The virtues of aloe Vera are well known. Aloe Vera is antiseptic and has cell proliferate properties. Aloe promotes healing of burned skin either by the sun, fire,chemical or x-ray.
Aloe is a perennial in the southern states, but needs to be brought in up north.
Aloe grows best in a wide, shallow pot and does not need much water.
Growing Conditions: Full sun or light shade. They will die in frost
Soil: Should be slightly sandy and well drained.
Planting: To propagate, remove baby aloe when they are small. You can do this by separating the plant and removing the young plant from the mother plant and then repotting them. One mother plant will produce many offspring.
Harvesting: When the plant is big enough cut leaves when needed.
Uses: Good for healing skin conditions. It seems to help most skin conditions. You can add it to shampoo for scalp problems or add to moisturizer for dry cracked skin. It is good to help heal minor burns. Slice open a leaf and pat the gel onto the skin. The aloe plant will heal the leaf.
Aloe Vera Salve
• 1 cup Aloe Vera gel
• 1 teaspoon Lanolin
• 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
• 1/3 cup Coconut oil, cocoa butter or Shea
• 1/2 oz. beeswax
• 3/4 cup Almond or whatever oil you prefer
Place Aloe Vera gel, Lanolin and Vitamin E oil in a bowl.
Place Coconut oil and beeswax in a large Pyrex measuring cup
Microwave on high for 30 seconds at a time stirring at intervals until
fully melted. OR if you prefer, use a hot water bath and heat on low stirring occasionally
Stir in room temperature Almond oil or oils of choice. Mix with a hand mixer
or whip with a whisk for several minutes as you pour the
heated oil and beeswax in a constant, thin stream.
As soon as you have a mayonnaise-like consistency, stop, add essential
oils if desired. Do not over blend.
Transfer to glass jars while still warm.
Salve found in the winter ’97 issue of handcraft
illustrated magazine.