Aloe Vera for Everyone!
"...I’ve found aloe offers quick results and is very easy to use when applied topically to just about anything. Pretty much any skin abrasion, cut, bruise, scrapes, burns, sunburns, rashes, styes, inflammation and swelling (just to name a few, I’m sure there’s many I’m missing). It’s topical benefits are so vast, it’s no wonder it is used throughout the cosmetic industry in just about every product from dental, to facial, to hair treatment..."
My most recent encounter
So, I’ve been using Aloe Vera lately for a small infection my son had on his eye. I’ve been aware of aloe and all of its benefits, but wasn’t so active in using the fresh, raw leaf by itself for a concentrated incident like this. I’m used to mixing the gel, or the oil in a variety of body care products that I make. Although it maintains its benefits when added to other ingredients that are similar, I took for granted how the simple, fresh gel from the leaf is incredibly effective. For certain, there are a number of antibiotics, creams or medicated oils that are available, but why go there?
I happen to be extremely concerned when it comes to the well being, safety and overall health of my children (if you’re reading this post, you most likely share the sentiment – hi-five!) And what this means is that for me to trust a remedy, it should be able to work naturally with his own healing mechanisms. For example, if I happen to catch a low level irritation in the early stages (and this can be anything from a scrape to a rash) before it has produced pus or fluid, applying aloe will revert it back to nothing. If I catch the infection, or irritation (in the case of my son’s sty) halfway through or more, I apply a natural pomade that increases the fluid or pus development so that it can release the through skin and become treatable quickly.
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Fortunately, for those of us who seek an alternative, there’s always nature to turn to. For every obstacle we encounter, we can always look to nature for the solution to overcome it. All of the chemical based ingredients we find are simply attempts at copying what nature produces already.
A Healer's Perspective
From a Kemetic perspective of healing the body is a fine tuned organism with all the capabilities of survival on every level. This means, catching an infection early can send it in reverse, catching it midway — specifically in the case of pus, or fluid — you have the option of spending more time trying to reverse it, or applying a natural remedy that may speed it up slightly and allow your body to heal it more quickly.
Think of a pimple. When it’s already at the “white head” stage you can effectively apply aloe to reduce it. For sure it will take some time because a pimple at the white head stage was on the verge of releasing the toxins (or pus) that had built up. Luckily the healing process goes both ways. And again, I am only referencing small, low level infections like styes, acne, etc. This should not be mistaken for solutions to much larger issues.
Considering a natural remedy that may accelerate the process of said pimple may cause the pimple to mature and burst on its own, releasing the toxins inside. As a result, it becomes a much lower level and treatable “wound” that, if you apply aloe, doesn’t even leave a scar. Personally, if I can reduce the time my son is experiencing a health related discomfort, I would consider both options. But, that’s just me. In the case of Aloe, I have tried applying it at both stages of infection development – early and late. In the early stage, it reverts back very quickly. In the later stage, where the sty has already developed a whitehead, I apply a natural medicine that encourages it to release the fluid that has built up. Both methods have been extremely effective causing no pain or discomfort for my son.
With all that said, (whew!) Aloe is really worth having in your home! 🙂
Use and Upkeep
I’ve found aloe offers quick results and is very easy to use when applied topically to just about anything. Pretty much any skin abrasion, cut, bruise, scrapes, burns, sunburns, rashes, styes, inflammation and swelling (just to name a few, I’m sure there’s many I’m missing). It’s topical benefits are so vast, it’s no wonder it is used throughout the cosmetic industry in just about every product from dental, to facial, to hair treatment. I really like that it’s cool to the touch and doesn’t cause any stinging or aggravation to the needed area. It’s an excellent natural remedy that anyone of all ages can have access to. What I love is there are no side effects for children, nor adults. So, you can use it for your children librerally without being worried about breakouts, etc. Which, might I add, can be a major concern especially when your children are young. But, because of how pure and mild Aloe is, I have found it to be the greatest all-round application for your day to day issues. I even add it in my facial care product line because of how rejuvenating it is.
Aloe is an effective, low maintenance plant that works wonders as a household treatment. The good thing about it is that it’s widely accessible and very easy to use. Aloe can be grown indoors, or outdoors and thrives under both conditions. If you decide to pot your own, keep in mind that aloe grows up and outward, so be sure you pick a prime location. A good location would be one where there is not too much direct sunlight as aloe tends to try quickly. I would suggest keeping it (if indoors) in an area that receives more indirect sunlight, for example facing North or West. Make sure not to overwater your plant. I would suggest cactus soil for potting and only watering every few days checking to see that the soil is damp, not wet.
The gel-like middle is easy to scoop out or squeeze out of the thick, sturdy leaf. The leaf itself produces leaflets very quickly. Although it’s excellent for babies and adults, the spiky thick leaves of larger, more mature leaves can tear clothing or even puncture the skin if you’re not careful. For this reason, it’s important to keep it out of reach of children, especially if your plant is on the mature side.
It’s particularly beneficial for children and they can even learn to use it themselves if you keep a plant in the house.
Magani: Another homemade recipe
This recipe is made from ingredients you can find in your kitchen right now! There are a couple you may have to search a traditional African, or Caribbean market for, but it’s well worth it. This is an amazing treatment for cleansing the blood, Hemorrhoids, General Fatigue, Immunity and overall maintenance.
Thanks for reading!
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