Monday, February 8, 2010

Aloe Vera, the Gardener's First Aid

These days, many of the beauty products and soaps contain Aloe vera. Aloe vera is thought to help tone the skin, shine the hair and generally enhance the beauty of a person. The Sanskrit name of Aloe vera is 'Kumari', which means "girl"- an apt name because in Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine, the herb is used extensively to treat the beauty problems of young girls. It is used to treat pimples (acne) , blackheads and other problems of the skin. The gel which you get when you cut an Aloe vera leaf is used to treat sunburn, herpes and sporiases. The gel is also said to help diabetics when taken internally.
Whenever I have a cut or a brise while gardening, I apply the gel from an Aloe vera leaf to the cut , which seals the cut so that no infection can take place.
Although it is originally from Africa, the Aloe vera is extensively cultivated in many parts of the world.

9 comments:

  1. I grew this in my last garden and used it all the time for my children's cuts and sunburn ... fantastic plant!

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  2. I have a similar plant in my garden. Here, some people also boil the gel in water and drink it to cure stomach ailments. My late mum liked to apply the gel to blacken her hair. My friend use it as an instant remedy for children's cuts or other minor injury too. Kumari is a fave name for many Indian girls here.

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  3. Hello, just discoverd your wonderful blog via Blotanical and can't wait to be back to explore more! I used to have an Aloe Vera to and would like to get one again. Mine didn't thrive, so I'll need to read up on it first and see if it really is suitable for where I live in Southern Australia.

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  4. I had aloe planted around my fruit trees to prevent blight...well it grew too well and was choking my trees. So I uprooted hundreds of plants and dumped them along a long garden wall at the back. Now I have aloe plants growing along this wall. I really don't think they stopped the blight. I use it for cuts and also on the dogs skin. It really helps heal and some people eat a little piece or blend it in orange juice. I had aloes rubbed on my finger that I sucked as a kid. I forgot and put the finger in my mouth and promptly pulled it out...it was sooo bitter LOL. Does it really blacken your hair? I know it reddens the hair when left on in the sun.

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  5. Hello Bernie!Aloe is a very useful plant.
    Autumn Belle: I didn't know it blackened the hair.Thanks for the info.
    Gippslandgardener: Welcome to my blog and thank you! I am sure Aloe vera will easily grow in Southern Australia as it does not need too much water.
    Helen: So many myths about plants do not come true in real life!It was hilarious to read about the special use of Aloe vera- to prevent finger sucking:-)I did not know it colours the hair.

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  6. My mum used to have one of those growing inside in a pot, for years! She did use it to treat my suburns. It was great :D

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  7. I am using aloe vera gel on some sores I have now. The doctor prescribed an expensive antibiotic cream that I was allergic to. So I decided to put aloe vera on them. Wish I had thought of it first, because they are getting better fast.

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  8. Ram Dev Baba has made Aloe Vera Famous...My sister used to put the gel on her face... :)

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