Aloe - The Wonder Plant
Around 300 different types of Aloe Vera have been identified, but just these five have recognised medical benefits: Barbadensis Miller, Perryi Baker, Arborescens, Ferox and Saponaria. As well as being the most potent, Aloe Barbadensis Miller is the most widely used. Having come far from its African origins, it is now grown in suitably warm, dry climates worldwide.
Here's an interesting quote from Mahatma Gandhi:
'You ask me what were the secret forces which sustained me during my long fasts. Well, it was my unshakable faith in God, my simple and frugal life style, and the Aloe whose benefits I discovered upon my arrival in South Africa at the end of the 19th century.'
Yes, Gandhi drank Aloe Vera! How far-sighted of him! It took most of the rest of us many years to catch up. At first, when Aloe drinks were introduced into the UK, they were viewed with a degree of scepticism that was not helped by the fact that Aloe is something of an acquired taste.
But on the basis of that old adage (somewhat adapted!) "the worse the taste, the greater the benefits" people began drinking Aloe and discovering that they felt better as a result. I didn't drink it until after my dog had amply demonstrated to me that he was benefiting! Sam at the age of eight had been behaving like an old man until it was suggested to me that I put him on the drink. His limbs had been stiff and arthritic and he had consequently lost his appetite for chasing seagulls and trying to clear our nearby beach of them.
This was sad - and the vet was less than helpful. So, willing to try anything, I accepted a tub of Aloe Vera Gel, poured some onto Sam's dinner nightly for a fortnight or so and awaited developments (not honestly expecting there to be any difference in him).
It was astonishing how quickly his limbs lost their stiffness and he resumed his seagull-activities. But even then I - ever the sceptic - expected the changes to be short-lived. They weren't, though, and such was the improvement in Sam's quality of life from then on that even his vet wanted to know about the Aloe drink, so that he could put his other patients on it!
Here's a little background info for you ...
The 75+ known ingredients of the Aloe leaf can be divided into these categories:
Lignin
Saponins
Anthraquinones
Minerals
Vitamins
Amino Acids
Enzymes
Sugars
Sterols
Unsurprising then, that - in a nutshell - Aloe Vera is claimed to have the ability to provide essential nutrients, kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeasts and reduce inflammation! Aloe the Wonder Plant indeed!
P.S. I'd better add that I've been drinking Aloe Gel for over ten years now - and that although in a sense I tested it on my dog before drinking it myself, this is not the normal policy of the Company manufacturing this particular drink. In fact, they are more disposed to testing their products on humans before giving it to animals!
I discovered Aloe Vera originally because my dog was suffering with arthritis and nothing the vet could give him helped Sam's condition. A particular Aloe drink did wonders for his stiff limbs, however, and also put me on a mission to find out all I could about this amazing plant and its seeming ability to heal. I've now created an extensive website with my findings. While it began as a tribute to Sam, it now contains plenty of information of interest to humans as well as to dogs, cats and camels! http://www.my-aloe-vera.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pamela_Glynn
