Aloe Vera is a popular houseplant that has been used for thousands of years for its health benefits and healing properties. It was referred to as the "elixir of youth" in ancient Chinese cultures and the "plant of immortality" during biblical times. Hindus believed Aloe came from the Garden of Eden, while the Ancient Egyptians believed it to be a sacred plant that could protect you from evil.
Benefits of Aloe Vera
This succulent is known for its pointy green leaves. Inside each leaf holds a slippery gel-like substance that contains water, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. This healing sap also has antibacterial, antiviral, and antiseptic properties.
As you can see, Aloe Vera is more than a pretty houseplant. In fact, it's one of nature's simplest first aid kits. Aloe can help to:
Relieve minor burns, including sunburn
Heal wounds and skin injuries
Soothe heartburn and aid in digestion
Keep fruits and veggies fresh
Reduce dental plaque
Heal mouth ulcers and canker sores
Lower blood sugar
Soothe pain and inflammation
Hydrate and moisturize the skin and hair
Act as a natural laxative and ease constipation
Increase collagen and skin elasticity (anti-aging)
Of course, this sacred plant has energetic properties as well. For example, it can help with sacred protection by protecting and cleansing your home from evil Spirits and entities. Aloe can help to absorb and transform negative or dense energies. It also helps to invite a strong sense of calm and equilibrium into your environment.
The word "Aloe" in Sanskrit means "Goddess." It is considered a plant that holds the frequency of Divine feminine energies: beauty, grace, patience, compassion, love. And, because it has such deep and powerful roots, it's often used to assist in healing the Root Chakra. Keeping an Aloe plant next to you can help to realign your chakras and calm your mood.
Harvesting Aloe Gel
Aloe Vera is an easy-to-grow, no-fuss plant to keep around the house. All it needs is bright, indirect sunlight and water about every 2-3 weeks. Aloe plants are easy to find at your local greenery, but you can also order them online.
To harvest Aloe gel, simply remove a mature, thick leaf from the plant and cut it open lengthwise. You can squeeze the gel out with your fingers, or gently scrape it with a spoon or small paring knife.
You can collect your Aloe Vera gel in a jar or glass. Use it immediately after collecting or store it in a covered container in the refrigerator. Fresh Aloe gel, without preservatives, is only good in the fridge for about a week. So, it's best to harvest it in small batches and only use what you need. However, if you plan on keeping it longer, I recommend adding powdered Vitamin C or E to it, as these ingredients will naturally preserve your gel.
If you do happen to collect too much Aloe gel, you can freeze it for later. The best way that I've found to do this is to pour it into ice cube trays. Once it's frozen you can pop the Aloe cubes out and store them in freezer bags.
Aloe Gel versus Aloe Juice
Aloe Vera juice and gel are both made up of the same, oozy ingredient found in the leaves. The only difference is that Aloe juice has been crushed and pressed to form a liquid, juicy substance. Sometimes, distilled water is added to make an even thinner consistency. You can, of course, make your own Aloe juice by simply putting it in a blender and adding water to thin it out.
Store bought Aloe gels usually have thickening agents and preservatives added to them. When shopping for either of these ingredients, be sure that they contain 90% or more of Aloe as the main ingredient. Also, be careful, as most store-bought Aloes contain toxic additives such as dyes or fragrances.
For small recipes, I simply use the Aloe from my own houseplants. But, for bigger needs, my favorite Aloe Vera Gel to purchase is from Mountain Rose Herbs.
A good rule of thumb is that Aloe Vera Gel is usually designed for topical application on the skin, while Aloe juice is better for oral consumption. The juice can be ingested in very small doses. But do be careful, as too much could cause nausea or diarrhea. For this reason, you also want to keep the plant out of reach from your pets and small children.
Evidence has shown that Aloe can help slow the aging of skin by increasing collagen production and improving skin elasticity. The Aloe in this recipe can help to prevent and reverse the signs of aging while the matcha helps to treat acne, protect against sun damage, control oil, soothe inflammation, and
Aloe + Green Tea Face Mask
Some evidence has shown that Aloe can help slow the aging of skin by increasing collagen production and improving skin elasticity. The Aloe in this recipe can help to prevent and reverse the signs of aging while the matcha helps to treat acne, protect against sun damage, control oil, soothe inflammation, and eliminate toxins from your skin.
Ingredients
1 tsp. Aloe Vera gel
1 tsp. almond or coconut oil
1/2 tsp. matcha powder
Directions
Mix oil and matcha powder together in a bowl.
Gently stir in Aloe gel to combine.
Apply a thick layer of the mask evenly to clean skin. Let sit for 20 minutes.
Rinse with warm water and apply moisturizer.
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Aloe + HONEY Face Mask
The ingredients in this mask can help your skin to retain moisture without making it oily. The added honey and vitamin E will help to fade dark spots, encourage the skin's healing process, and add a dewy glow to the skin.
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. Aloe Vera gel
1 Tbsp. fractionated coconut oil
1 tsp. raw honey
1/4 tsp. Vitamin E
1 drop copaiba essential oil
1 drop lavender essential oil
Directions
Mix ingredients together in a bowl to combine.
Apply a thick layer of the mask evenly to clean skin. Let sit for 15 minutes.
Rinse with warm water and apply moisturizer.
For best results, use 1-2 times a week.
Fruit & Veggie Keeper
Aloe Vera has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that can help to extend the shelf life of your produce by killing mold and harmful bacteria. Aloe gel also acts as a barrier, helping to keep moisture locked into your fresh fruits and veggies. Plus, the gel does not affect the taste or appearance of your food and provides a natural alternative to toxic preservatives.
Why lemon? This recipe uses lemon essential oil to further cleanse and purify your produce. Lemon contains antibacterial properties and is a natural cleaner that is safe to consume internally. If you don't have lemon essential oil, you can substitute this with 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice.
Ingredients
1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel
6 drops lemon essential oil
Directions
Mix ingredients together in a bowl to combine. You can use a blender or food masher to make sure the recipe isn't too thick or chunky. Add water, 1 teaspoon at a time, to reach a desired consistency.
Rinse your fresh produce with water and pat dry.
Using your hands or a silicone brush, apply a thin layer of the gel on your fruits and veggies. Store in a bowl or plastic bag.
Rinse the gel off before consuming.
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Aloe Mouth Rinse
I mentioned earlier that Aloe Vera can help to soothe canker sores and cold sores. It's also been known to even speed up the healing process of mouth wounds while helping to reduce pain and inflammation.
Because of its powerful antibacterial properties, Aloe can also help to reduce plaque buildup when used daily. This mouth rinse can also be helpful if you have bleeding or swollen gums. I like to use it before and after having any kind of dental work.
Ingredients
6-ounce glass bottle with lid
4 oz. Aloe Vera juice
2 oz. water
1/2 Tbsp. witch hazel
1 tsp. baking soda
4 drops lemon essential oil
4 drops tea tree essential oil
2 drops clove essential oil
Directions
Whisk ingredients together in a bowl to combine. Pour into a 6-ounce glass bottle with a lid and cover tightly.
Shake well before each use. Swish and gargle a small amount for at least 30 seconds. Do not swallow.
Store covered and in the refrigerator. This homemade recipe will last up to 14 days.
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Skin Soother
Aloe plants contain potent antioxidants that can help prevent infections, heal wounds, and treat skin irritations such as rashes or acne. This is an all-purpose skin soother that can be used for razor burns, bug bites, dry skin, eczema, rashes, and minor scrapes.
Ingredients
1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel
2 drops frankincense essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops helichrysum essential oil
2 drops rose essential oil
Directions
Combine all ingredients together in a jar or squeeze container with a lid.
Massage into skin irritations as needed.
Store the remaining gel in the refrigerator.
Note: Aloe Vera Gel without preservatives will be good for 7 days, while store-bought Aloe Vera Gel will last much longer.
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after sun spray
Numerous medical studies have found that topical Aloe Vera healed first and second degree burns faster than most traditional medications. It was also shown to prevent redness, itching, and infections. Therefore, it should be no surprise that Aloe is often used as a key ingredient in soothing sunburns and other minor burns.
In this recipe, we combine Aloe Vera Gel with skin-soothing oils, such as coconut oil and lavender oil. I also include peppermint essential oil for its skin cooling properties. Next, I top it off with witch hazel and Vitamin E to help preserve the spray, so it lasts longer than 7 days.
Ingredients
1/2 cup Aloe Vera gel
1/4 cup witch hazel
1/4 cup fractionated coconut oil
1 teaspoon Vitamin E
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil
Directions
Combine all ingredients together in a glass spray bottle.
Shake well before each use. Spray liberally onto sun-kissed skin and let it air dry before applying clothing.
Repeat every 2-3 hours or as needed.
Tip: You can also freeze this recipe into small ice cubes. Then, gently massage a cube over inflamed skin to instantly soothe and cool.
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aloe Energy Clearing Body Scrub
This body scrub has loads of skin nourishing ingredients. But I've also added sea salt to the mix, which is helpful in cleansing your energetic field of unwanted energies. The essential oils were specifically chosen for their abilities to clear negative energy and raise your vibration.
Ingredients
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup coarse sea salt
2 tsp. Aloe Vera Gel
3 drops eucalyptus essential oil
3 drops rosemary essential oil
3 drops lavender essential oil
Olive oil
Directions
Combine the first three ingredients together in a bowl. Add essential oils.
Add a drizzle of olive oil, 1 teaspoon at a time, until your body scrub reaches its desired consistency.
Gently scrub the mixture on your body while in the bath or shower. Hold the intention of energetic clearing and Divine protection.
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Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
The vitamins, minerals, and lectins in Aloe can work wonders on your hair. Aloe can help with dandruff, restore natural shine, and add moisture, all while encouraging the hair to strengthen and grow.
Ingredients
3 tsp. Aloe Vera Gel
2 tsp. plain yogurt
1 tsp. raw honey
Optional essential oils: 2-3 drops of rosemary and/or geranium
Directions
Mix ingredients together in a small bowl.
Wash your hair like normal. Massage the mixture into damp hair and scalp for 10 minutes. Let it rest for 30 minutes.
Optional: Cover with a shower cap and apply light heat with a hair dryer or sit out in the Sun to lock in extra moisture.
Rinse, wash, and style hair as normal.
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I hope you've enjoyed these recipes.
With Love,
Kelsey
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