Cooling Aloe Vera: Love Your Summer with this Nourishing Elixir
One of the most well-understood energetics in traditional medicine belongs to Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis).
For centuries, Aloe Vera has been valued for its cooling and moistening properties. These properties translate into a wide range of benefits, from supporting wound healing to aiding digestion.
Evidence suggests that aloe has been used as early as 6,000 years ago by several different cultures. Legend has it that Alexander the Great was advised by this advisor, Aristotle to conquered the island of Socotra to secure a steady supply of aloe vera for his wounded soldiers.
Let’s explore some of these impressive uses of Aloe Vera in more detail.
Aloe vera’s affinity
Aloe Vera has a natural affinity for the skin and mucus membranes, where it truly shines.
The gel is wonderful for cooling and hydrating the skin, and may also support skin elasticity by promoting collagen and elastin production. Great for helping to prevent wrinkles.
These cooling, healing, and moisturizing properties make aloe vera a great choice for soothing sunburns.
The recipe you see here is great with coconut oil, jojoba oil or maybe an infused oil infused with calendula flowers, which is also great for healing skin. Make a mix early in the summer and keep it handy as needed.
Wounds & Skin
Aloe vera has a long history of being a go-to for healing skin and wounds.
In fact, the US Pharmacopeia recognized its skin-protective properties as early as 1810-1820! This isn’t surprising considering its many beneficial properties.
Aloe vera boasts antiseptic and antibacterial qualities, which can help combat various skin issues.
And its anti-inflammatory properties soothe and calm irritated or inflamed skin, making it ideal for hot rashes.
Internal Use
Aloe vera isn’t just a soothing sunburn remedy! Packed with a cocktail of vitamins (A, C, E, B12, and folic acid) and potent antioxidants, aloe vera is a gut hero in disguise.
For those struggling with IBS, its gentle touch soothes and heals irritated mucous membranes, bringing much-needed relief.
And that’s not all! It can also act as a natural laxative, gently encouraging sluggish digestion (see precautions below).
But the power of aloe vera extends beyond the gut. Use it as part of a refreshing mouthwash or with a natural toothpaste to pamper your gums and fight dental plaque.
Using Aloe Vera
In most cases the gel of the inner leaves is what’s used for external use.
You can buy the gel. It’ll likely have some kind of preservative in it. So do your research to find out what kind of preservative is being used.
Or you can also just grow your own aloe vera plant. They’re really relatively easy to grow. Once you have a plant established, you can clip a leaf with a sharp knife or scissors, near the base or body of the plant. Cut the pointy edges off, taking as little of the leaf as you can. Then you can just fillet the leave and scrape the gel into a bowl with a spoon.
You can keep the gel in the refrigerator for up to a week. Adding Vitamin C or E can increase it’s shelf life in the refrigerator up to about 2 months. Or you can freeze it for long term storage.
I use it as an ingredient in lotions and other skin mixtures as it’s really great for everyday topical skin care too.
For internal use most folks buy aloe vera juice.
You can add it to your smoothie, a juice or another favorite drink.
It’s recommended 1-2 TBL per day for internal use.
I’ve seen it noted that it mixes well with drink recipes that contain cucumber, lemon, watermelon or mint. But I have to say, I’ve never tried it.
Precautions
Aloe Vera may reduce the body’s ability to absorb drugs. If you’re plan to use it internally, this is something you may want to keep in mind.
The FDA advises against aloe vera’s use as a laxative, due to the abdominal cramping it can cause. Before using it for this, please do your own research and/or see a medical professional that can advise you.
I hope you’ll find a way to use aloe gel that suits you best. It can be a great asset for your home and it’s super easy to keep. They can easily be grown and kept
