Aloe Vera Plant

Used by hundreds of people globally, the aloe vera plant is well known in many households across the globe.

Unlike some species of plants, the aloe vera plant no longer thrives in the wild. It is currently only known to live in captivity or cultivated by people for commercial use. This alone makes the aloe vera different compared to many household plants that can also be found in the wild.

There are many properties of the aloe vera plant, ranging from the soothing of burns, the promotion of faster healing to the treatment of diabetes. Because of the special compounds in the plant, including acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones and anthraquinones and lectins, companies tend to add aloe to their products as additional enticement.

The aloe vera plant is a succulent plant, which thrives 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 inside 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 acrid climates, the exposure to too much water will kill this planttoo much water is the most common cause of death of this plant. As the aloe vera plant should only be fed when its soil is dry, it is one of the easiest plants to care for. Only dirt with good drainage should be used for potting aloe vera, 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 cut, and how it is bandaged. In some studies, healing 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 person, granting the a 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|scientific evidence.

The aloe vera plant is believed to have thrived 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.