Thursday, March 28, 2024
43.0°F

Soothe summer skin with aloe vera

by Maryjane Butters
| August 15, 2010 9:00 PM

We're all familiar with seeing aloe vera as an ingredient in lotions and balms, particularly those that cool the burn of sun-baked skin. But did you know that you can take advantage of aloe straight from the source? By cultivating your own aloe houseplant, you can save money on costly cosmetic products, keep countless plastic bottles from ending up in landfills and avoid unwanted additives found in store-bought creams. It's easy to care for your own green "medicine cabinet," and your aloe vera plant will keep growing and giving for years to come.

What's in a leaf?

The aloe vera plant (scientifically known as Aloe barbadensis) is a desert-dwelling member of the lily family with thick, spiny-edged leaves resembling a cactus. Surprisingly, it is the dangerous-looking leaves of the aloe plant that harbor the bounty that soothes irritated skin. Within the well-kept core of the leaf, there is a gorgeous, clear substance known as the "gel" or "gel fillet."

There is a bunch of contradictory information floating around out there about the various other healing properties of aloe vera. While many may contain more than a kernel of truth, it's difficult to sift through the claims from companies that stand to profit from selling aloe juices and gels. The facts that have stood the test of time (just ask the ancient Egyptians) are those that tout aloe's topical healing properties. Aloe gel can be safely spread directly on skin that suffers from sunburn, mild (first-degree) burns, poison oak and ivy and insect bites as often as you feel the urge to. Not only will the gel help ease discomfort, it is also reported to help speed healing time.

Grow your own aloe plant

Aloe plants are very easy to grow and will fare well inside, but because they grow slowly, it's ideal to start out with a larger, more mature plant if possible. Most greenhouses and nurseries carry aloe plants because they make attractive ornamentals, but they are just as useful as they are beautiful.

Your aloe plant needs sandy, well-drained potting soil and a cozy spot that receives only indirect sunlight throughout the day. Terra-cotta pots work well because they are naturally porous and allow the soil to breathe. Make sure to allow the soil to become fairly dry each time before watering.

Watch your plant for signs of new shoots, called "pups." Pups are the beginnings of new plants and can be removed when they're about 4 inches tall and planted in their own pots to make great gifts or farmers' market items. To remove a pup, brush away the surrounding soil so you can see where it connects to the mother plant. Use a knife to cut the pup free or simply twist it off with your fingers. Water the pups well when re-potting, but don't water again for about three weeks in order to encourage strong, new root growth. Don't worry if re-potted pups turn gray or brown at first; this is normal. If you don't want to propagate aloe plants, make sure to cut the new shoots off at the soil when they appear so that they don't drain nutrients from the mother plant.

Getting to the good stuff

You can get to the gel within an aloe leaf simply by cutting off a piece of leaf and squeezing the liquid onto your skin. This works, but there is a better way to make use of the gel within.

Start by choosing a large leaf that is growing close to the bottom of the plant (it will be older and more potent than the upper leaves). Using a sharp knife, cut the leaf from the plant near the base.

Place the leaf cut-side-down in a container for about 10 minutes to let the sap (not the gel) drain out.

Lay the leaf flat. Cut off the tip and the spiny edges on both sides of the leaf. Hold your knife horizontally and slice through the middle of the leaf so that it is divided into top and bottom halves or "fillets."

Use a spoon to scoop out the semi-solid inner gel core of each leaf fillet. Don't worry if you also scrape out the slimy "mucilage," it's all part of the good stuff. Leave the yellow sap, which can be composted along with the outer rind of the leaf.

Mix the gel and mucilage in a blender to create a concoction that can be applied fresh to skin or refrigerated in a glass jar for about a week.

In the meantime, your plant's wound will quickly seal and heal over with no special attention needed. The cut leaf won't grow back, but your plant will have another leaf ready when you need it!

Copyright 2010, MaryJane Butters. Distributed by United Feature Syndicate Inc.

If you would love to nurture your skin with the soothing properties of aloe vera, but just aren't into the idea of growing your own plant, be sure to shop for quality gel extracts that aren't full of additives.

I recommend the certified organic aloe vera gel sold by Mountain Rose Herbs in quantities ranging from 8 ounces to 5 gallons (www.mountainroseherbs.com).