The word “aloe” is derived from the Arabic word alloeh, which translates to “bitter and shiny substance”, while “vera” comes from the Latin word for truth.[1]
Historical use of Aloe vera dates back to 2100 BC, as evidenced by its mention on a Mesopotamian clay tablet. Aloe vera was also documented in a papyrus discovered in a sarcophagus near Thebes (Egypt), and it was recognized for its therapeutic properties by ancient physicians such as Dioscorides, Pliny the Elder, and Galen.
Though there isn't definitive historical evidence, it's believed that Egyptian queens Nefertiti and Cleopatra incorporated Aloe vera into their beauty regimens. Another legend says that Alexander the Great (333 BC) was encouraged by Aristotle to conquer Socotra Island, in the Indian Ocean, to obtain its abundant, medicinal aloe.[2][3]