Aloe Vera, An Organic Mama’s Medicine Cabinet Essential

Since this time of year, we’re all doing a little more baking and cooking (thus a higher potential for painful burns, haha!), I thought I’d do a post about something that might come in handy for personal use or gifts. Here it is. Yep. That’s right, a plant. One of my favorites – Aloe Vera.

I thought of this last night because as I was cooking dinner, I managed to burn the inside of my right forearm. Boy, did it hurt! I rinsed it with cool water right away but like most moms, I needed to finish cooking, clean up the kitchen, get the kids to bed etc. You get the picture. However, within an hour, right as I was moving the kids toward bedtime,  I realized how much it was smarting.

My oldest looked at me with concern so I asked, “What do you think I should do with a burn like this?”

The answers came quickly, “Rinse with water. Rest it.”

“What else?” I asked.

“Aloe vera, of course!” came the reply.

“You’re so right.” I answered. Why  did I put off doing it? As with many remedies, the sooner you pay attention to the pain that’s shouting at you, the faster it will be healed.

I quickly stepped outside and snapped off a piece, avoiding the thorns. Over the next 1/2 hour, I smoothed it over the burn several times. Overnight, the angry red mark was almost completely gone. It would have smarted all week without aloe. Awesome!

Here’s my aloe plant. I love this one because the color is beautiful and filled with juice. See that little one growing off to the side? It’s called a pup. To replant it, just gently pull it out of the ground and snap off several inches of root. Place in dirt, water and you have gift worthy plant!

It’s true that as an Arizona girl I’m probably a little bit prejudiced to love the aloe plant but I think everyone should have one.

Not only can the inner flesh be used externally for burns – whether from the stove or sun, it’s also a great addition to soothing creams and lotions. Some people say it can be used as a mild sun protectant! It can also be used internally for various ailments from gastrointestinal disorders  to heart disease and cancer.

Here’s my neighbor’s aloe.  A slightly different variety but still has healing power. Notice how narrow it is? This one is a very vigorous reproducer and will fill the box if they allow it.

Plus, aloe is a beautiful plant that grows great in hot climates with very limited water or attention. That’s one of my favorite reasons for keeping in my garden.

Here’s the other. Aloe plants reproduce easily so once you have one,  you have a source for ongoing gift giving.

Yet another variety of aloe. Another neighbor in our townhome community has these and they’re beautiful. Over a foot tall, the long leaves are filled with a lot more healing flesh. This one has a strong odor but seems to be an even more powerful healer.

This season, consider giving yourself or someone else a gift with many uses. Aloe is an irreplaceable resource in an Organic Mama’s garden!

It’s SO easy to use.

1. Wash it and cut off the thorns.

2. Slice it open lengthwise to reveal the flesh inside and rub it on the burn. I would not use it on broken skin. If it starts to feel “dry” just give it a few scratches with your nail or a knife and the juice will rise to the top. Store in the fridge between uses.

*Research internal use of Aloe Vera carefully before beginning and do not take internally when pregnant!

**As always, I’ll remind you that I am not a doctor.  These are common sense remedies I use for my family, especially because they support the immune system rather than simply attacking the symptoms of illness. I have taken the time to research any herbal recipes carefully myself and have consulted with my local herbalist and doctor. I encourage you to always do the same before choosing to take or administer any kind of remedy, whether herbal or off the shelf at a local drugstore.**