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Aloe vera is a medicinal plant that is famous for its healing and moisturizing properties, especially for the skin and hair. Historically, aloe vera has been used to treat people with skin disorders and burn injuries since it is considered safe and non-toxic. Because of the long list of benefits associated with its use, aloe vera has become a staple ingredient of creams, soaps, shampoos, and lotions (even your very own skincare staples)! Scroll down to learn more about the wonderful effects of aloe vera for boosting skin moisture and repair.
Historical Background
Aloe vera (Aloe vera L.) is commonly found in hot and dry areas, especially in Central America and Asia, where the plant has been used for centuries as a health supplement.1 The word aloe comes from the Arabic word meaning shining bitter substance, while vera is a Latin word meaning truth. Back in the day, aloe vera was used by the Egyptians for body care, even dubbing aloe vera as the plant of immortality. As a plant with a wide range of therapeutic effects, aloe vera is also known as the miracle gift of nature.1
Nutritional Components
The aloe vera plant is rich in nutrients that ultimately promote healing and repair. Its most important component is its leaf, which contains the liquid gold that is the aloe vera gel. This gel contains amino acids (a.k.a. the building blocks of proteins), healthy fats, chromones (which contain anti-inflammatory properties), vitamins, and sterols (essential components that maintain the strength and integrity of your cells).1 In fact, more than seventy-five (75) nutrients can be found within the aloe vera gel, including vitamins A, C, and E, which help nurture healthy, glowing skin!1
Bonus point! Aloe vera gel is also rich in salicylic acid, the famous ingredient of skincare brands that can help exfoliate your skin and maintain its youthful glow. Aside from its skin-saving properties, aloe vera is also effective in relieving pain, preventing constipation and infections, reducing inflammation, regulating your immune response, and preventing irritation.1 Skin Healing Effects
Dry and damaged skin may not only affect your physical health, but also your mental well-being. Because the skin serves as a protective barrier that safeguards your body from harmful microorganisms in the environment, a break in skin integrity can put you at risk of acquiring dangerous infections that will put your immune system out of balance. In a similar way, damaged skin can affect your mental health by affecting your self-esteem and confidence, especially during social interactions and events. Hence, healing is a vital process that your skin naturally undergoes after every injury. Aloe vera helps nurture this process, helping your skin to recover faster and healthier.
Aloe vera can help improve the flexibility and prevent your skin’s fragility through its hydrating properties, as 99% of aloe vera gel is made of water. Its amino acid and zinc components help nurture your skin’s natural integrity and prevent damage. Interestingly, the gel of the aloe vera plant can inhibit tyrosinase, which is an enzyme that promotes the production of melanin (the pigment that gives color to your skin, eye, and hair). This effect can be beneficial for those with hyperpigmentation or sunspots caused by this enzyme’s overactivity.1 Aloe vera is also considered safe and effective to use for people with burns because of its abilities to promote faster healing without having toxic effects.1 If it sounds like too much bother to make, no worries! We've linked some of our favorite aloe products for you to check out.
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The Naturopathic Approach
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements.
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
REFERENCES:
- Pescador Ruschel MA, De Jesus O. Migraine Headache. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; July 5, 2024.
- Shah N, Asuncion RMD, Hameed S. Muscle Contraction Tension Headache. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; December 11, 2024.
- Kandel SA, Mandiga P. Cluster Headache. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; July 4, 2023.
Let’s explore a few of the best herbs for mental health!
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.)
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)
If you are interested in exploring the wonders of chamomile tea for your mental wellness, we are happy to say that chamomile is generally safe to drink! However, contraindications may exist if you have skin conditions or allergic reactions caused by sensitivity to the plant’s family, which includes ragweed. Hence, it is important to explore the wonders of chamomile with your healthcare provider.
Relax & Focus |
Nourish Adrenals |
Calm & Think |
Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis L.)
As easy as it sounds, achieving good quality sleep can be difficult, with the environment, thought processes, and health status playing heavy roles. These factors are some of the many reasons why people may lean towards taking sedative-hypnotic medications to finally get adequate sleep. Although initially beneficial, the use of these medications can affect cognition and damage daytime performances.2 Valerian root is a special herb that effectively helps you get a good night’s rest after a long and tiring day, without that next-day hangover feeling pharmaceuticals leave you with. This plant promotes the action of adenosine, which is a chemical present in the body to maintain balance within the brain by preventing it from getting overexcited, as well as regulating the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.2
It is important, however, that the use of valerian root should be examined and monitored, as unregulated doses may increase anxiety levels, which is opposite to its intended purpose. A few people actually find valerian stimulating, so we recommend you don’t test it out for the first time the night before an important meeting! While many people love to use it as part of a nighttime tea, it is known for a rather funky taste and odor, so we’ve added a link for a capsule form we love that helps you avoid this taste.
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
With all the wonderful benefits that this plant can offer, it is important to keep in mind that St. John’s Wort may not be for everybody! For instance, St John’s Wort may not be effective and can cause adverse side effects when used with other medications, especially blood thinners such as warfarin, oral contraceptives, antidepressants, and anti-viral drugs for HIV patients.1 In fact, combining St. John’s Wort with some of the commonly prescribed mental health drugs (like SSRI’s and SNRI’s) can result in a potentially fatal reaction called serotonin syndrome. Hence, it is important for you to talk to your healthcare providers before including St. John’s Wort into your regimen.
At Natural Path to Wellness, our team of naturopathic medicine advisors will help you discover the best natural options for optimal mental wellness. Backed up by years of training and experience, we are committed to creating a personalized and holistic approach that includes the use of natural herbs and therapies selected for your unique case and preference.
The Naturopathic Approach
To learn more about the wonders of naturopathic medicine for you, talk to us today!
It is important to remember that the use of herbal medications should be thoroughly evaluated and monitored by your naturopathic doctor and communicated to your other healthcare providers to make sure your daily regimen is tailored to your case and preference, and that it does not interact with any prescribed medications. Additionally, it is vital to keep in mind that most herbal medicines are contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation and their use should be avoided to prevent harm to you and your baby. Talk to your naturopathic doctor to learn more about how to use herbs safely during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements.
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
REFERENCES:
- Peterson B, Nguyen H. St. John's Wort. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; May 16, 2023.
- Shinjyo N, Waddell G, Green J. Valerian Root in Treating Sleep Problems and Associated Disorders-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2020;25:2515690X20967323. doi:10.1177/2515690X20967323
The Skin Microbiome
The Impacts of Sun Exposure
Vitamin D From The Sun
Skin exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight creates a chemical reaction that converts molecules in the skin to Vitamin D3, which is the active counterpart of Vitamin D.7 However, the efficiency of this reaction vary depending on the geographical area, season, time, and person’s skin type. This means that vitamin D synthesis is more efficient when you live near the equator since you are able to receive greater amounts and durations of sunlight throughout the year. Additionally, lighter skin tones may require less exposure to sunlight than people with darker complexions to produce similar amounts of vitamin D since these individuals produce less melanin, a sun-protective pigment that is abundant in people with darker skin.
Sun-Protective Products
It is important to remember that you need a small amount of regular, unprotected sun exposure before blocking excess. Hence, identifying strategies such as the time of day to receive the right amount of sun exposure can help nurture your body’s vitamin D levels!
Are Sunscreens Toxic?
Foods That Help Protect You From Sun Damage
The Naturopathic Approach
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements.
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
REFERENCES:
- Raymond-Lezman JR, Riskin SI. Benefits and Risks of Sun Exposure to Maintain Adequate Vitamin D Levels. Cureus. 2023;15(5):e38578. Published 2023 May 5. doi:10.7759/cureus.38578
- Gabros S, Nessel TA, Zito PM. Sunscreens and Photoprotection. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; July 17, 2023.
- Paiva JP, Diniz RR, Leitão AC, et al. Insights and controversies on sunscreen safety. Crit Rev Toxicol. 2020;50(8):707-723. doi:10.1080/10408444.2020.1826899
- Ruszkiewicz JA, Pinkas A, Ferrer B, Peres TV, Tsatsakis A, Aschner M. Neurotoxic effect of active ingredients in sunscreen products, a contemporary review. Toxicol Rep. 2017;4:245-259. Published 2017 May 27. doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2017.05.006
- Morifuji M. The beneficial role of functional food components in mitigating ultraviolet-induced skin damage. Exp Dermatol. 2019;28 Suppl 1:28-31. doi:10.1111/exd.13825
- Baswan SM, Klosner AE, Weir C, et al. Role of ingestible carotenoids in skin protection: A review of clinical evidence. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2021;37(6):490-504. doi:10.1111/phpp.12690
- Nagaria TD, Shinde RK, Shukla S, Acharya S, Acharya N, Jogdand SD. The Sunlight-Vitamin D Connection: Implications for Patient Outcomes in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. Cureus. 2023;15(10):e46819. Published 2023 Oct 10. doi:10.7759/cureus.46819
THE BLOG AT NATURAL PATH TO WELLNESS
AuthorS
Natural Path to Wellness values community education and welcomes contributions from writers with a background in Naturopathic Medicine, natural health and wellness, herbalism, homeopathy, Nature Cure, and more.
Medical Reviewer:
Marney Johnson, ND, MSCI-TS is a Naturopathic Doctor and Naturopathic Medicine Advisor with a background in allopathic (standard American medicine) medical research, Dr. Johnson, is uniquely qualified to evaluate current scientific research and offer insight to help you make sense of how you can integrate natural medicine into your health plan. She is passionate about the roles of Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Nature in health and constantly seeks new ways to make these accessible through food as medicine, encouraging new, healthy habits, and promoting interaction with Nature in its many forms.
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