The History of Aloe Vera
According to legend, one of the most attractive elements of Cleopatra that most captivated the roman Marc Antonio, was the irresistable beauty of her skin, she attributed this to the use of Aloe gel. It is also related that Aristoteles, prior to the initiation of the oriental campaign, advised Alexander to conquer the island of Socrotora - near to the Arabian coast - to ensure the supply of Aloe for curing battle wounds. The medicinal virtues were known in the most remote times, from China and India reaching through to the north of Africa, the first mention of aloe is to be found in the Egyptian scrolls of Ebers - 1,500 years B.C. |
In the first century a.d., Dioscorides
discovered extensively in his Greek herbology practice that
the virtues of Aloe Vera, were equally beneficial as a medicine
or cosmetic. The arabs, being great users, carried it on their
campaigns and having conquered the lands, left extensive savilares
(fields of aloe) in Andalucia, the most famous of which were
those of Malaga. The plantations spread towards the cool european
zones where the plant was unable to resist the winter weather,
the virtues of aloe were gradually forgotten and other remedial
substitutes utilised. At the beginning of the twentieth century,
only the memory of the strong purgative effects were remembered,
until such time - before the almost incurable ulcers and burns
produced by X-Rays or atomic radiation - some doctors tried
the old remedy and found that it was the most effective. At
the time, the fresh leaves were sent from the tropics owing
to the lack of knowledge of the means to conserve the extract
or gel.
Columbus took along Aloe Vera from Spain (Gran Canaria) on its overseas travels for his sailors for everyday problems. The Maya indians gave the appropriate name to this particular desert plant: 'Eternal Youth' Meanwhile it has been shown that Aloe Vera contains many components, to which the plant has its properties to thank. |
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