A member of the lily family, the aloe vera plant is a tender perennial. It does best in sun—even Texas’ sun—and must be protected from freezes. The medicinal part of the aloe plant is the mucilaginous liquid and gel stored in the leaves. To use the gel, a gardener cuts off a leaf, slices it open with a sharp knife, and scrapes the gel onto a sheet of wax paper or into a small bowl. The gel may be applied directly to the affected area of the skin. The gel is cooling and promotes healing from sunburn, skin abrasions, insect bites, and rashes. The plant will heal itself from the cut.
The aloe plant is gardener friendly. It is easy to grow and propagate. It is not prone to bugs or fungi, but it is sensitive to too much water which can cause root rot. The aloe plant can grow as tall as three feet and is often almost as round as it is tall. In the spring, a mature aloe will produce an edible yellow flower on a long spike.
Growing Aloe Vera
In the spring, the mature aloe plant will produce off-shoots from its main root. These small aloe plants can be pulled or dug and transplanted. When harvesting baby aloe plants, be sure to get a good part of the root by which it attached to the main plant. Transplant the baby into rich soil in its own pot. That’s it. You now have another aloe vera.
The aloe plant should be moved indoors when temperatures dip below 40° Fahrenheit. Check the soil moisture weekly and add water when the soil is dry an inch below the surface.
Medicinal Uses of Aloe Vera
Using aloe gel for burns and skin infections has ancient historical support. Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Indians all have documented using aloe since before the time of Christ. The Bible mentions that when Christ was removed from the cross, his body was wrapped in aloes and myrrh, (John 19:39). Modern research suggests that topically applied aloe gel may have immunomodulatory properties (Mayo Clinic, 2009 monograph).
There have been no reported side effects from the topical use of aloe gel.
The inner lining of the aloe leaf is used as an oral laxative and is reported to sooth the digestive system. Ingestion of aloe is often accomplished in encapsulated powder form. There is ongoing research on possible uses of aloe in the treatment of cancer and diabetes. However, there are no claims to date of the plant’s efficacy in treating these ailments.
There have been reports of diarrhea caused by the laxative effect of oral aloe vera. And, it can decrease the absorption of many drugs according to National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Aloe vera aids healing and provides comfort for cooking burns and sunburns. It is useful for treating skin abrasions and irritations. Aloe vera is easy to grow and many mothers and cooks keep an aloe vera plant at the ready for minor burns and scrapes. Before using aloe vera internally, it is best to check with your physician.
Links:
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIH)
 |
