Aloe
SNAPSHOT
Description: The leaves of the aloe plant (Barbadensis variety) are hand cut at the base of a mature plant. The aloe’s tough, fleshy, spear-like leaves are harvested between 18 and 24 inches long.
Uses: The clear, thick gel found in the inner part of the leaf is said to help wounds heal. This gel contains substances known as glycoproteins and polysaccharides.
- Glycoproteins are protein-carbohydrate compounds that help the healing process, said to curb pain and inflammation.
- Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate that is said to stimulate skin growth and repair. Also containing anthraquinones that are thought to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract activity.
Nutritional info: This plant contains over seventy-five nutrients: twenty minerals, eighteen amino acids, twelve vitamins.