We have a huge aloe vera plant growing in the backyard. One winter it almost died from the freeze, but we covered it up in time. Last summer we decided to re-pot the plant into a terra cotta planter. And to our amazement, it really loves the pot and has gotten even bigger. The beauty of it all is nothing compare to the wonder of it’s content.

We have used the inside gel for various home remedies. The first being is to heal cuts and wounds. I even use it on my face as a moisturizer. At first it goes on gooey, but it then becomes cooling and dries easily. Not sticky or strange smelling either. I actually prefer it over my own store bought face products.

The next thing on my list is to make aloe vera breakfast drinks. I had my first cup this morning. I just boiled a cup of water, add a bit of green tea, lemon juice, and honey. Mixed in the chopped aloe vera and sipped it bit by bit. It had a little bitter aftertaste, but it was very refreshing.

The above snapshot is from the nutritional juice maker at Vemma. They make aloe vera juice among their other health juice drinks. I have not seen any Vemma drinks in the states, but I would really like to give it a try. The only other brand I’ve tried is from Asia. They are getting very popular and sold in many of the Asian markets in the area. But I think my fresh made juice taste just as good.

From Women Fitness:
“Taken internally, aloe vera juice (processed directly from the gel) appears to ease the discomfort of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in many users, and this has been the main reason for aloe vera’s recent surge in popularity.

A scourge of modern living, IBS is caused by abnormal spasms of the gut which are made worse by stressful living and The unpleasant symptoms include diarrhoea and constipation, gut pain, bloating and wind.

The dosage of aloe vera used by most IBS sufferers is two teaspoons twice a day, or half this amount diluted with water if using a double strength juice.

Flavoured juices - e.g. red grape or tropical fruit - are also available, or for times when using the liquid may be inconvenient, it is also possible to get concentrated aloe vera tablets (but these aren’t thought to be as beneficial over the longer term). Some people claim to notice an immediate effect of aloe vera in IBS, whilst others indicate a more progressive benefit over a few months.”

A more recent post I made - How to Eat Aloe Vera. Enjoy!