What Else Can You Use An Aloe Vera Plant For?

3 Comments

1. Best Smartphone Software says:

   December 23, 2009 at 6:02 am

   Hey do you know that aloe plant can be used as shampoo, it is a very effective organic anti-dandruff and lice treatment and it leaves your hair shining. you can mix a little on your regular shampoo and it will work perfectly. This is from experience….
2. bob33 says:

   December 23, 2009 at 6:02 am

   Try this link for a “tea”
   http://freealoeplant.tripod.com/id14.html
   Oh…here ya go! This is a really neat link to look at for the different uses. I knew it was for burns and cuts but…..
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_plant#External_uses
   Hope this helps out some! Good luck!
3. buterfri says:

   December 23, 2009 at 6:02 am

   Recipes
   Take the leaf of a plant that is 2-3 years old or has bloomed, at least 3″ wide and 14″ long.
   Wash the leaf and cut off the thorns.
   Cut it into thumb-size chunks and put into a quart jar.
   Fill with water, put on a lid and refrigerate for 8 hours.
   Drink 1 ounce and refill with water.
   Do this every day for 1 week then discard.
   Compost tea is more about adding beneficial microorganisms to the soil.
   Here is a little info on compost tea……http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/…
   what I do is fill a five gallon bucket with compost, let it seep or sit for about 24-48hours, sturring it a few times with a big paint stick then secure a window screen over another bucket with a rope and pour the dark brown compost water (tea) over to let only the liquid and very small particles through.
   I store it in a sealed contaniner in a cool, dark place.
   When I water my plants, I’ll mix in some of the tea distilled water. You can use it at 100% every few weeks, or like I do, use it about 20% every time you water.
   I don’t foliar feed my aloes with it, just plain distilled water for that.
   It’s not a subsitute for fertalizer, more of an additive for the waterings. I use fish emoultion a lot of the time for fertalizer.
   It seems to work well.
   Try the compost tea, Its worth the effort.
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   Minor Burns
   Aloe Vera Gel: For minor burns, use the pure gel, either from the leaf of a healthy plant, or from a reliable source of pure, “Certified Plus Active Aloe Vera Gel.” (Do not use Aloe Vera “Liniment” as the liniment has been designed to “create heat” for sore muscles.)
   One of the folk home remedy medicines for burns has long been using fresh Aloe Vera gel. An Aloe Vera plant would always be kept flourishing somewhere in the home. Whenever one of the family members got a mild to moderate burn, one of the leaves of the plant would be cut and the fresh Aloe Vera gel would be squeezed onto the burn site, and then gently rubbed in. This would be repeated several times during the same day, until the pain from the burn subsided. Eventually that cut part of the leaf will begin to grow back. However, if your family were prone to getting a lot of burns, it would be wise to have at least two or three plants in the house.
   Mild burns are generally safe to render first aid in a home care setting. Some mild to moderate burns may also be safe, but you must watch out for signs of infection. Moderate to severe burns really need to be evaluated by a health care professional.
   Most metropolitan cities have a Red Cross Center. The Red Cross Centers have first aid courses that are designed for the public. I highly recommend that both parents in any household, especially a home with children, take one of these classes. The Red Cross also offers CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation classes), both for the layperson, and for the professionals. A good portion of the CPR classes is dedicated to care of infants. Infants and children can have accidents that may block breathing, or other accidents that will require emergency care. Often that needed care must be given within just a few seconds to no more than two or three minutes. There is simply not enough time to call for help. Parents must be trained.
   Burns are rated in three categories: First (red), Second (blisters), and Third (charred).
   First Degree: This burn is red only. No signs of blistering. The skin is NOT broken. It is safe to treat at home without fear of infection. Caution must be rendered in infants, small children, the elderly, and those with Diabetes. (Diabetic patients often loose feeling in their lower extremities and can easily burn their feet without even knowing it.) Immediately place burnt area under cold running water, or use ice cubes, or immediately apply the Aloe Vera gel. Caution must be exercised with cleaning. Harsh cleaning can further damage the already delicate tissues.
   Second Degree, mild to moderate: This burn is very red, and has blisters. A minor to moderate second-degree burn will have some blisters, but not very many. This burn is also usually safe to treat at home, if it is a small area (less than the size of a quarter). Aloe Vera Gel is still a good choice as pure, high quality Aloe Vera gel has both healing properties and also some moderate antibacterial properties. Caution must be rendered in infants, small children, the elderly, those with poor circulation, and those with Diabetes. Begin by running “clean” cold water over the burn area. This will help to clean the area, but most importantly, will cool the area. As long as the burn is still “burning,” damage to the tissue is still occurring. After the burnt area begins to cool. Apply the gel liberally and gently. If cold running water is not available, the gel can be put on the burn site immediately. Be sure to keep the area very clean. Caution must be exercised with cleaning. Harsh cleaning can further damage the already delicate tissues.
   Second Degree, moderate to severe: A moderate to severe second-degree burn will have numerous blisters, some of them very large. The problem with this burn is secondary infection. The area must be kept very clean. When the blisters are large, or if the area involved is large, it is best to seek medical attention promptly. A burn area larger than about the size of about a quarter should been evaluated by a medical professional. Burning an entire forearm as an example can have some serious consequences. Dehydration, infection, sepsis, and permanent scaring are just the beginning.
   Third Degree: This burn is very serious and immediate medical attention is needed. The skin is actually charred (like a piece of wood that is burnt, so it is black on one end). The burnt area is black in appearance because the skin is dead; the whole area is dead. Serious infections can result quickly causing sepsis and death. Large burn areas can cause loss of a limb, or death, if not treated quickly and properly.
   ————————————–…
   Care of Aloe Vera Plants
   There are over 250 species of Aloes in the world, mostly native to Africa. They range in size from little one inch miniatures to massive plant colonies consisting of hundreds of 2 foot diameter plants. Although most Aloes have some medicinal or commercial value, the most commonly known is the Aloe barbadensis… better known as Aloe vera.
   All Aloes are semitropical succulent plants, and may only be grown outdoors in areas where there is no chance of freezing (USDA zones 10-11) . However, they make excellent house plants when they are given sufficient light. Potted Aloes benefit from spending the summer outdoors. Older specimens may even bloom, producing a tall stock covered with bright colored coral flowers. Aloe flower nectar is a favorite of hummingbirds!
   Because Aloe plants consist of 95% water, they are extremely frost tender. If they are grown outdoors in warm climates, they should be planted in full sun, or light shade. The soil should be moderately fertile, and fast draining. Established plants will survive a drought quite well, but for the benefit of the plant, water should be provided.
   Because of their popularity, Aloe vera plants are available at almost every garden shop or nursery. Unless you live in area with a very mild climate, it’s best to leave your Aloe plant in the pot and place it near a window that gets a lot of sun. You can move the pot outdoors during the summer months.
   Aloe vera is a succulent, and as such, stores a large quantity of water within its leaves and root system. During the winter months, the plant will become somewhat dormant, and utilize very little moisture. During this period watering should be minimal. Allow the soil to become completely dry before giving the plant a cup or two of water. During the summer months, the soil should be completely soaked, but then be allowed to dry again before re-watering.
   Aloes have a shallow, spreading root system, so when it is time to repot choose a wide planter, rather than a deep one. Use a planter with a drainage hole, or provide a 1-2 inch layer of gravel in the bottom of the pot to ensure adequate drainage. Use a good commercial potting mix with extra perlite, granite grit, or coarse sand added. You may also use a packaged ‘cacti mix’ soil. Fertilize yearly, in the spring with a dilute (half strength), bloom type fertilizer (10-40-10).
   Aloes are propagated by removing the offsets which are produced around the base of mature plants, when they are a couple inches tall (or larger). They may also be grown from seed.
   As to the claims of the medicinal properties of the Aloe plant, I can only speak from my personal experience. I have kept an Aloe plant around for years, primarily for burns. In case of burns, an immediate application of fresh gel has relieved much of the pain, and prevented blistering, many times. I also found it to be quite effective to relieve itching from stings, bites and various ‘stinging’ plants, such as poison ivy. It is also good for the same problems, when they are encountered by your pets.
   When you need to use it medicinally, just remove a lower leaf from the plant, slice it open, and apply the gel on the affected area.
   Keep in sandy soil that is well drained. Potted plants need filtered sun or full shade.