ALOE VERA (Aloe vera syn. A. barbadensis)

Native to Africa, aloe vera is commonly cultivated elsewhere. The clear gel found inside the plant's leaf and the rystalline part found alongside the leaf blade, which contains aloin, are both used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The clear gel is a remarkably effective healer of wounds and burns, speeding up the rate of healing and reducing the risk of infection. The brownish part containing aloin is a strong laxative, useful for short-term constipation. Aloe is present in many cosmetic's formulae because its emollient and scar preventing properties.