world. The most useful part of the aloe plant is the gel found inside the leaves, which you can use to treat your body internally and externally.

In China, the Chinese use aloe vera to clear dermatitis. In Indonesia, it is chopped up to slater on burns or mixed with rosewater as a drink to treat tuberculosis and gonorrhoea. It’s also been known to be used for clearing aching foreheads and tumours, curing constipation, treating damaged nerves and tendons, and dabbed on sore eyes and inflamed joints to relieve swelling.

You can pretty much find any place on your body to apply aloe and it will be beneficial.

The green plant is what we would consider the best all-round “anti”: it has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, making it helpful in treating wounds and infections. Aloe vera is also a power anti-inflammatory, so it’s great for soothing internal problems such as digestive complaints, acid and alkaline balance, regulating bowel processing, and encouraging digestive bacteria.

Drinking or eating aloe vera may also help relieve acid reflux and constipation, stabilize blood sugar, protect kidneys, oxygenate blood, boost your immune system, and improve physical performance and recovery! You’ll also be ingesting 20 minerals, 12 vitamins, 18 amino acids, 200 active plant compounds and 8 enzymes.

While most people have used aloe vera gel before, not many are familiar with what the plant looks like and how to extract the gel. Here is a quick and easy guide:

1. Cut a leaf off an aloe vera plant.
2. Snip off or cut off the prickly edges.
3. Using a peeler, peel the hard, thicker skin off one side of the leaf.
4. You can either use the exposed side to directly rub on sunburn or aching, itchy areas, or use a spoon and spoon out the gel to put in drinks or eat directly.

Reference

Axe, Josh. "Aloe Vera Benefits: Healing Skin, Constipation & Immune System." Dr Axe. 2015. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <http://draxe.com/aloe-vera-benefits/>.

Ehrlich, Steven D. "Aloe." University of Maryland Medical Center. 24 Mar. 2015. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <http://umm.edu/health/medical-reference-guide/complementary-and-alternative-medicine-guide/herb/aloe>.

Mercola, Joseph. "Plants Migrate, Too: On the Trail of Aloe Vera Benefits." Mercola.com. 10 Aug. 2015. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/08/10/aloe-vera-benefits.aspx>.