As of: February 9, 2024, 10:54 a.m
By: Patrick Hauser
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Aloe vera is considered a miracle cure for health problems.
© Mykola Lunov/PantherMedia
Aloe vera is considered a miracle cure for a wide range of health problems.
Is the medicinal plant worth the hype?
We show what the green plant can do.
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Aloe vera, also known as desert lily, belongs to the grass tree family and is one of the oldest known medicinal plants in the world.
As a succulent, Aloe vera can store significant amounts of water and nutrients in its leaves, making it particularly valuable.
The gel contained in the leaves has been valued for its healing properties for over 6,000 years.
It is used to treat skin irritations, sunburns, pimples and other skin conditions by soothing and regenerating the affected areas.
In addition, the gel is also used for internal applications to relieve problems such as gastrointestinal problems, joint pain and gum inflammation.
The plant is also used for skin and beauty care.
Identifying high quality products containing aloe vera is essential to benefit from its full effects.
The plant is robust and relatively easy to care for and can also be kept at home: it is up to you whether you just use it as a houseplant or make gel or juice from it yourself.
We will introduce you to the medicinal plant and explain its effects and areas of application.
Buy aloe vera products
At a glance
What is aloe vera anyway?
What is aloe vera good for?
What do I have to pay attention to when buying?
What products with aloe vera are there?
- Aloe vera gel
- Aloe vera mask
- Aloe vera peeling
- Aloe vera juice
Does aloe vera have side effects?
How do you properly care for an aloe vera plant?
How do you make aloe vera gel yourself?
What is aloe vera anyway?
Aloe vera is a multifunctional medicinal and beauty plant whose gel and juice are used for both external and internal applications to treat a variety of ailments and promote overall health and beauty.
The gel is found in the narrow, elongated fleshy leaves and is filled up with water by the plant when it rains.
This means the desert lily can survive longer periods of drought well.
This gel, filled with water, is finally removed from the plant and further processed into care products.
However, scientists have been able to detect a total of over 200 ingredients in aloe vera that have useful effects in various combinations.
These are saccharides, amino acids, enzymes and secondary plant substances.
What is aloe vera good for?
Aloe vera, known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties, is used in skin care and internal treatment.
When used externally, it can provide moisture, support wound healing and prevent skin damage.
It is recommended for sunburns, burns, psoriasis and wounds.
The juice of the plant has a cooling, regenerating, calming and soothing effect.
When used internally, the desert lily can balance the acid-base balance and strengthen the immune system.
It is used in folk medicine for numerous complaints, including gastrointestinal inflammation, frostbite and osteoarthritis.
However, caution is advised when using internally as not every gel can be taken.
There is still no reliable scientific proof that aloe vera also has a beneficial effect in the body.
Aloe vera for anti-aging
The cosmetics industry likes to exploit the repairing effect of the desert lily for anti-aging products.
Through the natural combination of its active ingredients and its moisturizing effect, aloe vera promotes skin regeneration, resulting in smooth and healthy skin.
Anti-aging cream with aloe vera
What do I have to pay attention to when buying?
The natural ingredients and organic quality of the product are important.
This guarantees a high proportion of aloe vera juice and you are on the safe side.
Not everywhere that says aloe vera has aloe vera in it - or just a homeopathic dose.
Of course, the healing effect is no longer present, so you should pay attention to quality when purchasing.
Aloe vera products should be processed as little as possible, especially for external use.
Whole leaf aloe vera products are filtered to remove toxic parts, but some active ingredients are also lost in the process.
For the highest quality, aloe products should be hand-peeled and organic.
The outer layer of aloe leaves is poisonous and should be carefully removed.
Pay attention to the label “made from pure leaf gel” or “made from pure leaf pulp”.
Direct juice is better than juice from concentrate because fewer active ingredients are lost.
Pasteurized products are preferred because synthetic preservatives are not necessary and do not affect the main active ingredient in aloe vera, aloverose.
The IASC seal only guarantees a minimum content of 15 percent aloe vera and should be viewed with caution.
The acemannan content, a main active ingredient in aloe vera, should be high for maximum effectiveness.
The ingredients list should include Aloe vera or Aloe barbadensis as the main ingredient and be checked for additives.
What products with aloe vera are there?
Aloe vera gel
Primarily, gel is used that is extracted from the inside of the leaves.
For example, it supports dry skin and helps with regeneration.
The gel also inhibits inflammation and helps with pimples or skin redness and irritation.
You can easily apply the cream directly to the skin; the gel-like texture leaves a protective film on the skin.
Santaverde Aloe vera gel pure without fragrance © Santaverde
90% pure direct juice from the aloe vera plant, 100 ml pack size, microplastic-free
Buy now 13% cheaper
Aloe vera mask
Gel or juice based on aloe vera is very suitable for homemade face masks.
Apply the gel pure or mix it e.g.
B. with healing clay and let the mask work for a few minutes.
Then wash them off with warm water.
The mask has a regenerating effect.
Dermasence Aloe vera Activ Gel © Dermacense
Cooling gel mask for face, neck and décolleté, pack size 75 ml.
Get a 10% discount
Of course, there are also ready-made aloe vera masks that you just have to apply to your face.
Aloe vera peeling
A peeling removes dead skin cells and actively supports skin renewal.
By simultaneously skin care with aloe vera, daily care can be optimally supplemented and deliver impressive beauty results.
CNC cosmetic Classic Aloe vera peeling © CNC
Classic grain peeling with aloe vera, pack size 50 ml
Buy peeling for only €29.90
You will find the right product with aloe vera for a wide range of possible uses: whether as an après-sun cream against sunburn, skin protection after shaving or even as a shampoo for dry scalps that are prone to dandruff - the possible uses of the medicinal plant are almost unlimited.
Aloe vera juice
While gel and peeling are useful for external use, aloe vera juice is used to reduce and calm inflammation inside the body.
A high-quality juice also supports the self-healing powers and strengthens the immune system.
However, this has its price; a quality juice with a high proportion of aloe vera active ingredients costs at least 20 euros.
Santaverde Aloe vera juice 100% organic © Santaverde
100% pure organic aloe vera juice from our own cultivation in Andalusia, 3x 330 ml bottles
Pack of three now 12% cheaper
Aloe vera can also help you lose weight.
It is part of the so-called Ayurveda diet, in which body weight is lost in a gentle and healthy way.
Our editor dared to try it himself, the result was impressive.
Does aloe vera have side effects?
When used externally, no lasting damage can occur; only allergies such as burning or redness of the skin are possible as a reaction to the ingredients.
The symptoms usually disappear completely, but the use of the cream should be stopped immediately.
If you are prone to allergies, first test on an insensitive area (e.g. forearm) to see whether your skin tolerates the product well.
Sensitive people may also experience gastrointestinal or kidney irritation when used internally.
Scientists advise against use during pregnancy, hemorrhoids, acute intestinal diseases, while breastfeeding and for children under 12 years of age.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment also warns against products made from whole aloe vera leaves as they may increase the risk of cancer.
For example, you should avoid smoothies made from whole leaves.
How do you properly care for an aloe vera plant?
The desert lily is not only useful for various health problems, it is also suitable as a houseplant.
The medicinal plant not only significantly improves the indoor climate, but also looks attractive and does not have particularly high demands.
We have summarized here what you need to pay attention to when caring for it.
Buy aloe vera plant here
How do you make aloe vera gel yourself?
To save the price of the sometimes quite expensive products containing aloe vera, you can also make the gel yourself from a plant.
To do this, you need a mature aloe vera plant that is at least 3 years old and has at least 12 leaves.
Cut off an outer leaf and place it vertically in a container for about 1.5 hours to drain the yellow juice.
Then cut about 3 cm from the wide end of the leaf and remove it.
Then cut the leaf lengthwise and carefully remove the clear pulp without damaging the surrounding inside.
The leaves must be peeled before being made into juice or gel.
The leaf skin is poisonous and can cause diarrhea or stomach pain.
The gel is then poured into a clean glass container and sealed.
The gel only lasts for a few days in the refrigerator, so you should use it fresh.
For shelf life, it can be preserved with pure wine spirit and frozen in portions.
When using the gel, it is important to take individual needs into account.
It can be applied topically to the skin or taken, with the recommended daily dose being between 3 and 5 tablespoons.
When taking the gel, you can either eat it straight, dilute it with water or stir it into a salad.
Making a skin oil with aloe vera is also very easy.
To do this, simply mix the gel with olive or coconut oil.
However, the cooling effect of homemade gel is not as strong as that of ready-made products from the pharmacy.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at his own discretion. All information has been carefully checked.