aloe vera - its uses & benefits



this morning, i acted as a tourist guide of sort. took lay bee's friend arthur and his wife ann to kok fah technology farm to buy freshly cut aloe vera. they were so fascinated by the gourds and other plants they saw on the farm and they ended up buying more than aloe vera.

aloe vera is a plant that looks like a cactus, but is actually a member of the lily family. the particular kind of aloe vera used for natural remedies has the latin name aloe barbadensis and its leaves contain a gel that is rich in therapeutic properties.

the benefits of aloe vera include:

* healing small cuts, insect stings, grazes and wounds.

* healing and repairing skin tissue after burns, including sunburn.

* healing skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, general itching.

* cosmetic uses such as moisturising and improving the elasticity of the skin.

the best source of aloe vera is a live potted plant - you can buy it from kok fah farm. using the gel straight from the plant ensures that it is fresh and its active ingredients are at their full strength. it is best to use it within four hours from the moment you harvest the leaf.

the man who sold us the aloe vera at $2 a piece also showed us how to get the gel out of an aloe vera leaf. first, cut off a plump lower leaf near the central stalk. next, cut off any spines along the edges. after that, slit the leaf lengthwise. finally, squeeze out the gel from the centre of the leaf (you can use the tip of a butter knife to do this.)