The Aloe vera has long been known as a medicinal plant. Because of its moisturizing effect, it is often used for skin and hair. Here's how to cut off the leaves of Aloe vera and use them.
The Aloe vera is not only a pretty ornamental plant, it can also be used as a medicinal plant. In our main article you will find a short profile and important information on how to plant and propagate real aloe. Here you will find all the important information on how to harvest and use Aloe vera.
Harvest aloe vera
If you want to use the real aloe as a medicinal plant, you can harvest the leaves regularly. Above all, the ingredients of the gel-like plant juice have a well-documented positive effect on our skin. If you want to cut off the aloe vera, it is best to use plants that are two to three years old and cut off the leaves at the base of the stem with a clean, sharp knife. A pair of scissors is less suitable, as the juice will be squeezed out. You should always leave enough leaves on the plant to allow it to recover from pruning. When harvesting regularly, it is important not to harvest more than two leaves and always allow leaves to grow back between harvests. In the dark season, when the plant grows more slowly, it should be harvested even more sparingly. If you want to harvest a lot of Aloe vera gel, you should cultivate several plants instead of harvesting one plant intensively. Interfaces can take on an unsightly brown color, which is why the leaves underneath should be cut off.
Harvesting the Aloe vera requires no special skill. However, further processing should be carried out conscientiously, as the plant contains slightly poisonous plant sap, which leaks out of the cut and can cause irritation. In order to be able to collect and dispose of the juice, the leaves should be placed in a container as upright as possible. After the so-called bleeding out one can lengthen the leavesHalve and harvest the Aloe vera gel by scraping it out with a spoon. In addition to using the gel, Aloe vera is now found as an ingredient in numerous cosmetic and medicinal products, such as a moisturizer in nasal sprays. The Aloe vera juice is often used as food, but we generally advise against consuming ornamental plants - because whether the Aloe vera is poisonous for you or beneficial, depends primarily on the processing. It is better to use professionally prepared Aloe vera juice made to food standard.
Tip: In our special article you will find an overview of different Aloe vera species, what makes them different and how you can use them .
Healing effects of aloe vera
The aloe vera has been known as a medicinal plant since ancient times. It is also widely used as a home remedy and helps with ailments such as skin problems. For this, the Aloe vera gel can be applied to the affected area of skin and rubbed in. It has a cooling effect, relieves itching and moisturizes the skin. The plant is said to have a cleaning and moisturizing effect, especially for sunburn and acne as well as neurodermatitis, but it is also said to help with dandruff and hair loss. However, a scientifically meaningful study on the actual healing effect of inflammatory skin diseases such as neurodermatitis and psoriasis has not yet been carried out.
The internal Aloe vera application should be treated with caution: The Aloe vera juice contains the substance aloin, which can be released in case of overdose can lead to diarrhea, irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and disturbances in the electrolyte balance. Aloin-free gel can relieve non-specific irritant symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract, but should never be taken without medical supervision. If you harvest Aloe vera yourself and want to use the obtained Aloe vera gel internally, you have to proceed very carefully, let the aloin-containing juice bleed out carefully and wash off We advise against eating your own Aloe vera. Store-bought aloe products are safer: the toxic Aloe vera ingredients have been removed from these.
Tip: We have a list of edible houseplants that you don't have to worry about eatingcompiled.
Preserving Aloe Vera Gel
If you want to harvest a lot, you should also preserve the Aloe vera gel afterwards. Untreated, it should only be kept in the refrigerator for a maximum of two days before it is consumed. The easiest way is to freeze: For this, the Aloe vera gel is placed in an ice cube mold in the freezer - so you can always fall back on handy portions. Alternatively, you can process the Aloe vera and add natural preservatives such as vitamin C to the gel. 1 gram of commercially available vitamin C powder from the drugstore can be mixed with 100 grams of Aloe vera gel.
Not sure how to best take care of aloe vera? We'll tell you everything about the correct watering and fertilizing of aloe vera.