Aloe Vera is a cactus like plant that is part of the lily family. There are over 300 varieties of the Aloe plant, but it is the Aloe barbadensis variety which is the most commonly used in food supplements.
Aloe Vera has a long history as a safe and effective medicine and skin care aid. The Ancient Egyptians and Greeks documented their use of Aloe vera for a wide range of ailments, it is also recorded that both Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus took the plant with them to far distant lands enabling the fame and seeds of the plant to spread.
Due to its reputation for having soothing properties, Aloe Vera is found in many products such as after sun lotions and cooling ointments for minor burns. Its leaves are thick and fleshy with a serrated edge and house a gel filled inner. The outer leaf of the Aloe Vera plant contains Aloin, which has laxative properties. At Natures Aid we only use Aloe Vera juice that entirely removed all traces of the laxative leaf, ensuring that our Aloe Vera does not have any unwanted effects on your stomach.