Aloe Vera. Nature's Treasure Chest

Often promoted as a miracle plant and natural healer, the health benefits of Aloe Vera have been well documented for many centuries. An Egyptian papyrus dated 1500BC discovered in 1862, was the earliest mention of the therapeutic effects of Aloe Vera. Egyptian Queens used Aloe Vera, as part of their beautifying rituals for its moisturising qualities. It is also thought that Alexander the Great conquered the island of Socrotra in the Indian Ocean, where Aloe Vera grew, so he could use it to treat his soldier’s wounds. Throughout history many people have had a lot to say about Aloe Vera, including Christopher Columbus (1451 – 1506) who said:

"Four vegetables are indispensable for the well being of man:
Wheat, the grape, the olive and aloe.
The first nourishes him, the second raises his spirit,
The third brings him harmony, and the fourth cures him"

Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) when asked what helped sustain him through his fasts replied:

“It was my unshakeable faith in God, my simple and frugal lifestyle, and the Aloe whose benefits I discovered upon my arrival in South Africa at the end of the nineteenth century".

Aloe Vera flourishes in warm and dry environments, and although it looks more like a cactus it is actually a member of the Lily family. It has the ability to stay moist by closing its pores to prevent moisture being lost. While there are over 200 varieties of Aloe, it is the ‘Aloe Barbadenisis Miller’ variety known as Aloe Vera, which is used for its medicinal qualities. The gel from the inner part of the leaf is extracted to make the Aloe Vera gel and liquid available today.

Aloe Vera is a powerhouse of nutritional compounds, with 75 vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids being so far identified by scientists. It seems to be the synergistic way the nutrients work together that gives Aloe Vera its healing qualities. As well as a long list of nutrients, Aloe Vera contains seven of the eight ‘essential’ amino acids which the human body needs but cannot manufacture itself. Amino Acids are the building blocks of proteins and are important for every function of the body, especially brain function.

An American nutritionist; Dr Bruce Hedendal suggests the key to Aloe Vera’s healing powers is due to its high content of long-chain sugars known as mucopolysaccharides (MPS), which he says are as essential to the body as bricks are to a house. There has been a lot of research into Aloe Vera, with some studies being more conclusive than others. However the health benefits of Aloe Vera reported below have been witnessed and promoted by Nutritionists, Alternative therapists, and Medical practitioners all over the world.

Much research has supported the claims that Aloe Vera is especially beneficial for digestive health. Dr. Jeffrey Bland of the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine in California found that Aloe Vera promoted movement of food through the bowel, improved bowel regularity, normalised the PH balance in the gut, and reduced yeast content in the digestive tract. It also aids protein digestion, and the absorption of nutrients. Aloe Vera has been promoted by nutritionists as a useful remedy for a number of digestive complaints including; acid indigestion, candida, colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

For over 300 years the gel has been used internally, in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and the Northern states of Mexico, for the treatment of ulcers. Studies undertaken by clinically experienced practitioners have supported this, but have not been conclusive enough to make a claim Aloe Vera can prevent and help heal ulcers.

Another well researched area of Aloe Vera’s health benefits are its healing properties. It’s a natural antiseptic, antibiotic, and has been found to aid cell regeneration, which makes it a powerful healing agent for both internal and external wounds. A study by Dr Ivan Danhof, a leading expert on Aloe Vera, who has acted as a consultant to the US Food and Drug Administration, noted that Aloe Vera stimulates the uptake of calcium and phosphorus, which can aid the healing of broken bones. Aloe Vera has also been found to be anti-inflammatory and can soothe and relieve muscular pain and sprains, as well as being very effective for burns and rashes. Many alternative therapists advocate its use internally and externally for conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Aloe Vera gel is also an extremely effective moisturiser which works in two ways. Firstly it has the ability to carry moisture and nutrients down through all the layers of the skin, and secondly it creates a barrier which prevents the moisture from escaping. As well as this it has anti-ageing qualities. Dr Danhof investigated these claims, and found that Aloe Vera increased the production of ‘fibroblast’ cells found in the skin, which in turn stimulate the production of collagen, thus keeping the skin firm and supple.

As if this amazing plant doesn’t do enough Aloe Vera can have a positive effect on the immune system. There has been much scientific evidence which suggests Aloe Vera contains substances which are active both in stimulating the growth of white blood cells which ingest harmful bacteria, as well as stimulating the formation of antibodies.

Aloe Vera has been one of the most studied of natural ingredients, with 3000 articles published about it since the 1920’s. There have been encouraging results obtained when looking at its effect on cancer and AIDS, however they are not considered conclusive as most of the studies have been done on animals. These studies should not be dismissed altogether though as Aloe Vera’s powerful anti-viral properties, and its ability to enhance immune cell production, may certainly also help the body fight against AIDS, and certain cancers.

Aloe Vera is clearly a plant with a wide range of health benefits; it supports the immune system, has anti-inflammatory properties, boosts cell growth, accelerates tissue healing, aids the digestive system, as well as providing a rich source of nutrients. It is certainly a useful addition to anyone’s first aid kit, or indeed their daily diet as a general health tonic.

With so many Aloe Vera products available today to ensure quality there are a few pointers to look out for. The Aloe gel should be listed as the first ingredient, steer clear of any products that state ‘aqua’ as the first ingredient as they are likely to be made from re-constituted powder. Also check the gel or liquid is in a completely sealed container, and lastly look out for the official IASC (International Aloe Science Council) certification on the package.


Please note I am not medically qualified, however I have been interested in nutrition and alternative remedies for around 20 years, and I have done a lot of research into this area of interest.

For more information on Aloe Vera look at:

The International Aloe Science Council’s website where you can find links to certified suppliers at: http://www.iasc.org/index.html

Aloe Vera Nature’s legendary healer by Alasdair Barcroft Sovenier press

Internal uses of Aloe Vera by Dr Ivan E Danhof Ph.D M.D

Due to Jax Writer's Spot still being on a summer break, this is an article which I originally wrote and posted up in 2007.

August 1st Lughnassadh The festival of the Corn harvest

Before the advent of clocks and calendars, people were more in tune with nature’s timing; without electrical lighting they woke when the sun rose and slept when it went down, and they followed the cycles of the seasons as opposed to being a slave to the 24/7 hectic lifestyle most of us follow today.

Following the cycles of nature; eight seasonal festivals have traditionally been celebrated throughout Europe, predating Christianity. These festivals are often referred to as sabbats, a word which originates from the Greek work ‘sabatu’ meaning to rest or pause. The English word ‘sabbath’ and the Hebrew ‘shabat’ both also originate from ‘sabatu’ Four of the festivals (the solstices and equinoxes) celebrate the power of the sun and the moon at the time. The other four festivals, are Celtic in origin, and are linked more with the annual cycle of planting and harvesting of crops. Traditionally the festivals also reflect the lifecycle of the gods and goddesses throughout the year.

The Celtic festival of Lughnassadh (pronounced loo-nus-uh) is the festival of the Corn harvest. As with the other Celtic festivals it recognises nature’s cycle of life, death and rebirth. It is celebrated at the time of the year when the plants of spring wither and drop their seeds or fruit, for us to use as well as to ensure future crops. This day marked the start of the harvest cycle, when grains would be the first crop to be harvested.

Harvesting would then continue up until Samhain (approximately three months away). Even though August has some of the hottest days of the year, autumn is just around the corner, and as squirrels are collecting and storing nuts, similarly this is a time to start collecting produce, and save and preserve them for over the winter months. It is believed that the grain dying is necessary to ensure the rebirth of the land, and to give us life.

On the first day of August small loaves of bread would be baked, from the grain, and given as gifts. The resulting loaves were considered sacred by early agricultural communities, and they were offered in rituals, to give thanks for the abundance of crops throughout the year. It was thought an abundant crop would be a result of successful Beltane rituals. The theme of fertility and reproduction is still recognised in the Lughnassadh festivities to ensure the rest of the harvest is bountiful.

Lughnassadh is named after the Celtic god Lugh, a name which means ‘light’ or ‘shining’, whose light begins to dwindle as the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer. Some reports suggest Lughnassadh marks the beginning of the death of Lugh, and that the bread that is baked symbolises the body of the god, which is then eaten to nourish the living.

As with many of the Celtic festivals which predated Christianity, the church has assimilated many of these age old traditions into their own faith. The Christian thanksgiving celebrations are an example of this; where bread is blessed, becomes the body of god, and is eaten to nourish the faithful. Since medieval times Lughnassadh has also become known by its Christian name of Lammas or Loafmass.

However in an attempt to win people over from the ‘old traditional ways’ the church changed many stories around to suit their faith, and thus created confusion surrounding the origins of Lughnassadh. The story telling tradition of the Celts was mainly an oral one, and many stories were lost after Christianity became more dominant, as the worship of Celtic gods and goddesses was forbidden. However in Ireland the church did not have such a big influence until much later and many old stories were preserved. Scholars were able to translate some of the old myths as far back as twelfth century.

According to these Irish myths it is suggested the festival isn’t about Lugh’s death at all, but it actually honours Lugh’s foster mother; ‘Taillte’ or ‘Tailtiu’ who died from exhaustion after clearing a forest in order to cultivate the land. It was thought by honouring the sacrifice Talitiu made, this would ensure Lugh would not be displeased, and therefore not neglect or destroy the crops.

One practice that has survived from the harvest celebrations is the making of a ‘corn dolly’ symbolising the Earth mother, which was made from the last corn sheaf harvested. These corn dollies would be hung up over fireplaces in people’s houses. It was thought that the corn spirit lived amongst the crops and when the last grain was harvested it was effectively homeless. To preserve this spirit, corn dollies with hollow insides were made for the spirit to sleep in through the winter. They would rest in the dolly until they were ploughed into the first furrow of the new season.

Other traditional Lughnassadh celebrations include a party or a dance known as the ‘Harvest home’. This celebration was portrayed in Thomas Hardy’s 1874 novel ‘Far from the Madding crowd’. Markets and fairs where people could sell their produce, and get together with friends and family, was also a big part of the harvest celebrations.

Lughnassadh was considered a good time of year for handfastings: where trial marriages could be entered into for a year and a day. Young couples would simply join hands through a holed stone, sometimes having their hands tied together, and a year later they could either choose to renew their vows, or stand back to back and walk away from the marriage.

In the modern world many of us live our lives at a great speed; we stay awake after dark, and we eat foods not in season. It could be said we have become out of balance with the natural rhythms of the earth. There is no need nowadays to be aware of the rising and setting times of the sun. However it can be argued that sowing, growing, harvesting, and resting, is just as important for our ‘selves’ as it is for the earth. Lughnassadh is the celebration of the harvest: the gods/goddesses of the harvest are in their prime, but are beginning to wane and know they will die, but as they always do they will return with great vigour in the summer next year. The old Celtic festivals recognise and celebrate life death and rebirth, not only in the life of gods and goddesses and the agricultural year, but also in our own lives.


If you found this article interesting then scroll down through Jax writer’s spot for: “The wheel of the year. Forgotten festivals in a modern world” posted on Wednesday January 7th, an article on Imbolc , Wednesday February the 18th, and “Hurray, hurray, it’s the first of May, Outdoor mating starts today. The celebration of Beltane” posted on Wednesday April 29th.