What is Indian Aloe? Health Benefits, Uses & Side Effects of Indian Aloe Vera - An Informative Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Indian Aloe botanical name is Aloe Barbadensis, some other common names are musabbar, ghikanvar, elva, and aloe vera. It is an erect plant, 30 to 150 cm in height. It is mostly cultivated in many parts of India like Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.

The active principle of aloe is a mixture of a glycoside called aloin, the proportion of aloin varies in different varieties of the herb. The chief constituent of aloin is barbaloin, a pale-yellow crystalline glycoside soluble in water.

The other constituents included in Indian Aloe are barbaloin, aloe-emodin, resins, and some water-soluble substances. The characteristic odor is due to traces of essential oil. It has 6 antiseptic agents such as lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamomic acid, phenols, and sulfur.

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Aloe Vera Flowers

The flowers are yellow or orange-colored tubular, and up to 3 cm long, they are borne in cylindrical racemes on a branched panicle.

Aloe Vera Leaves

The leaves of the plant are used in Ayurveda for various health ailments, it possesses many medicinal properties. The leaves are fleshy, succulent, and erect with serrated edges, each leaf contains three layers: the inner layer contains gel, the middle layer contains bitter yellow sap, and an outer thick layer of 15–20 cells called the rind.

The lower leaf of the plant is used for medicinal purposes. If the lower leaf is sliced open, the gel obtained can be applied to the affected area of the skin.

2. Ayurvedic properties of Indian Aloe

1. Rasa (Taste): Aloe vera is believed to have a bitter (Tikta) taste.

2. Virya (Potency): It is cooling in nature (Sheeta Virya).

3. Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): The post-digestive taste is sweet (Madhura Vipaka).

4. Dosha Effects: Aloe vera primarily balances Pitta dosha and, to a lesser extent, Vata dosha. However, in excess, it may increase Kapha dosha.

Ayurvedic Uses:

1. Skin Health: Aloe vera is well-known for its beneficial effects on the skin. It is used to soothe and moisturize the skin, manage skin conditions like sunburn, rashes, acne, and promote wound healing.

2. Digestive Support: Aloe vera is used to support healthy digestion and manage digestive disorders like acidity, indigestion, and constipation due to its cooling and bitter properties.

3. Immune Booster: Aloe vera is believed to have immunomodulatory effects, supporting the body's natural defense mechanisms.

4. Anti-inflammatory: It possesses anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to manage inflammatory conditions.

5. Wound Healing: Aloe vera gel can promote wound healing due to its ability to stimulate cell regeneration and reduce inflammation.

6. Hair and Scalp Health: Aloe vera is used in certain Ayurvedic hair care products to support hair and scalp health, helping to manage dandruff and promote hair growth.

7. Liver Support: It is used to support liver health and improve liver function, making it helpful in managing various liver disorders.

8. Detoxification: Aloe vera is known for its detoxifying properties, helping to cleanse the body and remove accumulated toxins.

3. What are the Health Benefits of Indian Aloe?

The leaves of the plant possess serval medicinal properties, they restore disordered processes of nutrition, promote libido, arrest secretion or bleeding and promote and regulate menstrual periods. It has a detoxifier, antiseptic, antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, antioxidant, and anti-viral properties.

It is a well-known herb to help slow down the appearance of wrinkles and actively repair the damaged skin cells that cause the visible signs of aging. Aloe Vera is a useful source of vitamins. Aloe Vera Gel contains a high number of vitamins like vitamin B12, Vitamin A, contains B-Group vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and folic acid.

Indian Aloe contains at least three anti-inflammatory fatty acids, cholesterol, campestral, and βsitosterol. These are highly effective in the treatment of burns, cuts, scrapes, abrasions, allergic reactions, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, acid indigestion, and ulcers.

It is beneficial in the treatment of constipation and maintains a good gastric pH, it also helps in inflammatory bowel diseases, non-ulcer dyspepsia, and gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Here are some health benefits of Indian Aloe

For Cold

The herb is valuable for colds and coughs because of its immune-boosting and antioxidant properties. The leaf juice is beneficial for colds and coughs.

For Indigestion

The herb is useful in stomach disorders, the leaves strengthen the functioning of the stomach and promote its action.

For Intestinal Worms

The leaves have the property to kill intestinal worms in children, and boiled leaf juice is a beneficial and effective home remedy.

For Liver Disorders

The herb stimulates the liver and is useful in liver and spleen disorders, it can be used in jaundice and enlargement of the liver, spleen, and other glands.

For Rheumatism

Indian Aloe is useful in lumbago, sciatica, and rheumatism, it helps to treat joint pain and muscle pain.

For Skin Disorders

In Indian indigenous medicine, fresh juice from the leaves is applied externally to treat inflamed and painful parts of the body.

4. How to use Indian Aloe?

Indian Aloe is useful in restoring the disordered processes of nutrition to normal. It helps to soothe skin injuries, itching, and skin swellings. It helps to improve digestion, ease pain, and reduce inflammation. it is highly valuable in treating cuts and wounds.

It can also be used as a hair styling gel and works especially well for curly or fuzzy hair, makeups, moisturizer, soaps, sunscreen, shampoos, and body lotions.

Dosage and uses depend upon the health problems and conditions or as recommended by an Ayurvedic doctor. The general recommended dosage is 3-6 grams of Indian Aloe daily once a day.

Here are some dosages and uses of Indian Aloe

• Make a juice of roasted aloe vera leaves with honey, which helps to treat cold and cough.
• Take a leaf pulp of Indian Aloe and mix it with black salt and ginger, helps to treat liver disorders
• Take 1 tsp pulp of aloe vera leaf, twice a day, which helps to treat rheumatism and pain.
• Take the pulp of aloe vera leaf and apply it externally to the affected area, which helps to treat skin disorders.
• Make a leaf decoction and take it after a meal, helps to kill intestinal worms.
• Indian Aloe is good for skin and hair, you can make a juice of the aloe vera pulp.

5. Side Effects Indian Aloe

All Ayurveda herbs are plant-based, and they don’ have any side effects but they may react with some allopathy or homeopathy medicine. It is better to consult the doctor if you are on any medications or have special health issues.

Some side effects are mentioned below

• Consult the doctor if you are breastfeeding.
• Do not take without a doctor’s prescription if you are pregnant.
• If you are on diabetes or on hypertension medication. Consult first the doctor before consuming.
• Indian Aloe may interact with other allopathy medicines, consult the doctor before starting Indian Aloe.
• The right dosage is very important for Indian Aloe, over dosage may cause vomiting and diarrhea.

6. Indian Aloe Vera Refreshing Drinks

The leaf pulp is used in many ways, it is used for making refreshing drinks or summer coolers. You can make these drinks at home.

Pineapple Aloe Shake

Ingredients

• Pineapple Sliced – peeled and clean – 2
• Aloe Vera Leaf Pulp – 2 tbsp.
• Honey – 1 tsp
• Black Salt – ¼ tsp
• Roasted Ground Cumin – ¼ tsp
• Roasted Black Pepper Powder – ¼ tsp
• Water – ½ cup

Method

• Take a blender and add all the ingredients, except ground cumin.
• Blend it until the smooth liquid.
• Add some ice cubes to a glass and pour the prepared shake into the glass.
• Add ground cumin and stir. Serve cold.

Indian Aloe Masala Lemonade

Ingredients

• Aloe Vera Leaf Pulp – 2 tbsp.
• Lemon Juice – ½ tsp
• Fresh Mint Leaves – 5-6
• Roasted and Ground Fennel Seeds – 1 tsp
• Lemon Syrup or Brown Sugar – 1 tsp
• Black Salt – ¼ tsp
• Roasted Ground Cumin – ¼ tsp
• Roasted Black Pepper Powder – ¼ tsp

Method

• Take a blender and add all the ingredients except fennel seed and cumin.
• Blend it and make a smooth juice of it.
• Take a glass and add some crushed ice, pour this liquid into the glass.
• Add cumin and fennel seed in the glass and serve cold.