What is aloe vera's healing powers

This is a question that has been asked for decades.  Some of the test and evaluations as far back as the 1930’s voiced their belief that the secret of the aloe vera power was to be found in the rind of the plant …that the anthraquinones complex held the true secret of the healing power of the plant.  Anthraquinones known as aloin, emodin have been reported to have certain antibiotic power, however, they are also known as a strong laxative agent.

In 1964 another group found that a freeze-dried formula was effective against organisms of various staph infection, strep pyogenes and typhus infections.  Interestingly, when they tested the components individually, the emodin and the chrysophanic acid exhibits no curative power as did the whole plant freeze-dried aloe vera.

Another study in 1951 pointed to the belief that the healing properties and the tissue building properties of the plant could be found in the gel of the plant, especially in the mono and the polysaccharides. They found these polysaccharides to be especially effective for tissue building properties as well as a bactericidal agent. They also found the enzyme activity of the plant to contribute to the success of the plants healing properties.

In 1971 another group found that the enzymatic activity of the plant to be remarkably effective as an anti pruritic and fungicidal agent against sun burn, rashes, poison ivy and pruritus uni and pruritus vulval (stops itching and irritation and kills fungus). In this study the group believed the enzymes held the healing powers of the aloe vera plant.

Just lately, another group came to the conclusion that the aloe vera polysaccharides serve as the protective mechanism for the plant. Whenever the plant is damaged in any way, the polysaccharides begin emitting a substance in the form of a thick gelatinous coating, which accomplish two important things for the safety of the plant. First, it stops the flow of the gel from the leaf. Second, it seals the damaged area from exposure to the atmosphere …providing a protective barrier against bacteria, mold, yeast or insect infestation that could assault the plant.

So, after years of tests and evaluations, the question still remains. What is the secret of aloe vera’s complex chemistry that makes it so effective?

Is it the lignin, saponins, anthraqunones, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes or the polysaccharides?

When these components was tested in the laboratory over the years …each one deserves special attention and deserves its place in healing and health benefits to the human body. However, no individual component of this remarkable healing plant can produce the healing potential that occurs, than when the whole plant is used and referred to as the synergy factor.

It has long been the belief that the true active ingredients of the aloe vera complex is in the plant synergism …that being, that the whole of any entity is greater than the sum of its parts.

The question remains …what is the secret? Know your supplier!!