Cultural Uses of Aloe

The use of the aloe vera plant's skin and sap as a medicinal or first-aid agent has spanned many cultures across the world for thousands of years. Its medicinal properties include antiseptics, pain-killing and anti-inflammatory acids, anti-cholestromatic agents and immune stimulators, which are still used today to treat a variety of internal and external ailments. Aloe vera is native to Africa, but its high adaptability has allowed it to travel and thrive in a range of climates throughout the globe.

Ancient Egyptian Use

• The first documented use of aloe vera was as early as 1550 B.C. by ancient Egyptians. According to the website Aloeria, Egyptians used one of 12 boiled concoctions of ground aloe vera and other medicinal agents to treat internal and external human disorders. Although the particular treated disorders are unknown, many cultures who took from the Egyptians followed their boiling methods to treat stomach ailments and skin infections.

India

• India, which many believe has recorded documents of aloe use as early as 2200 B.C., recognized the healing power it held in Egypt and began using it for stomach cleansing, including purging and treating internal and external ailments and inflammations. Over the next thousand years, India began growing and exporting aloe vera and its use became common and widespread. According to Aloeria, in 1984, Dr. O.P. Agarwal recorded evidence of aloe vera's healing effect on patients with diabetes, stress or anxiety disorders and heart disease.

Western Society

• As stated by Aloeria, around 41 A.D., Dioscorides discovered aloe vera's healing effects on belly aches, boils and hemorrhoids, bruises, inflamed tonsils and other mouth irritations, hair loss, sore eyes and bleeding wounds. The healing plant was ground and mixed with other medicinal aids, pulverized and consumed or applied to wounds or irritations on its own. Today, aloe vera is used in Western societies in a variety of ointments that treat bruises, a variety of burns and other skin irritations.

Russia

• In the early to mid 1900s, Russia began using boiled aloe vera juice to treat lung ailments and skin disorders from parasites. A few years later, aloe vera was consumed or applied to skin to prevent radiation burns and treat existing burns. According to Aloeria, Russian researchers discovered that aloe vera could cut the healing time from fire burns and frostbite in half.

United States

• While aloe vera is present in cosmetics, skin irritation, sunburn and other ointments across the United States, other medicinal uses for ailments such as radiation dermatitis, high cholesterol and HIV are being explored. According to Aloeria, aloe vera contains immune stimulating polypeptides, which could eventually be used to treat cancer and a variety of viruses such as HIV or the common cold. Also, anti-cholestromatic agents in the plant have proven to help significantly lower cholesterol in study patients.