Aloe Vera gel

maggiesoup

Hi, my plant was getting a bit out of hand (too big) so I decided to cut the leaves & take the sap as I had read somewhere it's good for things.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of conflicting advice.   Anyone know the best thing to use it for (and how long can I keep it in the fridge)
Thanks.

twopenny

I remember my great aunt keeping one for burns when cooking.
Just break off a bit and wipe the gel on the burn. Ditto use for sunburn to cool it. Itchy rashes also.
But always a fresh piece. I've not looked into how to make something longer lasting.
People now ingest it I believe but I'm not happy about doing that. Though it must mean there are ways of preserving it.

eDicky

There are two main products of Aloe vera, the juicy flesh or gel of the inner leaf, and the reddish sap that runs just under the skin, known as aloin or aceiba.

The aloin is a very effective antiseptic./antibiotic for external use, best not taken internally. Depending on the condition of the plant more or less aloin is produced, it bleeds out when the leaf is cut. A British houseplant Aloe does not usually have much presence of aloin, but for example the big plants growing outside in Tenerife produce a huge amount and you need to let it bleed out before using the gel - for one thing it will stain clothes dark red.

The gel has well-known uses for the skin, treatment of burns, sunburn, superficial wounds etc, but can also be taken internally for digestive benefit, the flesh cut into pieces and eaten with water or blended with fruit juice for example. (The taste and texture on its own may not be found very pleasant).

Aloe vera is best taken fresh from the plant, where it also keeps best of course. You can cut off a section of a lower (older and more potent) leaf, or take the whole leaf for storage in the fridge by cutting a nick in one side of the base of the leaf and tearing it off in the other direction, so the base remains more or less sealed. Potency diminishes after a few days' fridge storage.

To open the leaf it's best to first slice off the edges, thus removing the spines. Then you can cut sections and remove the outer skin. The flesh can be used right away or stored in in cold water in the fridge, the inside of the peel will be dripping with gel, good for immediately wiping on your face or legs etc.

This is all based on my own experience of using this amazing plant, including having managed a plantation in Venezuela.

maggiesoup

Thankyou so much for all this information.  It's amazing.  Wish I hadn't cut it up now as it sounds like it's best to throw the sap out as it's been in the fridge for over a week.  But, great to know for future use.

witchone

Don't use the yellow sap rinse it away. Carefully peel the leaf away from the gel core it's the core you need, I stick mine in a bag in the freezer but keeps in a jar for ages.

[Deleted User]

As an extra bit of info .....
Aloe products bought in retail outlets will always have additional ingredients added and 'pure aloe' is not pure - it can't be because of shelf life issues mentioned already.
Many people buy 'pure aloe' only to find it totally unsuitable to their sensitive skin, having a plant at home is the only pure ingredient.
It is indeed an excellent healing agent.

eDicky

Has anyone in UK had their potted Aloe vera produce a flower..? The genuine Aloe vera Barbadensis has a yellow flower, most others are red.

They need to get pretty big before they will flower. Mine flowered two or three times in Essex, inside glass doors in winter and put out for the summer, partial shade.

The expanse of a commercial Aloe plantation all flowering at the same time, multiple heads on each plant, is a spectacular sight..!

Dizzy_Ditzy

eDicky said:

Has anyone in UK had their potted Aloe vera produce a flower..? The genuine Aloe vera Barbadensis has a yellow flower, most others are red.

They need to get pretty big before they will flower. Mine flowered two or three times in Essex, inside glass doors in winter and put out for the summer, partial shade.

The expanse of a commercial Aloe plantation all flowering at the same time, multiple heads on each plant, is a spectacular sight..!

One of mine has flowered twice. It’s in a pot and was kept outside. Last year it flowered and produced pups so this year I took it out of the pot and removed the pups and it’s in the greenhouse because the temperatures are to variable here at the mo (Bristol) 

The flowering plant isn’t even that big by typical aloe standards. I bought it back from Greece a few years ago 🙂

eDicky

Dizzy_Ditzy said:

eDicky said:

Has anyone in UK had their potted Aloe vera produce a flower..? The genuine Aloe vera Barbadensis has a yellow flower, most others are red.

They need to get pretty big before they will flower. Mine flowered two or three times in Essex, inside glass doors in winter and put out for the summer, partial shade.

The expanse of a commercial Aloe plantation all flowering at the same time, multiple heads on each plant, is a spectacular sight..!

One of mine has flowered twice. It’s in a pot and was kept outside. Last year it flowered and produced pups so this year I took it out of the pot and removed the pups and it’s in the greenhouse because the temperatures are to variable here at the mo (Bristol) 

The flowering plant isn’t even that big by typical aloe standards. I bought it back from Greece a few years ago 🙂

Very nice..! I think this is called Aloe maculata, or Soap Aloe. The stem seems to be coming from the centre, whereas with most Aloes they sprout from beside the uppermost leaves.