What is Aloe Vera used for? Benefits of Aloe Vera, Juice Uses, and Aloe Vera Recipes

Aloe arborescens (aloe vera)- a plant of the lily family (Liliaceae).

Latin name: Aloe arborescens L.

Other names: agave, doctor, century tree, prickly flower, Alyas.

Aloe tree- evergreen thermophilic perennial tree or shrub. At temperatures below 1 to -30 dies. plant height in wild from 4 to 10 m., At home it reaches 70 cm. The roots are fibrous, branched. The stem is straight, branched, can reach a thickness of 30 cm, abundantly covered with leaves.

The leaves of aloe vera are greenish-gray, juicy, smooth, pointed at the end, covered with a wax coating that protects the plant from moisture evaporation. The edges of the leaves are covered with prickly spines. Unlike home conditions, where aloe blooms very rarely, in its homeland the plant produces a flower every year. The flowers are large, up to 4 cm long, bright red, collected in dense conical racemes of peduncles that reach 1 m. The fruit of aloe is an almost cylindrical box. The plant produces many seeds, the color is grayish black.

Habitat

Aloe vera is native to South Africa and the islands of the east coast of Africa, where the plant grows wild on rocky terrain, among shrubs in semi-desert and desert areas. Widespread as an indoor ornamental and medicinal plant. As medicinal plant aloe is bred on plantations in the Caucasus, in the Crimea and Central Asia. Large plantations of world importance are located in Central America.

The chemical composition of aloe

Aloe leaves and juice contain vitamins, enzymes, phytoncides, resinous substances, traces of essential oils, as well as anthraglycosides (aloin, nataloin, rabarberone, homonataloin, emodin). Among the macroelements in the leaves, there is more calcium (79.1 mg / g), among the microelements - barium (14.90 μg / g), selenium (11.90 μg / g), and strontium (17.64 μg / g), but especially a lot of lithium (162.00 mcg/g) and boron (94.00 mcg/g).

Collection and preparation

For medicinal purposes, the lower and middle leaves of aloe, which have reached 15 cm, are used. length. Leaves are cut at the very base to avoid loss of juice.
Aloe juice is obtained from the leaves. Condensed juice called sabur is used as a medicine.

Medicinal properties of aloe vera

• Choleretic.
• Enhances the secretion of the digestive glands.
• Improves appetite and digestion.
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Anti-burn.
• Antibacterial against staphylococci, streptococci, diphtheria, typhoid and dysentery sticks.

Aloe vera juice and extract have been widely used for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, such as: gastritis and gastric and duodenal ulcers, constipation.

Aloe is also used for bronchial asthma, nervous diseases, insomnia. In addition, the plant has been widely used to boost immunity, after infectious diseases and other debilitating diseases and intoxications.

Externally, aloe juice is used to treat osteomyelitis with open purulent inflammation, wounds, trophic ulcers, abscesses and other purulent diseases, as well as scabies and ringworm. As a compress juice is recommended for skin tuberculosis, lupus, eczema, radiation dermatitis of the head.

Aloe for eyes

Aloe liquid extract is used for eye diseases such as blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, iritis.

Aloe in gynecology
In the form of tampons, aloe vera is used to treat cervical erosion, internal use helps in the absence of menstruation.

The use of aloe vera in traditional medicine

In folk medicine, aloe is most often used in the form of juice or alcohol tincture(4 parts freshly squeezed aloe juice to 1 part medical alcohol).

Any cut or abrasion, scrape, bruise can be quickly healed by treating the damaged area with aloe juice. To do this, you need to cut the leaf of the flower along and attach the pulp to the wound. The result will not keep you waiting long: the pain will quickly pass and the wound will heal.

For acne, rashes and inflammation, as well as manifestations of increased oily skin, you can wipe the skin with aloe vera juice at night once every 2 weeks.

calluses can be easily removed by applying the pulp of an aloe leaf. Every 5:00 you need to change the letter to a new one. After 2-3 days, you need to steam out the place of the corn and easily remove it.

cold can be cured with this composition: 300 g of aloe, 3 tbsp. spoons of honey, 3 tbsp. spoons of alcohol. Grind aloe leaves, add honey and alcohol, mix. Take 1 teaspoon 3 times a day.

For any disease of the duodenum or an ulcer, you need to take 1 teaspoon of aloe for half an hour before meals.

The leaves of this flower are able to quickly remove headache . To do this, you just need to cut the leaves and attach the pulp to the temples, lie down and try to relax.

Aloe vera drink and its medicinal properties

For the prevention of any form of disease, there is a proven and old recipe for a drink prepared on the basis of aloe vera juice.

The recipe for this drink is very simple. It is necessary to prepare the mature lower leaves of the plant. You can determine the state of readiness for use of the leaves by their drying tips.

The resulting juice should be boiled for 3 minutes and taken as a prophylaxis from 50 to 200 ml three times a day. Such juice will help normalize digestion, blood circulation, cure stomach ulcers, anemia and other forms of diseases.

Healing properties of aloe vera gel

Aloe leaf gel will help get rid of skin diseases (acne, age spots, irritations). To prepare it you will need:

• fresh aloe leaves;
• 500 ml. vitamin C powder (for a quarter of the amount of the resulting gel)
• 400 ml. vitamin E (a quarter of the amount of the resulting gel).

Peel the leaves of aloe vera, grind the pulp and add vitamins E and C to it. Place in a dry and clean container. Store in a dark cool place.

In the resulting gel, you can add various essential oils, depending on skin type. So, at oily skin oils can be used tea tree, grapefruit, lemon. For dry skin it is better to add oils of almond, chamomile, sandalwood. For problematic skin- geraniums or parsley.

All essential oils add no more than 3 drops.

For internal prevention of diseases, you can also make a gel with aloe. To do this, you need flower juice and honey, taken in equal parts.

Such a composition should be placed in a cool place and insist 3:00. Take before meals 1 teaspoon three times a day. This method well helps to recover from diseases of the stomach and normalizes the stool.

Unique healing properties of aloe injections

Incredibly powerful influence aloe injections. Thanks to aloe injections, it became possible to treat such severe and delayed diseases as: chronic diseases of the eyes, intestines, asthma and others.

Sometimes injections can be prescribed for various skin diseases: furunculosis, trophic ulcers, radiation injuries, burns, inflammatory processes.

Aloe vera injections help cure diseases of the female genital organs and prostate in men. Such injections can help even those who suffer from hearing loss and tuberculosis.

Usually prescribed 1 ml injection every day for an adult, and for children - up to 0.5 ml. If necessary, the course of treatment can be extended, or interrupted with repetition after 2-3 months.

Contraindications in the use of aloe vera

Before starting treatment, you need to familiarize yourself with possible consequences , which can occur when using aloe both orally and in the form of injections.

There are several main contraindications, according to which any treatment of aloe is prohibited:

1. 1. During periods of menstruation aloe is highly discouraged in treatment, as it helps to increase blood circulation in the body, whereby bleeding these days can increase.
   2. Any internal bleeding treatment with aloe is also prohibited (for example, with an ulcer).
   3. Those who use an aloe product as an appetite stimulant, but at the same time prone to the appearance and development of ulcers in the stomach, it is also not recommended to continue such treatment.
   4. Aloe is contraindicated in hemorrhoids, as it can increase inflammation and cause hemorrhoidal bleeding.
   5. Aloe can increase inflammation in the gallbladder and bile ducts, if consumed internally.
   6. At all stages of pregnancy doctors strongly do not recommend the use of aloe inside.
   7. For various brain diseases accompanied by inflammatory processes.

Aloe Vera is credited with many healing properties. Aloe is a succulent plant that can be grown indoors or outdoors. Aloe Vera has been used in many forms as a soothing and anti-inflammatory agent for centuries.

What is Aloe Vera

Aloe has strong perennial roots and fleshy grey-green leaves that look almost like cacti in nature. Aloe vera gel is a yellowish, clear liquid. It can be obtained by simply tearing the plant. The liquid can be applied topically or internally. The leaves can also be crushed and used as an ointment.

• Beneficial features Aloe plants are due to the 20 amino acids it contains, 8 of which have essential for the human body, since our body cannot synthesize them.
• Minerals - Aloe vera contains copper, calcium, selenium, chromium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, sodium and zinc.
• This herb is also rich in many vitamins, including A, B1, B2, B6, B9, B12, C, and E.

About Aloe and Aloe Vera

When we hear about Aloe Vera, most of us think that it is the only kind of Aloe. However, there are over 240 various kinds Aloe that grow in dry and arid climatic zones Africa, Asia, Europe and America. Of all these different types Only four Aloe have been identified as fit for human consumption, and Aloe Vera is the main one. Therefore, you need to make sure that any Aloe-based product you buy is made from Aloe Vera.

While Aloe contains many important ingredients, the manufacturing process of an Aloe product is an important factor that determines the overall effectiveness of the product you buy. For example, Aloe gel, when exposed for a long time (about 4 hours), may oxidize and lose its effectiveness. Therefore, the harvest time and the process of removing the outer layer of leaves to make the gel should ideally be completed within 4 hours.

Manufacturers who buy aloe in bulk from farmers or other growers may use poor quality aloe because the ingredients are no longer as fresh or nutritious as they should be. Therefore, it is much better to buy aloe from brands that produce it themselves.

It is also interesting that aloe loses its effectiveness at high temperatures or when chemicals are used in the processing.

What does Aloe Vera heal?

It is used to naturally heal damaged skin, to soothe tanned skin. Aloe Vera is also used to make juices, gels, powders, and is often added to foods. For example, it can be found in cosmetics, shampoos, lotions, and many other common household products. The many benefits of Aloe Vera have not been fully explored until now.

For centuries, people have respected the soothing properties of Aloe Vera. Aloe can often be found in homes as a houseplant. Families often pass on Aloe plants from generation to generation along with the knowledge of the beneficial properties of this plant.

Aloe Vera juice has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments, including constipation, peptic ulcers, bowel disorders, and kidney stones. Traditionally, in these cases, it was prescribed to be taken orally by mouth. However, even if this natural product, aloe vera juice can have a number of side effects, some of which can be dangerous.

Laxative properties

According to National Institute Health in the US, scientific evidence suggests that Aloe Vera juice has powerful laxative properties. While these laxative properties make it an effective treatment for constipation, Aloe Vera juice can cause diarrhea and cramps in some people. In addition, the use of Aloe Vera juice as a laxative for more than seven days can not only lead to dependence on the drug, but also worsen constipation.

Hypoglycemic properties

Aloe Vera juice can lower blood sugar levels to dangerous levels. That is, it has hypoglycemic properties that can lead to lower blood glucose levels. It can be harmful for people who suffer from diabetes.

Electrolyte imbalance

Ingestion of Aloe Vera can lead to dangerously low blood levels of potassium as well as electrolyte disturbances. Long-term intake of Aloe juice can lead to electrolyte imbalances in the blood, which can be dangerous for people who suffer from diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease. Low potassium levels can lead to muscle fatigue and abnormal heart rhythms.

Other dangers

The use of Aloe Vera injections in cancer therapy has led to the death of several patients. You should also not swallow the juice if you are also taking medications such as digoxin, glibenclamide, or diuretics. Aloe juice can be harmful to individuals who suffer from appendicitis, temporary intestinal blockage or paralysis, severe abdominal pain, or sporadic bowel movements. There have been reports of hepatitis as a result of oral intake of Aloe Vera. Taking juice for more than a year can increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

Aloe is a unique source of phyto-raw materials widely used for medical and cosmetic purposes. Based on the components of the plant, pharmaceutical preparations are made, but you can make therapeutic agents yourself. However, herbal medicine has its own nuances associated with the beneficial properties and contraindications of the plant.

Aloe types

Aloe or agave is a small tree shrub from the Asphodel family. Refers to succulents. The plant has dense fleshy leaves, firm in structure, having a bluish or greenish color; shades may vary. The stalk of aloe is short, surrounded by rosette-like leaves. Along the edges of the leaf plates are teeth or soft cilia, depending on the species.

The plant is native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula., therefore, it is distinguished by extreme endurance and is able to exist in the most severe conditions with a strong moisture deficit. The genus Aloe includes more than 500 species registered in the botanical classification. Most known species, which are most common on inhabited continents, are given below with a description.

Aloe real (aloe vera)

This species is the most valuable from the point of view of application, since its raw materials are used in pharmaceuticals, perfumery and the production of organic cosmetics. Is a versatile ingredient in recipes traditional medicine.

treelike

A popular indoor plant, known for its appearance to most flower growers. It is a squat shrub with dense hard leaves and a lignified trunk. In room conditions, it practically does not bloom. The pulp of the leaves is used to make infusions.

spinous

Used for floristic purposes. It looks like haworthia: the leaves are thick, dark in color, have a rough surface covered with whitish spots. The edges of the plates are hard, prickly. Inflorescences are orange, collected in brushes.

dichotomous

Also called "trembling" and "quiver tree". It has a high thick trunk (up to a meter in diameter) and branches wriggling in shape, at the ends of which there are leaves collected in panicles with a waxy coating on the skin.

Aloe Helena

Disappearing representative of the Asphodel family. On the this moment in Madagascar, where the population of the species is located, no more than a dozen adult specimens have been recorded that do not breed. It looks like a tree aloe.

Sokotrinsky

A plant known for its medicinal properties. It grows in clusters that can grow to a width of several meters. The leaves are dense, form a rosette up to a meter in diameter. Stem small, reduced. The leaf plate is narrow in shape, has a blue-green tint, stripes and spots are located on both sides light shade, jagged edges.

One of the oldest inhabitants of the Earth in the sphere of the plant world. Also grows in Madagascar. There are only six adult specimens of the species left on the planet, grown in nurseries. Included in the register of endangered species.

Brindle

Also called mottled. Growth area - Namibia, South Africa. Low shrub (up to 30 cm) with leaf plates arranged in three rows. The color is green, there are blotches that are heterogeneous in shade. Inflorescences are orange. The leaf has a triangular shape. If the weather conditions are severe, the outer foliage will gradually die off. The adult state is reached by the age of 5 - 7 years.

squat

Perennial herbaceous plant with upright leaves. The skin is light green, with a bluish tint, there are spines. The inflorescences are red-orange, the flowering period usually occurs in the summer months. Popular choice, well established on small window.

Compound

By chemical structure Aloe is a highly valuable medicinal phyto-raw material. Its unique component is aloe-emodin: hydroxyanthraquinone, which has specific activity against tumor cells. Its content in plant juice is approximately 2%. Aloe also contains anthraglycosides., including barbaloin, aloin, etc. All of them have high biological activity.

The pulp contains various vitamins, microelements and enzymes and other substances, including:

• Esters and essential oils;
• organic acids;
• Flavonoids;
• Resins and tannins;
• Phytoncides;
• Amino acids;
• Mono- and polysaccharides;
• Alkaloids.

The total content of biologically active components in aloe is about two and a half hundred. This is a unique example in the plant kingdom.

Beneficial features

Using aloe for medicinal purposes, you can improve the condition of such body systems as:

• Cardiovascular;
• Organs of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Immune;
• nervous;
• Integuments;
• visual system.

Aloe is a multi-purpose plant ingredient. Its use externally or orally is necessary to achieve the following effects:

• General detoxification of the body;
• Restoration of tone;
• Bringing the intestinal microflora back to normal;
• Antifungal action, fight against viral diseases;
• Lowering high cholesterol and blood sugar;
• Activation of blood circulation;
• Antihistamine effect;
• Improving the condition of the scalp;
• Anesthetic effect in case of articular, muscular, dental pain syndrome;
• General prevention of cancer;
• Additional tool therapy during the recovery period during chemotherapy and during remission;
• Diuretic, laxative effect;
• Treatment of diseases of the respiratory system;
• Means for the treatment of diseases of the genitourinary and reproductive systems.

The sap of the plant has strong bactericidal action, directed against most known microorganisms, including streptococci and staphylococci.

Collection and preparation

To use aloe for medicinal purposes correctly, you need to collect the juice, which is extracted from the fleshy leaf plates. Sapwood is also suitable - outer part stem. To do this, these parts are separated sharp knife or a special cutter. Be careful as jagged edges of the leaves can seriously injure the skin. The juice of the plant is used fresh or evaporated. The second type is called "sabur". To get the juice, the leaves are squeezed, put under the press. You can peel them, grind the pulp through a sieve and strain the juice through cheesecloth.

In addition to juice, aloe oil, also harvested from leaf plates, is widely used.

Medicine allows the use of agave in the following forms:

• Syrup;
• Ointment;
• Extract in liquid form;
• Solution for intramuscular or subcutaneous injection.

It is believed that freshly squeezed juice and sabur are the most beneficial, as they are the pure extract of the plant.

Application in traditional medicine

In alternative medicine, agave has long established itself with positive side. Most often, traditional healers use aloe pulp, fresh juice, an emulsion with the addition of various essential oils (castor, eucalyptus) and alcohol-based infusions for their recipes.

The list of ailments that are treated with aloe-based preparations is large:

• painful menstruation;
• Tuberculous lesions of the lungs and skin;
• Necrotic ulcers, scabs, keloid scars;
• Migraine;
• Tonsillitis and rhinitis in different forms;
• Eye infections (barley, conjunctivitis, pain in the eyes, corneal irritation);
• Pain in muscles and joints (rheumatoid arthritis, gout, rheumatism);
• at low acidity;
• digestive dysfunctions;
• Epistaxis;
• Impotence;
• cystitis, nephritis;
• Cervical erosion;
• Mastopathy;
• Herpes;
• Stomatitis;
• Acne;
• cellulite;
• Alopecia;
• Dandruff.

Traditional medicine has hundreds of recipes, the main ingredient in which is aloe. We present the most effective of them.

With gastritis

When inflamed in the gastric mucosa, aloe gives a powerful anti-inflammatory and enveloping effect, soothing pain and spasms. To prepare a medicinal composition, mix 100 grams of plant juice with honey (250 g). The settled mixture is taken in a tablespoon before each meal.

With hemorrhoids

If there are hemorrhoids, cracks or ulcers in the perianal area, the juice of the plant will help activate the regenerative capabilities of the body and have an antiseptic effect. It also relieves swelling and pain symptoms. Alcohol compounds are not used. Two peeled leaves are finely cut, poured with water and brought to a boil in a steam bath. The cooled solution is applied locally in the form of a compress.

For constipation

Aloe juice has long been known for its ruminatory effect. This means that it acts like mild laxative eliminating constipation. Cut 2 - 3 sheet plates(do not remove the thorns!), Crush with a spoon until a mushy state. Pour warmed liquid honey and leave for a day. Take a teaspoon on an empty stomach and at bedtime.

For diabetes

It is believed that taking agave juice helps to lower blood glucose levels. It also reduces the content of "bad" cholesterol. To prepare effective remedy from aloe for diabetes, take three leaves, cut them into cubes and pour boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes. Dilute the resulting decoction cold water. Drink a tablespoon half an hour before breakfast for 10 days. After a break is made, and after half a month the course is repeated.

Inflammation of the gums

Stomatitis, gingivitis or other inflammation of the oral mucosa can be cured faster if fresh aloe pulp is applied to the infected areas. If the inflammation is severe rinse your mouth with plant juice. To do this, the leaves are twisted through a meat grinder or ground in a blender. The gruel is filtered through a sieve and the mouth cavity is rinsed with the expressed liquid. You don't need to swallow it.

Wounds, abrasions, cuts

Thanks to the unique bio chemical composition aloe has a powerful regenerative effect, so it is widely used for damage to the skin of various kinds. To make a cut or abrasion heal faster, apply an aloe vera compress to it. The pulp of the herbal raw material is finely ground (you can soften it with a fork) and put on clean gauze, which is applied to the wound. Keep for 30 - 40 minutes, then remove and do not wash off the residue for a few more hours.

Pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis

Agave juice, natural honey and vodka are mixed in a ratio of 1:2:3. The resulting mixture is spread on a dense clean cloth and tied to the neck in the larynx (to the area close in location to the tonsils). Wrap a plastic bag on top and wrap a scarf around your throat. The compress is kept for about 3 - 4 hours. For follicular or lacunar tonsillitis, gargle regularly with infusion of aloe leaves and water. The liquid must be boiled and cooled to room temperature.

Rhinitis, runny nose

For nasal congestion, instill fresh juice every three to four hours, a few drops into each nostril. If a runny nose is accompanied by severe swelling of the nasal mucosa, you can make swabs soaked in a mixture of aloe juice, rosehip juice and honey. Tampons are kept in the nostrils for 15-20 minutes.

Tuberculosis

Treatment of aloe with an infectious lesion of the lungs with mycobacteria involves the use of the following recipe. Take a small amount of goose fat or lard, honey, a spoonful of natural cocoa powder, butter (10 g) and two tablespoons of aloe juice. The resulting mixture is added to a glass of warm milk and drunk twice a day until the condition improves.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

If dysfunction gastrointestinal tract have a chronic course or are in the stage of relapse, aloe juice is taken in the amount of one teaspoon three times a day before each meal.

• With gastritis- a teaspoon on an empty stomach half an hour before breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as before snacks;
• With constipation- a dessert spoon of freshly squeezed juice three times a day before meals for 30 days;
• For general digestive dysfunction- Take 10 drops of juice in a glass of water twice a day.

Application in gynecology

With uterine fibroids prepare 150 - 200 grams of finely chopped agave leaves without skin, mix with chopped fruit horse chestnut. Add 500 g of honey, three tablespoons of crushed bulb root and dry red wine. Boil the mixture in a water bath for 30 minutes. Cooled and filtered broth to drink three times a day before meals in a tablespoon.

For urinary tract infections various kinds a spoonful of plant juice is mixed with 10 g of turmeric and poured warm water(1 liter). The vagina is douched with a solution after each urination for a month.

With cervical erosion inject 5 ml of fresh plant juice into the vagina with a microclyster. After the procedure, you need to lie down without getting up for 20 minutes. Carry out daily until the condition improves. You can replace the enema with a tampon.

The use of aloe in cosmetology

The components of the plant have an amazing restorative and tonic effect on the skin. It seems to begin to glow, wrinkles are smoothed out, sagging are tightened, and swelling disappears.

Folk recipes from wrinkles and flabbiness of the skin:

• Wipe the face with fresh peeled pulp once a day;
• Pour gruel from grated leaves with half a glass of water and leave for 24 hours. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Regularly wipe the skin of the face with ice cubes;
• Five grams of agave juice is mixed with sunflower or olive oil and a small amount of lanolin cream. Apply the mixture on the face, neck and décolleté. Hold for 20 minutes. Remove the remnants with a napkin, wash with infusion of St. John's wort;
• Add an infusion of aloe leaves to the pounded egg yolk, drop a little oil into the liquid. Apply with severe dryness and tightness of the skin.

For acne

At severe acne and other skin problems, use the following remedies:

• For skin cleansing mix agave juice with honey (30 g), two raw yolks separated from protein, butter and warmed beeswax(20 g). Stir, to obtain a homogeneous composition, slowly heat in a water bath, stirring constantly. Apply as a face cream: apply, allow to absorb, remove residue with a paper towel;
• Grind crushed aloe leaves through a sieve. The resulting puree is used as a face mask.. Keep no longer than 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water;
• Saturate clean gauze with fresh plant juice and put it on your face as a compress (for half an hour). The full course of treatment will be 25 procedures(repeat every 3-4 days).

Hair masks

Aloe is an excellent remedy for hair restoration. It is used to treat weakened and dry hair, with dandruff and split ends, to add volume and shine. Options for plant-based masks may be different.

To activate vitality

Mix ampoules with aloe extract, vitamin B6 and nicotinic acid, a spoonful of white clay, kefir (30 g), egg yolk, honey and two tablespoons of burdock oil. Apply to the area at the root of the hair, gently massage the skin. Wrap your head with a film, put a scarf on top. Hold for up to two hours, then rinse thoroughly, spray the hair along the entire length with a spray based on aloe juice.

For the treatment of dandruff

Mix fresh plant juice with medical alcohol(four parts to one). Rub into the scalp, dividing the hair into strands. The therapy will take 90 days, the procedure is repeated every two days. The tincture is stored in the refrigerator.

To stimulate growth

A mixture of crushed pulp and 30 g of dry hawthorn berries is poured with vodka and infused for a week. It is rubbed into the scalp with massaging movements and kept on the hair for 60 minutes under a towel. Apply no more than once every 1 - 1.5 weeks.

To thicken hair

Aloe juice, honey and garlic juice are mixed in equal parts with each other. The mixture is applied before each wash and lasts for half an hour.

Face masks

Aloe juice has an anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, astringent and tonic effect.. Based on it, a wide variety of face masks are made. Determine your skin type and use the appropriate mask.

Universal cosmetic mask

A tablespoon of white or blue clay is stirred in aloe juice. Rose water and liquid honey are dripped into the mixture. Apply to the skin of the face thin layer hold for 15 minutes. The remains are thoroughly washed off, the face is moistened with a day cream.

Vitamin Recipe

A spoonful of honey and castor oil is mixed with yolk, agave juice, half a spoonful of orange juice. A spoonful of ground oats is poured into the mixture to give structure. Apply for 20 minutes, then rinse with water and smear the face with nourishing milk.

Nourishing mask for weakened skin

A grated banana or apple is mixed with agave juice, a spoonful of macadamia oil or almond oil. The mask is aged for about 20 minutes, the remnants are removed with a paper towel.

Recipe for aging skin

Half an avocado (pitted) is mashed and mixed with aloe juice and 50 ml of cold green tea. The duration of keeping the mask - 25 - 30 minutes. Then the mixture is washed off the face with warm water, the skin is lubricated with cosmetic oil.

Contraindications

If you are going to take aloe preparations orally, exclude the presence of the following diseases:

• Hypertension in severe form;
• Diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• Haemorrhoids;
• Uterine bleeding;
• Hepatitis A;
• Cholecystitis;
• Kidney diseases (cystitis, nephritis, pyelonephritis, etc.).

Agents based on agave components are not accepted under the age of three. Doctors recommend using them with caution in children up to 12 years of age. An initial consultation with a pediatrician is required. In the elderly, aloe intake is also carried out under control. It is prohibited for pregnant women and women during menstruation (the same applies to lactation).

Side effects

Any herbal component has both a positive effect and a number of contraindications for use. The most common of them is individual intolerance to the compounds that make up aloe. The skin of the plant contains the aloin alkaloid. You can recognize its presence by the bitter taste of the juice. Modern biologists think that aloin is carcinogenic. You can feel their effect only when you use a very large amount of the plant, but it is better not to risk it. Therefore, always remove the skin from the leaves before using.

The presence of anthraglycodises enzymes in the composition of the agave - factor prohibiting its use by pregnant women. An overdose of aloe for them is fraught with the threat of internal bleeding and miscarriage.

If you take the juice of the plant orally, you may develop side effects such as:

• Dyspepsia;
• Bloating, flatulence;
• stool disorder;
• Pain symptom, discomfort in the digestive tract;
• An increase in the number of red blood cells in the urine;
• Tachycardia;
• Myasthenia gravis (weakness in the muscles).

For people with increased nervous tone, taking aloe by mouth is not recommended, as it sometimes provokes insomnia. In general, any consumption of the plant, either externally or internally, should be done carefully so as not to provoke the development of an allergy.

Aloe vera is a plant whose medicinal properties were known to Hippocrates. From a botanical point of view, it is a succulent that grows in North Africa (on the territory of Mauritania, Morocco and Egypt), on the island of Madeira, in some parts of the Arabian Peninsula. There are other types of aloe. Moreover, there are a lot of them - according to some sources, more than 350 species belong to this botanical group. And if you count together with hybrids, then there are about 500 varieties. But not all of them are useful. How is aloe vera different from them and what is the scope of its application?

Characteristics

Aloe vera has always been considered extremely unpretentious plant. Indeed, in the wild, it grows in the most severe conditions that not all plants can withstand. Some endemics wither and die from drought, while Aloe has the unique ability to close pores and retain moisture inside the leaf, surviving the most extreme situations.

The root system of the plant, like any other succulent, is underdeveloped. Its leaves form rather beautiful rosettes, which in the wild can reach 60 cm in diameter (of course, in room conditions they do not grow so much). The leaves of aloe are green, sometimes variegated, bordered on the edges with thorns. Previously, it was believed that at home the plant does not bloom at all. Actually it is not. With decorative breeding, the plant blooms quite rarely, but with proper care it can please with its beautiful tubular orange flowers. True, more than one flower is rarely formed on one plant, less often there are two large ones, but they do not fade for a long time.

Composition of aloe vera

Why is aloe vera considered useful plant? It's all about its unique composition. These are various polysaccharides, and enzymes, and flavonoids, and hormone-like substances. Interestingly, in addition to polysaccharides, there are also so-called mucopolysaccharides, that is, glycoproteins, which are combinations of several sugars. Important role among them plays acetylated mannose, to which scientists today attribute an antiviral effect (however, its action is still being investigated).

Aloe vera

The leaves of this plant contain:

• allantoin - a chemical compound with astringent properties, known for its anti-inflammatory and anesthetic effect;
• natural antioxidants, including vitamin E, which prevent the aging process of the body;
• B vitamins, which are necessary to maintain normal metabolism;
• ascorbic acid, which promotes the production of its own collagen, improves the condition of blood vessels;
• aloin - an alkaloid that provides skin with protection from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation;
• beta-carotene is a compound that is converted into vitamin A in the body, it boosts immunity and is very beneficial for vision.

Thanks to this composition, aloe is one of the most effective medicinal products in phytotherapy. In addition, it contains many macro- and microelements. That is why aloe began to be considered the juice of life. Its medicinal properties have been known for a long time, and modern research they are confirmed. Ointments and creams with aloe contain at least 20% of this substance, which helps to achieve the desired effect.

Medicinal properties

Many use traditional medicine recipes that include aloe without even thinking about why these remedies are considered effective. In fact, the ancient physician Hippocrates, father modern medicine. He found use for aloe as an antiseptic, as he treated festering wounds and ulcers with it. Also in those days, aloe juice was used to treat coughs and to get rid of migraines. And although it is believed that the chemical composition of aloe vera, medicinal properties and contraindications were discovered and described quite recently, in fact modern science I was simply able to explain the mechanism of action of the active substances included in it. And the same bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties of the plant were discovered in antiquity, at a time when even the most educated people did not know what streptococci and staphylococci were.

medicinal properties plants are not limited to this. It has a beneficial effect on the skin, if necessary, they can treat burns. As for the action of aloe on internal organs, then in medical science it is used to normalize the function of the digestive tract, to treat the respiratory system. Aloe is used in the complex therapy of focal tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, keratitis and blepharitis, and even in the treatment of vitreous opacity.

Science has proven that the plant also has biostimulating properties. In isolated tissues and organs, when they begin to atrophy and even die, chemical compounds accumulate, which are designed to mobilize vital processes in the cellular structure of this organ, which prolongs its life. The fact that aloe leaves have such properties was proved by the outstanding Soviet ophthalmologist Vladimir Filatov. He discovered that if aloe leaves are placed in the cold, then under the action of the biochemical processes described above, active substances are produced in them. They have been called biogenic stimulants.

Crushed aloe leaves are used as a laxative. Combined with honey, lemons and walnut they make a medicine for weakened immunity. The polysaccharides contained in aloe leaves help with arthritis and migraines. Those. it is a universal healer.

Aloe juice, diluted boiled water in a ratio of 1:10, used in the treatment of the common cold. It also helps with gum disease, as it has an antibacterial effect. And if you drink 3 drops of fresh aloe juice every day before meals, diluting them clean water, it is possible to achieve a hypotonic effect, which is very important at elevated pressure. True, the juice does not act quickly: it will take at least 2 months, but the effect will be stable.

aloe vera leaves

Aloe has its contraindications. Firstly, it is impossible to take juice or use other aloe-based products without clarifying the diagnosis and agreeing with the doctor. Secondly, aloe vera and agave are not used during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester (however, this applies to any herbs, since they can lead to increased uterine tone, which is fraught with miscarriage), such remedies are contraindicated even if chronic diseases gallbladder, liver or kidneys. They can have an extremely negative effect on the state of the body in the presence of gynecological diseases, up to uterine bleeding.

It is very important not to get carried away with therapy with this plant. Its leaves contain a lot of fat-soluble vitamins. In case of an overdose, hypervitaminosis may occur, which is very dangerous for health.

Aloe juice and its uses

Aloe juice is good for health. This is a natural product, which is a light green substance with a thick consistency. The juice has antibacterial properties and helps fight not only wounds, but also acne.

It is widely used both as a remedy for ophthalmic diseases, including conjunctivitis, and for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. But it is also used in cosmetology. This juice is especially useful for hair, because it allows them to be made stronger, thicker and shiny. Juice is often added to masks to promote hair growth. What other effect does this component allow you to get? It prevents premature aging of the skin due to the high content of flavonoids in it. It is believed that it can even smooth fine wrinkles. But more importantly, it does not cause allergies, unlike many other herbal remedies.

This component is not obtained from freshly cut leaves of the plant, but from those that have been lying in the refrigerator for some time. It is recommended to keep them for 10-12 days. So that they do not deteriorate, you need to wrap them in vacuum plastic wrap. During this time, biogenic stimulants and other beneficial substances continue to be produced in the leaves themselves.

AT pure form juice can be stored no longer than 2-3 days. It gradually oxidizes upon contact with air, so store it in a container with a tightly closed lid. If the juice needs to be stored for a longer time, then it is better to dilute it with alcohol. In addition, the containers in which it will be stored must pass pre-processing sterilization is desirable. It is better to choose containers from dark glass so that even diluted juice is not exposed to sunlight.

Aloe arborescens and its properties

Considering the types of aloe, it is worth noting that they can vary greatly in their chemical composition. Not all varieties are endowed with a therapeutic effect. However, aloe vera has a "relative" that is very close to it both in composition and in the field of application. This is a tree-like aloe, and the people call it agave. In the wild, this succulent grows in South Africa, although it is known throughout the Black Continent (for the first time it healing properties were explored in ancient Egypt). Outdoors at favorable conditions it can grow up to 5 m in height. The thickness of its trunk can be up to 30 cm. Rosettes can grow up to 80 cm wide.

However, at present, the agave is bred as an ornamental plant. Once this variety of aloe could be found in every apartment in the Soviet Union. Then other indoor flowers came into fashion, and more interesting decorative varieties of aloe appeared (for example, spotted aloe and spinous aloe). But today the fashion medicinal plants returns. And aloe varieties such as agave and aloe vera are again appearing in homes. They are both quite unpretentious, like all succulents. They operate in a similar way. Only the agave contains all the beneficial substances described above in a lower concentration.

The therapeutic effect is given by the leaves of aloe arborescens and sabur. For industrial use, aloe is grown in plantations and harvested several times a year. Fresh leaves are taken from 2-4-year-old plants, they are either used immediately or preserved according to the method of Academician V. Filatov (that is, they are kept at a certain temperature in a dark room for 12 days). Also, dry leaves and fresh side shoots are obtained from this plant. And sabur is condensed aloe juice.

All of the above types of raw materials contain medicinal components. Sabur, like aloe vera juice, contains vitamins, beneficial enzymes, phytoncides, resinous substances and essential oils in a small amount.

Tree aloe, like its "relative", is used in pharmaceuticals for the production of various drugs. It has a laxative and choleretic effect, with its help they treat burns, improve work digestive system. In addition, it has an anti-inflammatory effect. Aloe juice is used to fight various groups of microbes, including staphylococci, streptococci, diphtheria bacillus.

Aloe vera is common houseplant which many women have at home. Its popularity is due to the medicinal properties that the flower possesses. Its characteristic feature is the fleshy leaves, which are widely used in the medical field. Many women use the juice as well as the leaves of this plant when making homemade cosmetics. Having learned about the effectiveness of this flower in the treatment various diseases, many are in a hurry to start using aloe vera. But you should not rush into this. In order not to cause harm in the treatment of aloe vera, the medicinal properties and contraindications should be clarified in advance.

Chemical composition

A large set of useful components is present in the composition of aloe vera leaves. It is thanks to their presence that the amazing healing properties of this plant are provided. Its leaves contain:

• esters;
• traces of essential oils;
• acids: citric, malic, succinic;
• flavonoids;
• beta carotene;
• enzymes;
• minerals: phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chlorine;
• amino acids: threonine, methionine, leucine, lysine;
• simple sugars: fructose, glucose; polysaccharides.

Aloe: indications for use

Aloe applied in the treatment of a wide range of diseases:

vitamins in aloe vera

The beneficial properties of this plant are largely ensured due to the fact that in its composition it contains a large number of vitamins. It should be immediately noted that the leaves of the flower contain a large amount of B, A and C vitamins, as well as folic acid and trace elements. In particular, the plant is rich in potassium, calcium, as well as magnesium, zinc, and iron.

All the vitamins that were listed above, upon entering the body, ensure the normal functioning of all its systems. With food, they must come in sufficient quantities. However, it often happens that a person's diet consists of foods that are poor in vitamins. Therefore, you should take aloe vera preparations to eliminate their deficiency.

What is the benefit of aloe?

A large number of vitamins and minerals that are present in this plant provides it with many useful features:

Contraindications

Although aloe-based preparations are natural and do not contain any harmful substances, nevertheless, they can be harmful to human health if he is not aware of contraindications. They are also present in this plant, therefore, before treatment with aloe, it is necessary to learn about them so that the elimination of the disease state occurs without harm to health. At Aloe vera has the following contraindications:

Procurement of raw materials

Not all people who want to use aloe for treatment have a desire to go to a pharmacy to purchase drugs based on this plant. Many prepare it yourself. In order to have at your disposal raw materials that can be used for procedures, you should collect the leaves of the plant. They contain a large amount of vitamins. However, their maximum concentration occurs only in the second year of the plant's life.

When harvesting aloe, you need cut the leaves properly. Experts recommend taking lower or medium ones, which are large in size and look fleshy. They should be plucked at the base of the stem. Do not take leaves that are less than 18 centimeters long. Lateral shoots are also rich in vitamins. They contain a large number of substances beneficial to human health, so they can also be collected for the subsequent preparation of medicines. You should choose shoots with a length of at least 15 cm.

If you cut the leaves of a plant, then you should not immediately use them for their intended purpose and prepare medicines or squeeze juice from them. After cutting, you need to place them in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. Before loading the plant mass into the refrigerator, you need to wash and dry all the leaves well. After that, they are tightly wrapped in paper. When the designated time has passed, the plant mass can be used to prepare juice, ointments or tinctures.

Aloe tincture with honey

Aloe is medicinal plant which is used to treat various ailments. Various means are prepared from it. homemade tincture from this flower with honey is used in home treatment. It is used as a remedy for the symptoms of sciatica, rheumatism and tuberculosis and helps fight colds and cataracts. If you regularly take this remedy, then it will strengthen the immune system, and also save with beriberi.

In order to prepare such a tincture, you will need to take three tablespoons of aloe juice, the same amount of honey and water in an amount of 100 ml. When the ingredients are prepared, it is necessary to mix aloe with honey in an enamel saucepan, and then pour hot water and keep in a water bath for several minutes. So that honey does not lose its beneficial properties, the water temperature should not exceed 70 degrees.

The resulting ointment is necessary cool a little and rub it in a warm state into sore spots on the patient's body. In order to ensure a stronger effect from this remedy, it is necessary to cover them after treating sore spots. plastic wrap and a wool scarf. Such compresses must be done twice a week and left overnight. Treatment should be long, 30-45 days.

Aloe: use in medicine

In the medical field, aloe has quite a variety of uses. If a person constantly has a large number of stressful situations, then an infusion from this plant will come to his aid. When such a medicine is available, it will relieve the tension of the nervous system due to its strong healing effect. This flower helps fight with nervous disorders , and is also a good remedy with migraine. Having a strong healing effect, it helps to eliminate these problems.

People who have experienced brain diseases or suffer from vasospasm, neuralgia, using preparations based on this plant, improve blood circulation processes.

Rheumatism is another ailment, which can be effectively dealt with with drugs based on this flower. To do this, you can use a tincture with honey, which is an effective remedy for home treatment.

Conclusion

Aloe vera is a plant that is known to many people. It contains a significant amount useful substances, thanks to which it is ensured its healing effect. The plant can be used to relieve the symptoms of a wide range of ailments. Before using aloe vera, each person should find out the medicinal properties and contraindications for themselves in order not to have health problems during treatment.

The use of aloe for the treatment of diseases provides a high efficiency of therapy. Means from this plant allow you to treat ailments of the gynecological sphere, eliminate eye diseases, and also cope with colds. At diabetes the use of medicines from this plant has a strong therapeutic effect and allows you to eliminate the disease that has arisen.

Many appreciate aloe for the fact that it contains many vitamins in its composition. Applying the means from this plant inside, the deficiency of nutrients is eliminated. As a result, the normal functioning of all systems of the human body is ensured.

The beneficial properties of aloe vera are known to many. However, in order to prepare medicines with a powerful therapeutic effect from this plant, you need to know how to prepare it correctly. You need to pluck leaves from 18 cm long and only from two-year-old flowers. They must be stored in the refrigerator for 14 days. After this time, they are used to prepare various medicines.

A person who does not know anything about the use of this plant will, of course, be interested, how to use aloe. Note that most often, aloe leaves and juice are used to eliminate painful conditions. Ointments, tinctures and lotions are also prepared from the plant. Women preparing masks and others cosmetics, use the juice of this flower. With regular use of drugs, the skin color improves, the condition of the hair changes for the better.

Does everyone know about contraindications in the treatment of aloe? Not everyone is aware of this. In order for the therapy to be effective, contraindications should be inquired in advance. To do this, you need to see a doctor. After receiving approval from a specialist, you can treat with this plant, and then rejoice quick solution health problems.