The other day as I was walking home, I tripped on a root and broke some skin off the top of my foot near my big toe. Normally, when I get a small injury for example a cut or broken skin as was the case, if I’m not at home, I quickly root through my bag for wipes to do some damage control but if I am home I turn to a herbal remedy; Aloe Vera. My mother has been a very strong advocate of Aloe Vera and its properties. If you told her you got hurt, no matter the injury, the first question she would ask is ‘Have you put Aloe Vera?’
We once used to live in an apartment and one of the plants you would not miss on our balcony was some Aloe. When we moved to a house with its own bit of garden, she made sure to plant it in several places around the house. They have now grown and are even threatening to fall in some places and have to be held up with a piece of wood similar to those used on banana stems in the shamba. I sometimes wonder why she doesn’t cut them and sell them to firms that have come up that make juice or juice makers in the market but she loves her plants.
Aloe Vera has been used as a herbal remedy for centuries due to its soothing and healing properties. On further research I found that it apparently produces six types of antiseptics which not only kill bacteria but also mold and fungi. I can vouch for the bacteria part as whenever I have gotten hurt and applied the sap, the wound always closes up in a shorter time, is less painful and doesn’t have any pus in it.
It can not only be applied topically in treatment of skin conditions and injuries but also used internally as a body cleanser. It contains Vitamins A, C and E but also minerals such as magnesium, zinc and calcium to name a few. It’s not only used for medicinal but also cosmetic purposes. The sap or other derivatives from the plant are commonly added by cosmetic companies to products such as makeup, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, shaving cream and shampoos.
When I got home that day, the first thing I did was pluck a leaf from the planter, clean up the wound and apply the aloe vera sap. I have not felt any pain from the wound today and it’s already closed up. It should have healed in about two or three days. In case you need an easy and natural remedies for minor cuts and scrapes, insect bites, skin problems like acne, burns and other minor injuries in the home, then Aloe Vera is the way to go.