There are around 350 varieties of aloe plant in the world but the most powerful in medical terms is the Aloe Barbadensis Miller, commonly known as Aloe Vera. It is often mistaken for a cactus due to its long spiky leaves but is actually a member of the lily family and related to onions, garlic and asparagus.

All aloe species originated in Africa but can now be found in many parts of the world that are hot and dry. Its medicinal qualities have been recorded across the centuries, sometimes in ancient documents and sometimes through myths. Alexander the Great was reported to have captured the island of Socrotra in the Indian Ocean because it was rich in aloe plant which he needed to treat his wounded troops. In 1862 George Ebers discovered an Egyptian papyrus dated around 1500BC describing the use of aloe in drugs and cosmetics. Further evidence shows aloe used through Ancient Greek, Roman, Babylonian, Indian and Chinese peoples. Today there are numerous books available on the subject extolling the health benefits of drinking and applying the products both to humans and to animals.

The rapid increase in popularity of modern medicines and the improvement of documented medical science in the western world led to the declining use of aloe until recently. Now many people are concerned about the long term effects of strong modern medicines and are looking to herbal remedies to solve their ailments.

It is possible to buy many aloe products from all sorts of sources but it wise to exercise caution when considering such a purchase. Many manufacturers add just a small amount of aloe to enable them to use the ‘with aloe vera’ text. Others use whole leaf aloe which contains a powerful laxative that needs to be filtered out. Such filtering can remove the nutrients that make aloe such a beneficial substance. The beneficial part of the plant is the gel and it is this that is used in the FLP drinks and creams.

The useless rind is used as natural fertiliser in the aloe plantations.