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Neeta Lal

Long before beauty lotions and potions became trendy, I remember my 93-year-old grandmother slathering aloe vera gel on her face every night.
Inspired by her glowing skin that made her look years younger, I too would scoop the jelly-like substance from inside the leaves of the aloe plants she grew in our backyard and massage it into my face.
The gel’s cool texture, and its translucence on my skin, made me take an instant liking to it.
Over the years, an aloe vera massage has become part of my beauty regimen even though grandma isn’t around to see me reap its benefits.

Reading up about the aloe vera plant, known also as the Lily of the Desert, I was thrilled to know that, as a fan, I was in august company.
Egyptian queens Cleopatra and Nefertiti, as well as Bollywood and Hollywood celebs, have applied aloe vera gel and consumed its juice for its health and beauty benefits.
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Drew Barrymore, Nicky Minaj, Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone are fans. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, 56, recommends drinking aloe vera juice to those who compliment him on his youthful appearance.
According to Anjali Asok, an Ayurvedic practitioner based in Bangalore, India, the skin absorbs aloe vera up to four times faster than water. The gel is a natural astringent, helping to tighten pores and hydrate the skin.
“Its antiseptic property eliminates skin infections, healing wounds and mild burns while slowing down skin ageing. It also helps in tan removal, treatment of sunburn and stretch marks,” Asok says.

Historical records show that Alexander the Great, ancient king of Macedonia, and 15th century Italian explorer Christopher Columbus both used aloe gel to treat soldiers’ wounds.
The United States Pharmacopeia described aloe vera preparations as a skin protectant as early as 1810. In the 1930s, the plant was found to be an effective treatment for X-ray burns.
Studies have found that aloe vera can reduce the healing time of serious burns to around nine days – faster than Western medicines can achieve. It also helps prevent redness, itching and infections.

Aloe vera is a stout and hardy plant resembling a cactus, though it is a member of the lily family. You can buy aloe vera gel, juice or leaves, or you can easily grow your own plant at home in a pot. It thrives with minimal care.
Aloe vera leaves have three main layers: the green outer skin, clear gel inside, and yellow latex in between. To prepare the gel for consumption, the key is to remove all the latex from the gel; it contains a natural laxative known as aloin, which may be harmful in large quantities.
To make your own aloe vera juice, after cutting open the leaf and carefully slicing the clear gel away from the latex, give it a good rinse and blend it with water.

The gel has more than 75 nutrients and 200 active compounds, including 20 minerals, 18 amino acids and 12 vitamins.
According to the Cleveland Clinic in the US state of Ohio, aloe vera is rich in antioxidants, helping to reduce your chances of developing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, and protecting eye health.
It also contains calcium and magnesium, and drinking aloe vera juice can help athletes with muscle recovery.
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“Aloe vera is called kumari in Sanskrit, meaning ‘young girl’, as traditionally in Ayurveda it is used to address acne and menstrual issues,” says Ayurvedic practitioner Ruchi Gulati, based in the northern Indian city of Noida. “The plant always looks young even after years of growth.”
The gel helps to heal pimples, burn wounds, blisters and allergic skin diseases, Gulati says.
If acne is cystic or infected, then it is best to add triphala powder (a combination of three dried fruits, including Indian gooseberry) and turmeric to the gel and apply.
Gulati recommends taking a tablespoon of aloe vera gel or juice on an empty stomach daily. To relieve constipation and detoxify the system, she advises having five to 10 grams of aloe vera juice with a pinch of rock salt.

“Apart from strengthening digestion, this also helps address acidity and bloating, improving appetite as well as kidney, liver and gallbladder function,” she says.
Aloe vera juice is beneficial for type 2 diabetics, and for women with amenorrhoea (missing periods).
Aloe vera may be combined with “heating” herbs such as asafoetida, or hing spice, and made into pills called rajah pravartini vati, which help digestion, Gulati says.
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As well as applying it directly, you can make a face and body scrub by combining half a cup of fresh aloe vera gel with a cup of sugar and two tablespoons of lemon juice.
Aloe vera also acts as a great hair treatment, adds Asok.
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“It promotes hair growth, prevents itching on the scalp, reduces dandruff and conditions hair. It has a chemical make-up that mimics keratin structure and rejuvenates the hair, preventing breakage,” she says.
“Mix equal quantities of aloe vera juice and extra virgin coconut oil and apply for a couple of hours every week before rinsing.”
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Wellness

Aloe vera: why Nicki Minaj, Drew Barrymore, Salman Khan love it – and Cleopatra and Christopher Columbus too – and how it can help you

Aloe vera plants have many names, including the healing plant, the miracle plant and the burn plant. Photo: Shutterstock

Nicki Minaj and Drew Barrymore swear by aloe vera, Cleopatra and Nefertiti were fans and even Christopher Columbus and Alexander the Great used it to treat wounds. Photo: AFP

Cleopatra was reported to have used aloe vera in her beauty regimen. Photo: Shutterstock

 Bangalore-based Ayurvedic practitioner Anjali Asok says our skin absorbs aloe vera up to four times faster than water. Photo: Anjali Asok

Aloe vera plants resemble cactuses but are members of the lily family. Photo: Shutterstock

Aloe vera juice – the plant’s pulp mixed with water – may relieve constipation and detoxify the system, according to ayurvedic practitioners. Photo: Shutterstock

Ayurvedic practitioner Ruchi Gulati recommends taking a tablespoon of aloe vera gel or juice on an empty stomach daily. Photo: Ruchi Gulati

9 ways cardamom, the ‘queen of spices’, can boost your health, from better sex to fresher breath to weight loss

A cup full of cardamom pods. The seeds they contain have many potential health benefits, say practitioners of Ayurveda - traditional Indian medicine. Photo: Getty Images

Dr Dixa Bhavsar is an Ayurvedic practitioner in Gujarat in India. Photo: Dixa Bhavsar

Cardamom pods (front, centre) for sale in the Old Delhi spice market in India. Photo: Getty Images

Dr Madhumitha Krishnan is an Ayurvedic practitioner in Chennai. Photo: Madhumitha Krishnan

One way to ingest cardamom is to stir some into your tea. Photo: Getty Images

The health benefits of edible flowers – from better skin to aiding digestion to their anti-inflammatory properties

--NUR--

Flowers: Begonia flowers - snappy acidity  Borage flower - cucumber / oyster flavor Dill flowers - herbal dill note Nasturtium flowers - peppery sweetness   Herbs / leaves: Lemon balm - lemon scented herb acts to lift flavor Yarrow - woodland favor with mild bitterness adds complexity Begonia leave - adds sharp acidity Nasturtium leaf - adds mustard bitter notes   for Roasted mushroom in cultured butter Herbs & flowers, mushroom broth of NUR Restaurant in Central. 25MAR15 [2015 TRENDING 48HRS]

Violet flowers have many health benefits and are used in medicines, in teas and syrups, and in creams and lotions. Photo: Shutterstock

Montana Honeylion with calendula flowers, which have antifungal and antimicrobial properties, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant components. Photo: Montana Honeylion

Warrior Peak Botanicals’ limited-edition aphrodisiac vegan chocolate truffles contain hibiscus, rose and lavender. Photo: Instagram / @warriorpeakbotanicals

Nikhita Shere is an Ayurvedic practitioner. Photo: Nikhita Shere

The flowers of the palash tree have antioxidative and astringent properties. Photo: Shutterstock

The leaves of the moringa tree are often dried and ground into a powder for medicinal purposes, but the tree’s dainty white flowers also have health benefits when consumed. Photo: Shutterstock

Kavita Khosa, founder of sustainable skincare brand Purearth. Photo: Purearth

Krutika Nanavati is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and medical adviser for ClinicSpots. Photo: ClinicSpots

Wendy Lord is a registered dietitian and medical adviser. Photo: Wendy Lord

Queen Anne’s lace, easily confused with yarrow, is not good for your health. Photo: Shutterstock

Thinning hair, weak nails? How biotin – vitamin B7 – could help strengthen both, and fix dry skin, and its other essential functions

Taking a biotin (vitamin B7) supplement may help with thinning hair, cracked nails and problem skin. Photo: Shutterstock

Anna Flores is the founder of The Chaless Wellness and Beauty spa in Central, Hong Kong. Photo: Anna Flores

Button mushrooms are a good plant-based source of biotin, or vitamin B7, which may help grow healthy nails. Photo: Shutterstock

Cyrus Luk is a Hong Kong dietitian and an executive committee member of the Hong Kong Dietitians Association. Photo: Cyrus Luk

Edamame are one of the top plant-based sources of vitamin B7. Photo: Shutterstock

Biotin is not a magic bullet on its own for healthy hair, skin and nails. A good grooming routine is crucial. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Fashion & Beauty

The jelly-like substance taken from inside aloe vera leaves can be applied to the skin to heal and moisturise; aloe juice can be drunk for a wealth of benefits
Celebrities swear by it, Christopher Columbus and Alexander the Great treated their soldiers with it, and even Cleopatra was a fan


Nicki Minaj and Drew Barrymore swear by aloe vera, Cleopatra and Nefertiti were fans and even Christopher Columbus and Alexander the Great used it to treat wounds. Find out why it is such a wonder plant.


Ayurveda

How to age well

Beauty

Jada Pinkett Smith

Aloe vera: why Nicki Minaj, Drew Barrymore, Salman Khan love it – and Cleopatra and Christopher Columbus too – and how it can help you

The jelly-like substance taken from inside aloe vera leaves can be applied to the skin to heal and moisturise; aloe juice can be drunk for a wealth of benefits Celebrities swear by it, Christopher Columbus and Alexander the Great treated their soldiers with it, and even Cleopatra was a fan

The jelly-like substance taken from inside aloe vera leaves can be applied to the skin to heal and moisturise; aloe juice can be drunk for a wealth of benefits

Celebrities swear by it, Christopher Columbus and Alexander the Great treated their soldiers with it, and even Cleopatra was a fan