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.
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.
Aloe Vera Tip
Posted by Janise (Los Angeles, Ca) on 09/23/2009
★★★★★
Some comments on Aloe Vera. As the first poster suggested using the fresh aloe leaf is best. Most all bottled aloe vera juices use Citric Acid to preserve it. This is acidic and could be counter productive to the aloe juice. To get away from this use fresh aloe leaf blended with water. I tried the bottled aloe for my stomach Gerd and reflux and it upset my stomach but the fresh aloe did not.
For women using aloe vera juice, I was told by Dr. Deepak Chopra in a consultation to not drink aloe during a women's menses or period. It can stop your cycle.
Aloe is best drunk after meals or on an empty stomach between meals or a quarter cup before bed.
General Feedback
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 09/19/2009 490 posts
Hello to all who want to grow their own aloe vera plants (cactus),
In my area, which is close to the Southern Ky. border, they will not survive the winter outside. My brother who lives within a mile of the northern Alabama border planted the ones I gave him outside, found they died back during the winter, and unfortunately, did not come back up in the spring. So unless you live further south than we do, bring them in before the first killing frost, if you want to keep them growing year round.
Where to Buy: USA
Posted by Noelle (Minneapolis, Minnesota, Usa) on 09/06/2009
Hey, I got it, I got it. I found a regular supplier for Aloe Leaf by the pound. Cub Foods in Minneapolis at the Minnehaha Ave & East Lake St, and 60th Street & Nicollet Ave locations. And the piece I purchased was 26" long! Yippee!! Thanks for the suggestions, y'all -- Noelle in South Minneapolis.
Where to Buy: USA
Posted by Sara (The Beach, Canada) on 09/01/2009
buy the plant. take as much as you need by snipping that amount of the living plant. you can buy them at garden centers or florists.
Where to Buy: USA
Posted by Noelle (Minneapolis, Minnesota, Usa) on 08/30/2009
Does anyone know where I can get fresh Aloe Vera Leaf in the Minneapolis-St Paul area? I used to purchase it by the pound at Rainbow Foods on 26th Ave, but they no longer get it in. We have a fair sized Latino community; I've tried several of the Hispanic groceries along Lake Street, but they don't seem to have it either. I want to get the 14" size Aloe Leaf that cured Diane from Tampa son's allergies and leaky gut. Any suggestions?
General Feedback
Posted by Dianne (Tampa, Fl) on 08/20/2009
I take the entire leaf and chop off a couple of inches beginning from the base and peel (discard the peel) and blend it, etc. I take the remaining Aloe leaf and just set it on the counter on some paper towels. Don't peel it or put any plastic wrap on the cut edge or anything. The Aloe will heal the cut on its own and the next time you need some more Aloe, just cut off that thin slice that looks yucky and then slice off another piece to consume. Since I generally take the Aloe everyday, it seldom tends to go bad. I did read that you could put it in the refrigerator, but make sure you wrap it in paper towels as the cold will create some condensation and that will make it go bad a lot quicker. As for the size of the Aloe I read in several places that the smaller leaves don't generally have all the beneficial componenets. It could also be that you have a different species of Aloe. The Aloe that is therapeautic is Aloe Barbadensis Miller. There are many different species of Aloe, but not all therapeautic. Check the internet for the other therapeautic ones.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Sally (Miami, FL) on 07/29/2009
Hello everyone, I love Earthclinic! Thanks so much for keeping this going. My posting is regarding the questions about Diane's Aloe Remedy. I can't speak for Diane, but from I what I understand, the length of the Aloe leave indicates that it is an "adult", full grown, well-developed leave, she must use three inches pieces at the time and as far as keeping it, I noticed that, at the grocery store, the leaves are kept refrigerated (near the berries, salad bags, etc.), so at home I would keep them in the bottom most portion of the fridge. I hope this helps.
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.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Jane (Austin, TX) on 07/19/2009
Does the three inch section of the aloe vera plant make one drink per person that you use? thanks for the info. Jane
Broad Benefits
Posted by Dianne (Tampa, Fl) on 07/08/2009
★★★★★
I apologize in advance for how lengthy this is. I am writing to let everyone know about the incredible benefits we have experienced with Aloe. About one and a half years ago our whole family came down with whooping cough. I decided to try Aloe, as a friend I had known had had great success with it for treating a serious prolonged cough and my mother also told me that in Colombia SA they would use a beaten concoction of Aloe and egg whites to treat whooping cough when she was a little girl. I researched Aloe on the internet, and though I didn't find the egg white recipe, I found many things Aloe is good for. It did work very well for whooping cough, especially helping to calm the nightime attacks, and a friend tried it for her daughter's whooping cough and had the same results. When I looked Aloe up on the internet, the treatment for the ailment that interested me the most was asthma. My son had been struggling with it for several years- not severe, but mostly sports induced and it greatly hindered his ability to play sports. I have tried most home remedies for asthma and have had so-so results. He began drinking it every day and by the end of the second month his attacks were completely gone. As long as he continues to drink it daily, he has no attacks. If he stops it entirely he begins having attacks again after a couple of months.
I found that one of the reasons that Aloe works for asthma (and other conditions like arthritis and lupus) is because it is anti-inflammatory. So, it keeps the airways from getting inflamed. Another reason it works is because it is also excellent for treating allergies which many times are a trigger for asthma. One of the reasons it works for allergies is because of the collagen it causes your body to produce which thickens the the mucus linings of your respiratory system and intestinal tract (heals leaky gut) which in turn helps you not to be so sensitive to allergens. Another reason is that it treats systemic candida which is usually the root of asthma and allergies.
The funny thing I noticed, which is not mentioned in any literature I have researched about Aloe, is that it has also helped with his stunted growth. My son is really short for his age and in the two years before taking Aloe, he only grew six inches total. Once he began taking Aloe for his asthma he grew almost six inches in one year. The growth spurt coincided exactly with time he first began the Aloe. I've tried my own "experiments" to see if his growth is related to the Aloe or if it is just his time to start growing, and I've found that if he has a period of a couple of months where he doesn't take his Aloe at all or only takes it once a week or so, he only grows about a quarter of an inch per month or less. When he takes it every single day, he grows about a half inch per month.
My father has been really inspired about my son's story and began taking it himself about four months ago for his prostate. He has been on prostate medication for the past ten years and still gets up to urinate about four times per night. He has tried different prostate medicines as well as his own share of home remedies, and nothing has worked. Well, after drinking Aloe daily for a couple of months, he was able to get off of his prostate medicine completely. Now he only gets up once or twice per night and he's not on any prostate medicine.
I've heard some people make some type of Aloe tea infusion, but the way we take Aloe is this: We buy a fresh Aloe stalk from the produce section of the grocery store. It has to be at least fourteen inches long, or I've read it's not as beneficial. The Aloe has to be nice and firm. Don't use it if it is soft and squishy as it is too old and may actually aggravate some candida problems. We slice off a three inch section from the base and peel off the thick green skin with a paring knife and discard it. We then take the gel (from the three inch section) and gently blend it with a drink mixer with some orange juice for palatability. The less you blend, the better as you don't want to destroy the beneficial properties.
You can buy bottled Aloe, but I DON'T RECOMMEND IT! While there may be some good Aloe products out there, I've read that sometimes the bottle can say 100% Aloe and it is actually 95% water, but for some reason the FDA allows them to say 100% Aloe even if it isn't. The other reason is that bottled Aloe is usually pasteurized which kills many of the beneficial enzymes that make Aloe so effective. Fresher is always better with Aloe.
Acne Scars
Posted by K (Chicago, IL) on 07/02/2009
★★★★★
I have been using fresh aloe juice/gel/flesh topically overnight on my chest and back to try to heal scarring due largely to acne. I had been dealing with acne and scarring for months now. Just two nights of applying aloe liberally and directly onto my skin, letting it dry a bit, and then putting on a pajama top overnight has produced surprisingly good results. I am so relieved and amazed. I recommend this very simple, inexpensive, and natural method to everyone.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Cynthia (Rosemont, Sacramento) on 06/09/2009
you drink 21 oz daily? too much!
Energy
Posted by Amber (Portland, Oregon) on 03/28/2009
★★★★★
Aloe Vera is an amazing energizer. It revitalizes the entire system. It is not a stimulant type of energy, you will just feel great, and begin to realize that your energy level just won't quit. Fresh aloe vera is best; if you live in a cold climate, house plants work well.
I take Aloe Vera often for it's overall health benefits, but especially if I am super tired or have had a very late night with perhaps a bit of drinking, and know that my energy is not going to get any better. It's a healthier feeling than just drinking a bunch of coffee, though I admit that on such a day I probably would add a bit of that too. I find that if I am super tired that drinking Green Tea, Apple Cider Vinegar, and/or taking Aloe Vera is best to do first, because these things help your body to truly be reenergized, while Coffee just pulls you up and wears your system out.
General Feedback
Posted by Sylvia (Houston, Tx) on 02/12/2009
Aloe Vera: I can say that Aloe Vera works for everything! I eat it now that i was diagnosed with Diverticulitus.It helps heal the holes i have developed in my large intestine. U can use it for boils, scrapes, burns, blackheads that are extremely in the skin, acne, basically anything!!!!
General Feedback
Posted by Sandy (Tampa, FL) on 02/11/2009
Hey! Just take the aloe vera leaf and you know cut off the spikes on the side and peel off the leaf and use the gel inside. Sometimes I leave some of the leaf. It's also beneficial for you. You can eat just raw aloe vera just like that. I have been using on my gums because they've been swollen and hurting or you can put it in a blender and just mix it with orange juice or whatever you'd like to mix it with. The aloe gel it self doesn't actually taste like anything so go ahead and just start using it :). You might want to start off with smaller doses because it does detox your body and depending on where you are it might cause nausea, etc.
General Feedback
Posted by Ann (Bethel, Minnesota) on 01/27/2009
I haven't been able to find anywhere where I can make my own aloe vera juice. I have a huge plant and only know that I can use it for burns. Can someone please help me on this subject?
General Feedback
Posted by Rich (Gainesville, USA) on 09/08/2008
★★★★★
Thanks to everyone for telling their personal success stories using cayenne pepper. I have used it on and off for years, but I will start using it only on from now on.
I have a couple of other remedies to share with you.
Many of us know about aloe vera and its topical uses, but did you know that the gel is very nutritious and it can be eaten? It has virtually no flavor after you rinse off the yellow juice and it is great for your health. Aloe is similar to cayenne in that it increases the effectiveness of anything that you take with it, so I'm going to try taking aloe and cayenne together. That promises to be a very powerful combo. Aloe has many, many uses and I encourage everyone to read up on it. There are other medicinal aloes too, like aloe ferox, aloe saponaria and aloe arborescens. Aloe has proven to be of tremendous benefit to cancer and AIDS patients! Like cayenne peppers, you can easily grow your own aloe.
Another great remedy is North pole magnetism. A scientist named Albert Roy Davis discovered that the North and South poles of a magnet are two different energies with opposite effects. The North pole energy will heal many conditions while the South pole with worsen most conditions. There are some therapeutic uses for the South pole, however. Yes, magnets do work, but you need to have the right type of magnet and use the correct pole. Get quality ceramic type magnets, use the North pole only and you'll be amazed at what magnets can do. Albert Roy Davis discovered that North pole magnetism can eliminate many diseases, even including cancer. It can even slow aging. Literally! Exposing the spleen to North pole magnetism on a regular basis will slow the rate of aging, and this was confirmed at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Read the books written by Davis and Walter C. Rawls, Jr.
Lactose Intolerance
Posted by Jean (Ajax, Canada) on 07/30/2008
★★★★★
I had a very bad case of lactose intolerance, I could not eat desserts, ice cream or milk without bad stomach cramps and major gas and bloating. I drank aloe vera juice either the inner filler or the whole leaf (stronger) and I have no more problems....funny thing is I tried the juice as a cleanser...and I was pleasantly surprised...Goodbye to LACTAID!!
Shingles
Posted by Susan (Sulphur, LA) on 04/28/2008
★★★★☆
April 24th, 2008 I came down with shingles again. This is something I have dealt with for the last 13 years. In the past I have tried antibiotics, cortisone, etc. anything that I thought would bring relief. I was at my mothers and she told me to try the gel from an aloe leaf. To my surprise it brought great relief. I have done this 2 or 3 times a day. She also told me that once the blisters burst to apply honey to complete the healing process. I fully intend to try this at that time. It has been wonderful to have relief from this awful disease.
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!!
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?:)
