Aloe vera is an important and traditional medicinal plant belonging to the family Liliaceae. Due to its various uses in cosmetics and as a medicine in gynaecological diseases it is said as a girl friendly. In Sanskrit it has names like Kumari, Ghritakumari, Grahakanya, Vishala, Virasrava. English name of Aloe Vera is Indian Aloe. It is found all over India. A coarse looking plant is with short stem, large fleshy green leaves are densely crowded with sharp spines and white specks at the bases of leaves.  

External Application

• Leaves pulp is applied on lesions with inflammation and pain, burn, would and skin complaint.

• Leaves pulp topically applied to ulcers, wounds, eruptions and eruptive boils.

• leaf pulp is applied as sun screen also.

• Pulp is extensively being used in herbal cosmetics e.g. creams shampoos, face lotion, hair oil.

• It is applied as a moisturizer.

Home remedies

• The juice of Alove Vera (pulp) is taken as snuff which is useful to relive from jaundice

• Aloe Vera juice mixed with turmeric powder is given in spleen enlargement

• Aloe Vera juice mixed with sesame and sour gruel or alone applied to ripen abscess in early stage.

Its taste is pungent, potency is cold, post-digestive effects are bitter. It has got strengthening, oleating & binding properties. It acts against kapha & Pitta.

Parts to be used: leaves, root extract, Kumarisaara (Mussabara). It can be used in doses such as juice—10-20 ml.

Indications

• Anaemia, Jaundice, Liver and splenic disorders.

• Menstrual trouble like dysmenorrhoea, irregular menses, scanty menses, hypomenorrheoa, oligomenorrhoea.

• Chronic fever, general debility

• Oedema, Inflammatory and painful conditions.

• Helpful in urticaria, skin diseases, headache.

Benefits

• It is chiefly cholagogue drug and acting on liver and spleen.

• It is blood purifier.

• It acts as anti inflammatory, analgesic and wound healer agent.

• It is especially active as emmenagogue, uterus stimulant and galactogogue

• It is general tonic, body promoter and strengthener medicine.

• It is stomachic, antihelmintic, Anti pyretic, semen propelling and anti cyst/tumour.

• It acts as rejuvenator and intellect promoter.

Five Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel for Skin:

1. Aloe vera gel for moisturizing:

For women: Popularly used as a moisturizer by women who use mineral make-up regularly, aloe vera gel is great for face. Applying aloe vera gel on skin prior to application of make-up can prevent the skin from drying.

For men: Aloe vera gel can be used as an aftershave. Its healing properties can treat small cuts caused by shaving.

2. Aloe vera gel for treating acne: Aloe vera gel has antimicrobial properties that kill bacteria and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin inflammation. It allows the skin to heal quickly and naturally with minimal scarring. Aloe is moisturizing but doesn`t give skin a greasy feel, so it`s perfect for anyone with an oily complexion.

3. Aloe vera helps fight common problems of skin aging: Let's face it: as we get older, everyone begins to worry about the appearance of lines and the loss of elasticity in our skin. The vitamin C and E present in aloe gel can improve our skin's natural firmness and keep our skin hydrated.

4.Aloe vera reduces the visibility of stretch marks: Whether due to a growth spurt, weight change, or pregnancy - many of us are plagued with unsightly stretch marks. These marks appear due to minor tears in the layers of the skin caused by sudden and excessive stretching. Aloe vera gel can help hide these stretch marks by healing these wounds.

5. Aloe vera can be used to treat sunburn: Aloe vera gel can reduce the pain and swelling you experience during sunburn. It acts as a protective layer on the skin and helps replenish its moisture. When the skin is hydrated, then it will recover faster from the sunburn.

Preparations: Rajahpravartini Vatika, Kumaryasava, Kumarika Vati, Kumari Taila are famous Ayurvedic formulations of Ayurveda.

Active components with its properties

1.Vitamins: It contains vitamins A (beta-carotene), C and E, which are antioxidants. It also contains vitamin B12, folic acid, and choline. Antioxidant neutralizes free radicals.

2.Enzymes: It contains 8 enzymes: aliiase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, bradykinase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, lipase, and peroxidase. Bradykinase helps to reduce excessive inflammation when applied to the skin topically, while others help in the breakdown of sugars and fats.

3.Minerals: It provides calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc. They are essential for the proper functioning of various enzyme systems in different metabolic pathways and few are antioxidants.

4. Sugars: It provides monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) and polysaccharides: (glucomannans /polymannose). These are derived from the mucilage layer of the plant and are known as mucopolysaccharides. The most prominent monosaccharide is mannose-6-phosphate, and the most common polysaccharides are called glucomannans [beta-(1,4)-acetylated mannan]. Acemannan, a prominent glucomannan has also been found. Recently, a glycoprotein with antiallergic properties, called alprogen and novel anti-inflammatory compound, C-glucosylchromone, has been isolated from Aloe veragel.7,8

5.Anthraquinones: It provides 12 anthraquinones, which are phenolic compounds traditionally known as laxatives. Aloin and emodin act as analgesics, antibacterials and antivirals.

6. Fatty acids: It provides 4 plant steroids; cholesterol, campesterol, ß-sisosterol and lupeol. All these have anti-inflammatory action and lupeol also possesses antiseptic and analgesic properties.

7. Hormones: Auxins and gibberellins that help in wound healing and have anti-inflammatory action.

8. Others: It provides 20 of the 22 human required amino acids and 7 of the 8 essential amino acids. It also contains salicylic acid that possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Lignin, an inert substance, when included in topical preparations, enhances penetrative effect of the other ingredients into the skin. Saponins that are the soapy substances form about 3% of the gel and have cleansing and antiseptic properties.

1. Ph.D. Scholar,

P.G. Department of Sharirkriya.

2. Associate Professor,

P.G. Department of Sharirkriya,

NIA, Jaipur.