Before we start with this article, I would like to ask you a simple question – do you have aloe vera plant in your home? This plant has become extremely popular in American homes and many people around the world have aloe vera plant in their homes. But, the real truth is that most of them don’t even know that their decorative plant actually has amazing healing properties. This plant is also known by the name Aloe Barbadensis and it has been used for thousands of years throughout the world. It was reported to have an almost sacred place in ancient Egyptian, Greek and roman society. It also has a long history of medical use in South Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. A group of experts, from the University of Maryland Medical Center, claim that Aloe was a popularly prescribed medicine in the United States throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. We can easily say that aloe vera is one of the most commonly used medicinal herbs in the country.
Benefits of Aloe
You should know that this super healthy plant remains a popular home remedy for mouth, osteoarthritis, ulcerative colitis, fever, asthma and simply to be used as a general tonic. It’s even considered a natural beauty product. The aloe vera gel is also often applied to the skin to treat sunburns, burns, cuts, infections and other wounds. It acts as an analgesic and fights inflammation and itching. The medical experts claim that this is probably due to its two powerful immune-boosting compounds: lycoproteins and polysaccharides. Glycoproteins work to block pain and reduce inflammation while polysaccharides promote skin repair and keeps it moisturized.
Many different studies have found that aloe vera gel also treats burns, much better than conventional medication in terms of shortening healing time and pain. You can also use this super healthy plant to treat many different ailments, such as: constipation, genital herpes, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, cancer, canker sores, upper respiratory tract infection, dental conditions, high cholesterol, inflammatory bowel disease and lowers blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
How to Prepare And Use Aloe Gel
You will need the following ingredients:
A clean cutting board
A sharp filleting knife
An aloe plant
A clean plate
A clean cotton towel
A sterile glass jar
Fresh lemon juice
A food processor (optional)
Directions:
Here’s what you need to do – first, you can start by washing your hands to avoid contaminating the sterile gel. Then, you need to pick a the thick and juicy mature leaf from the bottom of your plant. Note: it should be at least 4-6 inches long. Make sure you cut it cleanly off to the plant as to nut harm other leaves. Then, you need to wipe your knife clean. Now, you can wash and dry the leaf and let it sit on your plate at a 45° angle so that it may drain out its yellow juice. This juice is a potent laxative that may cause digestive distress in some people.
Wait for 15 minutes and after that, you can transfer the leaf to your cutting board and remove the sharp edges from the sides. After that, you need to gently fillet the leaf as to remove the green outer shell and lose as little gel in the process as possible. Note: You need to repeat this process, until all the green is removed. Now, you need to cut the gel into cubes and place the gel in your jar. Run your knife along the green scraps to harvest any remaining gel. You can also squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice over the gel to help it last longer. You’ll need roughly a quarter lemon for each cup of gel. Shake to coat evenly.
Note: you can transfer the gel to your food processor and pulse on high to turn it into a smoother gel. But, that’s only if you want. Make sure you store the aloe vera gel in a sealed jar in your refrigerator for up to a week.
How to use it:
For medicinal use – you need to take 30 ml three times a day internally after consulting your naturopath.
For topical use – here’s what you need to do: first, you need to clean and cut the leaf lengthwise and rub the gel directly to your wound several times a day until fully healed.