Aloe Vera Health Benefits

The Soothing Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel for Sunburn

Summer is upon us and that means it’s the season of sunburns. I’s time to stock up on natural remedies that will soothe and rejuvenate. And of all the natural remedies you can concoct to soothe those bubbling blisters and raw red shoulders, aloe vera gel for sunburn ranks at the very top.

According to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50.1% of adults have had at least one sunburn within the last 12 months. To avoid sunburn, you know the drill–wear sunscreen, cover up, and stay in the shade–but if you do get too much sun, you might turn to your kitchen and garden for some old-fashioned sunburn remedies.

Aloe Vera Gel for Sunburn: Sunburn prevalence is high

The new CDC study shows that even though people are taking more steps to protect themselves from sunburn, half of all adults and 65.6% of whites aged 18 to 29 had at least one case of sunburn within the past year. Most cases of sunburn are first-degree burns, which means the skin gets red and is painful.

The redness begins about 2 to 6 hours after sun exposure, and the worst effects occur at 12 to 24 hours. However, the most serious effect is the potential for skin cancer, as the risk for melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) increases with the increasing number of sunburn episodes a person experiences during life. – Source

Although sun exposure levels remain at extreme highs, it creates a new drive to implement newer – and more effective – ways to combat the painful effects of UV rays. Consider enlisting the aid of aloe vera for sunburn to start the soothing process. Read below for more information.

Aloe Vera Gel for Sunburn, and Other Remedies from the Kitchen and Garden

If sunburn does occur, the following home remedies (including aloe vera for sunburn) can be found in your kitchen or garden. Most of the claims of relief are anecdotal, as there are few scientific studies to support their use. However, these remedies are considered to be tried-and-true.

Aloe vera gel for sunburn is one remedy that has been the topic of some research. In a journal article entitled “Aloe vera in dermatology: a brief review,” the authors noted that while aloe vera was not helpful in protecting against sunburn, “it can be effective for…burn, wound healing and inflammation.” An aloe vera plant is handy to keep in your kitchen or garden year round. Snip off a leaf tip and squeeze the juice onto your skin. You can also slice through a leaf, spoon out the gel, and mix it with some vitamin E oil. Apply aloe vera for sunburn every hour as needed. However, one of the more common methods for aloe vera for sunburn is through the plant’s gel. You can purchase this remedy at most pharmacies and grocery stores.
Apple cider vinegar added to a warm bath can help relieve sunburn pain. Add 1 to 2 cups to bath water and soak for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Baking soda is an easy and effective treatment. In a small bowl, mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with about 1/2 cup water and mix well. Apply the mixture to your skin with cotton balls or a soft cloth. If you have a large sunburned area, soak a soft cloth in the mixture, squeeze it out, and lay it on the affected area. Another option is to pour about 2 cups of baking soda into bath water and soak in it.
Black tea and green tea contain tannic acid, which can help draw the heat from sunburn. Steep 2 to 3 tea bags in 2 cups of hot water, allow the tea to cool, and then soak a cloth or cotton balls in the tea and apply to sunburned skin. You can also add 4 to 5 tea bags to warm bath water and soak in the bath. Cooled tea bags can also be used as a compress on sunburned areas. – Source

Make sure you have your cupboards stocked with some natural sunburn remedies (including aloe vera gel for sunburn), especially if you plan on spending a lot of time outside during the hot summer months.

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.

9 Things You Need to Know About Aloe Vera and IBS

You may have heard about the “controversy” involved with aloe vera and IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome. However, the skeptics are largely under the impression that no remedy will work unless it’s been developed in a lab with the financial backing of big fat pharma.

The truth is, aloe vera and IBS tend to work hand in hand when it comes to pain alleviation and benefits. Aloe vera is already being used by scores of people who suffer from IBS. Take a look at what this Women’s Fitness website had to say about aloe vera and IBS.

Taken internally, aloe vera juice (processed directly from the gel) appears to ease the discomfort of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in many users, and this has been the main reason for aloe vera’s recent surge in popularity. A scourge of modern living, IBS is caused by abnormal spasms of the gut which are made worse by stressful living and poor diets. The unpleasant symptoms include diarrhoea and constipation, gut pain, bloating and wind.
The dosage of aloe vera used by most IBS sufferers is two teaspoons twice a day, or half this amount diluted with water if using a double strength juice. Flavoured juices – e.g. red grape or tropical fruit – are also available, or for times when using the liquid may be inconvenient, it is also possible to get concentrated aloe vera tablets (but these aren’t thought to be as beneficial over the longer term). Some people claim to notice an immediate effect of aloe vera in IBS, whilst others indicate a more progressive benefit over a few months. – SOURCE

The Truth Behind Aloe Vera and IBS

So what do people with this digestive condition have to say about aloe vera and IBS? Plenty of good things. Check out this breakdown by Natural News.

Most people have heard of Aloe Vera and will automatically associate it with skin preparations, shampoos and other associated beauty products.
But that’s only half of the story; Aloe Vera Juice, when taken internally has shown to have great benefits on the digestive system. Notably, aloe vera and IBS have made waves in terms of aiding in digestion and promoting natural, healthy laxatives.
Aloe Vera Juice has an extremely positive effect on the problems associated with your digestion such as irritable bowel syndrome or IBS (also known as Spastic Colon), Colitis, diverticulitis and Crohn’s disease.
Irritable bowel syndrome is amongst the most common of digestive illnesses and the symptoms can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort to sufferers including constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion, lower back pain and exhaustion.
Sufferers of IBS have found that while conventional medicines may bring some relief from the symptoms the pain and suffering usually returns within a short time.
While it is relatively easy for both medical professionals and sufferers alike to spot the symptoms of IBS, treating the complaint has become something of a nightmare for many sufferers and the use of more natural and homeopathic remedies such as Aloe Vera Juice is proving to be very popular as well as effective.
When we eat our digestive systems breaks down the food matter so that much needed nutrients are delivered directly to the blood stream, however during this process toxins are produced.
Normally friendly bacteria that lives naturally in our digestive tract helps to control the levels of toxins and that keeps the toxins from poisoning our bodies and causing illness.
Aloe Vera and IBS are becoming increasingly more common to see associated with one another, and in terms of the digestive process all together. It helps to break down the impacted matter and bring relief from the build up of toxins in the digestive system. – SOURCE

Think you might have IBS and considering where aloe vera and IBS will work in your health favor? Here are a few things you should know about the symptoms and causes.

Know How to Treat a Sunburn? Find Out Before Summer Hits

As Spring gives way to summer, we are already dreaming of how many days we’ll spend at the beach. While avoiding a sunburn is always best, it’s bound to end up happening. And when it comes to alleviating the sting after sun exposure, how to treat a sunburn becomes absolutely crucial.

Getting a blistering sunburn significantly increases our risk of developing a serious type of skin cancer called malignant melanoma. Skin cancer usually occurs from a sunburn received during childhood. As the Earth’s ozone layer thins, we are even more vulnerable to ultraviolet (UV) rays that can cause skin cancer.

How to treat a sunburn quickly and with healing ingredients is important to help reduce the damage and to protect against further damage.

How to Treat a Sunburn: Aloe Vera Gel

For sunburn there is nothing better than aloe vera gel; it is antibacterial and deeply healing for burns in part because of aloectin B, which stimulates the immune system. Aloe vera gel is used in hospitals for burn victims. Aloe Vera comes from the aloe vera plant, and the gel may be squeezed from its leaves, or you can buy pure aloe vera gel as a product in most health food stores. – Care2

DeniseKennedy6

(Denise Kennedy)

Man aloe vera really works on sunburn my face looks much better than it did yesterday On 13-4-2012 18:04:08 from Twitter for Android

Aloe is a plant native to Africa. The long green leaves contain aloe gel. Aloe gel is believed to have anti-inflammatory effects and is used topically to soothe burned skin and to help heal wounds.

Pure aloe vera gel can be found in many drug stores and health food stores. The fresher the gel, the more effective it is believed to be. You can even use a real aloe plant–cut off a spear, split it open, and rub the clear gel from the inside of the leaf on the sunburn.

Topical Vinegar

Plain white vinegar is a popular remedy when considering how to treat a sunburn. Although there is no evidence behind this folk remedy, many people who try it say it helps to relieve pain when applied to the skin.

Vinegar can be applied as a compress. Soak clean towels in a half water, half vinegar solution. Wring the towels and apply on the affected areas, avoiding contact with broken skin and the eye area.

Another option of how to treat a sunburn is to fill a clean spray bottle with the half vinegar, half water solution and spritz it onto skin.

Stay Hydrated

Aside from how to treat a sunburn with various natural remedies, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, because we lose more water when we’re out in the heat and the sun. Dehydration can cause headaches and fatigue. – Source

How to Use Aloe Vera for Skin Care, and How to Treat a Sunburn

The Aloe Vera and Cancer Controversy Heats Up Again

While we enjoy researching, writing and reviewing all things health – Aloe Vera is really our thing. Naturally, our eyes and ears were open when we heard the juice from our favorite plant is being used to not only treat Cancer and AIDS, but reverse both conditions. And now, a controversy between aloe vera and cancer is heating up, and it has the potential to squash a bounty of series benefits associated with the spiky green plant.

Aloe Vera and Cancer Controversy But can aloe vera truly be used to treat cancer?

Yes, according to NaturalNews.com. But it seems like the FDA is not about to let any serious research launch in this realm. Although some skeptics are touting no serious connection between aloe vera and cancer treatment, it’s pretty difficult to deny the powerful connection between improved health and the stemmed green plant.

The Truth Behind Aloe Vera and Cancer

One of the best kept secrets in the nutritional field is aloe vera. Commonly recognized for soothing ulcers, hemorrhoids, sunburns, wounds and other skin ailments, many don’t know the power pure raw aloe vera juice has for improving and even reversing serious diseases that baffle mainstream medicine.

That’s because those claims are suppressed. More often than not, aloe vera has stirred up quite a bit of controversy among its skeptics. They’ve argued that the connection between aloe vera and cancer is a theory based in frivolity.

If a supplement or nutritional product promotes any kind of cure, the FDA and other agencies send their bootjack militia to raid them. A frightening example occurred in Tampa, Florida a couple of decades ago as research physician Ivan Danhoff MD was attempting to crash the medical mafia’s cancer party.

The most dramatic clinical proof of pure raw aloe vera juice comes from research done with AIDS patients. Almost all who were put on a regimen of daily aloe vera juice got better with white T cell counts skyrocketing. It’s obvious that aloe vera is a potent immune booster, which implies it can be applied to other diseases.

Aloe Vera and Cancer: A Substantial Cure?

One of the AIDS patients in this trial was diagnosed with advanced liver cancer and told he had less than two months to live. His liver was so tumor riddled it was four times its normal size. He continued with the juice, improved gradually, and within a year all his tumors were gone.

But the healing powers of Aloe are nothing new. At AloeVera.com, we love some of the retro videos you can dig up. This one shows how ancient Egyptians revered aloe for it’s healing properties, even calling it, the “Plant of Immortality.” Although aloe vera and cancer are a much-discussed topic when it comes to the plant’s health benefits, there are a bounty of other perks awaiting growers and users alike. Explore AloeVera.com for more tips, secrets, and tips.

Aloe Vera Plant Benefits

Aloe vera plant benefits have been heralded worldwide for its ability to ease pain and heal wounds for centuries. Modern science has deducted that the liquid gel excreted from the leaves, as well as the inside of the leaves contain mostly water – the pulp for which all of the aloe vera plant benefits protrude. More importantly, it is also made up of polysaccharides and glycoproteins. The polysaccharides stimulate skin repair and growth. The glycoproteins act as a pain reliever, while reducing inflammation. Other ingredients, beneficial to the body, include all the daily vitamins except vitamin D, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, anti-microbial and beneficial sugars.

Discover how the various aloe vera plant benefits can aid in your natural remedy.

3 Major Aloe Vera Plant Benefits

Skin Irritations

Aloe vera gel is an excellent first responder to burns, including sun burn, minimizing the pain and reducing the swelling, redness and the burn itself with the glycoproteins. Bee stings and other insect bits can be helped immediately with the use of aloe vera gel, removing swelling and pain. In fact, any type of skin irritation can be minimized by applying aloe vera gel directly from the plant or inside leaves. Even dry skin can benefit.

Used Internally

One of the primary ways aloe vera plant benefits can be displayed is when the spiky green is ingested internally. Aloe vera is used as an ingredient in some yogurts, desserts and beverages. Aloe vera juice has been found to be beneficial for relief of digestive maladies, such as irritable bowl syndrome and indigestion. It may take up to two weeks to get the complete benefit, drinking two glasses of the juice per day. It works by loosening waste materials and discharging them through the intestines and then the colon. When waste materials build up in the intestinal tract, it becomes difficult for nutrients to become absorbed. The aloe vera juice also benefits by regulating the production of gastric acid, helping with acid reflux and heart burn. However, be wary of over using aloe vera internally, as you may contract diarrhea and dehydration. These are only side effects of drinking too much of the juice for an extended period of time.

The aloe vera juice, used internally, has shown to be a benefit to ulcerative colitis, by reducing the discomforts associated of this disease. It is also currently being studied for any benefits in cancer, arthritis, Crohns disease and asthma treatments.

Other Benefits

The inner leaves of the aloe vera plant have been found to effectively treat constipation. The gel and juice are used to reduce warts, vaginal infections and fungal attacks. It is used on the scalp to reduce hair loss. It has even shown some hair re-growth with continual use.

There’s no denying the multitude of aloe vera plant benefits available to its users. However, always be sure to consult a physician before embarking on any kind of natural remedy medicinal path, as aloe vera plant benefits have been known to produce a few side effects.

Aloe Vera as a Natural Asthma Treatment

Many people are turning to homeopathic remedies in order to get away from medication use. Aloe vera is a plant that has active healing properties that have been used for centuries as an aid to cure conditions from burns to constipation. Aloe vera benefits include an anti-inflammatory effect and also stimulates repair, which is why it is effectively used as a topical skin treatment for rashes, inflammation, etc. In recent years, aloe vera benefits have gotten credit for a number of medicinal bonuses when ingested internally. However, most people still do not know that it can be beneficial for internal inflammatory problems and never connect aloe vera as a natural asthma treatment.

Using Aloe As a Natural Asthma Treatment: Can it Work?

Asthma is caused by an allergic reaction from the environment that causes the airway passages to become inflamed. The sufferer then has difficulty breathing and needs treatment to reduce the inflammation.

Any asthma sufferer will agree that preventing the asthma attack is better than having to treat it. As with most homeopathic remedies, using aloe vera as a natural asthma treatment when an attack occurs on will not reduce the inflammation of the brachials; however, there are benefits of aloe vera as a natural asthma treatment when used on a continual basis as a preventative. Studies have shown that oral use of aloe helped patients who suffer from asthma. As aloe vera as a natural asthma treatment reduce inflammation from skin conditions, it can reduce inflammation of the bronchials and help to prevent future asthma attacks, or at least reduce the frequency of them.

Aloe vera as a natural asthma treatment will probably not negate the use of inhalers for asthma but when used as a preventative measure, many people have found that they use their medications less often.

There are a couple of options available for taking an aloe vera supplement. It comes in a soft gel or it can be ingested as a juice. To get the most benefit, find an aloe vera supplement with a high concentration of pure aloe vera. If you choose to drink aloe juice to help with inflammation, check to make sure there is nothing in the juice but aloe vera and its natural preservatives. The purist form of aloe for asthma will work the best.

The recommended oral dosage varies according to the medical condition. Try 100-200 mg of aloe juice or 50 mg of aloe extract daily. As with starting all medical regimens, especially concerning aloe vera as a natural asthma treatment, contact your doctor for advice on how to use aloe vera and for possible side effects.

Lose Weight Naturally with Aloe Vera

Most people know that aloe vera is good for the skin. However, fewer people know about its amazing powers as a tool for controlling weight, and helping struggling individuals lose weight naturally. With obesity-related illnesses on the rise, weight loss programs and products are becoming increasingly popular. Don’t be fooled by products that offer instant results without any effort.

Aloe vera can help individuals battling the bulge lose weight naturally, all without the harmful side effects of diet pills and expensive procedures.

The Battle of the Bulge: Lose Weight Naturally

How to lose weight naturally can be an incredibly confusing question to answer. Between fad diets, pills and expensive procedures, finding the right solution can be daunting for individuals bearing a bit too much weight.

But with the aid of aloe vera juice, that ability to lose weight naturally becomes more attainable. And it all starts with a single, primary organ for weight loss: the liver.

The liver is one of the body’s primary organs for getting rid of waste products. When the liver becomes clogged and overloaded with toxins, it cannot function correctly, and waste materials are then stored in the body. Fat cells provide a safe, alkaline environment and are therefore the deposit spot for excess toxins. As toxins accumulate, fat cells simply expand to accommodate the toxic load.

Aloe vera provides a host of antioxidants, which fight free radicals in the body and help to aid individuals in losing weight naturally. Free radicals are responsible for cellular breakdown producing effects such as premature aging and weight gain. Free radicals come from a variety of sources, including pollution, cigarette smoke, pesticides, harsh chemicals, and other environmental toxins. Aloe vera is packed with vitamins A, B, C, and E. These antioxidants absorb loose electrons in order to stabilize cells and reverse the damage caused by free radicals.

Full of essential enzymes, aloe vera has a gentle detoxifying effect on the body. It is able to stimulate healthy digestion while nourishing the body with much-needed vitamins and minerals. Ingesting aloe vera can help to detoxify the body at the most basic cellular level. The amino acids found in aloe vera aid in protein synthesis, which helps to cleanse the colon.

The anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera soothe the digestive tract and offer relief from uncomfortable conditions such as Crohn’s disease and IBS. By reducing gassiness and bloating, aloe vera can give the entire abdominal area a flatter and smoother appearance.

Lose Weight Naturally with Aloe Vera: Where to Begin?

When looking to lose weight naturally, begin with a colon cleanse using aloe vera. This gets rid of any toxins that can lead to sluggishness and reduced energy levels. When working out, apply aloe vera to relieve stiff joints and sore muscles. Aloe vera lowers body mass index by stimulating the metabolism, causing the body to utilize and burn more calories each day.

There is no quick fix or miracle cure to losing weight. However, when combined with a nutrient-dense diet and proper exercise, aloe vera offers a powerful tool to lose weight naturally.

Combat the Pain of UV Rays Aloe Vera Gel for Sunburn

Aloe vera is a hardy plant that thrives best in arid climates. It has a wide range of vitamins and minerals as well as amino acids and enzymes. These make it an ideal choice for medicinal usages, such as treating painful sunburns. One of the most common vehicles for this spiky green plant to aid in UV burn aid is through aloe vera gel for sunburn.

Anatomy of Sunburn:

When the skin is overexposed to the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays, skin tissues are damaged right down to the dermis. The epidermis is the surface layer of skin that is visible to the eye. The dermis is next layer below the epidermis. UV rays are strong enough to penetrate and dehydrate both layers, causing extensive damage. Sunburn severity depends primarily on two factors: length of exposure and current level of skin pigmentation. People with dark complexions have higher levels of melanin and thus are better protected. Those with lighter complexions will tend to burn much quicker.

Effects of Sunburn:

Once burned, the skin turns red and may blister, depending on the severity of the burn. It will likely feel quite painful and may cause other related symptoms, such as fever, chills, and dizziness.

After the sunburn begins to heal, peeling may occur as the dead skin cells are sloughed off. Repeated sunburns cause premature aging and are a precursor to melanoma, or skin cancer. Sunburns do great damage to the DNA of dermal skin cells.

Aloe Vera Gel for Sunburn: A Natural Treatment

Most aloe vera gel for sunburn has a cooling and soothing effect on sunburned skin, making aloe vera gel for sunburn an excellent choice to combat the painful effects of UV ray burns.

This aid in aloe vera gel for sunburn is due to the presence of anthraquinones, which act as natural analgesics.

Beyond instant pain relief however, aloe vera actually works to heal the skin from the damage of the burn. The aloe vera plant is filled with nutrients and anti-inflammatory substances, such as aloectin B, that help to boost the immune system while delivering relief from pain. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents found in the plant help to ward off infection while the skin heals.

Forms of Aloe Vera:

The thick jelly-like substance of the aloe vera plant is excellent for treating the exterior layer of the skin. However, when taken internally, aloe vera can speed the healing process by delivering a wealth of nutrients that promote cellular healing from the inside out.

Look for aloe vera that is made with pure ingredients free from drying, irritating ingredients such as alcohol, fragrance, and mineral oil. These types of ingredients can actually cancel out the good effects of aloe vera.

Although aloe vera gel for sunburn is an excellent method for treating painful red burns, it’s not for everyone. Consider enlisting the help of your physician before embarking on a long-term treatment plan.