Aloe Vera, the Gardener's First Aid

These days, many of the beauty products and soaps contain Aloe vera. Aloe vera is thought to help tone the skin, shine the hair and generally enhance the beauty of a person. The Sanskrit name of Aloe vera is 'Kumari', which means "girl"- an apt name because in Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine, the herb is used extensively to treat the beauty problems of young girls. It is used to treat pimples (acne) , blackheads and other problems of the skin. The gel which you get when you cut an Aloe vera leaf is used to treat sunburn, herpes and sporiases. The gel is also said to help diabetics when taken internally.

Whenever I have a cut or a brise while gardening, I apply the gel from an Aloe vera leaf to the cut , which seals the cut so that no infection can take place.

Although it is originally from Africa, the Aloe vera is extensively cultivated in many parts of the world.