aloe vera remedies

Aloe Vera Juice Benefits from Diet to Digestion

There’s truly no denying that aloe vera juice benefits are real, and plentiful. From aloe vera being used as a natural laxative to helping lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, the kinds of health perks an aloe vera juice drinker is likely to receive is vast. It seems like every day more people jump on the juice bandwagon for a number of reasons, from diet to digestion.

Here are a few things you’ll want to know. Some info from Fitsugar.

The Skinny Behind the Best Aloe Vera Juice Benefits

Curing constipation: Natural laxative remains one of the most tried-and-true aloe vera juice benefits. The plant juice encourages the bowels to move and aids in elimination if a person is currently constipated. After sipping on the juice, it takes about 10 hours for the aloe juice to instigate its laxative effects. Be careful about relying on this cure however, using aloe for a long time can be dangerous for the lining of the intestines.

Blood sugar level: Early research suggests that aloe vera juice can help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, more thorough testing is needed to determine how beneficial aloe is in the situation, since studies have had conflicting results.

Lower cholesterol: Although the data is considered insufficient to support this claim, there is a small amount of evidence that suggests taking aloe orally can lower cholesterol. Once again, more studies are needed to see if aloe fulfills this promise.

While aloe vera juice benefits are certainly plentiful and hold little bounds, drinking aloe vera has not been shown to strengthen the immune system (contrary to popular belief), nor is there any evidence to suggest that inflammation reduction or ulcer alleviation fall into the category of aloe vera juice benefits.

However, aloe vera juice isn’t necessarily for everyone. Although aloe vera juice is potent and highly successful form of natural laxative, it can cause quite a bit of bowel irritation for someone with an already-sensitive digestive system. If you have IBS or another kind of digestive disorder, consider enlisting the help of a physician first.

Have you tried aloe vera juice, or were you unhappy with the experience? What do you think? – Source

Interested in discovering the secrets behind aloe vera juice benefits at home? Check out this video.

How to Prevent Hair Loss With Aloe Vera, Other Herbs

Can you halt the march of your receding hairline naturally? Wondering how to prevent hair loss?

There’s a lot of research that says you can. That’s welcome news to anyone who’s wondered how to prevent hair loss and ever seen the price tag on Rogaine – sticker shock comes to mind. Here are a few herbs and other natural remedies to help prevent hair loss.

How to Prevent Hair Loss: Aloe Vera Gel Soothes the Scalp

The gel from the Aloe Vera plant soothes skin and acts as an anti-inflammatory when applied externally. By massaging the gel into the scalp, the pH balance of the scalp is restored and this helps regrow hair. Aloe also helps the hair retain water, and since one quarter of the hair is made up of water, this important function of Aloe Vera enables hair to remain nourished.

How to Prevent Hair Loss: Polygonum Multiflorum is Used to Recolor and Regrow Hair

Polygonum is known in Chinese medicine as He Shou Wu. For centuries this herb has been used to treat hair loss. Recently, the American Botanical Council reported that this herb may be useful to restore color to graying hair, as well as stimulating hair growth.

How to Prevent Hair Loss: Ginseng Stimulates Hair Growth

Ginseng is another herb long used in Chinese medicine. The herb is an adaptogen, helping the body adapt to stress, which is known to be a cause of hair loss. Ginseng is found in shampoos as well as tinctures that can be taken internally.

How to Prevent Hair Loss: Lavender Stimulates the Scalp

Lavender oils can be applied to the hair and massaged into the scalp. The herb draws the blood to the scalp, which helps prevent hair loss.

How to Prevent Hair Loss: Thorn Apple Prevents Hair Loss

Thorn Apple, also known as Jimsonweed, is a toxic herb that has been shown to help regrow hair. Used in Chinese herbal medicine for thousands of years to treat digestive disorders and even tuberculosis, Thorn Apple contains toxins known as scopolamine and hyoscyamine. The toxic alkaloids are also used in medicine as a gastric antispasmodic. The dried leaves are used to treat cough. Drinking fruit from the juice staves off hair loss, but high doses can cause irregular heartbeat and even coma.

How to Prevent Hair Loss: Dong Quai Restores Hormonal Balance and Grows Hair

Known as Dong Quai in Chinese medicine, the herb Angelica is used to stop hair loss. The active ingredient is an herbal form of a testosterone stimulant, called a phytotestosterone.

Learning how to prevent hair loss can be easier if you know what causes it. There are both medical and hormonal factors, as well as external influences such as physical or emotional distress. Understanding why you are losing your hair will help you formulate the right hair loss treatment.

Most people normally shed 50 to 100 hairs a day. But with about 100,000 hairs in the scalp, this amount of hair loss shouldn’t cause noticeable thinning of the scalp hair. As people age, hair tends to gradually thin. Other causes of hair loss include hormonal factors, medical conditions and medications.

How to Prevent Hair Loss: Hormonal Factors

The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition called male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. In genetically susceptible people, certain sex hormones trigger a particular pattern of permanent hair loss. Most common in men, this type of hair thinning can begin as early as puberty.

Hormonal changes and imbalances can also cause temporary hair loss. This could be due to pregnancy, childbirth, discontinuation of birth control pills or the onset of menopause.

How to Prevent Hair Loss: Medical Conditions

A variety of medical conditions can cause hair loss, including:

Thyroid problems. The thyroid gland helps regulate hormone levels in your body. If the gland isn’t working properly, hair loss may result.
Alopecia areata. This disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles — causing smooth, roundish patches of hair loss.
Scalp infections. Infections, such as ringworm, can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally grows back.
Other skin disorders. Diseases that can cause scarring, such as lichen planus and some types of lupus, can result in permanent hair loss where the scars occur.

How to Prevent Hair Loss: Other Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss can also result from:

A physical or emotional shock. Many people experience a general thinning of hair several months after a physical or emotional shock. Examples include sudden or excessive weight loss, a high fever or a death in the family.
Hair-pulling disorder. This mental illness causes people to have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair, whether it’s from the scalp, their eyebrows or other areas of the body. Hair pulling from the scalp often leaves patchy bald spots on the head.
Certain hairstyles. Traction hair loss can occur if the hair is pulled too tightly into hairstyles such as pigtails or cornrows. – Source

How To Shave With Aloe Vera

Over the years, shaving works on number on your face. Almost everyone suffers some kind of shaving side effect and aloe vera products can help minimize the discomfort and keep skin looking and feeling healthy. Here, you will learn how to shave using aloe vera. Even if you learned how to shave decades ago, you will find some tips to make the experience more pleasurable.

The How to Shave Grooming Guide

Often times, young men simply aren’t taught how to shave properly. And after years of shaving and bad treatment, faces take a beating . Find out some of the most popular questions (and answers) on how to shave properly, and prevent and correct skin care problems.

1. How can I avoid rashes around my neck after I shave?

Try using a fresh blade every couple of times, and a shaving cream that has been fortified with hydrating emollients (lubricating thickening agents that prevent water loss and have a softening and soothing effect on skin). After shaving, apply a light moisturizer. If you prefer an after-shave product, be wary of those that contain alcohol or menthol; these ingredients can irritate the skin. Most will never forget the initial feeling they had using aftershave after the first time they learned how to shave.

2. I’ve just learned how to shave. Should I use a face scrub instead of regular soap to clean my face?

Absolutely. Most soaps contain ingredients such as ammonium laurel sulfate, which can irritate your face. Many don’t know when learning how to shave that these soaps are manufactured because they produce a lot of foam and the ingredients are cheap to buy in bulk. A face scrub, on the other hand, is formulated without these severe chemical additives but manufactured with ingredients such as aloe vera, vitamins A and E, glycerin, chamomile, and polyethylene beads, which all help remove dead skin cells, control oiliness, prevent acne breakouts, and improve the texture and clarity of the skin.

3. I’m just learning how to shave. What ingredients are good for my skin?

Aloe vera, vitamin E, B-5 and C, chamomile, panthenol, and glycerin, to name a few. Aloe vera is a moisturizer that helps heal skin irritations, promotes new skin growth and helps slow down the aging process. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that prevents free radical damage, promotes tissue growth and acts as an anti-inflammatory. Chamomile is a natural herb that has proven to have anti-irritant properties and provides soothing effects to the skin. Glycerin is a soothing emollient that acts as a water-binding agent and keeps water in the skin for hydration. And while vitamin C is a potent antioxidant for skin, panthenol and vitamin B-5 moisturize and soothe the skin. – Source

Next time you’re shopping for some shaving cream or getting ready to teach someone how to shave, read the ingredients on the back. Look for aloe vera, as well as other natural, soothing ingredients. You’ll also want to pay close attention to the following tips by MaleFace.

How to Shave: MaleFace Tips on Shaving

It’s best to not shave the very first thing in the morning. If possible, let your skin wake up a while.
Use an exfoliate such as our Deep Cleaning Face Scrub to eradicate dead skin and open up the pores of the skin to prepare it for a close shave.
Be wary of mentholated shaving products. Although the cooled feeling feels good, menthol can have a very irritating effect on skin.
Stubble should be wetted with warm or hot water before shaving.
Thoroughly massage shave cream into stubble. A vitamin and aloe vera based shave cream such as our Vitamin Rich Shave Cream will provide a close, soothing shave while protecting against razor burns and rashes.
Use as sharp blade. Our personal favorite is the Gillette MACH3Turbo. Try not to wait till “the cows come home,” to change the blade. A dull blade is responsible for many shaving cuts.
Rinse the blade often in hot water when shaving and use slow short strokes.
Shaving with the grain means shaving in the direction of how the hair grows on your face. It is best to always shave this way. Shaving against the grain can cause redness, rashes and razor burn.
After shaving, apply a moisturizer to soothe and protect the face such as our Rejuvenating Moisture Cream with vitamins, Aloe Vera, and Chamomile.
If you prefer to use an after shave product check the label for alcohol. Dryness and stinging sensations are by-products of most after shaves whose primary ingredient is alcohol.

How to Shave: Additional Pointers

Stay out of the sun during the peak hours from 10 am till 2 pm. When in the sun, use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.
Avoid smoking.
Avoid excessive drinking.
Exercise at least three times a week. It has been proven that increased capillary capability and delivery of oxygen to the tissues tremendously helps in keeping the skin look more youthful.
Eat a balanced diet with an emphasis on avoiding high glycemic foods, such as white rice and bread, and minimize the intake of fatty foods.
Drink plenty of water. Many experts agree that drinking six to eight glasses a day will not only help us preserve our skin’s elasticity, but also help prevent dehydration.
Get 7-8 hours of sleep every night.

As you can see, there isn’t a lot to remember here about learning how to shave. Follow these simple steps and you will go a long way in making a significant difference in your skin and complexion. – Source

Aloe Vera Benefits For Hair

Of all the aloe vera benefits we write about, the impact of this miracle plant on your hair is one of the most underestimated aspects. Used as shampoo or conditioner, it adds shimmer and radiance, but can also improve scalp health. Continue reading to learn all about aloe vera benefits for hair.

Aloe Vera Benefits For Hair: Shampoo and Conditioner

The quickest and easiest way to incorporate aloe vera into your hair care routine is to mix some aloe vera gel with the shampoo or conditioner you already use. Some shampoos already contain aloe vera extracts, but if you prefer to make your own, experts recommend using herbal shampoo and using half the amount of shampoo you would normally with twice that amount of aloe vera gel. If you suffer from hair loss or even dandruff, this is a good option, especially if you don’t have the time to massage your scalp or to do a scalp treatment. Aloe vera contains a substance that helps protect against seborrhea. Aloe vera also has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving qualities, and this can be helpful in situations where your scalp needs a little extra care.

Aloe Vera Benefits For Hair: Scalp Treatments

There are many aloe vera benefits for hair, but it can be used as a scalp treatment as well. If you don’t have aloe vera gel handy, you could put aloe vera leaves in a juicer to extract the juice. If you apply this to your scalp and gently massage it in before rinsing it off, you should be able to see a noticeable change in the condition of your scalp and hair in about two to three months.

To maximize your aloe vera benefits for hair, it is best to leave the aloe gel or juice on for at least two hours before rinsing or washing your hair. This method is effective for scalp issues and can be used to not only treat hair loss, but to promote hair growth as well. Aloe vera contains an enzyme that promotes hair growth by stimulating the hair follicle. For those of us who want longer locks faster this is a useful option.

Moving on to another of the aloe vera benefits for hair, if you find that your hair is thinning, aloe vera is not only a natural remedy to help reduce hair loss, but it can also be useful in treating the scalp for things like sunburn. Our hair usually protects our scalps against damage from the sun, but if your hair is thinner than normal or if you are bald, you may need a little extra help. If your scalp becomes sunburnt, a little aloe vera gel can help relieve the pain and soothe the skin as well.

Wondering how aloe vera benefits the health of your hair? To gain a better understanding for the aloe vera benefits for hair, it helps to know a little about the plant itself.

Aloe Vera Benefits For Hair: History

Aloe vera is a succulent plant that grows in tropical climates. It is a gray-green color, with fleshy offshoots and spiny edges. It grows to be approximately 2 to 3 feet tall and is a commonly kept houseplant because of its medicinal properties. Aloe is used to treat wounds, burns, some cancers in animals, inflammation, diabetes and indigestion. Aloe is also believed to be a known treatment for hair loss and a natural conditioner that may replace synthetic and chemical conditioners. As a cellular regenerator with anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, aloe treats and heals red, itchy and unhealthy scalps. Aloe promotes hair growth by stabilizing the follicular cycle.

Aloe is used as a treatment for a condition called seborrhoea. Seborrhoea is a bacterial infection in the scalp, which begins with the body’s production of an oily substance called sebum. Excessive sebum can cause the scalp to become itchy and red. Hair of an infected person becomes fragile and thin, and as the disease progresses, hair loss occurs. Aloe’s aforementioned anti-bacterial properties naturally treat seborrhoea, but in addition, aloe contains magnesium lactate, which works as an itch inhibitor. This gives a person with seborrhoea relief from her condition as it treats it.

To get the most aloe vera benefits for hair, it is recommended that aloe gel be mixed with shampoo to condition the hair during showers. Additional gel may be spread through the hair after shampoo has been rinsed from it.

Aloe Vera Benefits for Hair: Conclusion

The aloe vera benefits for hair really are virtually endless. If you struggle with an itchy scalp or hair growth issues, it might be time to add aloe vera to your hair care lineup. We found this cool video that will show you how to make your own aloe vera shampoo and coconut oil conditioner.

Amazing Aloe Vera Healing Properties

Some massive company is always trying to push the latest lab-developed ointment or skincare product and it’s easy to get caught up in the hype. Multi-million dollar ad campaigns and clever packaging works, and it makes us forget that the best ointment on the planet comes courtesy of Mother Nature: aloe vera gel. Although it may seem somewhat surprising, there’s a bounty of benefits associated with various aloe vera healing properties.

The historical use of aloe vera healing dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who used it for natural wound care and healing. Over the centuries, different cultures around the world have ascribed aloe gel with a near-miraculous healing capacity not only to promote the healing of wounded or infected skin and restore it to health, but also to help keep it beautiful.

Aloe Vera Healing Properties: Nature’s Own Band Aid

Aloe vera healing properties have been described as a portable first aid kit that you can use to treat cuts, burns, bruises, scrapes, sunburn, bites and stings. When aloe vera gel is applied topically onto or into a wound, it serves as a natural, band aid or wound dressing that seals it against outside infection, accelerating the body’s own healing process. It is an effective, inexpensive first-aid solution for all minor burns and scalds.

How Aloe Vera Healing Works

Like all other succulents, aloe vera is a self-healing plant. If a living aloe leaf is cut or torn, it will immediately seal the “wound” to prevent the loss of water and nutrients and to protect against bacterial contamination. Within minutes, the aloe gel will seep out to the surface and form a water-tight, rubber-like coating over the injured area. This gel coating contracts as it dries, pulling the edges of the wound shut. Within days the wound heals completely with zero scarring.

The same natural, healing mechanism is triggered when aloe vera is applied topically to a wound, accelerating the healing process. Aloe gel forms a seal over the damaged skin, helping to staunch bleeding and protect against wound infection. Aloe vera healing provides essential nourishment to the traumatized tissues, while stimulating the regeneration of skin cells and connective tissue. Aloe gel also alleviates inflammation, reducing redness and swelling.

A Wealth of Aloe Vera Healing Properties

Aloe vera gel contains a wealth of biologically active compounds that give reason for the many aloe vera healing properties. It is rich in nourishing phytonutrients that play a key role in the healing process. These include vitamins, especially the antioxidant vitamins A, B complex, C and E, minerals including calcium, magnesium and zinc as well as amino acids like tyrosine and phenylalanine. Other beneficial compounds include: prostaglandins, polysaccharides, saponins, enzymes, glycoproteins, anthraquinones, plant sterols and lignin. – Source

Flickr Photo: Éamonn

The long list of aloe vera healing properties is in itself a good reason to always have a tube of aloe vera gel around. In all things health related, natural is always better.