Aloe vera gel is widely known to relieve sunburn and help heal wounds. But did you know that your favourite potted plant can be used for much more than sunburn relief and household décor?

The succulent has a long history of being used for medicinal purposes, dating back to ancient Egypt. The plant is native to North Africa, Southern Europe, and the Canary Islands. Today, aloe vera is grown in tropical climates worldwide.

When taken at meal times, aloe has proven to decrease heartburn and other digestion related products, including IBS. Aloe has been widely considered as a natural and safe laxative too, making it the perfect solution to constipation.

There are some side effects of using Aloe vera, in particular its ability to make some oral medications less effective. Please use caution when ingesting aloe vera internally and combining it with existing medication.