Aloe vera


I was feeling rather smug as I sat in the Natural Health Centre as today I should have been back at work following my career break. Instead I was having my 'feet done' by Val, my reflexologist - a much nicer activity!

I took this picture just before setting off and by a strange coincidence found myself in the waiting room 20 minutes later reading a book on the same plant, Aloe vera.

I'm pleased that the 4 'babies' given to me by my friend Hilary last May are now doing really well and are having babies of their own in addition to brightening up my windowsill.

It's a handy plant to have in the kitchen should you burn or scald yourself as you can snip off a leaf and apply the resultant thick gel that oozes out onto the skin for instant relief. In addition to this property, the book claimed many other benefits such as boosting the immune system and being of value in the treatment of ulcers, eczema, asthma, acne and psoriasis. I couldn't find any up to date clinical research to backup these claims, but I did find this interesting recent news article instead.

Comments

  1. Threadspider2 January 2008 at 19:04

    I have Aloe vera envy! I'll swap you a baby one for a baby Partridge-breasted aloe (Aloe variegata)

    ReplyDelete
  2. VP2 January 2008 at 21:10

    You can have one anyway - as you can see they become prolific very quickly! :-)

    I've already got a baby Partridge-breasted aloe - it's the great great grandson of 'Percy plant', the only plant in NAH's possession when I met him over 25 years ago. So I have to keep the dynasty going!

    ReplyDelete
  3. polythenepam2 January 2008 at 22:10

    Hi its polythene pam here - I dont know how to reply to comments on my new blog so I am posting here. Thanks for the support I hope your residents againts plastic goes well - if you have any useful tips or want to read about our efforts go to http://bagfree08.wordpress.com

    have a great new year

    ReplyDelete
  4. VP2 January 2008 at 22:15

    Hi Polythene Pam - hope you get this response ;-)

    I've bookmarked your site as a useful source of info for my postings on the subject later on this year :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous27 September 2008 at 10:14

    Glad to hear you’re all enjoying it! As for the aloe, I buy 100% pure aloe vera as well, and I keep it in the fridge. Like I said before, I have never had a problem, and I always keep mine in a jar, too. It is way to thick to put in a pump. I like to use amber or cobalt colored jars to keep the sunlight out. I’ll have to look into the aloe issue some more!

    ReplyDelete

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