Originally published October 23 2010
Aloe Vera Gel: Heal with the Band Aid of Mother Nature
by Dianna Dill
(NaturalNews) The historical use of aloe vera dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who used it for natural wound care and healing. Over the centuries, different cultures around the world have ascribed aloe gel with a near-miraculous healing capacity not only to promote the healing of wounded or infected skin and restore it to health, but also to help keep it beautiful.
Aloe Gel: Nature's Own Band Aid
Aloe vera has been described as a portable first aid kit that you can use to treat cuts, burns, bruises, scrapes, sunburn, bites and stings. When aloe vera gel is applied topically onto or into a wound, it serves as a natural, band aid or wound dressing that seals it against outside infection, accelerating the body's own healing process. It is an effective, inexpensive first-aid solution for all minor burns and scalds.
How Aloe Vera Gel Works
Like all other succulents, aloe vera is a self-healing plant. If a living aloe leaf is cut or torn, it will immediately seal the "wound" to prevent the loss of water and nutrients and to protect against bacterial contamination. Within minutes, the aloe gel will seep out to the surface and form a water-tight, rubber-like coating over the injured area. This gel coating contracts as it dries, pulling the edges of the wound shut. Within days the wound heals completely with zero scarring.
The same natural, healing mechanism is triggered when aloe vera is applied topically to a wound, accelerating the healing process. Aloe gel forms a seal over the damaged skin, helping to staunch bleeding and protect against wound infection. It provides essential nourishment to the traumatized tissues, while stimulating the regeneration of skin cells and connective tissue. Aloe gel also alleviates inflammation, reducing redness and swelling.
A Wealth of Healing Properties
Aloe vera gel contains a wealth of biologically active compounds that give this herb its potent medicinal properties. It is rich in nourishing phytonutrients that play a key role in the healing process. These include vitamins, especially the antioxidant vitamins A, B complex, C and E, minerals including calcium, magnesium and zinc as well as amino acids like tyrosine and phenylalanine. Other beneficial compounds include: prostaglandins, polysaccharides, saponins, enzymes, glycoproteins, anthraquinones, plant sterols and lignin.
All these active components work synergistically to create a healing environment for burns, bruises, cuts, scrapes and other types of wounds. They work in tandem to promote the regeneration of new skin tissue, alleviate skin inflammation and soothe pain or skin irritation. Aloe gel also exerts strong anti-bacterial, anti-viral and antifungal properties that help prevent and fight wound infections.
References
1 How to Harvest Aloe Vera: A NaturalNews PhotoTour by Mike Adams
http://www.naturalnews.com/PhotoTour_Aloe_Ve...
2. Burns: The Efficacy of Aloe Vera Used for Burn Wound Healing: a Systematic Review
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17499928
3. New York University Langone Medical Center: Aloe
http://www.med.nyu.edu/patientcare/library/a...
4. University of Maryland Medical Center: Aloe
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/aloe-0002...
5. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/aloevera/
6. National Institutes of Health: MedlinePlus - Aloe Vera
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/...
About the author
The Armchair Herbalist is a copywriter, turned insurance agent, turned freelance writer and published author. She has written numerous health- and business-related articles and eBooks for Demand Studios, Suite101, Bright Hub and LovetoKnow. She also writes for www.TopHomeRemedies.com, an alternative health website.
She is a self-professed armchair herbalist, and authored the book: 101 Herbal Tea Remedies: Healing Infusions and Decoctions from Nature's Own Pharmacy.
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