The Medicinal History of Aloe Vera

Health Benefits of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a succulent plant with a long history of medicinal use. Originally native to the Arabian Peninsula, the aloe vera plant now grows in tropical and arid climates across the globe. It was regarded by the Ancient Greeks as the panacea—a universal remedy for all diseases and ailments. In Ancient Egypt, aloe vera was known as the plant of immortality. In modern times, the aloe plant is commonly used in cosmetics, skincare and beverage products.

Great-Tasting Aloe Vera Tea

Cleanse, nourish, and beautify your skin from the inside out with Beautifying Botanicals® Clean Beauty™ Herbal Tea. This gentle infusion features a blend of pampering herbal ingredients, including aloe vera, sea buckthorn berry, hibiscus, rose hips and milk thistle. 

Beautifying Botanicals® Berry Aloe Iced Tea includes the same herbal ingredients as Clean Beauty™, portioned into our signature large iced tea pouches. Pamper your skin as you sip and savor this sweet-tart, fresh, coral-hued infusion.

Wellness Benefits of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has long been associated with beauty, smooth skin and overall wellness. Inside each of the plant’s triangular leaves is a thick, clear gel that contains 99% water and a blend of vitamins, minerals, lipids, amino acids, glucomannans and sterols. Aloe vera is rich in antioxidants, which help neutralize free radicals in the body.*

The aloe vera plant is also highly regarded for its detoxifying properties.* It is incredibly water-dense, making it a wonderful hydrating addition to teas and other beverages. Aloe vera has an alkalizing nature, and may help the body maintain a healthy acid-alkaline balance.*

Aloe Vera Origins and History

The name “aloe vera” is derived from the Arabic word alloeh, which means “shining bitter substance,” and the Latin word vera, meaning “true.” Aloe had important medicinal uses, primarily in treating fevers and burns.

In Egypt, the first written records of the plant date back almost 6,000 years. Aloe vera was regarded as sacred, as the liquid inside the leaves was said to contain the divine secrets of beauty and immortality. The famed Egyptian queens Cleopatra and Nefertiti were both believed to have used aloe vera juice as part of their daily beauty rituals. 

According to legend, Aristotle convinced Alexander the Great to seize the island Socotra for the purpose of gaining access to the isle’s aloe groves. In doing so, Alexander the Great supposedly acquired enough medication to treat the wounds of all his warriors. 

Aloe vera is known in Sanskrit as ghrita kumara. It is one of the only plants believed to balance all three of the doshas in traditional Ayurvedic medicine: pitta, kapha and vata. Aloe is applied in numerous applications and is considered to be highly rejuvenating and healing, especially for women. 

In the sixteenth century, European explorers began transporting the aloe vera plant to North and South America. Native American healers adopted the plant into their healing practices and used it to soothe and heal irritated skin.