Most people will be familiar with this plant; either as a part of your interior, or as your favorite ingredient in skincare products: the Aloe Vera. But what do we really know about this plant and its functions? We will explain all about what Aloe Vera is exactly, how you can use it, and what its benefits and side effects can be.
What is Aloe Vera?
The Aloe Vera is a plant from the Asphodel family and knows its origin in the Arabic Peninsula. De plant is currently found in many places, amongst which the Mediterranean Area and Canary Island.
Aloe Vera is a succulent that stores water. In this case it does so in the long sturdy leaves. These leaves can be recognized by their broad bottoms, their pointy ends, the horn-like teeth on the sides, and the blue-green color.
The Aloe Vera has blue-green leaves with a pointy end and teeth on the sides.
The Aloe Vera working miracles
The plant has been used as a kind of miracle cure for centuries across the world, since it would have medicinal properties. Chances are you’ve heard or read about this, or that you recognize this ingredient in many of your skincare products. This is not without a valid reason; the benefits of using the plant are impressive. But what are these benefits? And what is the best way to use Aloe Vera?
The benefits
The following benefits are associated with the use of Aloe Vera, for example through human experience or through studies of its effects. Please note that when it comes to health benefits, these have not been evaluated by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), so they are not officially proven. In any case, it is nice to see how many benefits are associated with this nice plant:
- a beautifully hydrated skin
- an elastic skin
- could help with cooling and recovery of the skin in the case of (sun)burns
- antibacterial effect
- collagen boost
- could relieve in the case of psoriasis, eczema, or insect bites
- could relieve constipation as it contains a natural laxative
- detox for the intestines
- reduction of dental plaque
- could help against wounds and inflammation in the mouth (when in mouthwash or toothpaste)
- could be good for the heart and blood vessels
These benefits are thus often associated with Aloe Vera, but cannot be seen as medical advice or a certainty.
External use
This is probably the most ovbious way of use: the gel if the Aloe Vera can be applied to the skin. This ingredient is often found in skin care creams or, for example, in a showe foam. Also a nice option: cut a leave of the plant open yourself and apply the liquid/gel that is inside directly on the skin. You can do this, for example, if you habe dry skin or small wounds. One plant contains multiple leaves with a lot of gel, so one Aloe Vera plant could get you a long way. One plant usually costs about a few euros, so using the plant yourself would certainly be cheaper than buying expensive creams. In the meantime, you can enjoy the greenery in your living room, ideal!
Internal use
Another way you can use Aloe Vera is drinking its juice. There are several drinks available made from this juice for internal use. This is done, for example, as a detox to cleanse the stomach of harmful substances, or to remedy constipation. Also, some supplements contain some juice or juice powder from the Aloe Vera plant.
How about side effects?
When used internally, is is useful to know which amounts you can take and which side effects you may suffer from. It is especially good to know that Aloe Vera can have a laxative effect. Sometimes (in small amounts) this is actually an advantage, for example in the case of constipation. If you take too much and for too long, this laxative effect is not as beneficial. It is said not to take more than 5 ml per day, and if you take more or less this amount, do not do this for more than 1,5 months in a row. In any case, it is wise to always consult a doctor before use. In the case of pregnancy or medication it is better not to use it unless your doctor advises you otherwise.
Aloe Vera in CelioGenix
The Collagen Beauty Drink from CelioGenix also contains Aloe Vera, as a moisturizer. This is in powder form and 50 mg per bottle. Our Beauty Drink has been extensively tested and these tests show that it is safe and does not cause any side effects.
