Aloe Vera: Interesting Facts
Aloe vera is easy to grow, but you need to pay attention to a number of basics. It is native to Africa, needs a lot of direct light and a warm, dry climate. It prefers temperatures between 18 and 30 degrees, so in winter it is best to place it in sheltered places. This is because the water in the leaves would freeze and the plant would suffer thermal shock, causing its immediate death. Aloe vera should be in the ground, but it is also fine in a very large pot where you can put a layer of gravel of at least 2 or 3 centimeters so that excess water can be absorbed and there is no risk of the roots rotting. It should not be watered frequently, in fact it is enough to water every 15 days, because if on the one hand you are not afraid of drought, on the other hand you could rot due to excess water and stagnation.
Aloe Vera Gel
Before using your plant’s aloe vera gel, it’s good to know that the plant must be at least 3 years old to extract it. To achieve this, you just need to cut a leaf from the bottom and then cut it along the contour. Cut it in one place and let the gel out, or cut the leaf in half to remove all the contents with a spoon. The gel can then be stored in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator for about two weeks.
8 Ways to Use Aloe Vera Gel
The gel contains aloin, a substance with a laxative effect. When ingesting the gel, there may be a yellowish part that needs to be removed if we want to drink aloe juice. On the contrary, it is not necessary. Below we will show you the 8 ways to get the most out of aloe vera gel.
- Hair Pack: Applied before shampooing, it should be left on for 15-30 minutes before rinsing to keep hair soft and silky. The product can also be a valid natural substitute for the gel;
- Face cream: moisturizing and light, aloe vera can be used in summer as a substitute for face and body cream;
- Anti-sunburn cream: Suitable for relieving sunburn, aloe should be applied to sun-reddened skin and in a few minutes you will have a refreshing and prosperous feeling;
- Anti-pimple cream: The gel is an anti-inflammatory and healing product ideal in case you have acne or small pimples. The transparent consistency allows it to be applied at any time of the day without it being visible;
- Anti-dandruff mask: The unsightly problem can be embarrassing, but with aloe it can be easily solved. Simply sprinkle your scalp with a tablespoon of the product, massage it as you apply it and after leaving it on for about 30 minutes, you can continue washing your hair.
- Anti-inflammatory gums: The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of the gel are the effective remedy for gingivitis, just apply the product to the affected area and massage it. Aloe can also be used as a natural mouthwash. All we have to do is dilute a tablespoon of gel in a glass of water and add a pinch of baking soda to obtain a 100% natural product;
- Mosquito repellent: The itching and redness that comes from mosquito bites can be annoying, but to reduce the effects we can apply the natural gel to the affected area.
- Disinfectant: Disinfecting hands is usually important, for this with a green product, we can use aloe vera gel. If we want to have a scented product, we can add a few drops of lavender or tea tree essential oil.
