Aloe vera is a plant species of genus aloe, grows wildly in tropical climates, cultivated for many medicinal and agricultural uses, although it has been famous since ancient times for it’s cosmetic and medicinal properties, nowadays it has occupied spaces in decorative purposes too, often potted successfully inside houses, gardens and balconies. These plants have a striking resemblance to cacti family, with thick and fleshy leaves from green to gray-greenish color, some varieties showing white dots/flecks on their surfaces, margin of the leaf is jagged with thorns running over whole a leaf. Aloe vera is found in almost multiple consumer goods including beverages, skin lotions, hair potions, face masks ( beauty products), or medicines such as ointments used for minor burns or bruises or marks. The extracts of aloe holds numerous medicinal values which makes it one of the most effective plant in the history of Ayurveda & medicine. The leaf contains phytochemicals.
This single plant has various uses for dietary supplement, traditional medicine and other commodities.
Aloe vera (Ghritkumari in hindi) is such a common plant which can be found easily in every household and this gooey stuff has numerous health as well as beauty values only to discover multiple other usages to get gorgeous inside and outside. It has been one of the most popular since ages among Indians to treat various issues, while Ayurveda describes in details Aloes never ending uses, here are few to list, though we you must be knowing few of them down here, but if you don’t just go through it and stay amazed and stay gorgeous by starting to incorporate Aloe-Vera in your daily routine as a healthy habit. If all this long you haven’t been start doing it from now on only to see different you.
It is a natural way to stay healthy and beautiful cutting out the chemical harms your body goes through on daily basis as we are all aware of the pollution, it is always safer to go natural way… aloe-vera suits every type of skin and person and there is mere any side effects heard in all these ages.
Aloe-vera is available in many forms over the counter, juice form, gel form, cream form etc., and you can use it directly right from it’s natural form by extracting it’s sticky gel by cutting the leaf carefully so that you get generous amount of gel without getting waste…,
be careful not to use that dark yellow liquid which flows out as soon as the leaf is cut from the plant, it is not useful and it’s consumption may follow up puke/vomiting as it is said to be harmful on ingestion. Rather keep the leaf upside down after cutting it hang and after half or one hour that deep-yellow liquid will fall out itself. Or wash it nicely before using.
So include Aloe-vera and get amazed by incredible benefits:
Natural cleanser/detox
Aloe-vera is full of amino acids, vitamins and minerals making it nature’s most effective natural cleanser, consuming it helps a body get rid of any toxic present thus strengthening our digestive system and cleaning it naturally. Often suggested for constipated patients. Make sure to consume aloe vera juice not more than 25 ml or as mentioned, as it may cause stomach cramps and diarrhea
Immunity booster
Aloe vera is packed with immune boosting polysaccharides which help the immune system function more smoothly as it was meant to do. It has multiple inflammatory stabilizing properties within a body in cases of asthama, eczema, psoriasis and any other disorder.
Calms upset digestive system
Aloe vera as mentioned above helps strengthen the digestive system, by helping the body to absorb all the nutrients( micro, macro) from the food we eat directly into blood mainstream. Aloe vera has laxative and detoxifying agents hence it’s regular intake would help balance the bowel movement and decrease the unhealthy bacteria and yeast inside the body.
Single source for multiple vitamins
Aloe vera juicce is blessed with vitamins such as A,C,E and other B-complexes such as B1,B2,B3,B6,B12 and loads of folic acid, it is also rich in trance minerals such as zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron, Selenium and potassium. deficiencies of these minerals in our bloody may create tired and lesser active mind and anemic too.
Bad Breath
Aloe vera can turn out to be a best mouth wash, rising mouth with it helps remove plaque and build-up on from teeth, making it stainless and fresh also prevents tooth decay, it kills bacteria causing bad breath.
It also has some beauty hacks worth knowing:
Make-up remover
Many make-up remover has chemical in it where as Aloe vera gel can come to aid. Just a dollop of gel on cotton ball and voila you have cleared the make-up mess without harming your skin.
For clearer skin
It has skin nutrients which help sooth skin irritation and if you are suffering from any skin allergies even the worst of pimple, acnes or boils then you don’t have to worry anymore…after cleaning your face you can just apply fresh gel directly on your skin leaving it overnight and washing out in the morning with luke warm water. It will give you clear skin any kind of blemishes will also be erased within a week and also the glow and baby soft skin of yours will be admired. Remember to couple it’s application with it’s intake also as these allergies are often the results when you are unfit internally. So heal out completely with Aloe vera.
Sun tan remover
Your mom was onto something when she snipped off the tip of the leaf and started rubbing on your bruises. You got sun burnt don’t worry aloe vera is known to treat sun burns and tans too. Infact any kind of skin damage caused by either pollution chemicals or The Sun will be cured with gel application of aloe, it is one of the most effective, sure shot, inexpensive and easy method. You can enjoy your undamaged skin. Worst of damage can be reversed in three months. Just with the application of gel before bed all over your body and face, it is not going to cause a hole in your pocket and fresh dewy skin will be noticed in short time, if it’s not severe sun burns then a week would be enough to display results, which is guaranteed.
Shaving Cream
While shaving small amount of gel can be spread on your skin or even mixed with your regular moisturizing lotion to ease out the shaving process and the minor bruises while razing can be warded off which often leads to burning sensations leaving it smooth and soothed, aloe is famous for it’s anti-microbial properties which will prevent any kind of skin infection. And at the same time nourishes your skin from deep.
It can also be used as after shave cooling gel.
Use as a face wash
Mix 1 Tbsp aloe gel with 1 tsp almond milk/coconut milk and 1 tsp lemon juice gently massage the mixture on your face or if desired can be applied on whole body, leave it for 15-20 mins and then rinse with luke warm water and then normal water, it helps deep cleaning and extra added shine on your body won’t hurt. It will sooth out any kind of skin inflammation, breakout or rosacea and psoriasis flare-ups.
Anti-aging
Mix 1 Tbsp aloe gel with 1 tsp 100%raw coconut oil and rub until the mixture is warm and white in color then massage it onto your face if wish could be done to your body as well by increasing the amount of gel and oil as required. This cream will boost your skin’s condition and subside any fine age lines and wrinkles. As it will deep penetrate in your skin. Lack of moisture is one of the main culprit for your aging skin.
Exfoliation
Aloe vera could become a good scrubbing base. Mix aloe with just enough brown sugar or baking soda to make the gritty texture and thus exfoliate your facial, elbows , keens and neck only to get lighter and softer skin. Aloe vera is good as scrub as it strengthen the tissue and supply ample amount of oxygen to create vibrant skin tone.
As a night cream
Apply generous amount of aloe vera gel all over your body including neck and face and leave overnight and take shower in luke warm water and then normal water, you will surely love the change your skin will show. It will rejuvenate your skin in no time.
Eyebrow/eyelash cream
Mix 1 tsp of castor oil, 1 tsp of almond oil, 1 Tbsp of aloe gel mix and store the concoction in a clean glass bottle and before bed every night apply this DIY mixture onto your brows and lashes with a clean mascara wand only to find out them growing faster and thicker.
Cracked heels
Mix together 1/2 cup of oatmeal, 1/2 cup corn meal, 4 Tbsp aloe gel, 1/2 cup unscented body lotion, apply and rub this onto your cracked heels and leave for 10 mins and then rinse out with warm water, then apply pure unscented Vaseline gel wear socks to and leave overnight. Your cracked heels will be mended in fewer days.
Either way cracked heels will start to heal itself once you start in-taking it’s juice 25 ml mixed with equal quantity of water every morning, as everything is connected with human’s stomach, one must understand the root cause and treat it directly from it’s root.
Chapped lips
Apply clean unscented Vaseline gel mixed with aloe vera gel for poorly chapped lips, or else only aloe vera gel can be applied directly to your lips and leave it. Apply as frequently as required.
Hair nutrient
You can apply aloe gel onto your scalp and hair ends. It is known to increase hair growth, prevent hair-fall promote hair growth, close open hair cuticles only to add on extra shine to your mane. It is also known to be anti-fungal and antibacterial which is a good thing to sooth out any itchy scalp or blisters on your scalp, and helps get rid of dandruff and flaky scalp too. You can also make your hair wash with aloe vera and reetha seeds adding shikakai to it to double its effect.
Soak reetha seeds and shikakai overnight removing seeds in the morning after it has soften up, then mix aloe vera gel freshly extracted, blend together in a blender and use this mixture to rinse your oil and dirt from hair and scalp by gently messaging, leave it for 2-3 mins and rinse off with running water.
These are few of the health and beauty benefits of aloe plant in the form of gel or juice.
There are some ways on how you can increase it’s consumption in daily routine:
Raw form
You can consume aloe vera in raw form either as salads by cutting into small pieces as toppings or as main ingredient as base form garnished by other herbs. As it is bitter in taste you can consume it directly the first thing in the morning empty stomach to grab all the goodness it has to give, with a glass full of water 1 hour before breakfast make sure you are not intaking milk within hours of aloe vera consumption.
Juice form
Aloe vera is also consumed in juice form, either mixed with other veggies’ juice or just aloe vera. it is good to intake its fiber as well.
Cooked form
Aloe vera can be cooked by gently steaming or poaching before it is used in juices, salads or even soups and stir fried for a milder taste.
Fully cooked aloe no longer has a slimy texture which may make it more appealing.
There are various recipes to cook aloe vera are available on google.
*Precaution:
Consumption of aloe vera in any form for pregnant females is not advised.
Aloe vera has such amazing benefits..thanks!