Health benefits of aloe vera

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Aloe vera is a popular medicinal plant that people have used for thousands of years.
Aloe vera, or Aloe barbadensis, is a thick, short-stemmed plant that stores water in its leaves. It is best known for treating skin injuries, but it also has several other uses that could potentially benefit health.
This article lists eight potential health benefits of aloe vera. It also covers some of the risks associated with use.

1. It contains healthful plant compounds​

Aloe vera may help treat skin injuries.
The cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries use aloe vera extensively, and the plant has an estimated annual market value of globally.
Aloe vera is known for its thick, pointed, and fleshy green leaves, which may grow to about 12–19 inches (30–50 centimeters) in length.
Each leaf contains a slimy tissue that stores water, and this makes the leaves thick. This water filled tissue is the “gel” that people associate with aloe vera products.
The gel contains most of the beneficial bioactive compounds in the plant, including minerals, amino acids, and

2. It has antioxidant and antibacterial properties​

Antioxidants are important for health. Aloe vera gel powerful antioxidants belonging to a large family of substances known as polyphenols.
These polyphenols, along with several other compounds in aloe vera, help inhibit the growth of certain bacteria that can cause infections in humans.
Aloe vera is its antibacterial, antiviral, and antiseptic properties. This is part of why it may help heal wounds and treat skin problems.

3. It accelerates wound healing​

People most often use aloe vera as a topical medication, rubbing it onto the skin rather than consuming it. In fact, it has a long history of use in treating sores, and particularly burns, including sunburn.
The United States Pharmacopeia describe aloe vera preparations as a skin protectant as early as
Studies suggest that it is an effective topical treatment for first and second degree burns.
For example, a of experimental studies found that aloe vera could reduce the healing time of burns by around 9 days compared with conventional medication. It also helped prevent redness, itching, and infections.
The evidence for aloe vera helping heal other types of wound is inconclusive, but the research is promising.

4. It reduces dental plaque​

Tooth decay and diseases of the gum are very common health problems. One of the best ways to prevent these conditions is to reduce the buildup of plaque, or bacterial biofilms, on the teeth.
In as of 300 healthy people, researchers compared 100% pure aloe vera juice with the standard mouthwash ingredient chlorhexidine.
After 4 days of use, the aloe vera mouth rinse appeared to be just as effective as chlorhexidine in reducing dental plaque.
Another found similar benefits of aloe vera mouth rinse over a 15- to 30-day period.
Aloe vera is effective in killing the plaque-producing bacterium Streptococcus mutans in the mouth, as well as the yeast Candida albicans.

5. It helps treat canker sores​

Many people experience mouth ulcers, or at some point in their lives. These usually form underneath the lip, inside the mouth, and last for about
Studies have shown that aloe vera treatment can accelerate the healing of mouth ulcers.
For example, in a 7-day of 180 people with recurrent mouth ulcers, applying an aloe vera patch to the area was effective in reducing the size of the ulcers.
However, it did not outperform the conventional ulcer treatment: corticosteroids.
In aloe vera gel not only accelerated the healing of mouth ulcers, it also reduced the pain associated with them
 

Jasz

VIP Contributor
You are right about most of these
Aloe vera is an evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula but grows wild in tropical climates around the world and is cultivated for agricultural and medicinal uses. The species is also used for decorative purposes and grows successfully indoors as a potted plant. It is found in many consumer products including beverages, skin lotion, cosmetics, or ointments for minor burns and sunburns.
There is little scientific evidence of the effectiveness or safety of Aloe vera extracts for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes. Studies finding positive evidence are frequently contradictory, while large reviews and meta-analyses show mixed results.
The leaves of the aloe vera plant have been used to treat a variety of skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. The gel contains powerful antioxidants that can help soothe the skin and reduce inflammation.
Treats sunburns
Aloe vera is often recommended to treat sunburn because it has anti-inflammatory properties. Applying a small amount of aloe vera gel to the sunburned area of the skin may help relieve pain and swelling.
Helps with wound healing
Aloe vera gel has been shown to speed up wound healing and prevent infection. When applied directly to a wound, aloe vera can help reduce inflammation, fight bacteria.
 
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