Aloe Vera
This is one of my most favorite plants in the whole great big world!
Aloe Vera has been used to heal both internally and externally. Derived from the Aloe Vera plant, it has long, spiked leaves, which are thick-skinned and contain a clear gel-like substance. It is used today in many products, including cosmetics, skin lotions and moisturizers, burn gels and even sun screen creams.
I remember when I was younger my grandmother always had at least one aloe plant in the kitchen and anytime any of us kids got a bug bite, or a scrape a leaf would get broken open. It was also used to treat my skin allergies on more than one occasion and I will never forget the comfort that little plant provided me. It’s also one of the easiest potted plants to take care of! If I can grow an aloe plant anyone can, because as much as I’d like it to be my thumb is definitely not green.
Aloe speeds the healing of many skin injuries, including burns, hives and poison ivy; and also acts as a laxative. For minor burns, the stabilized aloe gel is applied topically to the affected area of the skin three to five times per day. Treatment of more serious burns should only be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional. In addition, apart from providing relief from itching, it helps to heal blisters and sores. For people suffering from Psoriasis, Aloe Vera has provided relief by reducing the pain and itching. It has been proved that the gel causes considerable improvement in the nature of lesions as well.
The laxative element of the plant works by preventing the absorption of water from the bowel. For constipation, a single 50-200 mg capsule of aloe latex can be taken each day for a maximum of ten days. This component of Aloe also kills some bacteria, and is believed to act against a variety of viruses including herpes, chickenpox, and flu. It is recommended not to combine Aloe with other medications that are used to flush water and potassium from the body.
For internal use of aloe gel, two tablespoons, three times per day, is used by some people for inflammatory bowel conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and colitis. However, while commercial gels and juices, which are processed under strict controls, can be found at most health food stores as well as many supermarkets, it is always recommended that one consult a physician before self-treating a medical condition.
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June 29th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
I’m always amazed by just how useful plants are. I always keep some aloe around, too, just for minor burns. I never knew about all these other uses. Thanks!
June 30th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
I’ve got a friend who swears by rubbing aloe on her face after washing it at night. She’s 53, and her skin looks better at her age than mine ever has!
June 30th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
i love aloe but i had a minor bit of irritation on my skin after using a bar of aloe soap recently…i’m hoping it was a one time thing
July 3rd, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Hi. I have a few aloe vera plants which i give minimal care. I use it on my face when I remember to but especially for mosquitoe bites. It’s great for minor skin complaints. I know someone who scrapes out the flesh from the inside and swallows it like that, says it’s great for the intestines. Never done that though. Stuff tastes awful!
July 4th, 2007 at 7:46 am
My goodness I forgot all about aloe vera plants until I read this post. Growing up we always had at least one plant in our house. My dad swore by them. This reminded me that I really need to go find a plant.
July 4th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
I’m stocked on aloe vera gel for the summer
July 5th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
here is a picture of the aloe vera plants in my yard this past spring (my original post has been wiped out…)