Aloe Vera (Barbadensis Miller) is a cactus-like plant growing in the warmer climates of the world. It is in fact a member of the lily/onion/asparagus family of plants.

Barbadensis Miller is the most potent of all the species of healing aloes. Aloe Vera leaves are carefully harvested and only the prime leaves are filleted. The pure gel is carefully stabilised and then combined with 100% pure and natural products to make a number of unique state-of-the-art skin care products.

Aloe vera is a veritable treasure chest of nutritional ingredients. The list of amino-acids, enzymes, minerals, polysaccharides, vitamins and other key categories of naturally occurring ingredients reads like a 'what's What' of nutrition. Aloe undoubtedly contains a unique spectrum of 'micronutrients' and the opinion of the many 'aloe gurus' who have painstakingly investigated aloe vera over the years seems to conclude that there is no one single, so-called 'magic ingredient. Rather it is the synergistic way in which all of the nutritional components work that gives aloe vera its incredible healing and nutritional properties and health-giving benefits.

The natural chemical constituents of aloe vera can be categorised in the following main areas:

• Amino acids
  These are the building blocks of protein and affect brain function, including emotion. Twenty amino acids are considered necessary for good health and the body is able to 'manufacture' only twelve, all except the eight 'essential' (essential because the body does not manufacture them itself) amino acids, which we have to introduce through our food and drink intake. All of the eight essential amino acids can be found in aloe vera.
• Anthraquinones
  At the low concentrations present in the aloe vera gel, these act as a tonic for the digestive system by strengthening the digestive muscle; being effective natural analgesics (painkillers) and having powerful virucidal, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties.
• Enzymes
  These are critical to both human and animal life and their function is to break down the proteins in the food we eat into amino acids. These are then absorbed by the body and converted back by the enzymes into body protein. Essentially, enzymes turn the food we eat into fuel for every cell in our body, so enabling those cells to function and our body to operate efficiently.
• Lignin
  This is a cellulose substance that seems to give aloe vera its powerful penetrative properties.
• Minerals
  To date many different minerals have been found in aloe vera, the most important being; calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorous, sodium, and zinc.
• Mono and polysaccharides
  The monosaccharides are simple structures including glucose, fructose and mannose that are readily broken down by enzyme action and then absorbed by the body. Polysaccharides are complex, long-chain sugars which have the ability to retain their structure and are thus not broken down but absorbed whole by cells in different parts of the body, e.g. in the digestive tract. This process means that the polysaccharides enter the blood stream intact. One polysaccharide in particular - acemannan - has now been shown to have significant health-giving properties. It;
  • Restores and boosts the immune system
  • Is anti-viral
  • Stimulates the production of macrophages ( large white blood cells)
  • Increases the capacity of T-lymphocytes by up to fifty percent
• Salicylic acid
  This substance is similar in its properties to aspirin in that it helps to reduce fever and inflammation by lowering the body's temperature. This is what helps give aloe vera its anti-pyretic properties
• Saponins
  These are natural soapy substances that have both cleansing and antiseptic properties.
• Sterols
  These are naturally occurring plant steroids with analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
• Vitamins
  Aloe vera contains many vitamins, the main ones are:
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin B1
  • Vitamin B2
  • Vitamin B3
  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin E
  • Folic acid

Aloe Vera is versatile - our wide range includes drinks, skincare, personal care and cosmetics. The key to our success is that we don't simply add a few drops of Aloe Vera to our products, we start with 100% inner gel and add just enough other ingredients as needed. Poor diet, stress, caffeine, over-processed foods etc. can all lead to less than tip-top health. Aloe, with its wealth of essential nutrients, can help redress the balance

Aloe Vera is the principle ingredient in all of our exclusive skin care range and Forever Living Products own 80% of the world's cultivatable Aloe Vera crops. By contrast, many other companies adding Aloe Vera to their products, will list it right at the bottom of their ingredient listing, meaning they have only a very small percentage of Aloe Vera in their products.

Our products provide high percentages of Aloe Vera, giving us excellent, soothing and moisturising qualities in our exclusive skin care range.

• Due to lignins, Aloe Vera has the ability to penetrate the skin, taking its soothing properties down to the damaged area. It then strips the toxic materials, increases the blood circulation to the area and flushes the dead tissue away. It is also keratolytic, (i.e. destroys and softens hard skin).
• Saponins - natural cleanser and antiseptic.
• Anthraquinones (12) - antifungal, antibacterial, antivirucidal, excellent painkiller.
• Nutrients - 75 nutritional compounds including A, C & E - all powerful
• antioxidants and plant sterols which have a natural anti-inflammatory action.
• Antipyretic - reduces heat.
• Antipruritic - soothes itching
• The FDA in the USA confirms that Aloe Vera has properties that enhance the regeneration of new tissue, resulting in an accelerated rate of renewal.
• Giberellin, in Aloe Vera, acts as a growth hormone - stimulating the growth of new cells.
• Aloe Vera moisturises without closing off oxygen, which is crucial to the repair process, and as it does so, it replaces lost fluids, that are needed in the process. This could be why Aloe Vera helps reduce scarring so effectively.
• Aloe Vera has almost the same pH factor as the human skin and is naturally hypoallergenic.
• It is when Aloe is combined with emollients and moisturisers that the remarkable synergistic benefits of Aloe Vera can be fully demonstrated on the skin's condition.
• You only get good results if you have good tissue, Aloe Vera revitalises good tissue and improves the tissue function from cellular level.