Columbus always carried it on his ships, the caravels, aloe was his doctor. Cleopatra used it daily for her beauty and Nefertiti used its juice to bathe in it. Aristotle, Alexander’s teacher urged him to organize an expedition only to bring back aloe for the healing of his soldiers’ wounds by conquering Sokotra island where aloe was self sown and abundant. In ancient times Sokotra was called “Dioskoridios island” named after Dioskoridis, the father of Botanology. Dioskoridis in his books “About medicine” refers to Aloe :it detoxicates the stomach, helps gastric ulcer, fights itching, dermatological problems, haemorrhoids , bruises ,stops hair loss, wound bleeding, mouth and eye diseases and tonsillitis ”.
The benefits of Aloe have been known since prehistoric times. Since 2500 B.C. Sumerians healed wounds , used it for burns, wounds and dermatological problems.
The Bible according to Saint John especially refers to aloe used by Christ’s disciples who took care of his dead body after his crucifixion with 100 litres of aloe.
Nowadays the benefits of Aloe have been proven scientifically. According to recent studies small quantities of aloe juice used daily, prevent, heal or soothe about one hundred diseases. Therefore it is widely used in pharmaceutical industry which makes drugs or paramedical products containing 10-30% aloe. Aloe contains steroids which act as natural cortizole without the side effects of chemical cortizole. So it strengthens the defence and well being of the body, in other words the system which keeps us healthy every day. For many people (Philatov) aloe is a biostimulator - it stimulates bios (Greek word for life).
“You ask me what were the secret forces which sustained me during my long fasts. Well, it was my unshakeable faith in God, my simple and frugal lifestyle and the Aloe, whose benefits I discovered upon my arrival in South Africa at the end of the nineteenth century”.
Mahatma Gandhi