How To Harvest Aloe Vera Gel And 13 Ways To Use Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe Vera is one among those plants almost everyone has round the house. And if you don’t have a couple of, you ought to.
And if you've got only one but would really like some more, then find out how to grow fresh aloe plants from “pups”.
Aloe vera is one of the simplest succulents to grow.
They are just like the introverts of the succulent world, best left to their own devices and checked on once during a while to ascertain if they have anything.
I’m sure we’ve all heard of aloe’s many medicinal and beautifying uses. But beyond the occasional sunburn, what percentage folks have as long as lovely green plant a second thought?
I think it’s time we modify that.
In this article I’ve rounded up a number of the simplest health and wonder uses for aloe. I’m also getting to show you ways to urge that Aloe vera gel from your plant!
How To Harvest Aloe vera Gel
Harvesting Aloe vera gel may be a pretty easy task.
You’ll want to require aloe from a well-established plant that's a minimum of a couple of years old. Choose large thick leaves that are growing at the bottom of the plant.
You’ll get the foremost bang for your nutrient buck if you're taking your cuttings as on the brink of the central stalk as possible.
Cut your leaves employing a clean knife or scissors.
Tearing the leaves off can damage the plant, and employing a dirty pair of scissors or knife can contaminate and infect your lovely aloe. this tiny precaution will leave you with a healthy aloe plant to reap from for years to return.
After you've got cut your leaves, you’ll get to put them during a jar or glass, cut side right down to drain. Aloe contains a yellow-ish latex substance called aloin, which may cause severe gastric distress if you ingest it.
Let the aloe drain for about 10-15 minutes then rinse your leaves off with cold water and pat dry.
If you're planning on using the aloe on your skin, you'll squeeze it out of the leaf and apply it directly.
But to urge at the Aloe vera gel, you’ll want to chop the skin away.
A small paper, or maybe better, a filet knife works well to get rid of the skin from your aloe. You’ll want your knife to be good and sharp for a clean cut.
You’ll notice one side of the leaf is more rounded, and therefore the other side is flatter. Put the flat side down and use your knife to trim away the spines, keeping as on the brink of the sting as possible. You don’t want to lose any of that aloe-y goodness!
Flip your leaf over and trim the flat outer skin from your stalk, again keeping your cut as on the brink of the skin as possible. It’s a bit like filleting a bit of chicken or fish.
Now you'll trim the skin far away from the opposite side. take care because it gets a touch trickier to try to at now. The Aloe vera gel is extremely slippery.
You will have a reasonably substantial chunk of aloe gel. You’ll get to rinse it again to get rid of any remaining aloin.
That’s it!
Depending on the dimensions of your aloe plant, 3-4 leaves should leave you with about ½ to ¾ cup of Aloe vera gel.
You can use it immediately or store it during a covered container within the fridge every week.
How To Freeze Aloe vera Gel
If you won’t be using it within that point frame it’s best to freeze it. the earlier, the higher.
To freeze your Aloe vera, you’ll want to pour it into cube trays. If your gel is on the chunky side, you'll want to pulse it with a blender or kitchen appliance a couple of times to form it easier to pour.
Once it’s frozen, pop your aloe-sicles out and store them during a zippered freezer baggie, squeezing the maximum amount air out as possible. (I wish to use the water-immersion method to urge the air out of baggies for freezer storage.)
How To Make Aloe vera Juice
To make your own homemade Aloe vera juice, blend two tablespoons of Aloe vera gel with one cup of water.
Use or freeze your aloe juice directly.
Aloe features a taste almost like cucumber. Some great flavors that pair well with it are lemon, mint, honey, and ginger.
20 Brilliant Ways To Use Aloe vera gel
Before we jump in, please, ALWAYS consult your doctor before trying treatments with medicinal plants. this text is informational purposes and not meant as medical advice.
Beauty Benefits of Aloe vera
After digging into all the sweetness benefits of aloe, I’m thinking I'd need a plant or two sitting on my vanity.
Aloe is a superb ally when it involves keeping you looking your best. I mean come on; the traditional Egyptians didn’t call it “the plant of eternity” for nothing!
1. Natural Moisturizer
Aloe vera’s moisturizing benefits are well documented, so it’s no surprise to ascertain it in many beauty products. Skip the added chemicals and apply it on to your face and skin to moisturize and heal.
2. Gentle Makeup Primer
Aloe vera makes a cheap and natural alternative to makeup primers, and it’s such a lot gentler on your skin. If you would like your makeup to last beyond the lunch hour, the key's to use an honest primer on your eyes and face first. Apply a skinny layer of Aloe vera gel to your skin and let it dry before applying your makeup.
3. For Eyebrows
To keep your eyebrows looking well-groomed, dab a clean spoolie brush into a touch Aloe vera gel. Sweep gently over your brows to sha
Give acne the boot by applying aloe to zits.
pe and hold them in situ.
4. For Applying Glitter
Can we mention the ’90s for a minute? Am I the sole one that misses body glitter? Mix a tablespoon of Aloe vera gel with as little or the maximum amount glitter as you wish. Apply to your cheeks, shoulders, and hair for success of shimmer. (NEVER use near your eyes.)
5. Natural Exfoliator
Mix ½ cup of Aloe vera gel with ½ cup of sugar or dregs for a moisturizing exfoliator. Rub gently over your body and rinse with warm water for soft and smooth skin.
6. Natural Makeup Remover
At the top of the day, use Aloe vera gel as a natural makeup remover. Simply rub the gel over your face and wipe off with a tissue or cotton pad. Rinse your face with water.
7. Toothpaste Alternative
No joke, using Aloe vera to wash your teeth has numerous benefits.
According to this paper published within the Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences, in April 2015, Aloe vera performed better at controlling the bacteria that cause cavities than commercial toothpaste.
Not only that, because it doesn’t contain the abrasives common to commercial toothpaste it’s gentler on your teeth. provides it a try if you've got sensitive teeth.
According to the study, aloe also helped in healing several other oral maladies also, like gingivitis and periodontitis.
8. Mouthwash
If you would like to stop bad breath, do this homemade Aloe vera mouthwash recipe from Life Simply.
9. For Shaving
Aloe vera gel is great for shaving too. It makes your skin slick and prevents razor burn. You’ll have baby-soft skin after you shave. Once you’ve finished, make certain you rinse your razor thoroughly.
10. As A Hair Mask
Create a scalp-soothing hair mask with Aloe vera gel. Massage it directly into the roots of your hair, working it into your scalp. Don’t forget to smooth some down your tresses. Let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing out with cool water.
11. Anti-Frizz Hair Treatment
During humid weather, rub a little dab of aloe between your fingertips and gently pat your hair to smooth flyaway and frizzy hair. a small bit should do the trick; an excessive amount of can weigh your hair down or make it sticky.
12. For Acne & Pimples
Give acne the boot by applying aloe Vera to zits. 2-hydroxybenzoic acid may be a well-documented acne treatment, and guess what’s present in aloe vera? Yup, 2-hydroxybenzoic acid. Using aloe to treat acne is a superb choice for people with sensitive skin.
13. Natural Lubricant
Consider keeping an aloe plant on your bedside table, this plant also makes a superb natural personal lubricant. Bet you didn’t know aloe would be good for your sexual love too.
Not bad for the plant you’ve been ignoring all this point, right?
Let’s inspect what aloe can do for your health.
It bears repeating that you simply should consult your doctor before using Aloe vera as a medical treatment.
As I said, the traditional Egyptians called Aloe vera the plant of eternity and for an honest reason. consistent with the study I cited earlier within the article, this plant has it all!
Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, it’s full of vitamins and is one of the few vegetarian sources of B12.
Aloe even makes collagen, which is just like the fountain of youth, keeping skin, joints, and bones young and powerful.
Aloe vera contains nearly all of the amino acids our bodies got to stay healthy and includes several helpful enzymes, as well. It also has 2-hydroxybenzoic acid which may be a pain reliever and helps fight acne.
The scientific community has taken notice of this plant wonder, and research has taken place concerning the health benefits of Aloe vera. a number of which have found interesting results that beg for further studies.