Aloe vera is an extremely popular medicinal plant that has been harvested for its many health benefits for thousands of years.
It is widely known for treating skin issues, but can also have other healing powers you may not be aware of yet.
Here are 5 healing powers of aloe vera:
1. Contains healthy plant compounds
The aloe plant is widely recognizable by its thick, fleshy, and pointy green leaves. Each leaf is filled with a gel-like tissue that soaks up water, which is the same “gel” we associate with any aloe vera product.
This refreshing gel contains most of the healthy compounds of the aloe plant, including amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
2. Antioxidant and antibacterial properties
Antioxidants are crucial to maintaining healthy body functions.
Aloe vera gel is packed with powerful antioxidants that can inhibit the growth of specific harmful bacteria that can cause infections.
3. Treats mouth sores
Studies found that aloe vera can be effective in treating and accelerating the healing process of mouth ulcers, or canker sores. A study done on 180 people over the course of 7 days found that with applying an aloe vera patch on the sore effectively reduced the size of the mouth ulcers, albeit not outperforming the conventional canker sore treatment, corticosteroids.
However, aloe vera can also temporarily reduce the pain associated with mouth sores.
4. Reduces the occurrence of dental plaque
One of the most effective ways to prevent tooth decay and other gum diseases is to reduce plaque buildup on the teeth.
A study did a mouth rinse on 300 healthy people and found that 100% pure aloe vera juice was found to be just as effective as the standard mouthwash ingredient, chlorhexidine.
5. Accelerates healing of burns
Aloe vera is widely used as a topical medication, applied directly to the skin for various skin issues.
It has been the go-to treatment for sores and burns, including sunburns.
Studies have shown that aloe vera is an effective topical treatment for first to second-degree burns.
Some experimental studies also found that aloe vera could accelerate the healing of burns by around days compared to conventional medication.
