I realize I’m dating myself a bit with the funny reference to Scarface, but I simply could not resist. Aloe is truly a natural healthcare lover’s best little friend. It is an absolute anti-inflammatory powerhouse with Aloe Vera being quite effective at assuaging the discomfort of sunburn, dry skin, ant stings and mosquito bites. But today I want to focus on the healing power of a lesser-known type of aloe plant called Aloe Arborescens, which I believe to be far superior to the more popular Aloe Vera.
Aloe Arborescens, also known as Candelabra Aloe, is a type of succulent plant that flowers with a beautiful red bloom of color at its peak. Native to both Africa and Italy, this aloe has been used medicinally for eons to treat everything from burn wounds to stomach ulcers. The leaf extract has been shown to be anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, anti-fungal, anti-ulcer and anti-viral. The purgative properties can help to clear out constipation, diarrhea, and stagnant waste in the gastro-intestinal tract. It is a superior immune system booster, as well, with its unique combination of detoxifying, calming and restorative effects.
The Aloe Arborescens plant has a long and illustrious history, which is why it’s rather strange that so few have ever heard of it. Legend has it that Mahatma Ghandi claimed it to be a miracle of nature, helping him to survive and thrive during his long fasting periods. It was also used extensively after the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in order to help ease the pain of radiation burns. More recently, a Brazilian priest, named Father Romano Zago, discovered how effective Aloe Arborescens can be in healing many health conditions, especially cancer. He details his experience in treating people with different forms of cancer and other ailments in his book titled, “Cancer Can Be Cured.”
A quote from Hippocrates reads, “Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.” And so it is with the wonderful tools we all have available to us through Mother Nature. As more people move away from harmful pharmaceuticals and back to the healing power of the plant kingdom, I think Aloe Arborescens will have its opportunity to move closer to the spotlight it so richly deserves. From calming inflammation to clearing out stagnation and boosting the immune system, this quiet little cousin to Aloe Vera deserves its chance to shine so that many more can benefit from the miracles hidden within its magical leaves.
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