what is aloe vera?

Question

is this body cream called aloe vera good for the skin.

Answer 1

Aloe vera (syn. A. barbadensis Mill., A. vulgaris Lam.) is a species of Aloe, native to northern Africa.

It is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 80-100 cm tall, spreading by offsets and root sprouts. The leaves are lanceolate, thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with a serrated margin. The flowers are produced on a spike up to 90 cm tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2-3 cm long.
The use of aloe vera can be traced all the way back to the ancient Egyptians. The glamorous Cleopatra regarded aloe vera as her beauty secret. Aloe was held in such reverence in Egypt that it was considered to be the "Plant of Immortality". Drawings of the aloe plant have even been found inscribed in the tombs of pharaohs.
A. vera has been used externally to treat various skin conditions such as cuts, burns and eczema. It is alleged that sap from Aloe vera eases pain and reduces inflammation. Evidence on the effects of A. vera sap on wound, however, healing is contradictory (Vogler and Ernst, 1999). A study performed in the 1990s showed that the healing time of a moderate to severe burn was reduced when the wound was treated on a regular basis with Aloe vera gel, compared to the healing of the wound covered in a gauze bandage (Farrar, 2005). In contrast, another study suggested wounds to which Aloe vera gel was applied were significantly slower to heal (Schmidt and Greenspoon, 1991).

A. vera's beneficial properties may be attributed to mucopolysaccharides present in the inner gel of the leaf, especially acemannan (acetylated mannans). An injectable form of acemannan manufactured and marketed by Carrington Laboratories as Acemannan Immunostimulant™ has been approved in the USA for treatment of fibrosarcoma (a type of cancer) in dogs and cats after clinical trials. It has not been approved for use by humans, and although it is not a drug its sale is controlled and it can only be obtained through a veterinary doctor.

Cosmetic companies add sap or other derivatives from A. vera to products such as makeup, moisturisers, soaps, sunscreens, shampoos and lotions, though the effectiveness of Aloe vera in these produces remains unknown. A. vera gel is also alleged to be useful for dry skin conditions, especially eczema around the eyes and sensitive facial skin.

An article published in the British Journal of General Practice suggests that A. vera is effective at treating athlete's foot [citation needed]. The topical application of A. vera is not an effective preventative for radiation-induced injuries.

Whether or not it promotes wound healing is unknown, and even though there are some promising results, clinical effectiveness of oral or topical A. vera remains unclear at present.

Answer 2

George Ebers in 1862 discovered an Egyptian papyrus dating from 1500 BC, which was already known since antiquity on Aloe Vera. Indeed, the Greek and Roman physicians used it to good use as a curative and restorative herb of injuries sustained on the battlefield. The researchers found meanwhile, that ancient cultures, in terms of natural medicine, Chinese and Indian were using Aloe Vera. The queens of Egypt attributed to it a vital role in their ongoing search for their physical beauty, while in the Philippines it was used with milk for kidney infections meet. There are also references to Aloe Vera in the Bible, and legend says that Alexander the Great conquered the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean in order to have a sufficient stock of Aloe to be able to heal the wounds incurred in battle by his soldiers.
However, the rapid progress of medical science in the Western world and the shift of the center of civilization towards less temperate climates, led the decline in the popularity and availability of Aloe Vera which was once fell into disuse.

Answer 3

Yes it is it is good for skin cuts and burns sting bite aloe vera cream and gel comes from a plant just go take a look at the aloe vera plants at wal-mart they sell them there for 4.96$ + tax =
5.66$ for a 4 inch aloe vera plant but make sure it is healthy before you buy it.

Answer 4

Aloe Vera is a plant .
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Lilliopsida

Order: Asparagales

Family: Asphodelaceae

Genus: Aloe

Species: A. vera

Its a type of fleshy plant with some spikes but not exactly Cactus

Answer 5

Aloe vera is a plant. A lotion with Aloe Vera in it would be really good for your skin as the plant has moisturizing, healing properties.

Answer 6

Aloe Vera is a plant, a succulent, with well-known healing properties. Yes, excellent for the skin.

Answer 7

aloe vera comes from a plant that grows in australia and maybe other places but predominantly western australia. apparently aloe vera is good for replenishing the skin due to sun exposure.

Answer 8

yes aloe vera is very good for your skin. http://www.americanaloeproduce.com

Answer 9

yes it is, it has healing qualities. aloe vera comes from the plant of the same name and you can break off the plant and use it to heal alot of things. it is great for burns.

Answer 10

Aloe gel is known for its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory,sunscreen and healing properties that soothe skin problems like eczema and psoriasis.
- Internal consumption of the gel may heal ulcers,relieve stomach disorders,arthritis,asthma,skin cancer and menopausal troubles.
http://writehow.com/how-to-use-aloe-vera/