Aloe vera soothes indigestion and eases bowel problems
ALOE vera is an extraordinary plant and is possibly the most widely used healing and beautifying plant in history. It looks like a cactus, but it actually belongs to the same lily family as onions and garlic.
Man’s relationship with this plant dates back to around 4,000 BC when it was used to help the natural healing of battle wounds.
However, it was the Greek and Roman authors – Dioscorides and Pliny around 60 AD – that have provided us with the most detailed documentation of aloe vera’s wide array of application. They commented that the plant was used extensively to benefit both external and internal health.
There are over 280 different species found, but its aloe barbadensis which has the best and most clearly researched health promoting properties. From its soothing effect on dry and chafed skin to its settling effect on digestion, aloe vera has been used widely for promoting optimum health.
Moreover, two of the most alluring legendary Egytian queens, Nefertiti and Cleopatra, relied on aloe vera to maintain their unlined and youthful complexion by both drinking the juice and bathing in it.
Aloe vera is a potent wound healing remedy as well as a skin beautifier. In fact, it also provides amazing healing properties when taken orally, especially for indigestion.
Indigestion is a common health problem for people in the modern era. The person who has indigestion problems may experience discomfort, stomach ache, bloating, belching, gas, flatulence, nausea or vomiting after a meal or even after a light snack. There are various reasons causing indigestion:
* Unhealthy diet – eating too fast or too much, irregular meals, too much of oily, spicy or processed food
* Stressful lifestyle – stress from work, household, traffic and social * Excess alcoholic drinks * Smoking * Constantly feeling tired When ignored, indigestion can lead to serious health problems such as gastritis, irritable bowel movement (IBM) and heartburn.
Aloe vera helps to relieve indigestion problems by restoring the balance of the digestive system in several ways:
> Soothe the stomach and intestine to reduce the irritating reaction
> Maintain healthy bacteria environment in stomach for better nutrient absorption
> Has an anti-inflammatory effect to settle stomach upset and pains
> Improves the regularity of bowel movement for better waste elimination
One has to be careful when consuming aloe vera because of the aloin component between the leaf skin and inner gel.