Aloe vera is a popular household and garden plant, but is also an extremely medicinal plant that has been used to heal for thousands of years. What is aloe good for? Many people know about aloe vera gel as the most natural remedy to treat sunburn, but did you know that aloe vera has many more benefits such as wound healing, improving skin conditions, lowering blood sugar and healing the digestive tract? True facts, plant people!
In Ancient Egypt, people used the therapeutic properties of this magical plant to heal wounds, as well as to keep their skin looking young and beautiful. Queen Cleopatra used aloe gel to keep her skin glowing and youthful! Perhaps due to the plant’s popularity amongst their divine rulers, the Egyptians referred to aloe as “the plant of immortality.”
If you’re into alternative or homeopathic medicine, you’ll definitely want to keep a few aloe vera plants around your home to whip up some potions ⚗️ And if not? Learning about aloe’s magical properties might just spark your curiosity!
What are the health benefits of aloe vera?
Aloe gel is a juicy, viscous elixir containing over 75 essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants including Vitamin A, C and E as well as B-12. It flushes toxins out of the body and is good for the digestive system.
There are many health benefits packed into this clear, nutrient-packed gel. Aloe gel:
- helps with eczema and psoriasis
- gets rid of ringworm and cysts
- helps to relieve insect bites, poison oak, poison ivy and mild cuts
- helps to heal cold sores & mouth sores
- helps to heal wounds & sunburns
- aids in weight loss
- it is an adaptogen for the body and alkalizes the body boosting the immune system
- detoxifies the body and supports kidney health
- hydrates and soothes the body
- has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties
- reduces high blood pressure
- balances digestion and protects your immune system against infections
What does aloe cure?
Aloe vera may cure many different diseases and skin disorders. In the past it was used internally to cleanse the stomach, throat, and diseases of the mouth. Its cooling and anti-inflammatory properties and natural enzymes help with indigestion and enhance the digestive systems functioning overall. In the case of inflammatory bowel disease, aloe gel taken internally has laxative effects that can help drive out parasites from your digestive tract. Just be careful to not consume the aloe latex (the layer right below the aloe’s skin that’s sometimes included in whole leaf extracts), since it can cause harmful side effects.
Aloe vera gel is often applied topically to ease inflammation, itchiness and redness. Aloe vera cream can help heal severe burns as well as any wounds, bruises or scars. An aloe vera mouthwash can cure gum disease and help prevent problems in the mouth as it is anti-bacterial and contains antimicrobial properties.
7 Amazing Uses for Aloe Vera Plant
1. heal burns
If you have a sunburn, aloe is your healing balm. The cooling properties of the gel will reduce redness and ease the pain of up to second degree burns. It’s superinexpensive, especially if you have an aloe plant in your garden. Just apply 2-3 times per day topically or as much as needed.
2. regenerate skin
Use aloe vera daily to moisturize the skin and induce powerful healing. It acts as an excellent cellular regenerator, eliminating dead cells from the epidermis and supporting the regeneration of new tissue. Use aloe cream or gel on your dry skin to nourish and improve your skin texture. More research has shown that it has a protective effect against radiation on the skin.
3. promote oral health
In gel or liquid form, aloe vera is a natural way for improving oral hygiene and reducing dental plaque. You’ll find aloe-infused mouthwash and aloe toothpaste at most natural health food stores, and always online!
4. clear acne
Using aloe vera products and creams on your face is often more beneficial and less irritating than chemical acne treatments. Aloe gel is proven to be more gentle on human skin than acids commonly used in acne treatment. This plant has been used for centuries in dermatology and traditional medicine.
5. reduce dandruff
Make your own aloe vera shampoo by combining the gel with coconut oil and rubbing into your scalp. The moisturizing, antifungal properties of the aloe and coconut will help release your dandruff and improve the brilliance and shine of your hair.
6. relieve anal fissures
If you have chronic anal fissure pain, you can reduce it by applying aloe vera gel to the affected area. Clinical trials have shown the aloe vera improved the hemorrhaging symptoms and promoted healing in people who suffer from this uncomfortable ailment.
7. treat digestive disruption
Drinking aloe gel in water or taking aloe vera supplements can help ease cramps and indigestion. If you have chronic constipation, you can take aloe vera juice as a natural laxative.
powerful aloe vera juice benefits
Most people think of cream and gel when they think of using aloe as a home remedy. However, aloe is rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, E, B and minerals that are beneficial when ingested as well! And, it’s tastier than your daily multi-vitamin 😉
If you’re interested in trying this for yourself, make your own aloe vera juice instead of buying it at the store. Most aloe juices and drinks usually contain a ton of sugar and other fruit juices. You’ll also want to start with a healthy organic aloe vera plant grown without icky pesticides!
Harvest an aloe leaf and then mix the clear gel with water or juice. If you have a firm aloe plant, you’ll need to chop up the gel, but if yours is on the softer side, you can squeeze it into your liquid of choice.
If you find the taste too bitter to drink in just water, try this delightful smoothie recipe we’ve whipped up:
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup of fresh pineapple
- The juice from 1 freshly squeezed lime
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric
- 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice
- Ice cubes optional
- Water or coconut milk optional
Blend all the ingredients together and add as much ice, coconut milk, water as you want until you get the desired consistency.
benefits of use of aloe vera on skin
Aloe vera gel has countless beneficial properties for the skin. It boosts collagen and skin elasticity, offers antiseptic protection against bacteria, treats acne and just gives you that glow ✨ It’s all packed into the mighty amino acids that encourage new growth of skin cells.
Self-care recipes coming your way! This green goddess of a plant makes absolutely dreamy face masks with just a couple of other whole-food ingredients you can find at the grocery store.
aloe vera + honey + cinnamon brightening face mask
This mask is great for all skin types. Aloe brings the magic, honey moisturizes and balances, and cinnamon acts as an astringent (tightens skin cells).
- Gather your ingredients and a small mixing bowl
- Mix 2 tablespoons of honey, 1 tablespoon of pure aloe vera gel, and 1/4 tablespoon of cinnamon powder into a thick paste.
- Add a bit of water if it’s too thick to spread (it shouldn’t be runny)
- Apply the mask with circular strokes
- Leave for 5 to 10 minutes and relax!
aloe vera + lemon juice revitalizing face mask
This refreshing face mask with aloe and lemon juice is good for combination and oily skin. It will open and clean your pores.
- Gather your ingredients and a small mixing bowl
- Use a blender to mix ½ cup of aloe vera gel with the juice of three organic lemons.
- Apply with fingertips and leave for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly for glowing, healthy skin!
where to buy aloe vera juice
This is organically grown, cold-pressed aloe that you can drink and enjoy with your favorite smoothie or juice.
This drink is distilled from organic aloe vera leaves, without the bitter taste. It tastes just like spring water and will help restore your digestive tract.
aloe vera side effects
Of course, as with any medicine there are some possible side effects with using aloe that you should watch out for. If you have other allergies or super sensitive skin, do a skin patch test to see if you react to the aloe products you’d like to use.
You can get stomach pain and cramps if you take aloe vera in really high doses, so don’t do that! Ingesting aloe has been found to cause uterine contractions in pregnant women due to the plant’s laxative properties, so experts recommend talking to a doctor before drinking aloe if you’re a mamma to-be.
As mentioned earlier, it’s important to remove the layer of yellow aloe vera latex before applying the gel to your skin or ingesting it. Aloe vera latex is a naturally-occurring sap that contains aloin, a compound with a strong laxative effect that can cause stomach cramps.
To remove the latex from the aloe vera leaf, place the leaf upright in a glass of water and let it drain for 10-15 minutes. Wash the leaf again and wipe any excess latex away before using the clear gel.
final words
Aloe plants are a folk remedy readily available to everyone in the world. If you live in a warm, dry climate, you can plant and grow aloe abundantly in your garden. This plant thrives indoors as well though, and is happy as a clam with the right soil and lightning conditions in your home. Happy growing, happy harvesting and happy healing, plant friends!
