ABSTRACT
Aloe vera has a long history of popular and traditional use. It is used in traditional Indian medicine for constipation, colic, skin diseases, worm infestation, and infections (Heber 2007). It is also used in Trinidad and Tobago for hypertension (Lans 2006) and among Mexican Americans for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM; Coronado et al. 2004). In Chinese medicine, it is often
3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 37 3.2 Taxonomy and Traditional Origins ......................................................................................... 38 3.3 Current Usage ......................................................................................................................... 38 3.4 Structure and Chemical Constituents ..................................................................................... 38 3.5 Effect of Cultivation and Processing ...................................................................................... 41 3.6 Health Effects: The Scienti˜c Evidence ................................................................................. 41
3.6.1 Topical Applications ................................................................................................... 41 3.6.1.1 Dermatological Conditions .......................................................................... 41 3.6.1.2 Burn Injuries ................................................................................................44 3.6.1.3 Surgical Wound Healing ..............................................................................44
