What is Aloe Vera? The Aloe Vera plant is a succulent perennial and a species of plant belonging to the Lily family which is part of a larger family of plants known as "Xeroids". Of the known medicinal Aloes, Aloe Barbadensis Miller has the Greatest medicinal activity and is the only Aloe baring the botanical name Aloe Vera, Vera meaning true in Latin, Thus "True Aloe" or "Aloe Vera".

Whole Leaf & Cold Process Aloe Vera contains over 100 separate ingredients in its leaf and gel. Some of the most desirable constituents, because of their wellknown health supporting benefits, are the polysaccharides, or glucomannans, the glycoproteins and associated growth factors.

Other advantages of the whole leaf, cold processing method include, increased total solids concentration, increased polysaccharide concentration and virtual absence of undesirable anthraquinones. Also, increased concentration in permeability factors, which can enhance uptake in the body, improved taste, increased growth factors for healing and increased concentration of immune system support phytonutrients.

Substances Found in Aloe Vera According to Stanford University of California and the University of Tennessee researchers and other scientists, substances reported to occur in Aloe Vera gel include polysaccharides containing glucose, mannose, tannins, steroids, organic acids, antibiotic principles, glucuronic acid, enzymes, (oxidase,catalase, and amylase), trace sugar, calcium oxalate, a protein containing 18 amino acids, "wound healing hormones", biogenic stimulators, sapoin, vitamins, and mineral: chloride, sulfate, iron , calcium copper, sodium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, silicon, and phosphatide esters.