Beauty expert Shahnaz Husain reveals more about this versatile
plant
Aloe vera has been used for more than 3000 years. It is commonly found in many gardens and homes. Its Sanskrit name is Ghikanwar or Ghritkumari. Aloe vera has been known for its healing properties since ancient times. It was used to heal cuts and wounds as it helps formation of scar tissue. It is a powerful natural moisturiser and seals off loss of moisture.
It also softens dead skin cells and helps their removal, leaving the skin smoother and brighter. In fact, it helps the normal functions of the skin by improving its capacity to retain moisture. Aloe vera has anti-oxidant properties too and boosts the skin's cell renewal process. In other words, it helps to delay the visible signs of ageing.
In cosmetic products, the stabilised aloe vera gel or juice is used. It is added to skin care products and lotions, like cleanser, moisturisers, skin serums and so on. However, if the aloe vera plant is growing at home, one can also apply the gel or juice directly on the skin. The gel obtained from the plant itself is the leaf pulp, found in the inner portion of the leaves. The aloe juice is found just beneath the outer skin of the leaves. However, while using it directly on the skin at home, one should wash the plant well and observe total hygiene. The aloe vera gel or juice may be applied on the face and then washed off with plain water after 20 minutes. It helps to soften and moisturise the skin.
In fact, used regularly, it helps to restore the skin's youthful properties. Applying aloe vera is useful during winter and summer. In winter, it helps to relieve dryness and maintain the soft texture of the skin. In summer, it soothes the skin, especially after sun-exposure. It also moisturises the skin, without making the skin oily. Aloe vera can also be added to face masks. Take one tablespoon besan, one teaspoon each of orange peel powder and curd and one tablespoon aloe vera gel. Mix together and apply on the skin, washing it off after 30 minutes. It is a powerful moisturiser and therefore helps in dry skin conditions. It helps to moisturise the skin and seal off the loss of moisture. It softens the skin and helps to remove dead skin cells. It also soothes the skin in cases of sun damage or sun burn. If used regularly, it helps to preserve the skin's youthful properties and delays ageing signs.
The aloe vera (an ornamental plant) can be used for lowering blood glucose and blood lipid level in diabetic and cardiac patients, says a study report prepared by the scientists of Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
The plant is already extensively used in toiletry and cosmetic industry.
It may be mentioned here that a team of BHU scientists including Neeraj Kumar, head, department of rasa shashtra; R Tripathi and B Mishra of department of pharmaceutics, IT-BHU, has come up with a report that sheds light on the potential of aloe vera in diabetic treatment, besides lowering blood lipid levels to bolster cardiac activities.
"The oral administration of aloe vera can be effective in reducing blood glucose in diabetic patients and also in lowering blood lipid levels in hyperlipidaemia patients," said Neeraj Kumar while talking to TOI on Friday.
The utility of aloe vera's hypogycemic activity has been proved in both insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats.
"Histological examinations have also shown that aloe vera gel reduces the average size of adipocytes and lowers triglyceride levels in liver and plasma," he added.
Referring to earlier studies that suggest that oral administration of 500 mg per kg weight, twice daily, aloe vera gel significantly reduces the blood glucose level in alloxanized mice, Kumar said that in another study, patients with hyperlipidaemia (higher blood lipid levels), total serum cholesterol levels, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were found to be decreased up to 15%, 30% and 18% respectively after 12 weeks of treatment with aloe vera gel.
As per reports of the rasa shastra department, the aloe vera plant which can grow in extremely dry (arid) conditions and is widely found in Africa and India is widely used in herbal medicines.
While the anti-inflammatory and healing ability of aloe vera has been studied extensively, its other versatile pharmacological activities like hypoglycemic and gastroprotective properties have attracted more attention recently.
Aloe Vera:
It is an ornamental plant known as ghratakumari in Sanskrit and gheekvar in Hindi. It grows in extremely dry (arid) climate and is widely distributed in Africa, India an other arid areas. The plant forms symbiotic relationship with Arbuscular mycoorhiza which helps this plant to access nutrients from the soil. The gel of aloe vera has pharmacological properties like wound healing, frost-bite healing, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, hypoglycemic and gastroprotective abilities.
It supports digestive system to absorb the nutrients and eliminates all harmful toxins from the body. Aloe vera juice is consumed to get relief from various digestive problems including heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome. Some other uses of aloe vera include treatment of skin allergies, acne, fungal infection etc.
Aloe vera has been used for more than 3000 years. It is commonly found in many gardens and homes. Its Sanskrit name is Ghikanwar or Ghritkumari. Aloe vera has been known for its healing properties since ancient times. It was used to heal cuts and wounds as it helps formation of scar tissue. It is a powerful natural moisturiser and seals off loss of moisture.
It also softens dead skin cells and helps their removal, leaving the skin smoother and brighter. In fact, it helps the normal functions of the skin by improving its capacity to retain moisture. Aloe vera has anti-oxidant properties too and boosts the skin's cell renewal process. In other words, it helps to delay the visible signs of ageing.
In cosmetic products, the stabilised aloe vera gel or juice is used. It is added to skin care products and lotions, like cleanser, moisturisers, skin serums and so on. However, if the aloe vera plant is growing at home, one can also apply the gel or juice directly on the skin. The gel obtained from the plant itself is the leaf pulp, found in the inner portion of the leaves. The aloe juice is found just beneath the outer skin of the leaves. However, while using it directly on the skin at home, one should wash the plant well and observe total hygiene. The aloe vera gel or juice may be applied on the face and then washed off with plain water after 20 minutes. It helps to soften and moisturise the skin.
In fact, used regularly, it helps to restore the skin's youthful properties. Applying aloe vera is useful during winter and summer. In winter, it helps to relieve dryness and maintain the soft texture of the skin. In summer, it soothes the skin, especially after sun-exposure. It also moisturises the skin, without making the skin oily. Aloe vera can also be added to face masks. Take one tablespoon besan, one teaspoon each of orange peel powder and curd and one tablespoon aloe vera gel. Mix together and apply on the skin, washing it off after 30 minutes. It is a powerful moisturiser and therefore helps in dry skin conditions. It helps to moisturise the skin and seal off the loss of moisture. It softens the skin and helps to remove dead skin cells. It also soothes the skin in cases of sun damage or sun burn. If used regularly, it helps to preserve the skin's youthful properties and delays ageing signs.
The aloe vera (an ornamental plant) can be used for lowering blood glucose and blood lipid level in diabetic and cardiac patients, says a study report prepared by the scientists of Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
The plant is already extensively used in toiletry and cosmetic industry.
It may be mentioned here that a team of BHU scientists including Neeraj Kumar, head, department of rasa shashtra; R Tripathi and B Mishra of department of pharmaceutics, IT-BHU, has come up with a report that sheds light on the potential of aloe vera in diabetic treatment, besides lowering blood lipid levels to bolster cardiac activities.
"The oral administration of aloe vera can be effective in reducing blood glucose in diabetic patients and also in lowering blood lipid levels in hyperlipidaemia patients," said Neeraj Kumar while talking to TOI on Friday.
The utility of aloe vera's hypogycemic activity has been proved in both insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats.
"Histological examinations have also shown that aloe vera gel reduces the average size of adipocytes and lowers triglyceride levels in liver and plasma," he added.
Referring to earlier studies that suggest that oral administration of 500 mg per kg weight, twice daily, aloe vera gel significantly reduces the blood glucose level in alloxanized mice, Kumar said that in another study, patients with hyperlipidaemia (higher blood lipid levels), total serum cholesterol levels, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were found to be decreased up to 15%, 30% and 18% respectively after 12 weeks of treatment with aloe vera gel.
As per reports of the rasa shastra department, the aloe vera plant which can grow in extremely dry (arid) conditions and is widely found in Africa and India is widely used in herbal medicines.
While the anti-inflammatory and healing ability of aloe vera has been studied extensively, its other versatile pharmacological activities like hypoglycemic and gastroprotective properties have attracted more attention recently.
Aloe Vera:
It is an ornamental plant known as ghratakumari in Sanskrit and gheekvar in Hindi. It grows in extremely dry (arid) climate and is widely distributed in Africa, India an other arid areas. The plant forms symbiotic relationship with Arbuscular mycoorhiza which helps this plant to access nutrients from the soil. The gel of aloe vera has pharmacological properties like wound healing, frost-bite healing, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, hypoglycemic and gastroprotective abilities.
It supports digestive system to absorb the nutrients and eliminates all harmful toxins from the body. Aloe vera juice is consumed to get relief from various digestive problems including heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome. Some other uses of aloe vera include treatment of skin allergies, acne, fungal infection etc.
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