Many people have heard of Aloe Vera - after all you can find it in many everyday products. It's in shampoo, hand cream, after-shave and even toilet paper. What are the benefits of putting Aloe Vera in toilet paper, or any of the other products for that matter? For the answer, we need to journey back a long time.

Let's go back to the age of Nefertiti and Cleopatra - reputed to be the world's most beautiful women. In an age when most illnesses would disfigure the skin, anything that enhanced skin repair was highly prized. It is well known that they used Aloe Vera - with this plant they were able to maintain a healthy skin as well as bodily function. So, what properties does Aloe Vera bring to the human body and why was it so highly prized?

Aloe Vera is a member of the Lily family - it's not a cactus! There are over 200 types of Aloe Vera; the one that has the greatest nutritional and therapeutic properties is Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller. A gel is obtained from the inner section of the leaves that has tremendous medicinal properties, while the outer green part of the leaf contains a powerful laxative that has to be removed.

Besides the Egyptians, Alexandra the Great fought a battle to secure an island on which Aloe Vera grew - he knew the benefits it would bring to his troops. Ghandi, when asked, "how do you maintain your energy?" during his year long fasts, replied, "I drink Aloe Vera".

The main benefits of Aloe Vera Gel

• Pain inhibitor

• Anti-inflammatory

• Anti-allergenic

• Healing action

• Keratolic action - removes damaged skin, replacing it with new skin cells

• Antibiotic action - both anti-microbial and anti-viral and anti-fungal

• Promotes cell regeneration

• Energiser

• Digestive

• Detoxification

• Rehydrates the skin - excellent for sunburn

• Natural cleanser - contains saponins

• Anti-pyretic - reduces heat

• Anti-pruretic - reduces irritation and itching

• Nutritional - contains over 75 known active ingredients, (probably many more), 19 of the 20 amino acids required by the human body and 7 of the 8 essential amino acids that the body can't produce itself.

• Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller has no known side effects

Phew! No wonder many people call it a Miracle Plant.

So is it marketing hype? I don't think so. Aloe Vera has significant benefits that have been recorded for centuries and now people are starting to realise that many natural remedies are effective and a credible alternative to traditional medicines. Aloe Vera is here to stay - and is now finding an increasing stake in the world market of effective alternative therapies for good health and wellbeing.

Consult your doctor before changing your medication.