Soothing Sunburn with Aloe Vera

Those summer months are just around the corner, which means… potential SUNBURN.

By now, everyone is aware that aloe vera does wonders for burns. For sunburns, it’s especially good for soothing relief and to speed healing. Because I’m very fair skinned, I’ve pretty much used aloe vera all my life, and was chased around as a kid to have it applied to me after getting those nasty sunburns, and have never found a product that compares.

You should, of course, always use a good sunscreen when you’re going to be in the sun even for short periods, (especially if you’re fair skinned!) but sometimes we end up in the sun unexpectedly, or we missed areas when applying the sunscreen.

Here are a few things you can do to soothe that nasty sunburn with aloe vera.

If most of your body is covered in sunburn, the best way to soothe it is not always possible because more than likely you won’t have a sufficient amount of aloe gel around. But if you do keep large quantities of fresh aloe gel on hand, you can draw a cool bath, adding a large amount of the aloe gel to the bath. Soaking in the aloe vera bath will draw heat from your skin and soothe the pain greatly. (and will also make your skin oh-so soft, but when in pain, you won’t care about being baby soft, of course)You can also, of course, apply the aloe gel directly to your skin. Just apply the aloe gel and allow to dry.Another thing you can do is make an aloe vera “spray”. If you have a decent amount of aloe gel, then in a bowl, add very small amounts of water to the aloe gel, and mix as well as you can. Keep adding a wee bit of water if needed, until it’s mixed thin enough to be able to be sprayed through a spray bottle. Pour the aloe vera mixture into a spray bottle, and keep it in the fridge. You can spray your sunburn for relief as often as you need to.

Whenever using the aloe gel for any of the above, be sure to avoid any of the yellow “sap” underneath the skin of the aloe vera plant!

The aloe vera “spray” option comes in very handy when your back is burned, because you can’t always reach all of your back to apply aloe gel directly. (and that cool, refrigerated aloe spray feels sooooo good on a sunburned back!)

For my sunburned face, (especially the bridge of nose, and cheekbones that end up burned worse) I always apply the aloe gel directly, instead of using the spray. Majority of the time, I just apply the aloe gel directly to the worst areas, and use the spray everywhere else, or for the areas I can’t reach.

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Aloe Vera Internal Health Benefits

Aloe vera has always been considered the “Wonder Plant” through history, due to it’s external healing abilities, but it is also a wonderful herbal alternative for internal health as well.

Due to it’s anti-inflammatory traits, as well as increasing the ability to absorb nutrients in the digestive system, aloe vera has been used through time to greatly relieve constipation and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), help with heartburn and soothe peptic ulcers. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis treatment is also a possibility with use of aloe vera.Aloe vera has also been used to strengthen and improve the immune system because of the essential vitamins, minerals and enzymes it contains, as well as restoring vital amino acids your body needs.It has been said to help reduce blood sugar levels in diabetes, with claims of a 45% reduction.It has also been claimed that aloe vera can repair elastin and collagen in the skin and joints.

There’s been a wide variety of potential internal use of aloe vera to help with ailments and diseases ranging from arthritis, to dental problems, on down to cancer, but aloe vera is mostly recognized and used for it’s internal benefits to both the digestive and immune system.

If you are considering using aloe vera as an alternative to potentially harsh medicines, you should take caution when using it straight from a plant, and always consult a physician, especially if you are pregnant or considering the alternative for a child or pet. There are different processes for aloe vera and it’s very likely you will not benefit at all if using improper extracting methods for internal use. I strongly advise against it since ingesting improperly will cause various problems like diarrhea, and worse.

There are aloe vera juices on the market, but most cannot tolerate the taste at all, or the juices are watered down, which greatly reduces the benefits as well. My suggestion would be to use an aloe vera natural whole herb supplement that you can easily swallow if the aloe vera juice isn’t pleasing to your tastebuds.

Here’s to your health!

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Aloe Vera for Minor External First Aid

Everyone knows aloe vera is a welcomed, soothing remedy for burns, but it’s also useful in a variety of ways, when minor external first aid is needed.
Here’s just a few:

For sunburn, or minor burns (where there is redness only) simply snapping off a leaf and dabbing the gel onto it will soothe wonderfully.Because of it’s antifungal, antibacterial and antiseptic qualities, aloe gel will harden into a natural bandage and can be used for minor abrasions, grazes and bruises.Many have reported it will greatly reduce the appearance of scars when applied.After shaving legs, bikini area, face, etc., applying aloe gel will diminish razor burns and heal minor cuts very quickly with no scarring.Aloe vera has done wonders for people with acne, and helps reduce the redness and scarring when applied to face.Aloe vera has also been known to relieve and/or improve other external skin discomforts such as eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, stings, bites, bruises, sprains and frostbite.

Please note: Aloe vera should never be used in place of an antiseptic. Once an injury is cleaned and treated as necessary, aloe gel can be applied to help protect the wound and speed the healing process.

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Soothing Aloe Vera Facial Mask

I’ve extremely sensitive skin and needed to look into something that worked well, particularly with my face, because all the products I’ve used are simply much too harsh.
If you’ve that same overly sensitive skin, you may want to try this aloe vera facial mask as well. It may sound a little gross at first, but your sensitive skin will love it!

You’ll need:
4 tbsp of PURE aloe vera gel (as in, get it from the plant!)
2 tbsp of PLAIN yogurt
6 tbsp of FRESH cucumber juice. (note: if you don’t own a juicer, you can grate a peeled cucumber onto a fine net cloth, or muslin cloth – fold the cloth around the grated cuke, and ‘wring’ the cucumber juice into a bowl)

Mix all ingredients well and gently apply to your face and neck, and leave it there for about 15-20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water, (don’t scrub it or anything!) and then a final rinse with colder water to close the pores. Pat face dry with a towel, and you’re good to go!
The yogurt and cucumber cleans, and the aloe vera moisturizes and soothes. I, personally, do this once a week. More than that, certainly will not hurt.

Give it a try!

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Aloe Vera Fingernail Strengthener

Are your fingernails looking not-so-healthy, dried out, brittle and cracked? Aloe vera can help as a nail strengthener to aid in holding the beauty of your fingernails and looking healthy and strong.

Ultimately, a good diet rich with protein, calcium and vitamin C, plus drinking plenty of water, is very important. This very simple aloe vera solution, along with a proper diet, will help particularly if you work with your hands a great deal, or for during those bitter cold winters!

What you will need:

2 tablespoons aloe vera gel2 drops witch hazel

In a small bowl, stir the two ingredients using a fork or wire whisk until blended completely. With your fingertip, gently rub a small amount of the aloe vera and witch hazel gel on your entire fingernail, wiping off any excess gel with a clean tissue.

The witch hazel mixed with the aloe vera gel is for lifting excess oil while keeping your nail healthy and conditioned.

You can use the aloe vera and witch hazel gel mixture as often as you feel you need to.

Posted in Aloe Vera Beauty Tips

Jul 7, Aloe vera and eye problems

About aloe vera and eye problems asked the following question a fellow visitor Ibrahim:

"Good day. How can I use aloe vera to treat my brother's eye problems? He always complains of seeing like smoke."

Strato's answer:

Hello Ibrahim, thank you for your question. I'll try to answer it, hoping that I'll give a nice chance to all the readers of this page to find answers to similar problems.

At first, my advice is that your brother should be examined by a Ophthalmologist (Ophthalmologists are physicians who diagnose and treat diseases that affect the eyes) the sooner the better! Indeed aloe vera can help and benefit our health, but at least we must first know exactly our health's condition.

General, most of the times an eye problem is part of an overall health problem. In the other hand, the lack of certain vitamins and other nutrients that are essential for our body's nutrition from the food we eat, is the common root of the most health problems.

So, enhancing our nutrition with natural supplements like aloe vera drink and bee caps that are full of vitamins, minerals, aminoacids, antioxidants and other healthful elements, is a natural way to prevent the expand of a health problem because our body's immune system has been reinforced and is ready to face it.

From my research I found that there are several reasons for someone to complain of seeing like smoke.

Cataracts is a reason for blurred vision or decreased vision. The lens of our eye in normal condition is clear. If the lens becomes cloudy, this condition is known as cataracts. It is like seeing behind a waterfall -- cataract is the Greek word for the waterfall -- and thus the name.

Cataracts develops faster if there are some environmental factors, such as extensive exposure to excessive ultraviolet light or sunlight, other toxic substances, smoking areas, automobile exhaust etc. that cause oxidation. Oxidation is the major reason of why the lens of our eye becomes cloudy.

Diabetes is a condition that affects many organs in our body and can cause blurred vision. Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the eye's retina that occurs with long-term diabetes and is caused by damage to blood vessels of the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye. It changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.

Retinal detachment is another reason for blurred vision or decreased vision. Often occurs on its own without an underlying cause. However, it may also be caused by trauma, diabetes, an inflammatory disorder. It is most often caused by a related condition called posterior vitreous detachment.

The retina is a transparent tissue in the back of the eye. It helps you see the images that are focused on it by the cornea and the lens. Retinal detachments are often associated with a tear or hole in the retina through which eye fluids may leak. This causes separation of the retina from the underlying tissues.

The retina is normally red due to its rich blood supply. An ophthalmoscope allows a health care provider to see through your lens to the retina. If the provider sees any changes in the color or appearance of the retina, it may indicate a disease. That means that the more blood goes to retina the better.

Eye injuries is also a reason for blurred vision.

Consist of taking Vitamin A, (Beta-Carotene), C and B2 (Riboflavin). The principal antioxidants in the lens of the eye are Vitamin C and E. Both are needed to activate glutathione. (Glutathione is a protein fragment which protects the eye from damage produced by free radicals.) It has been found that the absence of these vitamins encourages the growth of cataracts.

We can supply our body with all these vitamins in a natural way, adopting Aloe Vera Gel in our daily routine. Another nutritional supplement specially for our vision is the Forever Vision from Forever Living Products.

Jul 9, Aloe Vera Causes Weight Loss?

Yes, slowly but steady, as a tortoise!

Aloe vera causes weight loss and this is not so weird. I was always in good shape, but a certain age and then began to show concentrations of fat on my stomach and my waist.

Not a big deal and I had ignored it until a discussion with a friend of mine. He said to me that drinking aloe vera juice, my body will be detoxified. So the extra fat will be dissolved by my detoxified and enchanced body easily. That's how aloe vera causes weight loss!

I knew that aloe helps and protects the skin and strengthens the immune system, but I had never seen this big picture described by my friend.

I started drinking some aloe vera juice three times a day, before eating something. At the same time I started to do a few push ups, two - three times a day.

At the first week I did less than 15 push ups each time. At the second week I went up to 20. At the third week 25 to 30 and the fourth week 30

Jul 9, Vitiligo

How almost cured with Aloe Vera Gel

Vitiligo is known that has not any medical cure but aloe vera gel seems to be the natural remedy. Aloe, this miracle plant, has many health benefits.

A few years ago the first symptoms of vitiligo - white spots on the skin - began to appear on my face and my hands. After I had ignored these symptoms for a while and then I went to the doctor, I learned from him that there is no cure for signs of vitiligo with medication, but medicines can only give a little help.

However, I followed the recipe written by the doctor, two ointments and pills, but I had no obvious improvement in my condition except only a short time after applying the creams on my face.

When these two ointments and the pills finished, I did not visit the doctor again. I thought that if there is no cure for vitiligo, there is no also reason to take further medication.

At that time coincidentally, a friend of mine recommended me the Aloe Vera Gelly, an ointment of pure stabilized aloe vera gel from Forever Living Products. This product is known because it's natural treatment on minor burns and cuts, minor injuries and skin diseases.

Aloe vera is also known for its properties of cell remediation and cell regeneration, ie anti aging properties. So I thought that it was a good idea to implement Aloe Vera Gelly on my face after every shave instead of "after shave" lotion. And so I did.

The result was unexpected! One month later my face skin had softened, had no wrinkles and more importantly, vitiligo signs on my face were almost invisible! Instead, vitiligo symptoms - the white spots of vitiligo - on my hands were still visible but now less.

I think that is because even if I did not implement Aloe Vera Gelly direct on my hands, using my hands to apply it on my face, a small amount of the gel always remained. But that small amount has not enough time to penetrate into the skin and fully treat it, because hands have always something to do, they are busy.

But today, after about two years of regular use of Aloe Vera Gelly, there are not any vitiligo spots visible on either, my hands and face.

Thanks for reading!



Strato's Note:

Γειά σου Τέλλη, Hello Telly, what an amazing story! Thank you for your contribution. You are the # 1!

Well, we incline to forget the nature's herbal remedies and sometimes when we use them again by coincidence, we are pleasantly surprised from their natural power!

(Update 31 Mar, 2010, - Because of that many visitors who read aloe vera true stories send requests for more information about Aloe Vera Gelly from Forever Living Products, I quote some information below.)

Historically, a major use of aloe vera was to aid in the treatment of minor skin irritations. Many households kept a live aloe, or

Jul 9, Chronic sinus infection and aloe vera

Sinuses

My close relationship with aloe vera began about four years ago.

Actually in 2006 I had been suffering from a chronic sinus infection for over three years despite the frequent treatment and medication, including two painful operations.

Someone I knew who had been working in the city came to see me and my wife, to talk about this 'amazing miracle plant' called aloe vera.

I had been using aloe vera for years topically in creams, tooth gels and shampoos, but was not cognizant of its benefits and medicinal properties when taken internally.

I decided to drink the aloe vera gel, I used an aloe vera nasal spray and another of the products he recommended us, the bee propolis, a natural antibiotic from the beehive.

The results were amazing. Five months later, the sinus infection had disappeared. I was feeling healthy again thanks to the amazing aloe vera.
Strato's Note:

Edward thank you very much for sharing with us your aloe vera true story!

Because of that many visitors who read your story send requests for more information about a particular aloe vera juice and bee propolis, I quote some information below.

Aloe Vera Gel

Jul 9, Aloe Vera Gel Sunburn Treatment

Ouchhhh!!!!

Magical Aloe Vera Gel Sunburn Treatment After a Day at Santa Barbara, California
Aloe vera gel sunburn treatment is indeed the best treatment for sunburns. One weekend I went to visit Carolyn, a friend in Santa Barbara, California. We went to the beach and there I managed to get an amazing sunburn.

Well, I burn easily in the sun and I am aware of it. But it is so relaxing to lay on the beach under the sun. It is oh-so tempting to lay yourself out on a big beach blanket and soak up those golden sun rays......

I've learned to suffer through these bouts of burn and I was ready to suffer one more time. But when we went back to home, Carolyn took one look at me and said, "No you don't, young lady!"

She stepped outside her back door and plucked a leaf from a rather ugly plant alongside her porch. She took the goo from that plant and gently smoothed it over the burned area. She said that by morning I would feel and look like new. "Yeah, right", thought I.

Well, that "goo" was aloe vera gel. Pure aloe vera gel. Right from the plant. And Carolyn was so right. In the morning I had NO MORE SUNBURN, only a pale tan where the burn had been before.

I couldn't believe it. Aloe vera is a miracle plant. I have spent my life getting burned, drying out, hurting and itching. For the most part I avoid the sun altogether. Now this miracle plant, aloe vera, had healed a very, very bad sunburn. Over night.

I keep aloe vera on hand now. I don't need it often, but every once in a while it is a real life saver!

Strato's Note:

MaryAnn thank you so much for taking the time to tell us your aloe vera true story!

Yes, aloe vera gel is the best treatment for sunburns! However, aloe vera can also prevent sunburn.

Jul 9, Aloe Vera First Aid

Motorcycle fall and aloe vera first aid

Strato's Note #1: Aloe vera for first aid is miraculous. Not only stops the bleeding but also protects the wounded or burned spot of our body from infections. Read this true story by Barry Leban which describes with few words but comprehensive, how he used aloe vera for first aid.

Hello, my name is Barry Leban and I live in Negril Jamaica. I fell of my motorcycle, landing on my side with the bike on top of me.

My home was close so when I went there, I heard one man says I should go to the doctor and another one says to put aloe on it. I decided not to go to the doctor and to put aloe on it.

The worst spot of the wound was too ulcerated and bloody. I put a piece of aloe vera leaf on it, wrapped it and the pain was gone as well as the swelling and later I had no scabs.


Strato's Note #2: Barry, thanks a lot for sharing your aloe vera true story with us. It's amazing to hear such stories from several people around the world describing the various health benefits of aloe vera.

Barry, you live in Jamaica and there you are blessed with any kind of plants and you can find fresh aloe vera any time at your backyard. But there are other friends who do not have this chance and they keep asking me if there is an aloe vera product for first aid. So, the following quotes below are precisely for those friends.

Aloe First Spray is an excellent addition to any first aid kit. This exclusive skin protection formula provides a first line of defense against minor skin irritations. Formulated in a base of stabilized aloe vera gel, Aloe First contains Bee Propolis, Allantoin and eleven exclusive plant extracts:

Jul 9, Aloe Vera Juice And My Dog

Aloe vera juice and my dog's health improvement.

We own an 11 year old Golden retriever. I found 99% pure aloe vera juice in our drug store and decided to see if it would help my varicose veins and I have seen a noticeable difference.

Our dog has problems with his hips and some days cannot get off the floor. Since I have been giving aloe vera juice to him, he has started running again.

Now, he is full of energy and his health seems so much more improved. His fur feels soft again and he sheds alot less!

What a wonderful product!

Strato's Note:

Kathy, thank you so much for sharing with us your aloe vera true story(ies) about your dog and about how you have seen a noticeable difference of your varicose veins!

Aloe vera juice indeed is useful not only for us, but also for our pets. Aloe vera pet care products are the best products we can offer them. They boast natural properties that are conducive to their healthy skin, healthy coat and their overall health.

A product that is the first care for our pets is Aloe Veterinary Formula from Forever Living Products.

Jul 13, How and when to use aloe vera?

"What is the best way and time of the day to drink or eat raw aloe vera?"

Strato's answer:

In other words, how and when to use aloe vera? Well, this is a very good question, its answer is missing from the main pages of AloeveraChangeslives and I will be happy tο answer it.

A basic property of aloe vera is that it cleans the villi of the intestines, while removes those toxins that accumulate all around the villi.

Thus, villi is able to absorb more accurately and easily the necessary nutrients, those our body needs to be preserved.

Also, aloe contains enzymes which help in breaking down the compound food into simpler components, such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, fat, etc. strengthening the proper functioning of stomach and digestive system.
When to use aloe vera?
So it is good to drink aloe vera juice, first thing in the morning. Even better is to wait, first to go to the toilet and then drink the juice. Our stomach and intestines are empty then and aloe can be beneficial, more easily and without obstacles.

I am sure that, two doses of aloe vera gel drink a day is enough for everyday use. One in the morning and the other in the afternoon, at least three hours before we sleep. Always and in any case 20 minutes before eating.

Thus we are giving time, our stomach to break down aloe in simple organic elements, such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements, enzymes, etc. So when food will start entering, our stomach will be already "oiled" and "well tuned" and able to act reliably...
How much aloe vera gel to use?
You have not need to drink large amount of juice! 40 - 50 ml per dose is enough. If you drink more, our body simply does not have enough time to break down the extra amount of aloe and eventually expel it with the urine.

However, if you feel the need to drink more juice, you can increase doses instead! You can drink 40 - 50 ml aloe juice, three times a day, or four in rare cases.

This happens, occasionally, perhaps to all those who drink for a long time and everyday aloe. Our brain with this "not full - want more" feeling, notifies that needs more aloe to cope with an emergency situation or a permanent problem.

I think that after a not long every day use of aloe vera gel drink, our organism is optimizing the doses depending our needs.
How to drink or eat raw aloe vera?
Certainly, it is good to have your own Aloe Barbadensis Miller plants (the most healthful variety of aloe vera plant) in your backyard.

These aloe plants must be aged 4-5 years, so they are mature and ready for harvest. The younger - immature plants have not yet developed all their ingredients and serve no man.

Cut carefully with a sharp knife an outer leaf near the base of the plant, remove the outer peel - the rind of the leaf and consume the inner gel as quicker as possible.

You can cut it in not many small pieces, mix it with other cut fruits add honey and eat a healthy breakfast and / or lunch, or dinner. Either you can juice it and drink it.

You should definitely keep in the refrigerator the aloe jelly - inner gel left over, because if aloe vera gel stays too long in the environment's temperature, tans like a sliced apple, ie oxidizes and loses all its nutritional value.
What, if I may not keep my own aloe vera plant?
Of course if you live in an apartment and you may not keep aloe vera plants and want to consume aloe vera, you must find products made from stabilized aloe vera gel, which keeps the ingredients 98% unchanged and available to us anytime, almost like when you cut the leaf from the plant.

A remarkable product, combining small pieces of pure aloe vera gel and natural peach juice is Aloe Bits n 'Peaches.

Jul 14, Does aloe vera gel cure colitis?

"I am suffering from colitis. Will aloe vera gel help to cure my colitis?"

Strato's answer:

Does aloe vera gel cure colitis?
Disclosure
Hi Prasad, thank you for your question, because for me this is a good opportunity to clarify certain issues.

Personally, I have not studied medicine and all of my answers to your questions are based on the official literature, the experience of our fellow humans and my personal experience and reasearch.

My recommendation on products are based mostly on my personal experience after many years of using stabilized aloe barbadensis Miller products. I will receive compensation from Forever Living Products, when someone purchase products from Retail Aloe Store. Such compensation does not influence the information in this site.

I always try to give my best in what ever I do. Because I believe that the best reward for a job, is knowing that you have done the best you could do for this job.

But as I said, I'm not a doctor and my advice is, always first consult your family physician if you are experiencing a medical problem.

Regarding your question:

Will aloe vera gel help to cure my colitis?
Studies
In the recent years there have been many studies about aloe vera and its benefits for the human health and also for the animal health. I'll mention only two related to colitis.

Dr Lee Cowden (Dallas, Texas) stated that daily consumption of aloe vera gel helps greatly in combat and relieve the annoying symptoms of many diseases such as ulcerative colitis, problems in the esophagus, peptic ulcer, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, mouth lesions and sore throat.

Dr. B. Frielander (San Diego, California) nutritionist, noted that patients with chronic colon problems, including constipation, hemorrhoids, ulcerative colitis and Crohn 's disease, benefited from the daily consumption of aloe juice as part of a treatment program. He noted further that the color of their face looked better and their overall health had improved!

Inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, colitis wound the colon and make it excitable, leading to bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. Aloe vera gel when drunk every day, is particularly effective because of its anti-inflammatory action.

Colitis is most commonly caused by poor diet, lack of fibre, stress or an excess use of coffee and / or alcohol.
Changing our bad habits to healthful habits
Drinking aloe vera gel every day
Thus, abandoning the bad habits or rather changing our bad habits to healthful habits is the best way to help ourselves against colitis.

Stop smoking or / and drinking coffee and instead start reinforcing your body with the proper nutrition, drinking aloe vera gel drink every day and stay active. Aloe will support you the best way and will be very helpful in your body's detoxification.

Jul 17, Aloe and wound care

I have two open / ulcerated wounds on the inside of my left ankle resulting from having two screws removed from that site.

Since that surgery (three months ago) I have been treated with a variety of antibiotics and topical medications.

I have seen a neurologist, a podiatrist, my orthopaedic surgeon, a wound care specialist and an infectious disease specialist.

I have been undergoing in-home IV treatments with heavy doses of antibiotics for the past week.

During a conversation with my wound care specialist, she mentioned that many of her Hispanic patients treated themselves (successfully) with aloe vera gel squeezed directly from the plant.

I started this treatment yesterday; to my surprise I've been experiencing quite a bit of burning and pain. I am covering the gel with a Tegaderm bandage.

Am I applying this correctly? Or should I boil the leaves before harvesting the gel?

I am 58 yrs. old and otherwise healthy and active.
Thanks for your help.


Strato's answer:

Hi Nancy, thank you for your question.

I hope your wounds heal very quickly.

Somehow, I'm sure of that. You were lucky that your wound care specialist indicated aloe vera and its therapeutic properties to you.

Now, all you have to do is to insist on applying aloe vera gel on your wounds for some time. Aloe is a natural remedy and takes time to act, but acts without side effects. Unlike laboratory manufactured medicines, which 99% have side effects.

Do not worry about this "quite a bit of burning and pain" feeling. This is normal. Aloe penetrates the surface of the wound and reaches the deeper layers of skin, (to muscles and even bones) and tackles the problem at its root.

Aloe vera takes care your wounds and this "burning and pain feeling" indicates that it is acting fairly well. I'm sure that after a day or two, you will get used to it and you will recognize it as useful.

Tegaderm is a transparent medical dressing that it can be used to cover and protect wounds. Advantages of Tegaderm include its breathability and conformation to the skin as it adheres in places such as the fingers and toes.

But it can also cause a severe inflammatory response: blistering, burning, itching etc. This reaction may be exacerbated if the dressing is improperly stretched across the wound to enhance closure. Since your wounds are open and ulcerated, use it carefully.

If I were you, after applying aloe for some days and my wounds get better, I would not use Tegaderm any more. Since aloe protects us from inflammatory conditions, I would only applied aloe vera gel on my wounds and I would left them uncovered.

About boiling the leaves before harvesting the gel. Definitely don't boil the leaves because the temperature will destroy all aloe gel's healthful ingredients.

Use it raw. Be sure that the aloe plant is aloe barbadensis Miller and is mature (4 - 5 yrs old). Remove the outer hard green rind and use the inner gel of the leaves directly on your wounds.

Don't forget to keep the gel left over in the refrigerator, because if aloe vera gel stays too long in the environment's temperature, tans like a sliced apple or potato, ie oxidizes and loses all its value.

Nancy, I hope I was helpful. Be healthy soon.

For all those who keep not aloe plant, two very convenient products to take care wounds are FLP's Aloe Vera Gelly and Aloe First Spray.

Please read Vitiligo - Your True Stories for more information about Aloe Vera Gelly and Aloe Vera First Aid - Your True Stories for more information about Aloe First Spray.


Stay healthy,
Strato - AloeveraChangeslives.com

Aloe Vera Benefits Home page

Jul 20, Aloe vera cleanse liver?

Is aloe vera a natural cleanser for the liver?

Strato's answer:

Hello Linda, Thanks for your question. I will try to answer as objectively as possible, because there are conflicting views on the matter.

However, we should first consult our family physician if we are experiencing a medical problem before using any natural herb.

As I've already mentioned in an earlier answer, I'm not a doctor and all my answers are based on researches, my experience in the continuing use of aloe vera and other people's experiences.Various functions of the liverLiver is an important organ of our body, that has a lot of tasks to accomplish every day.

Some of the liver's tasks are:removes toxins from our blood
filters harmful chemicals
stores necessary glucose
maintains the level of blood sugar
helps digestion and to get rid of old blood cells
distributes nutrients from the food we eat
When there are already many toxins in our blood, our liver is under pressure. Our immune system is compromised, has to fight off internal toxins and so can not effectively fight invaders, as viruses and other infections.

It is therefore important to keep our liver clean and not to encumber it, so it is able to cope with its tasks.Cleansing the liverA liver cleanse is not something simple. It should be done in stages. Before cleansing the liver, someone first has to make colon cleanse and then a kidney cleanse. And there is a good reason for this.

During a liver cleanse, various toxins that are stored in the liver dumped within the body. The colon and kidneys must eliminate these toxins as soon as possible.

If these organs did not function effectively and did not release the body of toxins quickly, this could lead to several problems and could compromise our immune system.

Aloe vera juice is said to be one of the best cleaners for the colon and kidneys, (best known for colon cleanse) because aloe vera contains saponins which act as a natural cleanser.

The sponge-like molecules of saponins and their foaming properties, trap and toll most of the pollutants. The Indians applied raw inner gel from aloe vera leaves and water in their hair, and could have a hair wash.

Aloe vera gel cleanses gently, restores the natural balance of our digestive system, so there is no leakage of toxins to our blood and our immune system is not compromised.

Once we have done colon and kidney cleanse, then it is time to move on to cleanse the liver.Does aloe vera help in liver cleanse?Adaptogenic properties of aloe vera.

I don't claim that aloe vera is a 'cure all' but it should be noted that aloe is adaptogenic, and as such has the potential to help our body rebalanced and give it strength to fight back. Aloe can give our body all the essentials it needs.

Aloe vera therefore, does not fight a symptom directly, but rather helps the body to heal itself.

Most people have trouble understanding the logic behind it. It makes no sense that a product can be used to help a variety of conditions such as diarrhea, constipation, vomiting and poor appetite.

In standard medical practice, medicine used for diarrhea, for example, is the exact opposite of that used for constipation.

However, we can use aloe vera gel for a number of disparate conditions and we'll get this result, which is best described as an adaptogenic.

This property of aloe combined with its natural cleansing properties, it seems that helps cleanse the liver and improve liver problems for many people, especially those suffering due to alcohol or drugs usage.Side EffectsIt is reported that some people who were drinking aloe vera juice for other reasons have had some problems with their liver.

However, these side effects are rare and may well be the result of a rare intolerance to aloe combined with excessive consumption of juice. It is unwise to drink aloe vera juice as if it was orange juice.

If you stick at the recommended dose, I think there is no problem. How much and how often you should drink depends on how long and hard your liver is working.

However, at the begining it's advisable to drink small amounts (1 - 1.5 ounce or 30 - 40 ml), two or not more than three times a day to make sure there are no side effects.

Nevertheless, it is important to pay attention to side effects and stop drinking aloe juice, if spotted a reaction. Aloe vera definitely is not a magic potion or panacea.

Of the 350 varieties of Aloe Vera, only four of them have medicinal or therapeutic properties. Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller is the stronger of them all, is more nutrient rich than other varieties and it must be preferred.

Proper diet also helps to liver cleanse. For 2 to 4 weeks eat only fresh raw foods such as salads, fruit and fresh fruit juices. Include carrot and cucumber juice every day. Avoid alcohol, all raw fish and shellfish, animal protein, saturated fats, sugar and highly processed foods.

I hope I was helpful.

Stay healthy,
Strato - AloeveraChangeslives.com

Aloe Vera Benefits Home page

Jul 29, Can I use aloe vera gel direct from the plant?

Can I use aloe vera gel direct from the plant or does it have to go through a process of purification first?

Strato's answer:

Hello, thanks for the question. There is already an answer at a "Your Answered Questions" page, the How and when to use aloe vera? which is relevant and explains all the ways we can use aloe vera gel.

But this answer does not explain the simple purification process to be followed if we want to use the aloe vera inner gel directly from the plant. So, I will explain detailed here how to do it.Aloe vera leaf purification processWell, if you have an aloe vera plant, cut the thickest outer leaf near the base of the plant. Then, wash up the leaf carefuly and cut it into several pieces.

Put the cut up pieces in a bowl full of water and let them soak in, for at least the rest of the day and whole the night. The next morning you will notice that the color of the water has changed to light red or pink color.

This shows that the impurities from the aloe leaf's pieces have been moved to the water. Throw out the colored water and wash the pieces once again to make sure you have removed all of the impurities.Peel off the rind from the leaf of the aloe plantKnow that, the inner gel of the aloe vera plant leaf is what is used to provide health benefits. So, peel off the green hard rind of the leaf to reveal the inner gel. You can use a knife or a spoon to scoop out the gel.

Now aloe vera gel is ready for use. It can be applied either on your face skin or your body skin. You can make it juice and drink it, or ingest it by eating small slices of the gel.

Add a bit of honey or brown sugar on it. It makes it easier to consume, since the aloe vera gel isn't a pleasurable flavor for many.

Make sure you keep the gel left over in the fridge or else it will oxidise and lose all of its properties.Use aloe leaf for first aid
without the purification processWhen you need to use it immediately, for first aid in a burn or a wound, and you have not gel left over in your fridge, ignore the purification process and just remove an outer leaf from the plant, slice it open, and apply the gel on the affected area.

And don't forget! If you may not keep an aloe vera plant in your house, you can always shop online juices, creams and other products made from stabilized aloe vera --aloe barbadensis Miller-- (as close to the nature as possible) from the Retail Aloe Store.

I hope I was helpful,


Stay healthy,
Strato - AloeveraChangeslives.com

Aloe Vera Benefits Home page

Aug 11, Dry feet solved with aloe vera cream

I use some sort of mildly fatty cream with aloe vera to solve my dry feet problem in the winter. When the air gets dry so are my feet.

The skin even burst open up to the bleeding point and to be honest I tried everything, even some hormonal cream from the doctor.

This is all solved now. When I feel the dryness coming, I just rub my feet in with aloe vera cream and within two to three days the dryness is gone.

I never have big feet problems again!

Strato's Note:

Jan-Willem thanks a lot for contributing your aloe vera true story.

Aloe vera skin cream is ideal for dry skin because it moisturizes the skin much more than water does. It is also easily absorbed into our skin and left no trace of oiliness or greasiness behind.

Aloe Vera cream not only moisturizes and nourishes dry and tired feet and heels but also relieves of itching and the odor caused due to dry cracked feet.

Stay healthy,
Strato - AloeveraChangeslives.com

Aloe Vera Benefits Home page

Aug 18, How long to use aloe vera?

How long to use aloe vera? Two months, three months or forever and what is the best time to drink it?

Strato's answer:

Hello Sanjay. Thanks for your sensible question.

It's amazing, how effective can be the contribution of all of you with your questions, so you are better informed about aloe vera and how, what and why on its use.

In my effort to give you all the information you need, sometimes I omit some, either because I forget them or I think they are obvious. And they are to me, because (I think) I know the most about aloe, after several years of continual personal use and related research.

At this point, there comes a question of yours to remind me of an omission or to force me to explain what I thought was obvious to everyone.

And I am grateful to all of you because your questions contribute to the plenitude of AloeveraChangeslives.com and help me in my work.

So, thank you all and keep asking me!

What is not aloe vera?Sanjay, you asked me for how long to use aloe vera? Well, to answer your question, I must say first what is and what is not aloe vera. Let me start with what is not the aloe vera.

Aloe vera is not a panacea. It is not this essence, which we will take it once and in a miraculous way will cure all our ailments. There is no such substance in nature, or have been prepared in the laboratory.

Aloe vera is not a drug that you will use it for a month or two to get rid of a health problem.

Aloe vera is not an isolated active ingredient with a specific action (and several side effects).

What is aloe vera?Aloe is a natural combination of various substances that act synergistically, ie, complement each other and act together jointly for the benefit of the man who consume it.

Aloe vera is a food. It contains almost all the substances that our body needs daily to work properly without problems and to face the various attacks from the contaminated environment we live.

So, we should consider it as food or perhaps more appropriately as the best supplement to the nutrient-poor food that are available nowadays.

So as long as we eat, we should use aloe vera.

What is the best time to drink aloe vera?As for the best time to drink aloe vera, general rule is to always ingest it on an empty stomach, two to three times a day.
More about this, please read this detailed answer:
How and when to use aloe vera?

I hope I was helpful,

Stay healthy,

Strato - AloeveraChangeslives.com

Aloe Vera Benefits Home page