One thing I don’t forget to take with us on vacation is Aloe Vera.
No matter how proactive I am with sunscreen, rash guards, and watching the UV levels one of us gets a little too much sun. A mixture of Aloe Vera, Coconut Oil, and Lavender Oil typically takes the sting out of a sunburn so we can rest.
As I was packing up the Aloe Vera for this year’s trip I remembered how I used to slather it on my girls to help soothe their eczema flare-ups.
I’ve also been taking it for years in my liquid cleanse supplement.
I even have an Aloe Vera Plant to have on hand for scratches or burns.
I decided I would do a little research to learn what else Aloe Vera can be used for and learn more about its benefits.
Here’s What I Learned About The Benefits Of Aloe Vera
Information regarding aloe vera’s use dates back nearly 5,000 years to early Egyptian times. It has since been used both topically and orally.
Aloe vera gel, found when you break open the green leafy skin, is often used topically to treat burns, abrasions, eczema, and other skin conditions.
According to Natural Healers Ultimate Aloe Vera Guide, “Aloe’s reputation for healing wounds starts as far back as 1935 when it was documented that the whole-leaf extract promoted complete regeneration of the skin. Research suggests that polysaccharides in the gel have anti-itching and anti-inflammatory that help with wound healing.”
I guess that’s why it helps with sunburns and skin issues.
It’s been long held as one of nature’s superfoods because it is full of a variety of vitamins and antioxidants.
They include Vitamin A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12 plus Vitamins A, C, and E.
The antioxidants help fend off free radicals which can contribute to many health issues.
A word of caution: Don’t filet your Aloe Vera plant and suck out the juice. I’ve done that. It’s gross!
I know there are some people who can stomach it, but not me. Call me a wimp, but I would rather stick with my vitamin drink that contains it than figure out how to drink it fresh.
If you do have a fresh plant cut off the tip and apply it topically to burns, scrapes, and abrasions.
Just keep in mind, it is a little stinky and sticky.
When the girls were young they didn’t mind me rubbing it on straight but now they prefer it mixed with coconut oil.
Always purchase high-quality aloe vera with no additives so you get the most benefits without added toxins.
This is my favorite brand. It’s clean and its home office is in my hometown.
5 Uses For Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera can be used for so many things. I just scratched the surface of its uses in my research.
Anti-aging, digestion, DYI hygiene products, immune strengthing, and weight loss to name just a few.
Here are some uses and DIY recipes I collected. Be sure to leave me a comment to let me know of other uses you know of.
Note: Look for 100% pure aloe vera gel to avoid added fragrance, dyes, and other toxins. It’s available at most pharmacies and health food stores.
I typically get this brand.
Aloe For Anti-Aging
As I approach 56 I get more concerned with wrinkles around the eyes and lips.
This may be acceptable at certain ages, but that doesn’t mean I want to rush to get there.
With that in mind, I was very interested when I learned Aloe had anti-aging benefits.
Plus, I’m always on the lookout for less toxic anti-aging remedies.
By using aloe for anti-aging you may see a natural reduction of fine lines and wrinkles as it naturally helps boost collagen production.
Under Eye Treatment
There are a ton of lotions and creams to help with under-eye bags, dark circles, and just fine lines and wrinkles.
You can do all of that for a fraction of the cost with aloe.
You can use pure aloe gel or you can use a piece of the plant each day under your eye.
Allow it to dry and just go on about your day. This can be done twice a day and can be worn under makeup.
Skin Brightening
One of the increasingly popular forms of anti-aging is serums, especially Vitamin C-based serums.
These are usually liquid and designed to be added to your face directly after cleansing, or a few drops in a moisturizer.
The problem is you may not know everything that is going into these.
You can avoid all that by simply making your own serum using aloe gel, orange oil, lemon oil, and witch hazel as a combination toner.
Put it on your face once to twice a day and you will start to see the dull areas of your face becoming brighter.
Make-up Remover
Makeup removers often contain harsh chemicals in them.
Most of the chemicals will remove the make-up, but they will also leave you with dry skin which can lead to enlarged pores, reddening, and other issues.
You can avoid this by simply using aloe gel and coconut oil.
Just mix the two together in a one-to-one ratio.
Whip the mixture with a regular household mixer or hand-held mixer.
Once you have a whipped effect, place it into a jar.
Use this daily to remove your makeup. It can also double as a moisturizer to help reduce pores and cut down on redness.
If you don’t want to mess with making your own you can also try this gel.
Aloe for Digestion
Digestion is a huge issue for many people.
There is a misconception that digestion is only an issue for people who are diagnosed with IBS.
The truth is, digestion can be an issue if you are changing your diet plan, exercise plan, or even changing medications.
When you start having digestion issues, you will face the option of taking over-the-counter medications or you may be given prescription options.
You could choose a natural option like aloe.
Keep in mind, as with any digestive option you use, you should take some time off from using digestive assistance.
This will help ensure your body is doing the work it needs on its own rather than becoming dependent on an outside supplement.
If you aren’t sure how aloe can help you, here are some ways to consider.
Inflammation Reduction
One of the big issues with digestion is the inflammation that is caused by various digestive problems.
You can take different pills or capsules to help with this, but those may have side effects that make things worse.
Instead of doing all of that, you can simply take aloe juice on a daily basis.
This will help reduce the inflammation from within and help reduce the issues caused by that inflammation that can lead to stomach pain or to leaky gut in severe conditions.
Constipation Relief
One of the number one digestive complaints is constipation.
This can be caused by an increase in iron if you have a diet change or find yourself adding more superfoods.
It can also be caused by painkillers following an injury.
Regardless of how it is caused, one of the first steps is usually a laxative. The problem is these laxatives can be harsh or leave you with cramps that hurt more than constipation in some cases.
To avoid all of this you can use aloe juice mixed with some warm tea like ginger tea to help safely and gently relieve your constipation.
You can do this several times a day, every few hours, until it begins to work.
You might also like: 11 Powerful Essential Oils For Digestion
Good Bacteria
You may have heard about increasing the good bacteria in your body to help with digestion.
This is usually done with probiotics.
Instead of doing this, you can drink aloe juice.
It can help deliver good bacteria into your system and give you the boost you need to push your digestion back in the right direction.
Some Of My Favorite Product That Contain Aloe
Makeup Remover
Organic Coconut OilWitch HazelMouthwashDeodorant
Aloe for Hygiene
A way to update your hygiene products and use fewer toxins and avoid hygiene-related health issues then consider these ways you can use aloe.
Shaving Cream Alternative
Part of most people’s hygiene is to shave.
Legs, underarms, chest, and facial hair are all on the list for many people as part of a normal routine.
The problem is that some of the store-bought shaving lotions and creams can dry the skin or cause red spots.
The perfumes in them are typically toxic.
To avoid this, you can simply switch to aloe.
Mix aloe with coconut oil and use as you would normally use a shaving lotion, gel, or cream.
Mouthwash Alternative
Bad breath can be a sign of everything from poor oral care routines to illness or bacteria problems in the body.
Regardless of the reason behind bad breath, the goal of most people is to use mouthwash daily, or several times a day, to cut down on bad breath.
The over-the-counter mouthwash options can have a lot of alcohol or other ingredients that may be harmful to you for a variety of reasons.
Instead, you can use aloe.
You can use straight aloe juice as a mouth rinse, which probably tastes gross or you can also step it up and mix it with water, peppermint or cinnamon oil to taste, and baking soda.
My daughters use this mouthwash containing aloe vera, sea salt, and minerals.
Deodorant Alternative
I don’t use the typical store-bought deodorants (like Dove or Mitchum) because I like to avoid toxins where I can.
Traditional brand deodorants contain aluminum and toxic fragrances.
There are hundreds of DIY options and recipes to choose from.
Ideally, all you need is something that will stop the bacteria growth that is causing the odor.
This can simply be done with the antibacterial properties of Aloe.
You can make a simple aloe-based deodorant cream with coconut oil and tea tree oil.
Aloe for Your Immune System and Weight Loss
You may not think that weight loss plays into your immune system but it can. Extra weight and obesity
Extra weight and obesity come with its own set of problems.
In fact, some people who are obese experience breathing problems and a very slow metabolism.
The slow metabolism plays into the amount of waste that may be kept in your system due to slow digestion.
This can lead to leaky gut or bacteria issues in your body that can eventually lead to illness and the issues.
By using aloe for your weight loss, you can drop the weight that is leading to other potential health issues and causing your immune system to become fatigued.
Try some of these drinks to boost your immune system and lose weight:
Aloe Weight Loss Tea
One of the ways that many people use aloe as part of their health journey is to make aloe tea.
The easiest way to do this is to use a premade aloe juice that is mixed with lemon.
This will give you the benefits of the aloe juice as well as digestion help with the lemon to boost metabolism and the ginger to soothe your stomach.
Aloe Smoothie
If you don’t want a tea you might like an immune-boosting smoothie.
All you need is aloe juice, strawberries, bananas, and mango if you would like.
Make your smoothie as normal in a blender and drink.
Aloe Cleanse
Aloe helps by cleaning your colon, which flushes toxins from your body and in turn, gives you better digestion.
This increased digestion will help you boost your immune system and help you lose weight.
My favorite aloe vera cleanse drink is Cleanse For Life.
Conclusion
I hope you learned a few things from my research.
Aloe Vera has many benefits that I think we could all benefit from especially if you are trying to live less toxic.
I already incorporate it for sunburns and cleansing but will be adding it to my anti-aging routine as well.
What Ways Do You Plan To Use Aloe Vera?
