The students of medical botany and plant taxonomists have puzzled over the identity and uses of Aloe Vera for many years. The plant has many medicinal uses. Being a native to East and South Africa, the plant is also cultivated in West Indies and in the southern United States. Aloe Vera is unable to withstand cold climatic conditions. It belongs to a family of desert plants called as Xeroids. Almost all Xeroids have a special chemical present in them which enables them to close any wound almost immediately, so the plant does not lose its precious water. The wound heals quickly, and so will ours if the Aloe sap is placed on it. Aloe Vera has thick and fleshy leaves with a gel like sap containing many of aloe's medicinal properties. The plant is made up of 96 % water. Remaining percent contains ingredients like essential oils, polysaccharides, glycosides, glycoproteins, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes and triperpenes.



The plant is used to treat a number of external treatments. Its gel is antiseptic having a number of antibiotic properties making it highly valuable in treating cuts and abrasions. It is also commonly used to treat burns, fungal infections, and other skin conditions. It is also a good skin moisturizer, skin cleanser, scar remover and a very good hair conditioner. Aloe is also used as a purgative for gas, for colonic cleansing, to soothe peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, colds and nerve conditions. It has a strong immunomodulatory and antitumor properties also and eases inflammation and enhances the antioxidant effects of vitamins. For gastrointestinal disorders place the peeled leaves in water for four to five hours and then drink, or even boil and drink to treat diabetes and lower cholesterol levels. As an anti-inflammatory agent or blood cleanser, blend and drink one cup for a week.

Aloe Vera is also widely used in cosmetic industries today. Aloe gel accelerates and enhances the growth of cells in the skin. It is also used in sunscreen, after-sun lotions creams, lotions, and facial washes. It is also found in many food products like jellies, jams, yoghurt and also ice creams.

The two components of the aloe that can be used are the clear inner gel and the bitter yellow gel just underneath the skin. The gel of aloe when exposed to oxygen for about four hours gets oxidized and becomes worthless. So the whole process from harvesting to manufacturing has to be less than four hours in order to stabilize the gel. Aloe Vera leaves are processed by four basic methods like hand fillet method, whole leaf aloe, aloe powder and total process aloe. No matter what ever be the method, but Aloe Vera in its true sense does the miracles all the time.