Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera grows wild in tropical climates around the world and is cultivated for agricultural and medicinal uses. Aloe is also used for decorative purposes and grows successfully indoors as a potted plant. It is found in many consumer products including beverages, skin lotion, cosmetics, or ointments for minor burns and sunburns.

Aloe vera flourishes in warm, dry climates, and many people mistake it for a cactus, but, in fact it is a member of the lily family. It stays moist when other plants would wilt and die by closing its pores to prevent the loss of moisture. There are over 200 varieties of aloe, but it is the Aloe Barbadensis Miller (aloe vera ) plant which has been of most use to mankind due to its beneficial properties.  

Ancient records show that the benefits of aloe vera have been known for millennia. Its therapeutic qualities have been used for more than 5000 years. George Ebers first discovered its antiquity in 1862 in an Egyptian papyrus dated 1500 BC. Greek and Roman physicians used it to great effect as a medicinal herb. Researchers have also found that both the ancient Chinese and Indian cultures used aloe vera. Egyptian queens used it in their quest for physical beauty. Aloe plants are referred to in the Bible and legend suggests that Alexander the Great conquered the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean to make a supply of aloe plants available for his wounded soldiers.  

However, the advent of documented medical science in the western world, and the power shift towards more temperate climates led to a decline in the use and availability of aloe vera.  

Nowadays, although medicines and drugs can be very effective in treating ailments, long-term use often involves side effects for patients. Consequently, more consumers and scientists are turning back to look at more traditional, natural therapies which have been long neglected. As a result, aloe vera is once again attracting attention since it can provide many benefits to our health and lifestyle. Hardly a week goes by without the benefits of aloe vera being highlighted in the 'health' pages of major national newspapers.  

However, the use of aloe vera in climates where it does not grow is only made possible by a process called stabilisation. For example, if you slice an apple and leave it open to the air, the fruit quickly discolours - it is the same with aloe. In the wild, the inner leaf gel is protected by the fleshy outer rind that prevents moisture loss and protects it from the atmosphere. Once the leaf is cut, the process of oxidation begins which, if left, would deplete the precious gel of many of its beneficial properties. Stabilisation is a method of preserving the gel, in a state as close as possible to its original form, without losing the original potency and effectiveness of the fresh leaf. Without stabilisation, the product would degrade even under refrigeration. Forever owns patents on the stabilisation process, reflecting its expertise in aloe that is second to none. As a Distributor of Forever, you can now share in the success of this remarkable Company, whilst bringing genuine benefits to your Customers in a marketplace that knows no barriers of age, gender or culture.