We regularly extol the benefits of Aloe Vera, the key ingredient found throughout Eternal Skincare’s natural range of skincare products. It’s widely known to be soothing, with a number of health benefits, but how much do you really know about this incredible plant? Read on to find out the story behind amazing Aloe Vera.
Aloe Vera is an evergreen perennial succulent plant which grows wild in tropical climates around the world. It apparently originated on the Arabian peninsula, and it’s cultivated for both medicinal and agricultural uses, but is also popular as an indoor potted plant.
There are references to it being used as a medicinal treatment as far back as the 16th century BC, when it’s mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian medical compendium of herbal knowledge dating to around 1550 BC. It also gets a mention by Greek physician Dioscorides in his five-volume Greek encyclopaedia of herbal medicine, and by Pliny the Elder, the Roman naval commander and author, in his Natural History, both written in the mid-first century AD.
The Ancient Chinese used Aloe Vera to treat burns and wounds and reduce fever, Cleopatra used it as part of her beauty regime, and legend reports that Alexander the Great made the decision to conquer the island of Socotra, off the coast of Africa, in order to secure supplies of Aloe Vera to treat his wounded soldiers. Christopher Columbus was known to have Aloe Vera growing in plant pots on board ship during his voyages of discovery.
In fact, this astonishing plant has been used all over the world for thousands of years in almost every type of traditional medicine, including Indian Ayurvedic and Mesopotamian, and its history as a healer is almost unparalleled.
Each of the Aloe Vera plant’s thick, pointed green leaves is full of a water-retaining tissue which contains most of the bioactive compounds in the plant, including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. In addition, the tissue contains antioxidants belonging to a bacteria-inhibiting family of substances known as polyphenols; these can help impede some types of bacteria which cause infections in humans.
Aloe Vera has been used historically to treat constipation, skin aging, mouth ulcers and dental plaque among other things. We can’t vouch for its efficacy for these conditions, but we do know that it’s one of the finest natural moisturisers available, which will cool and condition the skin far beneath its surface layers. Eternal Skincare products contain an exceptionally high proportion of it which provides intensive hydration.
So take some advice from Cleopatra and add one of our Aloe Vera products to your skincare regime. Our luxurious Aloe Super Hydrating Moisturiser is suitable for all skin types and will soothe, soften and moisturise even the most sensitive skin. Our Aloe Cleanse and Soothe is perfectly balanced to cleanse and soften your skin without drying. For the full range, visit our online shop.
