In last week’s Beauty and Health piece, Protect Your Skin this Summer, I touched on the versatility of Aloe Vera. Most of the time, aloe is associated with a sun burn. Truth is, this natural, fleshy, green goo is good for so many more things than just that. There are even current studies about how aloe can help prevent cancer and boost your immunity.
Aloe vera is a succulent plant originally from the Arabian Peninsula, but is now also a common household plant. The plant has thick, pointed leaves which contain a slimy tissue that stores water. The thick, slim tissue is what we know as the ‘gel’ that contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. The United States Pharmacopeia states that aloe vera preparations as a skin protectant started as early as 1810.
Skin Healing
The powerful antioxidants in the aloe gel belong to a large family of substances known as polyphenols. Between the polyphenols and several other compounds in aloe, the gel is able to disrupt the growth of certain bacteria that can cause infections in humans.
Because of this, aloe is known to heal wounds and treat skin problems. The “skin problems” that aloe heals doesn’t end at just a bad case of sunburn; it can also help lighten scars or stretch marks. It also is able to soothe your skin when dealing with eczema, acne, razor burn or rashes. Simply apply a liberal amount of the sticky gel to trouble spots and reapply as often as you need.
Dental Problems
One of the best ways to prevent tooth decay or gum diseases is to reduce plaque buildup on your teeth. Gum diseases are very common health problems, but aloe vera juice can help prevent them. In a 2014 Mouthwash Study, researchers compared the use of 100% pure aloe vera juice against the use of standard mouthwash on 300 people. After 4 days, the aloe vera mouth rinse appeared to be just as effective as chlorhexidine in reducing dental plaque. The same benefits were shown over a 15-day period and then again after a 30-day period.
Along with effectively killing plaque-producing bacteria, aloe can help accelerate the healing of canker sores or mouth ulcers. Ulcers normally last about 7 days and can be painful. Studies have shown that applying aloe vera to the area both reduces the size of the ulcers as well as reducing the pain that goes along with them just as well as conventional ulcer treatment.
Ingesting
Another thing that this power plant is capable of is treating constipation. Though the gel of the plant is capable of helping your body in so many ways, this time it is the latex’s time to shine. The latex is the yellow, sticky residue located just under the skin of the leaf. The latex contains aloin which has well-established laxative effects. It is very important to limit your intake of the aloe latex. Taking too much can make your symptoms worse.
Aloe has proved that it can help with symptoms of IBS, including cramping, abdominal pain, and bloating. Drinking aloe juice can give you the soothing effect. Drink 1-2 tablespoons of the aloe juice a day or add it to your own favorite juice or smoothie. Aloe is not a cure for IBS and is not right for everybody's symptoms. If you don’t feel it helping, try a different method of relieving the symptoms.
How to Care for my Aloe Plant
Aloe plants are one of the easiest indoor plants to take care of. Buy one of these succulent plants from a local nursery and keep it in a place that offers bright, indirect sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can result in the leaves drying out and turning yellow. When you water the plant, be sure to treat it deeply but infrequently. You don’t want your plant sitting in water so be sure to water it about every 3 weeks and even less in the winter. If the potting mix stays wet for too long, the plants’ roots can begin to rot. Keep it from drying out completely but also be sure not to drown it!
To use the plant’s gel, just remove a mature leaf from the plant or cut it lengthwise to squeeze the gel out of the leaf and onto your burn or trouble area.
Though having an aloe plant in the house could help with convenience, I understand that it is not for everybody. If you don’t have the plant, not a problem, you can pick up a bottle of the gel at the local drugstore. One important thing to keep in mind is that the first ingredient on the label should be aloe. Try and stay away from the ones that list alcohol or perfumes first. These may be more irritating to already bothersome skin.