Excerpt
Aloe Vera
Dr. Vera, being a plant and also a healer, what brought you to the world of medicine?
I guess you might say medicine found me. I was brought to the new world from North Africa by Spanish Padres. My inner gel has been used in several lotions as an important ingredient.
As a healer, what has been your biggest contribution to the medical field?
My medicine has been used for centuries as a treatment for burns and skin afflictions. After my yellow flowers bloom from my spikes, humans cut my stalks and drain my aloe. You can often find me on window ledges in human households. I instantly make a burn feel better once you cut open one of my leaves and extract my gel.
As a plant, what makes you remarkable?
I am a succulent. I store a lot of water in my thick, fleshy leaves, which has helped me adapt to desert conditions. The gel in my leaves is very important to me. If a leaf is cut off, I immediately heal over the end to retain my plumpness. I guess you could say I’m a self-healer, and a healer to humans.