Aloe Vera: The Plant of Immortality

A LOOK INTO THE PAST

Travel back in time with me to the early 1400s. You are traveling from Portugal, exploring new lands with your fellow sailors. It’s a scorchingly hot sunny day. You are on deck duty, peering out towards the endless blue horizon with your hand shading your eyes. The sun’s rays seem almost unbearable, and you notice your skin is starting to sting. The captain has had you working very hard all morning and the sun’s effects are beginning to surface. All of a sudden you remember the Aloe Barbadensis plants some crew members brought on board this time. These magical plants contain a jelly-like substance in the middle that cures many ailments for the crew. You hurry to get some Aloe before the burn begins to peel. You cut a small chunk off from one of the plants. Carefully, you cut the sharp edges off revealing the gooey substance. You cut it down the center and proceed to rub it into your skin. You feel instant relief as the aloe soothes and cools your skin. Its antioxidants are working to ward off any bacteria you may have caught on board. The enzymes in the Aloe reduce inflammation, alleviating some of the pain caused by your burn. You continue to put aloe vera on your skin in the following days. Your recovery process is made less intense as the miracle plant does its magic, and you are able to enjoy the beauty and adventure of your sea voyage.

Aloe Barbadensis is known for its ability to help a sunburn. This plant was brought to Barbados by Portuguese sailors and became the only plant grown on ships to treat all manner of wounds. The use of Aloe Vera was popularized around 6 BC when the Greek physician Dioscorides discovered its medicinal properties. 6,000 years ago Egyptian queens used this “plant of immortality” for beauty, and it was used as a funeral gift for pharaohs. Aloe has become the go-to plant for burns in our society today. Many studies have been done using this magical plant and it has been used to treat hundreds of ailments.

We at Oxygenetix love this fascinating plant. Aloe Barbadensis is the base in all of our products instead of traditional water and oils. Water and oil based products can be occlusive to the skin, clogging pores and damaging skin cells. The Aloe base in Oxygenetix in conjunction with our patented Ceravitae® increases Oxygen uptake to the skin and produces skin cell renewal.

INTERVIEW WITH A CHEMIST

Dr. Raymond Albert Schep is the Chief Chemist here at Oxygenetix. He has a Doctorate Degree in Chemistry and he is the author of the book Eat Right for Life. He has the classic scientist appearance in his white lab coat, surrounded by shelves of ingredients, products, beakers, and machines. We sat down with Raymond at the Lab to discuss why Aloe Vera plays such a big role in Oxygenetix products.

Dr. Raymond explained the importance of having a pure substance in skincare products to work with. Water, even in purified form, can have “trace amounts of pesticides and chlorine which cause all kinds of cancer and so on.” This is one reason why we have chosen Aloe as a base, which is purified from nature. Raymond stated, “the juice that comes from the aloe vera plant is purified from the roots, and therefore is the purest liquid we can get. It has all the properties from the plant which are moisturizing, great for skin health and work as a suspension agent holding the ingredients together.”

SKINCARE USES FOR ALOE

ALOE FOR ACNE

Did you know 50% of adults suffer from adult acne breakouts? Just when you thought your hormonal teenage acne was over, it can come back with a vengeance. It is important to choose products that can help to prevent breakouts, not just cover them up and make them worse.

Aloe Vera is the base for Oxygenetix Acne Control Foundation. Upon application it works to calm the skin with Aloe's enzymes, increasing blood circulation to help support damaged tissues. Aloe Vera contains powerful antioxidants. These polyphenols act as a defense system for the skin, warding off harmful bacteria. You can safely conceal your acne with peace of mind knowing you are treating it with 2% Salicylic Acid while looking and feeling beautiful during the process.

ALOE FOR BURNS

Aloe is the most popular remedy for burns as it instantly reduces pain caused by the burn and helps to heal the affected areas. Aloe’s magnesium content and fatty acids act as an anesthetic soothing the pain on contact. It is so gentle it can be used on any part of the body and it contains antibacterial compounds, warding off harmful bacteria. Oxygenetix Hydro-Matrix and Oxygenating Foundation have been used by burn victims as well as after laser-procedures. These products have paved the way to cover up compromised skin immediately.

MOISTURIZING ALOE

Recent studies suggest that Aloe may help with dry skin. It has been used to hydrate skin for a long time because it’s moisturizing but not greasy. Oily and sensitive skin benefit from this kind of moisture.

ALOE FOR WRINKLES

When taken internally, Aloe gel naturally promotes collagen production. A study was done in 2009 and was published in the Annals of Dermatology about the effectiveness of Aloe Gel in anti-aging. 30 women over the age of 45 took Aloe gel orally for 90 days. The results were incredible. Facial wrinkles and elasticity improved significantly in the women, proving that Aloe is a great promoter of collagen production. As we age, we lose 20-80% of our skin’s thickness due to weakening of the skin cells that produce collagen and elastin. By taking Aloe gel internally as well as using it topically, you will quickly see why the Egyptians called it the “plant of immortality”.

Safety Tip: Make sure to take Aloe Vera Gel that is created for ingesting, not Aloe Latex as that can be harmful.

As you can see, Aloe Vera is truly a magical plant. The closer we can get to nature the better it is for our health.

Thank you for taking time for yourself and your health today to read this blog!