[red]

Does anyone have an Aloe Vera plant that they use for minor cuts and burns? Do you have to do anything to it or you just pick off a leaf and rub some juice on it? What do they add to the stuff that comes in the bottle? And which is better for you- from the plant or the bottle?

 

[Neuromancer]

I just pop off the tip of one (you don't need much of the plant) and rub it directly on the affected area. I think it's even good if you're not injured.

 

[netandtim]

Yep, I agree with Neuromancer. Just break off a bit of the plant and rub the center juices of your problem area. Always a handy plant to have growing either outside or in a container.

 

[Ineffable Aces]

I have two plants. Don't need anything for it to work. Snip and spread the goo on the injured area.

 

[Detdake]

Is it good to use for an all over body moisturizer?

 

[Narsil]

Depending on what type of Aloe Vera you have, they may have soft "spines" along the edge; ours do. We just take a knife and cut the two edges with the soft spines and peel off the outer skin on the flatter side. This leaves you with a nice firm jelly side to rub on the burn or what have you.

 

[gds]

I thought everyone had 3 or 15 of those plants hanging around.
Straight up from the plant is the only way to go !

 

[Dani 187]

I don't have one but my dad has 2 or 3 and this thread reminded me that I need to invest in some. My clumsy roommate is always burning herself.

 

[Greylock]

greylock

There are quite a few people who do not recommend the internal use of aloe vera. They say that it is fairly common to have an adverse reaction - such as developing an allergy to the aloe vera - if it is taken internally.

I do use aloe vera externally, especially for mild burns and sun burns. Recently I had a steam burn and kept the aloe vea on it for about 20 or thirty minutes continuously and then let it dry. Healed up very nicely.

There are a number of different plants that people call aloe vera - I'm not expert enough to judge which are truly aloe vera and which are simply "miscellaneous aloe". But I find all of them seem to work pretty well.

I would not use aloe vera on lacerations or punctures.

 

[Therese]

Aloe vera juice (not gel), but the actual juice has been used as a laxative by bob. He added about 30cc to a glass of juice daily for a couple of days and it worked. I don't advocate this for everyone due to plant sensitivities and one never knows what goes into the bottle besides aloe vera juice.