Wonderful Aloe Plant
By worldwise1
@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
June 7, 2008 6:07pm CST
I was wondering if many of you know about the wonderful healing plant, the aloe vera. I was introduced to this plant many years ago by my mother when one of the kids had sustained a bad burn. My mother always kept one or two of these plants growing in her home. She showed me how to take a leaf from the plant and cut it so that I could squeeze some of the gel it contained onto the wound. The results were amazing! The burn healed beautifully without leaving a bad scar. I had forgotten about the aloe plant until several years later when my eczema resurfaced. I had a very bad breakout and my mom told me to use the aloe on the rash. It helped quite a bit. In doing some research on aloe I discovered that it is also a healthful drink which can be purchased from health food stores. Have you ever used aloe on your skin or internally? Extract from the plants are commonly used in many skin products such as soaps and lotions.
8 people like this
20 responses
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Jun 08
I see that your mil has the right idea when it comes to using what Nature has so wisely provided, naseeha.
1 person likes this
@sun2day (1062)
• Virgin Islands (U.S.)
7 Jun 08
We have lots of the Aloe Vera plants here. I have blend it with orange juice and with other things to drink. I have eaten it from the source, meaning I have cut out the gel from the plant and have eaten it just like it is.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Jun 08
That's great to know, sun2day. What does it taste like? I have tried to grow the plant but usually end up killing them.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Jun 08
I wholeheartedly agree with you, weemam, and I believe that more people will return to using natural remedies in the future.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
7 Jun 08
I have a couple of little plants growing but they are not big enough to use yet and I haven't had the need to as yet thank heavens but I have heard it is very good, I would be very interested though to know what good the drink does and if it tastes nice..
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Jun 08
I have heard that the plant has to undergo a process to extract the juices that makes it beneficial for drinking, lilaclady, and is very good for treating ailments of the digestive system.
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
•
8 Jun 08
I have used products that contain extracts of aloe vera worldwise honey and they are very good but I have never used the plant itself! I will have to look into getting a few of these plants and trying my best to keep them alive as I am not very good at looking after plants! Thanks for sharing and the good tip! xx
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Jun 08
The main thing you have to remember, mummymo, is not to drown them. That was the root of my failure to successfully grow them. I am going to try again this summer.
1 person likes this
@anawar (2404)
• United States
7 Jun 08
worldwise_ You are more worldly than me! There's such a thing as drinking aloe? Have you tried it yet?
I don't have an aloe plant, but I use aloe for sunburns or other minor skin irritations.
It's hard to find a product that contains only aloe without spending a ton of money. Sometimes I find it in CVS. If it's sold in health food stores, it's expensive.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Jun 08
You should try growing your own plants, anawar! They are inexpensive and most people have no problem growing them. I have never tasted the juice.
@praveenjena (1304)
• India
23 Sep 08
Hello,
ya aloe vera is a very wonderful plant with great healing properties.
One can also use aloe Vera as a medication to treat skin problems such as cuts, eczema and burns. Aloe Vera drains some fluid which is beneficial to reduce inflammation and pain. A study has shown that when gel made up of aloe Vera is applied on the severe and moderate burns then it takes just six days to recover from the wound.
Have a good day and happy postings.
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
8 Jun 08
I buy the clear gel not the blue (chemically added to) kind at Wal Mart. I use it on all kinds of things, like as a summer moisturizer. Hubby puts it on his face before he shaves. I use it in my hair instead of hair gel if I need to slick it down a little. I have used it for ears, and so did my mom.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Jun 08
Those are all great tips, GG! I really like the use for hair gel as I seem to get a rash when I use most hair gels.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
8 Jun 08
My mother would do the same thing for me when I would get a bad burn when she was around. I was thinking of getting one of these plants for mysel, but I don't know where I'd put it. Do they need sunlight to survive? My apartment is very dark with really small windows.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Jun 08
They do require a sufficient amount of sunlight, danishcanadian, and you have to be careful to not over-water them. They are relatively easy to grow.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Jun 08
With the summer season upon us, TerryZ, we could all benefit from having access to a plant that can be used for first-aid and skin enhancement properties.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
8 Jun 08
I have used many produts that have aloe in it. I use to have some aloe vera lotion at one time too. I have never tried using it internally though. I didn't know you could do that. I mainly use it when I have a sunburn or something like that.I need to buy some more this year in case we get sunburned in the pool.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Jun 08
I think that having the product straight from the plant, stephcjh, would be far superior to what you get in otc products you buy in the store. The juice is supposed to be very good.
@rx4life (1930)
• United States
8 Jun 08
I love the aoe plant..can't think of what I would do without it! My friend uses the drink and swears by it...I know that when I'm on duty at work we recommend it for many things..and also recommend the products that contain aloe as opposed to the ones that don't! My children used to just break off a piece when they had an "owie"..and rub it on..I haven't had an actual plant for a year or so but was just looking at them the other day and planning on buying one. I keep a container of aloe gel handy until I get a plant!
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Jun 08
It's amazing, rx4life, what Nature gives us that we so often overlook. I have always been interested in herbal and natural medicines because they do not carry all of the risks of side effects when used properly.
1 person likes this
@Zergonipal (807)
• Poland
8 Jun 08
Nature is the best teacher I think. Plants like aloe vera just confirm that. There are many plants like that and other nature products. Humanity should invest more effort in developing them.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Jun 08
While I would agree with you, Zergonipal, I think the pharmaceutical companies would have just the opposite opinion.It would go against their own interests.
It would go against their own interests.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
8 Jun 08
Thanks for reminding me of this wonderful plant. I know very well how great it can be, in particular for sunburn! Years ago I went on a trip to Florida with my sister-in-law's church group. On the flight home there were about 40 people, most of us women, with terrible sunburns. A big group of us went into the restroom at the Atlanta airport where we had a stop-over and were all spraying Ungentine on each other, it was so bad a stranger walked in and walked right back out because she probably couldn't breathe from the fumes! Anyway, that really didn't help much but as it turned out one lady had part of an aloe plant and she passed it around to all of us, and I'll tell you what, it really eased the burning and stinging. My son-in-law and some other members of his side of the family have problems with eczema so I'll have to tell them about aloe; I'll bet it would help them.
Annie
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
9 Jun 08
I haven't had an aloe plant in years and now that you mention it I might look around for one. When I did have them I used the gel for burns or cuts and the healing effects of it are awesome.
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
8 Jun 08
Yes, I used to have about 3 plants in pots in my back yard. I have used them for burns, cuts, rashes, etc. When I was younger I used to use them on my pet cat who liked to get into fights and get cut or scratched up pretty badly. It really helped to fight the infection that might happen and it also helped to make less scarring. I know that that it is supposed to help when ingested internally as well. Also it is wonderful to put on sunburn as it cools it right down and takes out the sting of the burn. I am going to have to go out and buy a couple of plants now that I think about it.
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
8 Jun 08
Hello,
I use aloe gel for sunburn and my dry skin. It also will do wonders for stubble burn , and sometimes break outs . I use soaps too , but for the nice clean smell . I just saw an add in the shop n save add that is selling the plants for $5.99 i was thinking about picking one of two up. I hear fresh aloe is the best. Now that summer is here , it is good to get , and will be using .
@1richgirl (126)
• United States
8 Jun 08
You may want to also look up the melaleuca plant from Australia!! great tip about the eczema. I never thought of that.
