The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Aloe Vera Preparation and Recipe
Posted by Frank (Perth and Mindarie, W. Australia) on 06/07/2013
I am a big believer, use Aloe Vera for years already, and do not understand why would anyone use/trust any Aloe product, when it is so easily available in its God created natural form? One can easily grow it in the garden, or in pots. It multiplies endlessly. Every year at least double the amount you've planted. I do one 4 to 6 weeks course 2x a year. To increase its benefits and to prevent/heal other problems I have, I use it in the following manner:
I take one stick of Aloe, wash it, gently cut the thorns off and slice it into the blender. Add 1 washed sliced lemon (all included), add 4 sticks of asparagus, 10 flowers of Dandelion, 1 banana and a tbs of honey, (for taste). If you find it too strong, you can thin it up with water or milk. I use it first thing in the morning, my wife after a meal. It is our most important home remedy.
To keep it interesting please spend a few minutes and search the healing effects of Aloe Vera, Dandelion flowers plus roots (it grows wild in any part of the world), Asparagus. Like I mentioned banana and honey I add mainly for better taste. It has a bitter taste, but remember! Anything good in life tastes bitter.
Aloe Vera Oil
Posted by Yogananna (France) on 02/13/2018
Just wanted to remind/inform that OLD Aloe leaves can be very bad for sensitive skin. If you break open an old leave and smear you skin with it you're in big trouble if you have sensitive skin. It happened to my daughter. Raised red itchy everywhere the aloe touched. I believe the lavender oil we put as soon as she noticed it helped a lot to clam it down. Just make sure you use young leaves.
Upper Respiratory Infections
Posted by Ros (United States) on 03/18/2020
★★★★★
I have used stabilized organic Aloe Vera powder for many years and believe it is the best IMMUNE support available. During these uncertain times I have doubled my dose to 2 tsp. daily. I used to have Upper Respiratory Infections (URI) every winter and since taking the Aloe I have only been ill 3 days in 18 years - usually when I ran out of product. I was recently able to persuade the laboratory who grow and process the Aloe to allow me to buy directly from them, so I am grateful to be able to help others with compromised immune systems. Roz
Aloe Side Effects
Posted by Roma (New York) on 09/26/2017
I was reading all these wonderful remedies using the aloe leaf but I must caution you on other effects. I would use a sliver of the leaf in my smoothie but a blood lab result showed that my hemoglobin levels lowered. Some people don't mind that happening but I did. It can act as a blood thinner. I abstained for a few weeks and took another blood test and my levels increased. Proving my point.
Aloe Vera Side Effects
Posted by Sara (Sacramento, Ca) on 06/29/2013
You cannot take Aloe Vera for a longer period of time because your body will be depleted of Potassium.
Aloe Vera Side Effects
Posted by Bachcole (Colorado Springs, Colorado) on 04/01/2014
Where did you hear this about potassium?
Aloe Vera Preparation and Recipe
Posted by Samantha (Hawaii) on 06/01/2022
The whole lemon peel adds quinine to the mix!!! Peel the green part off if too bitter but it's unclear if the peel is the antihelminthic part of the leaf.
General Feedback
Posted by Aubergine (Washington, Dc) on 02/02/2012
Bad experience with aloe juice: After reading here about people's good experiences with Aloe, I figured I would try some. My grocery store sells the stalks, but I didn't want to bring one of those home - one of my kids would probably try to use it as a weapon, if my husband didn't put it in the trash first - so I looked at the aloe products on the shelf with the supplements. I was a bit confused by all the choices but I ended up getting a juice product that uses a formulation called "ActivAloe. " Without mentioning the actual brand name (which does have the word "aloe" in it), it comes in a 32-oz bottle and there are three flavors - the original "gold" as well as "cherry berry" and "orange papaya. " I chose the orange papaya. The label says it's 7% orange and papaya juices, and the rest is "whole leaf aloe vera juice concentrate. " I tried some that evening. The label said to take 2 Tablespoons (1 oz) so that's what I took. During the evening I was very gassy, but I have that problem when I eat certain sugars or processed foods so I figured it was something I had snacked on earlier. Later that night I felt like I was getting a cold. I took a little extra ACV plus some extra vitamin C, did a sinus rinse (which I routinely do anyway) and gargled with a hydrogen peroxide oral cleanser.
In the morning I felt a little worse with congestion in my sinuses and chest. I did my normal breakfast routine (a green superfoods bar plus ACV, lecithin, coconut oil, turmeric and oatmeal) plus a 1-oz dose of the aloe juice. I made sure to stick with alkaline foods throughout the day - this normally eliminates any cold symptoms for me within half a day - but I didn't feel better. Also I was still very gassy, which didn't make much sense since I was not eating any of the bad stuff that tends to give me gas. I continued for 2 more days with alkaline foods, ACV and my other regular supplements, plus 1 ounce of aloe juice twice a day, plus extra vitamin C and sinus rinses morning and evening, without any relief of the cold symptoms. (I also felt generally crummy, as with any cold. )
Then last night I noticed that an old case of thrush was back - but not just in the one little spot where I had it before. This time, seemingly overnight, the pockets between my cheeks and gums were inflamed on both sides of my mouth. I was also gassier than ever. By this time I had figured out that the gas was the worst shortly after I drank the aloe juice. I thought, "how can anything that makes me this gassy actually be healthy for me?" It suddenly dawned on me that maybe the aloe juice was actually making me sick. I poured the rest of the bottle down the drain.
Today I did an oil pull and I'm continuing the alkaline food routine with ACV and plenty of water to try to flush out whatever's bothering me. 24 hours after stopping the aloe (which I only took for 72 hours in the first place) I feel somewhat better, but I still have some of the congestion and the thrush. (The gas, thank goodness, is gone. ) Hopefully there will be more improvement tomorrow.
It occurred to me that the aloe might be bringing out some sort of toxin that was locked up in my cells somewhere, but that seems unlikely. I started taking ACV every day 5 months ago, and since then added sunflower lecithin (Ted's "pulling oil" remedy, 2 TBSP per day), coconut oil, turmeric, raw honey, and green superfood capsules to my daily diet. (I was already taking fish oil and vitamin E. ) At the same time I have greatly reduced or cut out many of the acid-forming foods I used to eat, and have added more vegetables and other whole, alkaline foods. (I have also done some oil pulling with EVCO but I have had trouble making it a routine. ) With these improvements I've lost weight effortlessly, I don't feel hungry, my skin looks great, the bumps on the backs of my arms disappeared, my chronic case of thrush went away, and the osteoarthritis in my hip no longer bothers me.
My point is that I would be surprised if the aloe juice suddenly brought out toxins that the other remedies hadn't touched. But I could be wrong! And I have used aloe vera gel on my skin in the past without any adverse reactions. Anyway, now I'm a little leary of trying other forms of aloe, but maybe after I get better I'll go ahead and buy a stalk of the real thing and carefully monitor the effects!
Aloe Vera Oil
Posted by Grannyof2 (Texas, Usa) on 04/16/2014
This message is for Ted: Searching the internet, the only aloe vera oil I have found is aloe vera gel mixed with different oils like almond oil or safflour oil. I haven't found a way to extract oil from the aloe vera plant. I grow aloe vera and would rather make my own aloe vera oil, but I don't know which oil to use. Ted, can you please clear up which oil to mix with the aloe vera gel to get the aloe vera oil you recommend? Or a source for the aloe vera oil? Thank you.
General Feedback
Posted by Alfred (Rangsit, Bangkok, Thailand) on 06/04/2011
★★★★★
Alo Vera is an amazing plant.. It grows like a weed.. Easy to grow inside your home as well as outside..
I have it growing outside my home.. Every day cut off one the the arms.. Rub off spines on side.. Wash, cut up and mix it into what your eating.. Do not peel.. Its all good .. the skin and inside .. just eat, eat, and get healthier..
Alfred
Acne
Posted by NADIA (LONDON, UK) on 03/24/2008
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I HAVE TAKEN ALOE VERA JUICE FOR NEARLY 2 YEARS...EVERY MORNING AND NIGHT.. IT HAS TOTALLY CLEARED UP MY TERRIBLY PERSISTENT ADULT ACNE.MY SKIN IS VERY RARELY BLEMISHED NOW AND IS PLUMP AND YOUTHFUL.
HOWEVER RECENTLY I HAVE HAD QUITE EXTREME HAIR LOSS FROM ALL OVER MY HEAD. MY MOTHER THINKS IT COULD BE FROM THE CITRIC ACID USED AS A PRESERVATIVE IN THE ALOE VERA JUICE.
HAS ANYONE COME ACROSS THIS, OR HAS ANY THOUGHTS?:)
Acid Reflux
Posted by Zinnia (Wappingers Falls, New York) on 06/04/2007
★★★★★
My daughter Stefanie developed an acid reflux. She was given an anti acid Rx. It temporarily stopped. I researched the wonders of Aloe Vera and found that it treated her. Since then whenever it occurs, I give her juice mixed with Aloe Vera juice. It works wonder.
Heartburn, Excessive Burping
Posted by Donna (MA) on 11/01/2020
★★★★★
I have been suffering from excessive burping and awful heartburn at night. I decided to try aloe vera juice and after the first 2oz dose I felt better. I took it 3xs yesterday, once before bed and finally a night with no burping and heartburn. I will continue for a few days and see where I'm at.
Nail Fungus
Posted by Steffy77 (Washington Dc) on 05/19/2015
★★★★★
I had nail fungus after manicure, which would not heal for more than 3 months. My sister recommended fresh aloe vera juice to apply, which I did twice a day and it has healed 90 percent. It is an amazing herb, use for any problems and you must also take fresh juice on empty stomach. It is a guaranteed cure. It is also helpful for brown spots or pigmentation on your face. Just rub the pulp on affected areas morning and night for 3 minutes and go to sleep with it. You will find improvement in few days.
General Feedback
Posted by Jo (Abq, Nm) on 04/11/2014
★★★★★
High in the mtns of NM, I can't grow Aloe outside, but keep great pots of it inside. Have to throw it on the compost, it multiplies so fast.
General Feedback
Posted by Wayout (Motown, Ca/ Usa) on 10/25/2012
Aloe vera is an incredible plant. It has not often been processed carefully enough to retain its full healing elements. It is now being discovered to have a critical role in the diet, a previously unrecognized "neccesary nutrient" status. As such, it is being branded a "Nutraceutical, " which could too easily become,
food that needs a prescription.
Real aloe vera with the mannose molecules still intact, gathered and dried right, can then tell the body when to stop inflammation, and blocks or connects proteins to cells, thus modulating against auto-immune (self-fighting) conditions. And most conditions are being found to be such, as inflammation is the root of disease. This could literally prevent and heal many diseases, which is why it is becoming the "point man" for the battle to control the health of mankind. And unfortunately, I suspect there are some, who simply do not want to see everyone be well, but would rather make profits.
And a quote:
"Mannose molecules are components of the surface membranes of cells and are responsible for essential complex biochemical activities of cell life."
--T.
General Feedback
Posted by Nicola (Walsall Uk) on 03/11/2017
It looks to me as the aloe you had was from the outer leaf which is a laxative for drinking and taking internally you should only be having the pure gel which is the pulp inside the leaf.
We have a product which is 96% pure aloe inner leaf. Anything over 18% can be known as gel anything content below this can only be retailed as a juice and there is a lot on the market that states aloe but has very little goodness in it.
Hope this helps
Kind regards,
Nicola Khadhraoui
Aloe Vera Oil
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 04/17/2014 392 posts
There IS aloe vera oil. It is found in Australia suppliers and Texas where they make aloe vera oil. My friend also sells aloe vera oil here in Thailand. No oils is mixed in, only aloe oil. Ted
General Feedback
Posted by Blkmanchcgo (Chicago, Il) on 06/28/2011
To Maria,
If your looking for aloe vera gel or other quality oils and herbs you can check out Mountainroseherbs.com. I dont know if you can post websites here but....
Skin
Posted by Dianne (Houston, Tx) on 11/15/2009 6 posts
★★★★★
I use the aloe vera on my face in the morning. It is a great moisturizer, is not greasy, and tightens the face as well. I cut about a 2" slice and then half it like an apple and rub the pulp on my face until there is no juice left in the pulp.
I have been trying to figure out how to make it into a juice, but haven't tried it yet. Now I will. It tastes so bitter, if I get it on my lips that I was afraid it would taste horrible. But I do believe it is a gift from the Gods, so I will try to juice it also.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Dianne (Tampa, FL) on 07/25/2009
Yes, the three inch section is for one person. I also neglected to mention (my post was a little long already) that my father also had the beginnings of glaucoma and when he went back to his eye doctor after taking the Aloe for several months, his eye doctor told him his eye exam came back great, but that the best news he had was that any trace of glaucoma was completely gone. If you do an A-Z search on the internet of the health benefits of Aloe, you will find all the ailments I mentioned in the previous post and this one listed there except stunted growth.
Skin
Posted by Aseel Moughnieh (Tyre, Lebanon) on 04/07/2008
★★★★★
I was suffering from acne scars , and severe red cheeks , now Ive been only drnking Aloe vera juice , and it did wonders , my face has a clear , compelxion , the scars are there but the redness minimized , I cant wait till it gets better!!
Celiac Disease
Posted by Eileen (Monroe, NY) on 11/16/2007
★★★★☆
Aloe vera - been using for 3 weeks now to heal from celiac disease - helped soothe and along with diet I'm seeing improvement.
Aloe Vera Side Effects
Posted by Sunny (Los Angeles, Ca, Usa) on 06/29/2013
Does Aloe Vera have any negative side effects?
Long Term Use of Aloe Vera
Posted by Josie (San Antonio Tx) on 10/25/2021 22 posts
I would like to know if you drink 3 to 4 glasses of Aloe Vera, will it harm your body and if you drink it for a long time? I was reading that it will. Please let me know. I'm trying to help my lungs. I'm in and out of the hospital a lot. I'm trying to avoid going back to the hospital. I have bad lungs and I hope to restore them back to healthy lungs. Many years ago the Aloe Vera helped my lungs and I hope it will do it again.
General Feedback
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky) on 10/26/2012 2048 posts
Good news, one can grow many of the common medicinal herbs for personal use OR can order the herb in "raw" or "bulk" form as it is not a controlled substance. The diet herb Ephedra Senica got pulled from the market as an ingredient for energy and weight loss. Manufacturers cannot add this herb to products but it isn't a controlled substance (not illegal) so one can buy the raw herb. As a side note the herb Bitter Orange (isn't "banned") is very similar to Ephedra Senica as it contains the alkaloid Synephrine slightly less harmful than the Ephedrine in E.S. For those of you out there not getting the necessary boost from caffeine products, add a little Bitter Orange and you will feel the difference (and lose weight).
