The word ‘aloe’ has its roots in the Arabic word ‘alloeh’, which means ‘radiance’. A native plant of Somalia with a history dating back to the fourth century B.C, Aloe Vera also figures prominently in Egyptian, Chinese, Greek, Indian and Christian literature. As per legend, it was the miraculous healing power of Aloe Vera that prompted Alexander the Great to conquer the island of Socotra. Cleopatra’s famed beauty is also attributed to the natural goodness of Aloe Vera. While the Arabs have a tradition of placing it at graves as a symbol of regeneration and resurrection, the African hunters used its gel as a deodorant.

Aloe Vera is a succulent that belongs to the liliaceae family. It is one of the 250 known species of aloes, referred to by the scientific terms of Aloe Vera and Aloe arbadensis. Called Ghrita Kumari in Sanskrut, it is usually known as Aloe, Aloe Vera, Barbados Aloe, Sabila and Pita Sabila. Akin to cactus in appearance, it grows naturally in Africa, America, Europe and Asia. The ideal environment for cultivating Aloe Vera is a tropical climate and low rain. The mature plant will grow up to a height of twenty-five feet. It has fibrous roots and bright green gelatinous leaves, enveloped in a good layer of a yellow liquid or sap. Some of the problems Aloe Vera helps in are:

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1. Acne, aching joints & muscles, asthama, athletes foot, abscesses, arthritis, allergy rashes, age spots, acid indigestion.

2. Brown skin spots, burns, boils, blood pressure, bruising, bad breath, bleeding, bowel problems / conditions, blisters, bronchitis.

3. Cancer treatment (i.e. helps case the radiation effects), cuts & wounds, colon cleansing, constipation, calcium, chapping, cataracts, craddle cap, cystitis, candida, circulation, colitis, colic.

4. Digestive problems, diarrhoea, dermatitis, dandruff, diabetes, detoxification, duodenal ulcer, diaper (nappy) rash, denture sores, depression.

5. Eye and ear problems (inflammation, infection), eczema, energy loss.

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6. Gum disease, bleeding gums.

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7. Hair and scalp, heat rash haemorrhoids, headache.

8. Infection, inflammation, itching, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, insomnia, influenza, inset bite.

9. Jaundice

10. Kidney ailments

11. Liver ailments, laryngitis.

12. Moisturizes, mouth ulcers, muscle cramps.

13. Nasal congestion, nutrition, cracked nipples, nausea.

14. Operation recovery.

15. Psoriasis, prickly heat, pimple, peptic ulcer, pain relief.

16. Radiation burns, razor burn, rheumatism, rashes.

17. Sear removal, scalp problems, sinusitis, sore throat, scalding, stomach dusorders, sciatica, strains, sprains, skin problems, stress shingles, stings, styles, sunburns.

18. Tonsillitis, thrush, teething, tennis elbow.

19. Ulcers (all kinds)

20. Varicose veins, veterinary treatments, venereal sores.

21. Warts, wind chapping.

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Many would advise you to take Aloe vera in the form of a juice extracted from the leaves of the plant. You would have also done so but it absolutely tastes terrible and it cannot be taken regularly. Moreover, you cannot carry it wherever you go. It also shows its results after a year or so. Why a year? That's owing to its not used along with the right combination of vitamins and minerals. So what can you do? You can consider taking a Aloe Vera supplement in the form of pills and the best one around in the market these days is Aloeride. Aloeride has just the best combination of vitamins and minerals and would show results in less than a week. And I have reviewed the pill myself. The review is big so I cant post it here, but it is on my website www.aloe.co.nr