Aloe vera recipes and Medicinal uses

 

I know many people  have writen  about Aloe vera many a time

I just want to share some of our experiences and my interests using Aloe

For various reasons i have to advise that

Medicinal use of these plants is not recommended here.

Aloe vera has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Native to North Africa, Southern Europe, and the Canary Islands now grown anywhere with a temp  that stays above 0 degrees

 Aloe vera is a perennial, succulent plant (meaning its leaves hold large quantities of water). The plant can grow up to 4 feet tall, and its tough, fleshy, spear-like leaves can grow up to 36 inches long, although in Devon they rarely get above 12 inches .
The leaves are notched with small white points. Their orange flowers bloom in the summertime and are dead easy to grow as they will grow in poor soil and will go for weeks without watering .
If you want to grow the plant for making aloe vera remedies then put your plant in a hot dry location in your home. It thrives on lots of sunlight, in a spot that will stay above zero.
 One of my  clients favourite ways to use Aloe vera apart from skin burns and scratches is to drink its juice and eat the fleshy gel inside . It's incredibly cleansing and has a really tasty punchy flavour!  i find they vary from plant to plant as those grown outdoors are a little sweeter but personally i find the gel  in general really sour and makes me pull a very funny face and need a beer to take away the taste.        [i wonder if i can ferment it and make a Aloe flavoured beer]
  Find out why you should consider having this wonderful, succulent plant in your home .
You can grow it as a house plant or in your greenhouse or conservatory and get it fresh anytime you need it!
You end up saving money, time, reduce packaging and resources, and you get this direct and immediate connection with the Aloe vera plant right at your fingertips if your travelling learn what they look like because when you visit Australia or new Zealand you will burn on even cloudy days in just a very few hours .
This has happened to us many times and we quickly search around for some Aloe vera plants [they often grow wild in many countries or you can buy them really cheaply  locally ]you just twist off a leaf make a slit down the length of the leaf and either take  out lumps of gel from the middle or just  squash out the juice ,best to use just the insides as the outer parts contain different compounds.

• Aloe vera gel has a 4.3 pH that makes it especially good for shampoos and lotions.
• Aloe vera is hydrating, rejuvenating and toning for your skin.
• Aloe vera moisturizes and softens your skin.
• Aloe vera is good for irritated or inflamed skin.
• Aloe vera helps repair your skin from the most tender of wounds.
• Aloe vera helps speed the process of healing to burns and other wounds•
•   it is a general tonic for good health.
• By drinking the gel with all its important ingredients including the 19 of the 20 amino acids needed by human body, 7 of the 8 essential ones that just cannot be made, the body is able to get enough to allow complex enzyme system to work really well. 
•  It is a useful source of vitamins
•  It is a natural anti inflammatory and painkiller. People who take it regularly often find that inflammatory conditions are greatly benefited
• Due to the presence of polysaccharide, it has the capability of being able to defend us against attacks by various viruses
• It is a useful source of minerals
• Assist in healthy digestion
• It increases feelings of vitality and increases flexibility
• It is helpful against ulcer and also promotes wound healings
• Best taken daily- either alone or mixed with fruit juice

The Aloe vera plant has been used for thousands of years to heal a variety of conditions, most notably burns, wounds, skin irritations, girly  stuff u can look up your self and  finaly constipation [see below about the risks with this . ]
Aloe was one of the most frequently prescribed medicines throughout most of the 18th and 19th centuries and it remains one of the most commonly used herbs in the United States today and in the UK many old people I work for swear by them.
Aloe gel, made from the central part of the aloe leaf, is a common household remedy for minor cuts and burns, as well as sunburns. It can be found in many commercial skin lotions and cosmetics.
Aloe contains active compounds that  reduce pain and inflammation and stimulate skin growth and repair.
  Aloe is 99 percent water, aloe gel also contains substances known as glycoproteins and polysaccharides
 Glycoproteins speed the healing process by stopping pain and inflammation while
Polysaccharides stimulate skin growth and repair.

 Aloe studies have shown  may also stimulate the immune system.

Pure Aloe gel may be applied to the surface of the skin for minor skin irritations. I use it for nettle stings and bramble scratches  and bloody wasp stings that we often get while cutting hedges ,the gel brings relief quickly [ although sempervivum work quicker ]
Slit the leaf of an Aloe plant lengthwise and remove the gel from the inside
 Carefully clean affected area, and then apply Aloe gel liberally to the skin.

 DO NOT apply to open wounds.

  

  Good for your heartburn.

 1 to 3 ounces of Aloe gel at mealtimes could reduce the severity .
  The plant’s low toxicity makes it a safe and gentle remedy.

  Aloe vera gel can  keep bacteria on fruits and vegetables away

Especially  tomato it also works on other fruit and veg and works well for storing  apples over winter. Just rub on a coating of  a small amount of aloe gel on the  fruit and veg it can help produce stay fresh for longer without the need for potentially dangerous chemicals.

It’s a great  mouthwash .

 The plant’s natural ingredients, which include a healthy dose of vitamin C, can block plaque and also provide relief if you have bleeding or swelling gums aloe vera gel inhibits the activity of several types of bacteria that may lead to cavities and gum disease and it tastes ok with no weird chemicals .

  Aloe vera be able to help people with diabetes

 By regulating their blood sugar levels,
    two tablespoons of Aloe vera juice per day causes blood sugar levels to fall in people with type 2 diabetes .
    Aloe vera has been used traditionally  to relieve constipation. Aloe juice or aloe latex, a yellow, bitter liquid derived from the skin of the aloe leaf, is a powerful laxative. However, it can cause painful cramping and is not safe to use in this way. oral use of aloe for constipation is no longer recommended, as it can have severe side effects.
The combination of the moist leaf and special plant compounds called complex carbohydrates make it an effective face moisturizer and pain reliever.
 Aloe-emodin, a compound in aloe vera leaves, could slow down the spread of breast cancer cells [this may be true as show from studies but we wait for more info
Aloe contains aloin, the brown gel which is focused near the blades of the leaf. Aloin is a natural sunscreen protecting from sun exposure.

Speaking of skin

It is also an effective moisturizing agent. For this reason, Aloe vera gel has gained tremendous popularity for relief of burns. and skin conditions
Aloe is best used for minor burns and skin irritations and should never be applied to an open wound.
Aloe gel may improve symptoms of genital herpes and certain skin conditions such as psoriasis.
Preliminary studies suggest that Aloe vera extract may help mitigate the effects of alcohol-induced liver damage

Aloe vera remedies

Aloe is  available commercially in ointments, creams, and lotions.
Aloe gel is often included in cosmetic and over-the-counter skin care products as well. You can purchase aloe in the form of capsules, tablets, juice, gel, ointment, cream, and lotion.
or how about you do it your self
  Aloe vera is best used  fresh from a plant. All you need to do is cut up a leaf from the plant and scoop out the gel for your recipe.

cut edge of aloe leaf

cut the other side and the end 

cut or peal the top skin off

lift out the gel

add to a jar and refrigerated for use later it keeps for ages and from the fridge is perfect for use on burns

Here is a helpful tip: When you remove a leaf, make sure to separate the leaf right at the base of the leaf itself, at the point where it connects to the rest of the plant. This will help insure that the plant heals quickly. Wherever you slice a leaf off from the plant the aloe will naturally heal itself in that area within a few hours. Whatever gel you don't use from the leaf, refrigerate for later use.

  For burns.

 Put ice directly onto your burn to immediately cool your burn. You need at least ten to fifteen minutes  you can either scoop out the gel from the inside of an Aloe leaf and apply promptly onto your burn or blistering skin. or cut in to 1 inch length the length of your finger cut down through the skin and get to the gel  inside, peal away the skin and you have a piece of the gel to rub into the problem area  Now give a big sigh of relief. You can repeatedly apply aloe vera gel to your burn or blister as it heals. You can lay a fresh aloe leaf onto your wound and then wrap a bandage around the leaf as well. If it's a burn you have, lathering fresh aloe onto your burn will help prevent it from blistering and is one of the best Aloe vera remedies I know of. 
 

 Aloe vera remedies that are good for all skin types from oily to dry.

Aloe Vera and  Herb Shampoo

This is one of my favourite  aloe vera remedies

• 6 Tbsp. Aloe vera gel
• 2 tsp. fresh or dried mint leaves
• 2 tsp. fresh or dried nettle leaves
• 2 tsp. fresh or dried marigold flowers
• 20 oz. boiling water
• 8 oz. castile soap
• 5 - 10 drops lavender  essential oil

Pour boiling water over herbs and let steep 30 - 60 minutes. Strain   and let cool completely.
Pour all ingredients together into a recycled shampoo bottle. Close lid tightly. Shake well and shake before using. This recipe makes approximately 20 oz. of shampoo.!

Precautions

Children should never take oral aloe preparations.
 Take herbs with care,ideally under the supervision of a health care provider.
Aloe gel is considered safe when applied to the surface of the skin, but should not be applied to open or deep wounds
 Many people do ingest small quantities of whole leaf aloe juice as a laxative to improve their bowel movements. But aloin is not considered to be a safe and effective laxative and may be somewhat unpredictable when using it in this manner. It is especially hard to dose consistently since different parts of the leaf may have different aloin concentrations.Taking aloe latex orally may cause severe intestinal cramps or diarrhoea and is not recommended.
Pregnant women should never take aloe latex because it may cause uterine contractions and trigger miscarriage. Nursing mothers should not take aloe latex either because the effects and safety for infants and children are not known.
High doses of aloe can cause kidney damage.
 In rare cases, it may cause an allergic reaction, mainly a skin rash. If you develop a rash, stop using the gel.

Possible Interactions

If you are being treated with any of the following medications, Medications for diabetes Digoxin and diuretics you should not use aloe vera without talking to your doctor.
DO NOT take aloe for 2 weeks prior to any surgical procedure as it may increase bleeding during surgery.