Award for the most popular health plant goes to…

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We all may look at tall and mighty in awe, but we love the grounded. This surely is true for the most popular health plant in the current times. If google-search hits are a reliable metric, this award goes to Aloe vera. In the post-covid world, Aloe vera has become a real money-spinner. Pundits estimate global Aloe extract market to be close to 2.8billion USD, 43% consumed by the cosmetics industry, and another 25% by health. As we become more and more health-conscious, succulent aloe vera plant seems to be our guardian angel. Today, it not only keeps our skin and hair shiny, but also our teeth bright. Maybe it is also an anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and a weight-regular, all rolled into one.

It comes from a humble background

Aloe vera is a succulent, a sturdy plant that grows well in hot and dry climate. There are more than 500 species of Aloe, all of them have similar properties. Aloe barbadensis or Aloe vera, both refer to the same plant. Originally from Arabian peninsula, ancient Egyptians, and Greeks used this plant extracts as far back as in 4th century BC. Scientists have now confirmed that all varieties of this plant travelled along the ancient trade routes, to reach Mediterranean, and then to Europe and Africa. Today this plant grows in wild or is cultivated across the world.

Aloe extract was initially used as a laxative. We continued to use aloin, a substance derived from aloe in laxative preparations till early 20th century. was Thereafter its sticky leaf-extract was used to treat wounds. While there are mentions that it was also an Egyptian beauty product, probably this was not a very popular use back in the past. With these humble beginnings, a turning point for aloe was yet to come.

Bill Coats: Godfather for Aloe vera

The extract from succulent Aloe plant is a sticky substance. This quickly degrades, once extracted from the plant. Hence, fresh aloe leaves are necessary for its use. In 1968, Bill Coates, an American pharmacist, reversed this concept. He figured out a method to maintain aloe extract as a Gel, in a stable form, outside its leaves. He patented this technology, and by 1974 was growing aloe plants in a plantation in Texas. As we started growing more of this plant, we also discovered that this succulent is both insect and bacteria-resistant. Thus, Aloe entered agriculture industry as a plant-protector.

In late 1970s, aloe had entered the cosmetics industry. Scientists reaffirmed that aloe gel is safe, when applied on the skin. Today its anti-oxidant effects, and ability to heal wounds are both exploited in cosmetic industry. Aloe is now part of a variety of creams, soaps, gels, wipes and other anti-ageing products. China, followed by India are largest exporters of Aloe vera across the world.

Beyond beauty products

Given a choice, humans will neither like to age or die. While both of these are inevitable, still we have a thriving longevity industry. Currently, Aloe vera is its flag-bearer. Beyond skin and beauty, aloe is used in tonics, and concoctions as an anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and a sort of a “blood-cleanser”. Aloe plant is sturdy, and probably logic is that it will make our bodies too. Scientific community is yet to provide a definitive evidence for all these benefits. There are some reports of a liver-toxicity from oral consumption of aloe leaves.

As Aloe has become popular, it has its wide philatelic presence too. My internet search has many more Aloe vera stamps than in this blog. While I hope to see my collection grow, growth of aloe vera industry remains to be seen. Probably it will continue to grow as predicted, or it will be taken over by another magical ingredient that does not make us die or age.