01 – Aloe Vera

It is a herb with succulent (water-storing), erect leaves, with spikes on the margins, which are distributed in a rosette pattern. The inflorescences (flower clusters) are tubular, yellowish and emerge from the centre of the rosette from a stem known as the flower stalk. The fruit is an elongated, narrow, brown capsule with seeds inside. The flowering period is from late winter to early spring (in the northern hemisphere). It tends to grow in exposed, dry, rocky areas. It is now naturalized (present) in the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, South America and the Caribbean.

Today, its gel is used to soothe sunburn, scalds, allergic reactions and ulcers due to its cooling, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect. It also promotes skin regeneration and aids healing, so it is also commonly used to combat pimples, eczema, herpes and psoriasis.

Historically, the ancient Greeks and Romans used it to treat wounds. In the Middle Ages they used aloin, a component found in the sap of Aloe vera, as a purgative. It is important not to confuse the Aloe gel, which is found in the centre of the leaf, with its sap, which is found between the gel and the outermost layer of the leaf (in the chlorenchyma, i.e. the photosynthetic tissue).