4 Amazing Uses For Aloe Vera Alongwith With It's Risk & Consequences
Aloe Vera is an edible plant that may be used to treat a wide range of illnesses.
Despite the fact that it is not native to North America, it has become established in a number of areas. In the southwest, where the weather is warm and it is simple to find, it grows well in pots outside the house. It belongs to the Aloe (Asphodelaceae) family.
Identification Of Aloe Vera:
Succulent leaves grow to a height of 2 to 3 feet on Aloe Vera plants (0.6 to 0.9 meters). There are no or extremely short stems on the plant. Aloe Vera's wide, meaty leaves are thick with sticky sap. The leaves are clump-forming and range in color from green to grey-green, with white flecks on the surface.
The leaf margins are serrated with small white teeth. Flowers bloom on a tall spike that develops from the plant's center in the summer. Flowers are available in a wide spectrum of colors, from white to yellow to orange and red.
Use of Aloe Vera in Food:
Aloe vera leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. The bitter and tough outer green peel can also be eaten. The flesh and gel within the plant can be eaten once the skin is removed with a sharp knife.
Aloe may be poached or cooked in a gentle manner. It loses its slimy texture after being cooked. Some individuals drink raw aloe juice or a piece of it in their water.
As a medication, it can be used as follows:
Aloe Vera gel, a gelatinous substance found inside the leaf, is used to heal sunburn, wounds, and other mild skin irritations. It may be utilized both inside and externally.
How to Use Aloe Vera:
Using a knife, cut the leaf lengthwise and scrape the gel from the inside for external use. As a soothing salve, I generally apply it directly to my skin.
For internal use, dilute 1 to 3 ounces (28-85g) of the gel with juice, as the gel can be unpleasant and harsh when eaten alone.
1. Relief for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Heartburn:
When 1 to 3 ounces (28g to 85g) of aloe vera gel is eaten with each meal, acid reflux and heartburn are decreased. Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms such as cramps, stomach pain, gas, and bloating are also relieved.
However, there are certain safety concerns, and they may cause discomfort, so proceed with caution if you are experiencing these symptoms.
2. Gum Swelling or Bleeding:
Aloe Vera extract is a safe and effective mouthwash that reduces swelling, soothes the gums, and provides relief for bleeding and swollen gums.
Try swishing the gel around in the last rinse water for a minute, then spit it out.
3. Controlling Blood Sugar in Diabetics:
Drinking two tablespoons of Aloe Vera juice or pulp extract daily might help you regulate your blood sugar levels if you have type 2 diabetes.
4. The importance of skincare cannot be overstated.
Aloe vera can aid in the cleansing and moisturizing of your skin. This might be because the plant prefers dry, insecure conditions.
The leaves of the plant retain water to help it endure the harsh conditions. Because of its water-dense leaves and unusual plant components called complex polysaccharides, it's a good skin moisturizer and pain reliever.
What is the right amount of aloe vera to use?
Aloe vera creams and gels are available in various doses. In some minor burn creams, aloe vera is only 0.5 percent. Aloe vera with a concentration of up to 70% can be used to treat psoriasis. Aloe vera has no fixed dosage as an oral supplement.
For constipation, some people take 100-200 milligrammes of aloe juice — or 50 milligrammes of aloe extract — as required. One spoonful of the gel has been used to treat diabetes on a regular basis. High amounts of aloe or aloe latex may be hazardous. Consult your doctor for instructions on how to use aloe.
Risks of Aloe Vera
Consult your doctor before using it. According to studies, aloe vera should not be used on a daily basis. If the aloe product does not include aloin, a plant component related to colorectal cancer in rats, it may be safe to use as a sunburn therapy.
Between the aloe plant's outer leaf and the sticky material within is aloin.
Consequences
Aloe vera used topically has the potential to irritate your skin. Because of its laxative effect, aloe can cause cramps and diarrhea when taken orally.
Electrolyte imbalances in the blood may occur in those who eat aloe for more than a few days. It can also discolor the colon, making a colonoscopy difficult to view properly.
So avoid it for a month before your colonoscopy. When used topically or orally, aloe gel should be free of aloin, which can irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
Risks
Topical aloe vera should not be used to treat deep wounds or severe burns. Garlic, onion, and tulip allergies are more frequent in those who are allergic to aloe. In large doses, aloe vera is toxic.
Do not use oral aloe if you have digestive difficulties, heart disease, hemorrhoids, renal problems, diabetes, or electrolyte abnormalities.
Interactions
Consult your doctor before starting to take aloe supplements if you take any drugs on a regular basis. Diabetic medicines, cardiac medications, laxatives, steroids, and licorice root, among other medications and supplements, may interact with them.
The absorption of other medicines taken at the same time may be hampered by aloe vera gel taken orally.
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