Many simple plants surprise us with the benefits they can provide us! Aloe vera is one such simple plant with a multitude of benefits and hence is a part of many natural home remedies. What more, you can easily grow it at home in a pot.
This article lists the uses and benefits of aloe vera gel and the ways to use it.
For a quick look at what’s there in the article, view the web story below. You can continue reading the article for more details.
So, why is aloe good?
It is high in antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, and has vitamins A and C. Enough reasons to be good on your skin. Also, the anti-inflammatory properties and vitamin C contribute to treating a few stomach-related problems.
There are several species of Aloe vera, and Aloe Barbadensis Miller is the medicinal aloe that is edible and used for treating skin conditions. It is bright green with light or no spots and has small spikes on the outer edges of the leaves. So, if you have a plant at home and can use the fresh gel, try it. However, if it isn’t working or you are not sure if it is the species that treats skin conditions, any OTC aloe gel would also work fine.
Also, aloe is consumed internally to treat certain stomach conditions. In this case, make sure to read a bit about identifying the edible and non-edible ones. Here is a useful link for further information.
Natural Aloe vera remedies to try at home
1. To treat skin problems
i) Dry skin
Are you among those who fight with dry skin every winter? Here is a dry skin remedy using aloe vera gel.
So, how to prepare this DIY mask:
- Mix a pinch of turmeric, a tsp of honey and rose water with aloe vera gel.
- Blend it to make a paste, apply on your face, and leave it on for 15 minutes.
- Then, rinse off with lukewarm water.
Do you also face dry skin problems in other parts of the body, such as arms or legs? You can apply aloe vera gel before going to bed and leave it on to work its magic over the night and moisturise your skin at a cellular level.
Extra tip: Aloe vera gel can also provide relief from chapped lips.
ii) Acne
Aloe vera gel plus tea tree oil combo can be an effective home remedy in treating acne. Mix two drops of the tea tree essential oil with aloe vera gel, apply on the affected area and wash it off with water in a couple of minutes. Repeat it for a few days for the acne to disappear.
You can also try aloe gel with lemon juice to get rid of acne. Mix 8 parts aloe vera gel with 1 part lemon juice, apply as a mask in the face, leave on for 10 minutes and then rinse it off with water thoroughly.
Also Read: Simple DIY Turmeric Face Masks For Skin Health
iii) Sunburn
Aloe vera is naturally cooling and also contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and hence is beneficial for treating a sunburn. Apply a generous amount of the gel to calm the skin and treat the accompanying redness and rashes. In fact, you can continue to apply it to the affected area several times a day to treat the sunburn and feel better.
Besides treating sunburn, aloe vera is also useful for treating any other forms of mild burn as well. You can follow the same procedure.
2. Aloe for hair problems
Hair fall and dandruff are common hair problems that many of us face. Aloe vera can be used to treat such hair care woes and avail well-conditioned, lusciously thick hair.
i) To treat dandruff:
Aloe vera gel combined with apple cider vinegar is an effective dandruff remedy that you can try. Blend two tbsp of ACV to a cup of aloe and apply on your scalp. Let it sit for 20 minutes, and then rinse off with water.
ii) For hair growth:
For promoting hair growth, you can combine aloe vera gel with castor oil to prepare a hair mask. Apply on your hair and leave it on for 30 minutes. Then, rinse it off with a mild shampoo or a herbal hair wash powder.
Pro Tip: You can, in fact, go ahead and experiment by combining several other ingredients good for hair health such as fenugreek, yogurt, amla, coconut oil, neem oil, hibiscus, onion juice, etc. with aloe gel as the base to find the combination that best suits you!
3. Aloe Vera for stomach-related problems
Aloe vera can work miracles to treat the ulcers and relieve the associated burning sensation effectively. To get the benefit, mix 2 tbsp of aloe vera gel with yogurt and blend it with a cup of water. Drink it on an empty stomach every morning to feel the difference.
Besides, aloe vera aids digestion and can be consumed regularly to avoid stomach related issues such as indigestion, acidity or constipation. It may even help in the case of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
You might also like: Seven Super Effective Home Remedies For External And Internal Hemorrhoids
4. Treating haemorrhoids and anal fissures with Aloe Vera remedies
You can apply aloe vera gel in the anal area to relieve the inflammation and stop the itching due to haemorrhoids. Leave it on for at least 15 minutes before washing it off. You can repeat the same process whenever needed to find relief. It may even help shrink the haemorrhoids. Also, it is effective in treating anal fissures.
How do you get fresh aloe gel from the plant?
You need aloe vera gel to try the natural remedies mentioned above. If you have a plant at home and if it is the edible species, then follow the steps below to extract fresh aloe gel.
- Cut a leaf from the outer part near the base using a knife
- Wash well under running water and place the leaf on the cutting board, with the convex side up
- The outer edges of the leaf tend to be prickly; cut those off
- Peel off the thick outer layer using a vegetable peeler
- Slide the knife under the gel portion to remove it from the lower part of the leaf
- And your aloe gel is ready!
- You can then slice it up and store it in the fridge for up to a week and use it as required.
The takeaway
Aloe Vera gel is useful in treating several skin conditions and a few hair problems. Besides, aloe vera, when consumed as juice, is useful in treating stomach related problems. The aloe vera remedies are generally safe and are even backed up by scientific research. Be sure to use the edible variety, though.
Images: canva.com
