The Aloe Vera plants that are medicinal and have healing properties include.
Aloe Barbadensis Miller: is the technical name for Aloe Vera.
It is the best known species of all because of its healing properties.
How to identify it? It usually reaches one meter in height.
It's leaves grow vertically, are green and with white males that disappear as the Aloe Vera grows.
At the ends of the leaves it has small hard and pointed filaments.
It is widely used to treat burns and remove scars.
Aloe Arborescens: is known as the cousin of Aloe Vera because they are very similar and the healing properties of both are practically the same.
How to identify it? Like Aloe Vera, Aloe Arborescens has large, fleshy, green leaves.
The difference is that this variety grows in the shape of a shrub, reminiscent of an octopus and does not contain teeth on the edges of its leaves.
Aloe Saponaria: also known as Pita Real, is another of the most common varieties.
How to identify it? Its fleshy leaves with a high content of aloe juice stand out.
These have a bluish green or reddish-brown color with whitish spots and also have the presence of thorns.
At flowering time yellow or red flowers grow on top.
The properties of Aloe Saponaria are very similar to those of Aloe Vera.
It is also used to treat sunburn and also offers benefits for heart problems.
Aloe Ferox: is one of the most different species and perhaps easy to recognize.
How to identify it? It has a single stem that can measure from 2 to 3 meters.
The leaves grow in rosette, as any of the varieties of aloe, are large, glaucous green and with reddish thorns at the ends.
It has laxative properties and like the others, is used as a healing and to improve burns.
Not all Aloe Vera Plants are edible and some are poisonous.
You can eat some types of Aloe Vera Plants.
However some types of Aloe Vera Plants can be poisonous and should not be eaten.
The edible Aloe Vera Plant has thick, wide leaves that grow upright and are a silvery green color.
It produces yellow flowers.
The non-edible version, the Aloe vera var.
Chinensis is used mostly for treating burns and skin ulcers and has narrow leaves that aren't as thick.
You can scoop the gel out with a spoon or slice off the other side of the skin.
Cut the gel into cubes and rinse them to wash off any dirt or the bitter latex, which is the yellow residue you may see.
You can eat the aloe chunks raw or use a gentle cooking method like poaching, blanching or steaming.
Aloe vera juice is a rich source of antioxidants, which help fight free radicals.
This lowers oxidative stress on your body and reduces the risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or even cancer.
Aloe vera juice is also an excellent source of: Vitamin C.
As an oral supplement, aloe has no set dose.
For constipation, some use 100-200 milligrams of aloe juice -- or 50 milligrams of aloe extract -- daily as needed.
For diabetes, 1 tablespoon of the gel has been used daily.
High oral doses of aloe or aloe latex are dangerous.
Some side effects of eating Aloe Vera Plant include.
Blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Burning and itching of the skin (infrequent)
Stomach pain and cramps (high doses)
Diarrhea, kidney problems, blood in the urine, low potassium, muscle weakness, weight loss, and heart disturbances (long-term use at high doses)
Liver problems (rare)