How to Make Your Own Aloe Vera Gel and 8 Ways to Use It
This article is about how to make your own aloe vera gel, benefits, and also how to use it!
When my oldest son was a teenager (about 20 years ago), he was too cool for school, and didn’t listen when I told him to wear a hat out to Lake Mead, where we were spending the day. All my boys wore their hair really short, since they were athletes, and that was the style back then.
Can you guess what happened?
He got the WORST sunburn on his head. It was horrible. It hurt to look at it! He was in misery. So, I popped open a section of an aloe vera leaf to rub on his scalp several times over the next day or so to give him some relief. It worked like a charm.
I just love when I can use an easy homemade remedy for an emergency like my son’s burn! Here’s a great article about how to make your own natural Quikclot too!
Did you know you can make your own aloe vera gel easily and quickly?
And it’s a LOT less expensive and higher quality than what you can buy in the stores too. But why on earth should you want to make your own aloe vera gel, anyway?
Aloe is one of the premier ancient medicinal and beauty herbs that also doubles as a lovely and sturdy houseplant. The gel inside it has many uses, and it’s such a wonderful herbal product, companies actually sell it at costs that are ridiculous.
In fact, when we moved from the Mojave Desert of S. NV to the mountain panhandle of N. Idaho, we couldn’t bring all my plants. BUT, one of the plants I insisted on bringing was my largest aloe vera plant. I call her Sherry. I just think that’s a pretty name, and a plant that’s been with me for around 15 years deserves a name.
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Aloe is one of the best remedies you can use this summer for so many reasons. Learn how to grow your own, harvest it, and things to make with aloe. Find out about the benefits and uses of aloe vera gel, and how easy it is to make yourself! #aloe #howtogrow #howtouse #aloeveragel #howtomake #benefits #uses #healingharvesthomestead
About Aloe Vera and Its Gel
Aloe vera/Aloe barbadensis—-
Aloe is a fleshy succulent plant with no stem. The fleshy leaves grow out of a rosette, and contain sacs filled with gel. This wonder gel contains saponins that are the plant’s natural immune protectors.
The gel also contains anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial agents and mild pain relievers such as anthraquinones, vitamins E, other minerals, and salicylic acid.
Aloe has been used for over 6,000 years, and the earliest known carvings showing its use come from Egypt. It was such a special plant, it was given as a gift to deceased pharoahs!
Dioscorides, one the healing fathers of herbal medicine, mentions aloe vera in a document written in 78 AD. It’s also been found in 10th century documents in Europe. It certainly has a very long history of known use.
Traditionally, people have used aloe to heal wounds, for skin conditions, and internally as a laxative.
These days, aloe’s uses have extended to joint pain relief, diabetes, and epilepsy; along with the old time traditional uses. It should be noted that using aloe as a laxative is not approved by the FDA, as severe cramping can result. It’s also not indicated for pregnant or nursing women for internal use.
This incredible gel helps speed healing from injuries, especially mild burns including sunburns and skin inflammations. Wash the burn or wound with cool water first, as the aloe gel helps speed the healing process, and you want a clean wound.
Aloe has become well-known in the beauty industry, too. It’s used in all kinds of skincare products, as well as for enhancing the beauty and health of the skin.
You can purchase aloe vera gel, but it can be pricey. It’s so easy to make your own, but first you need a plant or two.
You might be interested in the video below where I very aggressively take measures to save my favorite aloe plant. I’ve had this plant at the time I update this post for between 15 and 20 years! I’ll also include the video with an update, 10 months later, at the end of this article if you’re interested….
Here is my largest aloe vera plant. Some of the leaves are nearly 18 inches long! These plants are so easy to grow, and every home should have this plant for its medicinal properties in your emergency preparedness plan! You might notice that her leaves don’t look very healthy. (They weren’t.) And her color is off…. Be sure to watch this video where I show you how I brought her back to life after a very serious decline. And… Here’s an update on her condition 10 months later….you’ll be shocked!
This FREE guide is perfect for your home apothecary or your kitchen! Click here to get yours now!
How to Grow Your Own Aloe Vera Plant
Aloe is native to tropical and semi-tropical areas such as certain areas in Africa and the Mediterranean, which gives you an idea of their natural ecosystem.
It’s a SUPER easy plant to grow, and trust me—-it is REALLY hard to kill. Everyone should have one or more of these wonderful succulents growing in their home and/or yard if you’re in the right zone.
In fact, remember how I told you it was my first choice of my plants to bring with us on our move? Well, Mr. V. put that poor plant into the greenhouse without thinking about it. Months later, I asked him what happened to it?
I ran out to take a look, and it was so washed out, having been in too much sun with too little water. It was just limping along. I thought it was a goner. I nursed it back to health, and now it’s doing its medicinal job in our home again.
(Fast forward a couple of years, and she was on the way out…this time for real. You can watch what I did to aggressively save her in this video.)
Aloe plants have a strange, harsh beauty, but the liquid and gel inside is amazingly tender and good for you!
Here’s How to Grow Your Own Aloe Vera Plant:
1) Aloe plants need good drainage. If you have clay soil, like we do, you’ll have to amend it with some sand, perlite, or other draining soil. Too much moisture will kill the roots.
2) Aloes do best when planted in smaller pots. This is because of their need for good drainage. Too much soil isn’t good for the roots. And growing plants is all about the roots. Your pot should have very good drainage. If it doesn’t, go ahead and drill a few more holes in the bottom of the pot.
3) If you are in a warm place, your aloe can live outside in indirect light. Just be sure to water about once a week and be sure to allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again.
If you are in a cooler place, you’ll need to move your plant indoors once the temperatures drop below about 70 degrees. Aloe cannot take a frost, so err on the side of safety and bring your plant in if you think it’s going to be cold.
4) During non-growth months (winter), you can even slow waterings down to every two weeks or so.
5) Avoid keeping your aloe in full sun or light that is too bright. They like bright but indirect light. South facing windows are too much for your aloe vera plant if you are in a very sunny area. Try for an Eastern or Western exposure instead.
If you’re in an area with a lot of cloudy days, your plant may do just fine in a south facing window. Just use your good judgement.
OK—-Now here is how to make and use your own aloe vera gel—-
The fleshy leaves of the aloe plant contain sacs that hold the gel and liquid that is so medicinally useful. This plant was known as the plant of immortality in the days of Ancient Egypt!
How to Make Your Own Aloe Vera Gel
You’ll need a mature aloe plant. I like to use leaves that are at least 8 inches long, and preferably longer than that.
Step 1) Cut one of the lower leaves off near the base of the plant. You’ll want to cut at an angle, which helps the plant heal.
Step 2) Wash your leaf with water and be sure it’s dry. You’ll also want to wash your hands for cleanliness.
You want about two inch slices.
Step 3) Now cut your leaf into two inch sections. You’ll immediately see the large amount of gel and the slimy liquid that emerges. It’s ALL good stuff. Aloe is filled with soothing mucilage, so you want both the clear liquid and the clear gel.
You may see a yellowish liquid, and this is heavy in a latex type compound. You don’t need to use this, and especially not internally. It’s usually the first part to drip out, and I just wipe it up. If a little gets into your gel, it’s not a big deal, unless you are planning to use it internally. (It’s this liquid that can cause a laxative effect.)
You’ll need to cut one or both of the edges of the leaves off vertically, then just peel the section open. Here is where I let it drain for about 15 minutes. Then I go back and scrape the gel out of the leaves.
Step 4) Cut the edges off these sections, and open up your leaf sections. Use a spoon or a butter knife to scrape out the gel and liquid into a clean bowl.
Step 5) Mix the two gels (liquid and solid) in a jar. You can blend them together if you want a consistent, smooth texture (recommended). If you want, add a couple drops of Vitamin E and/or a bit of citric acid to help preserve it for longer. It will last up to a year in your refrigerator.
That’s it! Now you have a powerful healing gel.
Here is the yield from one 9 inch leaf—-a bit less than a quarter cup of aloe gel.
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Natural aloe vera gel will be a clear light green or yellow tinted color, or even nearly white.
How to Use Your Aloe Vera Gel
1) Itchy Skin:
You can create a cream with aloe gel, or just do like I do and rub in directly on the skin.
2) Stimulating Hair Growth:
I like to take about 2 tablespoons or so of the gel and add a drop or two of rosemary essential oil. Rub that into your scalp after washing and conditioning your hair in the shower. You can leave it it (it also defrizzes hair according to some people) or rinse it out.
You might also be interested in my Sensuous Skin, Healthy Hair Tea blend you can make yourself!
3) For Use in Homemade Beauty Products:
Aloe gel can be added to hand sanitizers made with witch hazel and water, to creams and beauty products, and even in hair masks!
4) For Soothing and Speeding the Healing of Sunburn and Minor Burns:
You can rub the gel directly on the sunburn or minor burn for quick relief of pain and intensity of the burn. It will speed the healing significantly.
NOTE: You do not want to put aloe vera gel on open burns, including blisters that have freshly popped. Aloe can inhibit the healing on open wounds.
Find out more about using sunscreens and which are best (along with a natural recipe) in this article, and here is a recipe for an amazing after-sun lotion using aloe vera gel.
5) Lowering Cholesterol:
There is some evidence that using small amounts of aloe vera gel or juice internally can help lower cholesterol levels, especially LDL up to 12%. There’s not a lot of research done on this yet, but here is where I found this information.
6) Mouth and Tooth Care:
You can use aloe vera gel as a mouth rinse. Evidence suggests it may help reduce dental plaque!
Here’s a great article about naturally healthy teeth and mouths, and another on how to make your own herbal mouthwash.
7) For Sanitizing Hands and Cleaning Areas:
Making a hand sanitizer which includes aloe vera gel will increase the sanitizing effect! This is because aloe vera contains compounds that may inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
Here is a recipe for all-purpose cleaning spray for your home, as well.
8) Anti-Aging and Wrinkle Prevention:
Some studies suggest that aloe vera can help your body increase collagen production! Collagen is necessary for youthful looking skin. You really can’t get enough collagen!
And if you are interested in essential oils, here are the best ones to use for wrinkles, mature skin, and scars.
Here is a close up of the gel from one leaf.
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Here’s the update video I promised you! See how my aloe is doing after 10 months….
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. In no manner, stated or implied, is any wording meant to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any disease. These statements are simply my opinion based on experience and study. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Please seek medical advice from your doctor before using herbs or essential oils.
Resources:
http://naturespathways.com/herb-blurb/item/202-aloe-vera-latin-names-aloe-vera-aloe-barbadensis#.W-HYjS-ZOjQ
http://www.thegrowers-exchange.com/Articles.asp?ID=423
https://herbs.lovetoknow.com/How_to_Make_Your_Own_Aloe_Vera_Gel
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318591.php
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2883372/
Do you know it’s super easy to make your own aloe vera gel? All you need is a healthy and mature aloe plant. Here are the instructions for how to make your own aloe gel, facts about aloe vera, how to grow an aloe plant, and benefits and uses of aloe vera! #aloe #aloegel #howtogrow #benefitsof #usesof #howtomake #aloevera #healingharvesthomestead