The aloe vera plant is a multi-purpose medicinal herb common to many households across the world. Unlike some species of plants, the aloe vera plant no longer grows in the wild. It is currently only known to live in captivity or cultivated by farmers for commercial use. This alone makes the aloe vera unique compared to many household plants that can also be found in the wild.
The Aloe vera plant is believed to have many properties, ranging from the soothing of burns, the promotion of faster healing to the treatment of diabetes. As the stalks include several medical compounds, including acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones and anthraquinones and lectins, aloe is to be added to a wide range of products to entice users to buy them.
The aloe vera plant is a succulent plant, thriving in zones 8-10. It is suitable as an ornamental plant for low-water gardens, as well as indoors. Aloe does not tolerate snow or frost, dying under such conditions. If you want to keep aloe in colder climates, it must be kept indoors or in a greenhouse to prevent frost from killing it. Being a succulent, the aloe vera plant resembles cacti and other common desert plants. As it is suited for dry climates, over watering is the most common cause of death of this plant. The aloe plant should not be watered until its soil has gone dry, making it one of the easiest plants to take care of, so long as you pay attention to the soil. The soil used for potted aloe vera should be compatible with good drainage, as too much sitting water will cause root rot.
When grown at home, the aloe vera plant is typically used as a topical treatment for burns and cuts. There are conflicting studies on how aloe vera affects the rate of healing. There are some indicators that the rate of healing may be dependent on the type and depth of the wound, and how it is bandaged. In some data, cure rate is slowed from aloe vera. Aloe vera may also be digested as a general cure.
Despite the lack of scientific proof on the increased healing and other properties of aloe vera, it has gained a high regard by the average individual, granting the plant a place in shampoos, lotions, soaps and a wide range of cosmetics. However, the gains garnered from the presence of aloe in these products is based on belief, not on concrete evidence.
The aloe vera plant is thought to have once come from in Africa, with cousins of the aloe vera plant still living to date. There are references to aloe in the bible, which makes it one of the oldest documented species of plants known.
