Aloe Vera: Nature’s Miracle Plant

Aloe Vera Plant

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I first came in contact with Aloe Vera when I was a little girl vacationing in Arizona. The strong vibrant green plant grew wild in the southwest desert. When I got a sunburn, my Mom would go outside and pick some Aloe Vera, squeeze the gel from the plant and apply it to my skin. Immediately the sting from my sunburn faded as the cool gel of the Aloe Vera settled into my skin. Today, I prefer an Aloe Vera wrap and massage at a spa after a long day outdoors to unwind and relax.

Aloe Vera has been used for thousands of years for its healing properties and as an ancient secret to radiant skin. The plant is native to the Southern part of Africa. Over the last 6,000 years the plant has spread across the world and can now be found growing wild just about anywhere with warm climates that are frost free. Since the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, Aloe Vera has been used as both a medicine and beauty aid.

Aloe Vera Cream

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If you want smooth and glowing skin, Aloe Vera is the secret. It is high in Vitamins C and E, which have preventative aging properties that nourish your skin, and a protective agent shielding the body from toxins.  This stalky light green plant with pointy edges is revered for its strong anti-oxidant properties. It a powerful moisturizer that your skins cells will happily drink.  It has also been shown to stimulate collagen production leaving your skin fresh and reducing stretch marks and visible lines.  The plant acts as a powerful anti-aging agent protecting the skin from free radicals. It is a gel like substance that when applied to the skin leaves a cooling sensation and is watery, so it does not leave an oily residue on your skin.

Aloe Vera Wrap

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Aloe Vera has the basic building blocks of life including essential vitamins, minerals, proteins, enzymes and amino acids.  It is a powerful anti-oxidant that oxygenates the blood and energizes the cells, hydrates skin and repairs skin tissue.  When consumed orally it alkalizes the body helping to balance overly acidic dietary habits, boost cardiovascular performance, and stabilizes blood pressure. It has also been shown to protect the skin from skin cancer, so applying some Aloe Vera after a sunburn not only provides your skin with relief but also protects it from sun damage. It is important to use high quality Aloe Vera that is organic to maximize the benefits. Unfortunately, its popularity has led to the production of a lot of inferior products.

Aloe Vera Properties

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An Aloe Vera wrap is a great way to replenish your skin.  Crocodile Bay’s spa offers Aloe Vera wraps and uses only the highest quality organic product available. After a long day of rappelling in Corcovado National Park or offshore fishing in the Osa Peninsula, an Aloe Vera wrap may be the thing that calls you right before dinner.  If you find yourself sunburned from a day of outdoor activities, a spa day with an Aloe Vera wrap may be just what you need to indulge in to relax and replenish your skin.  Spa days are great ways to relax before a wedding or celebrate a birthday but they can really come in handy when all your muscles are aching from climbing all day and you need a little pampering.