The ancient Egyptians called aloe vera the “plant of immortality.” Pictures of the plant appear on ancient stone carvings from 6,000 years ago and were found offered as a burial gift for pharaohs. It is also used in traditional Indian medicine for constipation, skin diseases, worm infestation, infections and as a natural remedy for colic.
In Hindi and among ayurvedic practitioners aloe is better known as “Ghritkumari”.
In Chinese medicine, it’s often recommended in the treatment of fungal diseases, and in the Western world, it has found widespread use in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries.
In fact, the manufacturing of aloe vera extracts is one of the largest botanical industries in the world.
So almost everyone knows that aloe vera has immense benefits. Chances are, you will find an aloe plant in the home of anyone who is health-conscious.

Aloe Vera, known as “ghritkumari” in India, is a cactus-type green plant with fleshy leaves. It is called ‘Kalabanda’ in Telugu, ‘Katralai’ in Tamil, ‘Kumari’ in Malayalam, ‘Lolisara’ in Kannada and ‘Koraphada’ in Marathi.
Legends say that it was even used by Queen Cleopatra in her beauty products. Ancient Mesopotamians and even soldiers in the army of Alexander the Great are also said to have used it.
Aloe is more common in hot, arid regions. The leaves produce two substances- the watery aloe gel, and the sap which is called aloe latex. Aloe extracts are not only good for your skin and hair but also have a host of other health benefits.

Growing Your Own Aloe Vera Plant
Aloe vera is widely grown as an ornamental plant since it requires very little maintenance and does not require much water. It is also a popular indoor plant. It grows best in dry conditions, and the plant cannot survive standing water.
To grow an aloe plant, it is best to mix equal parts potting soil, sand and gravel. This will prevent water from standing at the root. The plant also requires adequate sunlight.
The plant has short roots and heavy leaves, so it is best to move the plant to a bigger pot after some time.

Aloe Vera Extract
Aloe yields two products: gel and latex. Most hair and skin care products that contain aloe extracts contain gel. However, in some cases, the entire leaf is crushed, which means both the sap and gel are used.

Making Your Own Aloe Gel And Aloe Juice
If you prefer to make your own aloe extract at home, best keep a potted plant. Otherwise, simply buy a couple of leaves from the local nursery.

To make aloe vera gel simply break a fleshy leaf and scoop out the gel with a spoon. You can break the solid chunks and mash it to create a gel consistency. You may also crush the leaves directly and apply the gel to the affected body parts.

You can make aloe juice by taking store-bought aloe gel and mixing it in water or a beverage.
Otherwise, you can simply blend some leaves in a blender. It is very bitter, so it is better to mix it with some milk, fruit juice or honey to make it more palatable.

However, it must be remembered that aloe latex is unsafe for consumption. Buying aloe extracts or products from reputed brands or chemists is safer. It is risky to crush the leaves at home to make edible aloe juice.

Proven Benefits of Aloe vera
Aloe vera has a number of benefits. Aloe is a wonderful and effective antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medicinal plant which contains 20 of the 22 amino acids and 7 of the 8 essential amino acids the human body requires.

Fighting Teeth And Gum Diseases
A study published in the General Dentistry magazine has shown that Aloe Vera in tooth gels is as effective as commercial toothpaste in fighting cavities. (5)
The researchers compared the germ-fighting ability of an Aloe vera tooth gel with two popular commercial kinds of toothpaste. They found that the gel was just as good, and in some cases even better than the commercial kinds of toothpaste at controlling cavity-causing oral bacteria.
Apparently the Aloe latex contains anthraquinones, which are compounds that actively heal and reduce pain via their natural anti-inflammatory effects.
However, the researchers have warned that the aloe vera gel used must contain the stabilized gel that exists in the centre of the plant to be effective.

An Alternative To Mouthwash
In a 2014 study published in the Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, researchers found aloe vera extract to be a safe and effective alternative to chemical-based mouthwashes. The plant’s natural ingredients, such as vitamin C, can block plaque. The anthraquinones in aloe can also provide relief if you have bleeding or swollen gums.

Being anti-viral and anti-bacterial, aloe vera is an effective cure for many dental and mouth infections. It is effective in treating gingivitis and reduces plaque accumulation.
Aloe helps reduce herpes and mouth ulcers. It also soothes the area around dentures.
Research shows that aloe is effective in the treatment of itchy rashes in the mouth called “lichen planus”. Using mouthwashes containing aloe help heal these rashes faster.