Sometimes referred to as “the plant of immortality,” aloe has for centuries benefited its users. Most commonly used in beauty products and sunscreens, few people realize aloe’s versatility and potential. For example, not many know one can drink aloe juice, unlike Lynne Bonner Redd who drinks it daily, insisting it tastes like fizzy water and that her digestion has improved. Aloe is known as a healing plant, for sunburn, frostbite, and several skin and scalp conditions; and legend has it Cleopatra bathed in it to increase her beauty. Today many people practice similar aloe treatments, using aloe based eye creams and lotions to improve their skin and help slow aging.            

  With all these benefits, it’s no

wonder why many spas have begun to offer aloe-related treatments. The anti-inflammatory properties of aloe make it great for patients suffering from sunburn, it allows the skin to cool and heal. The Linden Spa in St. Michaels utilizes aloe right from the plant itself. "You just break off a piece of the leaf and apply the gel," says Jenny Ferrand, the spa's director and a licensed aesthetician and massage therapist. Also, spas in Aruba are famous for their aloe-based treatments, as Aruban aloe is very pure. Spas and beauty companies alike all depend upon the healing powers of aloe, especially in today’s world where people are searching for natural supplements to their normal health regimens. (Owens, Baltimore Sun, 7/31/08)