~ Ancient, but Well-known Medicinal Plant that belongs in everyone’s kitchen today.
🌷Reposting one of my very first posts. This miracle plant has been a staple of my morning routine and this article serves as a gentle reminder to continue on the healing plant-based life path.
Native to Africa, Aloe Vera is a hardy succulent that’s easy to grow inside or outside of your own home. It thrives in poor soil and requires very little water. Spiny-edged light green Aloe plants can grow to two feet and eventually produce a snowy, reddish inflorescence. Keeping an aloe plant in your kitchen could come in handy for the following health benefits:
- Heals Burns -Hormones: Auxins and gibberellins that help in wound healing and have anti-inflammatory action. According to one clinical trial, Aloe could reduce 1st and 2nd-degree burns by 9 days.
- Digestive Aid: It provides 12 anthraquinones, which are phenolic compounds traditionally known as a laxative. Latex is a sticky yellow residue found just under the skin of the leaf. This key compound responsible for this effect is called aloin and emodin.
- Aloin and Emodin compounds also act as analgesics, antibacterial and antiviral agents. Effect of Aloin in medical studies suggests inactivation of Herpes simplex, varicella zoster, and influenza.
- Fatty acids: It yields 4 plant steroids; cholesterol, campesterol, β-sisosterol and lupeol. All these have anti-inflammatory action and lupeol also possesses antiseptic and analgesic properties.
- High in vitamins: such as A, C, E, Folic acid, Choline, B1, B2, B3, B6 and even B12.
- Minerals – It provides calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc. They are essential for the proper functioning of various enzyme systems in different metabolic pathways and few are antioxidants.
- Enzymes – Aloe contains 8 enzymes: allinase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, bradykinase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulose, lipase, and peroxidase. Bradykinase helps to reduce excessive inflammation when applied to the skin topically, while others help in the breakdown of sugars and fats.
- 20 of the 22 humans required amino acids and 7 of the 8 essential amino acids. It also contains salicylic acid that possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Lignin, an inert substance, when included in topical preparations, enhances the penetrative effect of the other ingredients into the skin. Saponins that are the soapy substances form about 3% of the gel and have cleansing and antiseptic properties. The amino acids also soften hardened skin cells and zinc acts as an astringent to tighten pores. Thus, it improves skin integrity, decreases the appearance of fine wrinkles, soothes eczema and has an anti-acne effect.
- Antiseptic effect –Aloe Vera contains 6 antiseptic agents: Lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamonic acid, phenols, and sulfur. They all have an inhibitory action on fungi, bacteria, and viruses.-Wow!’’Lowers Blood sugar – 1996 Clinical trial reports 72 diabetic women without drug therapy were administered one tablespoon of Aloe Vera gel or placebo for 6 weeks. Blood glucose and serum triglyceride levels were significantly decreased with Aloe Vera.
- Lowers Blood sugar – 1996 Clinical trial reports 72 diabetic women without drug therapy were administered one tablespoon of Aloe Vera gel or placebo for 6 weeks. Blood glucose and serum triglyceride levels were significantly decreased with Aloe Treatment.
Yet, there are more home remedies:
- Shaving cream – use it instead of the store bought for dual action of moisturizer.
- Aftershave – apply right after shaving to soothe and condition the skin.
- Dandruff and itchy scalp shampoo. Aloe has a pH of 4.3, making it excellent for skin and hair preparations.
- Mouthwash – reduces dental plaque and treats mouth ulcers as effective as a steroid medication.
- Reduces dental plaque and as effective as chlorhexidine oral solution.
- Aloin again, a natural sunscreen that blocks as much as 30 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
- Eye makeup remover – enough said.
Conclusion: Grow this herb and use it! For external use, cut the leaf from the plant at its base. A clear gel will ooze from the fresh wound, but it will quickly heal. Stored in the refrigerator, the leaf will keep for several weeks, always ready when needed. Apply gel from the leaf or the leaf itself to affected skin.
For internal use, find freshly preserved aloe juice-available at most natural foods stores. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended dosage.
My simple daily intake: Mix gel with juice to make it taste better. Add whole leaves to smoothies. Why not? I do so.
Until next time,
Luda, at PlantsandBeyond.com🌿
©PlantsandBeyond.com
Disclosure: The images used in this post (including the Header Image) do not belong to Plantsandbeyond.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92765/#ch3_sec6
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4006208/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24603910/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17499928
https://books.google.com/books/about/Aloe_Vera.html?id=qZchGWDw264C
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23240939
http://www.aloelf.com/wp-content/uploads/aloe-vera/aloebook.pdf
http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/free-herb-information/aloe-vera.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/
https://www.ncbi.nlmhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23195077.nih.gov/books/NBK92765/
Reblogged this on Rattiesforeverworldpresscom and commented:
Wahouuu sounds wonderful! I need to try 🙂
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Thank you so much Rattie. Xoxoxo
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Hugs ❤
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one of my fav 😉
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Thank you, very helpful. I had no idea
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It’s a good one for sure! Thanks for blogging about it today!
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Thank you dear Val.
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Aloe vera is truly a healing plant. We have been using its healing properties for years. Thanks for posting, Luda!
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Thank you dear Peter. So nice to see you and appreciate your caring input.
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Awesome! Just don’t drink tons of it. We had a neighbor — many years ago — who would drink it by the gallon. They found him dead on his living room sofa. It CAN CAUSE heart disturbances in large amounts.
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Wow. This is bad – sorry about your neighbor. Not sure how he tolerated such amount of this healthy substance, but thank you for sharing – wonder if he has underlying issues
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We had one in our house for quite some time! 🙂 I’d love to get another one. Great post!
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Reblogged this on bodyandsoulnourishmentblog and commented:
Thank you so much dear Luda for this great post about all the uses of our friend the Aloe Vera plant 🙂
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Awww, thank you sooo much dear Amira. You made my evening.
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Have been using aloe vera for years but only for burns, sunburn, stings, bites, itchiness applied externally. First I’ve ever heard of taking it internally … like the idea of adding it to smoothies! But like all things it sounds like moderation is the key 🙂
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When Its added it to smoothies , it don’t taste any different to me. But I agree – no need to experiment with large doses.
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will give it a try, thanks 🙂
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Such wonderful information about this incredible plant. I love plants like this. 💕🌱🌺
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Thank you sweet Lisa. Xoxoxoxoxo
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I love Aloe Vera, this is my shampoo. 🙂
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It does sounds like a magical and very useful plant!
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Love these happy little plants. I have several in the house. They make me smile & ease my cooking burns.
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Great post on aloe vera! I like its jelly-like texture.
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Thank you so much, Megala
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Indeed it’s benefits are immense. Have planted one in my balcony recently. Thanks Luda for sharing such a detailed post on the magical aloe vera.
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A terrific post Luda. Aloe Vera was a lifesaver for me when I had shingles two years ago.
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Thank you, dear Bridget, for your input. Very interesting and glad this plant helped you
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Luda just love Aloe Vera amazing plant as you so well researched. When I make my moisturising creams I always add aloe vera as a natural sun screen, stops sun burn leaving a soft tan. I will have to grow Aloe Vera myself to ensure I get a good quality product. Bless you as always Luda.
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Thank you very much, Nanette.
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Very informative! Thank you for sharing this with us!🙏
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Such a beautiful info…well explained 👍
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Thnak you, Jyo
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This is such an important plant, and love your information on it here Luda.. I have several of these plants now, I started with one and as it grew babies I planted on.. One sits in my kitchen window at all times.. and many a time I have needed its healing balm upon a burn received from the oven while baking..
I used to drink AloeVera Juice too from the health food store.. And agree with you on all its healing properties Luda
Excellent post 💚💙💜
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Thank you dear friend so love seeing you here. Hope the warm some sunshine is heading your way now
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Its coming dribs and drabs Luda, the temperatures plummeted again, but it will not be long before it warms back up again ❤
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a very detailed and good post regarding this magical medicinal plant. i will be keeping track of your posts.
do visit my blog site as well. thanks for liking my post regards Brijkaul
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Thank you very much ❣️🌿🌟
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ALL THE BEST
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You too – thank you !
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I love aloe vera! It’s such a useful plant with so many benefits. Great post!
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Great tips Luda, I knew some of the benefits of aloe vera, such as for burns, but it’s quite the versatile healer!
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Thank you dear, Andrea 🤗🌷💕
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Such a great post Luda. Very informative. I do have an Aloe Vera in my home but it’s not as big as the one shown in your pic. My mother was a naturopath so she introduced me in my youth to many natural remedies and yes she did used Aloe Vera to remove her makeup. She had beautiful skin too but in her case I believe it was more a genetic thing.
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Great article. Use Aloe for digestion and lowering BP
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❤️
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Reblogged this on .
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Thank you so much
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Welcome
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