Of all the herbs available in the kitchen garden, aloe is perhaps the richest in healing properties and has been rightly named the “first-aid” plant. It has moisturizing and emollient properties and is used in cosmetic creams, sun-lotions, shaving creams and face packs. It can easily be cultivated as a house-plant in a sunny warm spot with good drainage.
Cosmetologists mix aloe with several other herbs and draft fancy names for it. Then these “herbal” avatars are sold at exorbitant prices. Growing a plant and using fresh gel is much more effective than bottled gel, simply because it is alive and therefore is more potent. It is the only plant whose extract is applied directly from plant to face in its natural and purest form.
ALOE IN MEDICINE AND BEAUTY
Aloe as after-shave
Fresh aloe gel should be rubbed on after shaving. Razor burns diminish and cuts heal quickly without scarring.
Aloe for a glowing skin Spread aloe gel on your face. Within minutes, it works by clearing blemishes and giving you a fresh, soft baby look, which other chemicals and concoctions fail to do. Drinking 10 ml aloe juice daily also helps cleanse your skin. Take 1 tsp each of aloe vera gel, mint powder and tulsi (basil) leaves, make a paste and then apply. Wash off first with milk and then water; this also helps clear blemishes.
Aloe for dry skin
Take 1 tsp each of aloe vera gel, honey and china clay, mix and apply.
Aloe for oily skin
Take 1 tsp of aloe vera gel, 2 drops of witch hazel and 1 tsp of fuller’s earth. Apply well to remove excess oil as well as to close open pores.
Aloe for a wrinkle-free skin
Aloe is known to combat wrinkles and defies ageing. Cosmetologists have hailed it as the “water of youth”. Aloe Vera gel penetrates quickly & deeply and it is retained by the skin 3 to 4 times faster than water. Its enzymes remove dead cells, grow new ones, provide moisture and nutrition, get rid of dryness and restore the skin’s elasticity.
Aloe for acne
Aloe, the wonder herb clears acne by removing the dead cells, thereby opening the skin pores and discarding the blocked oil. The scars left by acne also should be treated similarly using aloe.
Aloe as sunscreen
Aloe provides an effective sunscreen against both types of ultraviolet rays (UV-A which causes premature ageing & UV-B which causes sunburn and skin darkening) of the sun. The pulp of aloe juice along with turmeric removes sunburn & reduces oiliness.
Aloe for burning sensation in the eyes
Sometimes there is a strong burning sensation and redness in the eyes due to factors like long hours in the hot sun, too much eye-strain due to computer usage etc. Here the pulp of the aloe juice placed on each eye can help cool the eyes and rid them of this sensation
Aloe for radiant hair
Mix fresh aloe gel mixed with curds (for very oily hair you can add multani mitti (fuller’s earth) also) and apply it to the hair ½ an hour before bath. It will make your hair bouncy & lustrous.
Aloe for dandruff
http://www.herbal-ayurveda-remedy.com/herbs/aloevera.php
Aloe for menstrual irregularities
Menstrual irregularities are frequent among woman. Prepare an extract of aloe juice & boil it with sugar to make syrup. Intake of this aloe syrup one week before the due date of menses is a good remedy for delayed menses. Papaya is also useful in delayed periods.
Aloe for painful menses
Some women have painful menses. The same syrup as mentioned above should be used during menses. It improves pelvic circulation and removes spasm. This will help to ease pain caused during menses.
Aloe for osteoarthritis
The use of aloe is indicated in many geriatric problems such as neuromuscular weakness and osteoarthritis. Intake of 10 gm of aloe with half a gram of turmeric powder acts as an effective blood purifier.
Aloe for wounds, bruises & abrasions Aloe gel hardens into a natural bandage due to its antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties and is widely used for the external treatment or minor wound and inflammatory skin disorders, cuts, bruises and abrasions.
Aloe for burns Aloe has been traditionally used as a natural remedy for burns-like first degree and second degree thermal burns, and to this effect, the plant is also called “burn plant”.
Aloe for gas trouble Mixing a dish of aloe by roasting it in a small quantity of ghee and taking it once or twice a week with a meal is a common practice in rural India. This recipe is helpful in cases of chronic gas trouble and distension of abdomen.
Aloe for losing weight
There is good news for weight watchers. Aloin, the active principle of aloe, has been in anti-obesity preparations too.
So do you have an Aloevera plant in your garden?