Nexus - 0103 - New Times Magazine-pages

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26 ALOE VERA Nature’s or centuries the Aloe Vera plant has been used for its medicinal and cosmetic pur- poses. Romans, Greeks, Algeri- ans, Moroccans, Tunisians, Ara- bians, Indians and Chinese have all documented the use of this variety of Aloe. The earliest record of Aloe Vera use is a 1500 B.C. Egyptian papyrus listing many medicinal uses of the plant, Myth has it that Cleopatra attributed her irresistible beauty and charm to the Aloe. Dioscorides, author of the famed Greek Herbal in the first century A.D., made a detailed and lengthy reportof the many applications of Aloe Vera, Inter- nally and externally, the plant was re- garded as having no end to the ailments it could help - stomach disorders, head- aches, insomnia, haemorrhoids, burns and sunburm, to name a few. Modern Researchers Rodney M. Stockton, a US chemical engineer, suffered severe sunbum while holidaying in Florida. When friends applied the plant to his bums and he experienced instant relief and rapid healing, he was amazed. Moving to Florida, he started working on the prob- lem of stabilizing Aloe Vera’s healing gel. In 1959 he developed a cream from the plant which could change a deep thermal bum to a minor second degree bum within 48 hours, by rapidly regen- erating the body’s tissues. Most impor- tantly, the healing took place without gross scarring. Many countries are studying the Aloe Vera plant, but the leader by far is the Soviet Union, whose research into its healing properties have spanned thirty years. They have discovered that some of the properties of Aloe Vera are likened to a mixture of antibiotic, as- tringent, coagulating agents and pain and scar inhibitors. The Russian re- search teams list numerous diseases and ailments the Aloe is attributed to help. Many Aloe Vera products are on Australian shelves today, ranging from pure juice to hair/body/skin care creams and soaps. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not specifically approved Aloe Vera as a cure for any ailment other than minor first aid, but the plant is widely known for its non-toxic, harmless properties and no side effects have been recorded from its use. SOME FIRST AID APPLICATIONS BURNS AND SUNBURN If available, pick a fresh leaf and split it down the middle and apply locally to the burn, repeating the process fre- quently. A 99% pure gel is available in a tube dispenser from health food shops, or juice can be sprayed on pain- ful areas. Increased ultraviolet radiation in southerly latitudes makes this handy addition to a first aid kit a must. Nexus New Times Three Ancient Magic 5 i CUTS AND WOUNDS Clean the area, apply pulp from the leaf into the wound and bandage tightly. Soak whole area in Aloe juice fre- quently. SCRAPES AND ABRASIONS Clean area and apply split leaf and slide gently over grazed area. Or use Aloe juice in pump applicator and spray the affected arca. STINGS A split leaf applied immediately to the area will bring relicf - or you can use a cream or gel. ACNE Scrub skin with Aloe Vera soap, then apply fresh leaf gel or gel. Repeat this process three times a day. Ancient cultures knew and used Aloe Vera for centuries and today’s chemists still strive to decipher its prop- erties. Thanks to recent research there are many books available on how to grow and care for this wondrous succu- lent plant, its medicinal and cosmetic uses, recipes and first aid treatmen‘s. - Nissa ALOE ERA ABRASIONS STINGS ACNE If available, pick a fresh leaf and split it down the middle and apply locally to the burn, repeating the process fre- quently. A 99% pure gel is available in a tube dispenser from health food shops, or juice can be sprayed on pain- ful areas. Increased ultraviolet radiation in southerly latitudes makes this handy addition to a first aid kit a must. - Nissa ee, Ee ee | Modern Researchers SOME FIRST AID _APPLICATIONS BURNS AND SUNBURN