BISMILLAHI RAHMANI RAHIM

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Beloved, Beautiful and Refined Asiatic Black Sisters!

Aloe Vera is one of Allah’s Blessings to us. It has so many healing properties that it should be a staple in our home apothecaries.  Below are some of its uses and also a recipe for how to make your own 100% Natural Aloe Vera Gel.

As-Salaam-Alaikum!

EIGHT WAYS TO USE ALOE VERA 

1) Like a moisturizer. Whether you are acne-prone, suffer from dryness, more serious skin conditions like psoriasis or seborrhoea dermatitis or just after an effective oil-free moisturizer, give Aloe a go. It is a natural humectant, so it increases water retention in the skin, and helps calm irritation and inflammation by feeding your skin vital nutrients, antioxidants and enzymes. Also, it greatly reduces open pores.

2) As a laxative. Though I can’t speak from personal experience on using Aloe Vera for this matter, I hear rave reviews on the wonders of juicing the entire part of the leaf to relieve constipation. Because it contains barbaloin, a solid fibrous compound, it is very effective at causing your bowel muscles to contract. It is never recommended to become reliant on laxatives, since you can develop lazy bowel syndrome, but rather for a period of 5-10 days as treatment.

3) For healthy hair. Aloe Vera can be found in some of the best shampoos and conditioners, which aren’t silicone-based. So why not apply it directly to your hair to control frizz (think eye brows too!)? The slightly acidic pH of Aloe gel will even help to seal the hair cuticle. If you ever experience an itchy or dry scalp, do apply the gel directly to your head too!

4) On burns and wounds. Aloe Vera has a lovely soothing and cooling effect, so it is often the main ingredient in creams for treating cooking burns and minor skin infections. It is well known for its anti-microbial and anti fungal properties to keep wounds clean.

5) As a shaving gel. Traditional shaving creams contain a plethora of synthetic additives, carcinogens, contaminants and other stuff, which I am no expert in, but do know for a fact, that something which may seem innocent enough has high chances of entering your blood stream via the pores of your skin. Aloe Vera is anti inflammatory, so it’s kind to skin, has a slippery gel texture, so it’s ideal for a close shave and contains 99% water, so it will even leave your legs, face or under arms hydrated.

6) For a face mask. Combine Aloe gel with a little cinnamon (a little!), high UMF raw honey and oats for a nice refreshing and taught mask. The oats are slightly course too, so when you wash the mask off, it acts like a natural scrub at the same time.

7) For digestion and immunity. Aloe contains acemanna, a powerful stimulant to the immune system. Experts from the Moores Cancer Centre at the University of California found that Aloe Vera helps the immune system by attacking abnormal cells during cancer treatments. This also helps assist digestion and absorption of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and amino acids in your diet. You can add about 2cm of aloe inner gel to desserts and smoothies.

8) For sore throat relief. On the rare occasions when my son used to get sick (he hasn’t gotten sick in about two years), and suffer from a sore throat, I used to make him a tea out of Aloe Vera. Just take the insides of the leaves and steep them in about 8 oz. of water. Sweeten it with a little honey and have your child or whomever is sick drink it.

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HOW TO MAKE 100 PER CENT NATURAL ALOE VERA GEL

Pluck off a few Aloe Vera leaves.

Let hang upside down or place upright in a cup for about ten minutes until all of the yellow resin drips out (the yellow resin can irritate the skin).

Then cut the leaves into smaller pieces to make it easier to remove the insides. (See picture above).

Liquidize the insides in your blender.

Add a few drops of essential oil [for preservation]). I would recommend something soothing like Lavender.

And there you have your 100% Pure Aloe Vera Gel! Don’t worry about the froth, it will dissipate. (Be sure to keep refrigerated.)