When it comes to soothing a minor burn, cut, or scrape, few remedies compare to a freshly plucked aloe vera leaf. The gummy gel that exudes from the broken leaf is a natural wound-healing wonder that relies on allantoin, a substance that also promotes the skin's ability to produce collagen, a connective tissue that keeps skin elastic and firm. Aloe is also used to treat mild acne and some skin rashes.
While you're probably well-acquainted with aloe as an ingredient in skin-care products, you may be surprised to know that it can also be found at health food stores and pharmacies as an herbal product meant for internal use.
Aloe has several possible internal uses. When taken internally, the juice may help soothe ulcers, improve digestion, and heal inflammation in the bowels. In toothpaste form, the gel can ease swollen guns and help prevent plaque buildup and gum disease. Aloe powder, which is derived from the base and lining of the leaf, contains powerful laxative chemicals called anthraquinones. Some herbalists recommend adding a pinch of powder to tea or prune juice to soften stools for temporary relief from constipation, although many health professionals caution that using this powerful purgative laxative may lead to a weakening of the bowel.
As a supplement, aloe takes the form of a pulpy juice or gel. Choose a supplement based on advice from your doctor or a knowledgeable herbalist. Many products list aloe among their ingredients, but contain amounts too small to offer any health benefits. When using aloe internally, use only high-quality supplements rather than trying to obtain it from your own homegrown plants. Extracting an effective amount of the healing compounds of this plant requires careful handling because the laxative components are found at the base of the leaf. Be sure that products intended for internal use have been produced for that purpose and not for topical application. Also, beware of any aloe bargains; proper processing of it is costly, so high-quality products can be expensive.
Because aloe vera works best when it's fresh, you might want to consider putting an aloe plant on the windowsill. Heat and moisture diminish aloe gel's healing properties, so a bottle of aloe gel kept in your bathroom medicine cabinet is unlikely to do your wounded skin nearly as much good as a freshly squeezed leaf. Aloe is easy to grow, so there's no reason you can't have a plant around for homegrown first aid. In temperate regions like the South and California, aloe can survive outdoors year-round, but it needs protection from winter cold in most of the rest of the United States. Grow it in well-drained soil and place the pot in a sunny window. To use an aloe leaf for treating cuts and skin irritations from sunburn to frostbite, first wash the affected area with soap and water. Cut off several inches of a leaf and slice it lengthwise. Scoop the gel from inside the leaf, liberally coat the injured skin with it, then let it dry.
Respectfully submitted by Idaline Hall. For more useful quick health tips, visit: http://HealthQuickTips.com
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