The Aloe Vera plant has a long history of being used for medicinal purposes, dating back to ancient Egypt. The plant is native to North Africa, Southern Europe, and the Canary Islands. Today, aloe vera is grown in tropical climates worldwide. From relieving heartburn to potentially slowing the spread of breast cancer, researchers are just beginning to unlock the benefits of this universal plant and its many byproducts.
Some rightly refer to aloe vera as a wonder plant and this name so befits it because it is full of beneficial properties that have been treasured throughout our history. It can be used in food, cosmetics, food supplements, herbal remedies, and hair products. It is a medicinal plant that can be grown in most climates and is often found in many homes as a fix for minor burns, sunburn, frostbite, psoriasis, and even cold sores.
It is true that the Aloe vera plant has been around man for many years and centuries and has been used for thousands of years for healing and softening the skin. Aloe vera has also been used to treat many internal forms of illnesses such as constipation and indigestion, relieving heartburn and potentially slowing the spread of breast cancer. Researchers have started discovering the great and many e benefits embedded in this amazing and universal plant and its many byproducts.
Effects Of Aloe Vera On Wounds And Inflammation
Wounds or injuries cause great damage to the skin and surrounding tissues and this has been a major cause of worry since it is the lead cause of death and especially disability in many people all over the world. Wound healing on the other hand is a very complex process and also a process that regulates such things as cellular functions and effectiveness, molecular, biochemical, and physiological events that permit living organisms to repair accidental lesions. To achieve all of those mentioned, 3 essential things need to occur inflammation, proliferation and tissue formation, and tissue remodeling. These events are initiated at the time of physical injury and continue throughout the healing process.
Over 400 known species of the Aloe vera plant had been identified today, most of the species actually belong to the Aloeacea or Liliaceae family. Aloe vera possesses great anti-inflammatory, skin protection, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antiseptic, and wound healing properties and abilities. This is very possible because the aloe vera leaf itself is made up of or comprises of chemical compounds, 75 of which are known and have been identified some of which are acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones, anthraquinones, and lectins, and then, 20 minerals, 20 amino acids, vitamins, and water.
Apart from the leaves of the plant, another important area of the Aloe vera plant is the gel-like substance found within the leaves. This gel functions amazingly in moisturizing the skin, preventing the formation of skin ulcers, and many more benefits, although most of these claims have been proven scientifically just a few times, many individuals who have used it have attested to the fact that Aloe vera does produce those effects on the skin.
However, when using Aloe vera for the purpose of wound healing, it is also recommended to infuse other methods of treatment whether Aloe vera is being used as the primary treatment or complementary treatment. One of the few studies that have been carried out with aloe vera on the skin to treat wounds and cuts as well as to prevent inflammation of living organisms showed that after the application of the Aloe gel, the inhibition of the substance thromboxane which acts as a blockage to wound healing occurs, this then leads to the improvement of the wound healing process, and then reduces inflammation greatly.
Magnesium lactate is another compound found in Aloe vera that functions to avoid histamine from being produced. Histamine causes the skin to become irritated from itching. Magnesium lactate also stimulates the immune system as well as synthesizes cytokines. It also stops inflammation from occurring by inhibiting the IL-6 and IL-8, reducing how leukocytes adhere, increasing the IL-10 levels, and then finally decreasing the TNF alpha levels.
The compound glucomannan, the super-rich with polysaccharides such as mannose makes Aloe vera have its regenerative properties. This compound affects fibroblast growth factor receptors and stimulates their activity and proliferation, which in turn increases the production of collagen. Aloe vera gel can not only increase the amount of collagen in wounds but also change the composition of collagen, increase collagen cross-linking and thereby promote wound healing.
In like manner, mucopolysaccharides combined with amino acids and zinc present in Aloe vera can lead to skin moisture retention, erythema reduction, and the avoidance of skin ulcers. Several studies have shown the positive effects of Aloe vera to treat wounds such as psoriasis, mouth sores, ulcers, diabetes, herpes, bedsores, and burn wounds.
Speaking about which is best used when referring to quality and the rate at which it heals wounds, aloe vera is way better and much more effective and also cheap costing almost nothing for those who plant it in their yards, beating alternative treatments or commercially sold products that contain chemicals hands down.