The benefits and harms of home aloe vera and recipes with it

Despite its widespread popularity and the numerous recipes for its use, the common aloe plant can be both beneficial and harmful. Few people know its contraindications, and they should be researched before use. Growing the plant at home requires little effort, but its benefits, when used correctly, are enormous.

Characteristics of aloe and varieties of flowers

Aloe is a succulent plant from the Asphodelaceae family. The genus Aloe contains approximately 500 species, but only three are widely cultivated indoors.

Aloe is a perennial plant. Its leaves form a basal rosette. The leaves grow spirally. The leaves are sword-shaped. Sharp spines or soft cilia are located along the edges of the leaves. The leaves are colored in shades of green. There are also species with bicolored, green-and-white leaves.

Aloe inflorescences are tubular. They are located on a long peduncle. The color of the flowers depends on the plant species and can include shades of yellow, orange, white, and red. The inflorescences have no aesthetic value.

Thanks to its ability to store moisture in its leaves, aloe is a very resilient plant. The following species can be grown at home.

The most common type is Aloe Vera.

The benefits and harms of houseplants

Aloe vera has numerous beneficial properties. The plant's leaves and sap are used for medicinal purposes. The sap and pulp of a three-year-old plant, harvested in late autumn, are considered the most effective.

The flower is used to treat:

• constipation, including chronic constipation;
• infectious skin diseases, furunculosis;
• festering wounds;
• streptococcal and staphylococcal infections;
• intestinal, typhoid, dysentery bacilli;
• anemia;
• metabolic problems;
• burns and some skin diseases;
• various forms of neuroses;
• bronchial asthma;
• chronic gastritis and stomach ulcers;
• eye diseases.

However, aloe should not be overused, especially when taken internally. Long-term use of aloe-based products can leach potassium, leading to metabolic disorders. Pregnant women should avoid aloe due to the risk of miscarriage.

Aloe vera is contraindicated for people with diabetes, as it can lower blood sugar levels. When combined with insulin, it can cause hypoglycemia. Aloe-based preparations are contraindicated for people with liver or gallbladder disease, as well as cystitis and hemorrhoids.

Recipes with aloe

There are numerous recipes for preparing medicinal remedies using the plant. However, due to a number of contraindications to the use of aloe, it is necessary to obtain a doctor's approval before taking it.

For the heart

Aloe vera juice is used to relieve heart pain. In the evening, place two tablespoons of hawthorn and crushed strawberry leaves in a thermos. Pour a liter of boiling water over the mixture and let it steep overnight.

For the liver

Aloe vera pulp is used to prevent liver disease. A teaspoon of nettle root is steeped in 200 ml of hot water for 4 hours. While the nettle is steeping, place a tablespoon of nettle and St. John's wort in a separate saucepan. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over the mixture and simmer for 20 minutes. Drain the infusion after an hour to allow it to steep.

Mix the prepared decoction and infusion. Add a tablespoon of crushed aloe pulp and the same amount of linden honey. Take the mixture three times daily before meals. The optimal dosage is considered to be 1/3 cup.

For cough and runny nose

To treat a cough, mix aloe juice with honey and lingonberry juice in equal proportions. Take one tablespoon 3-4 times daily.

For a runny nose, use prepared aloe extract. Place 5 drops in each nostril. Repeat the procedure 2-3 times a day. You can also make your own remedy: 3 drops of aloe juice to 10 drops of water, instilling two drops three times a day.

In gynecology

Women with acute inflammatory conditions of the genitals should take 30-40 drops of the plant tincture three times daily, half an hour before meals. The tincture is prepared as follows: 100 grams of leaves, previously refrigerated, are mixed with half a liter of alcohol. After 10 days, the remedy is ready for use.

Crushed leaves of the plant, mixed with goose fat and sea buckthorn oil, are used to treat infertility. To do this, leave the mixture in a cool, dark place for a week, then take one tablespoon three times daily with a glass of hot milk.

In cosmetology

In cosmetology, the flower is used to make acne and anti-inflammatory masks. Fresh leaves are ground together with egg whites to form a smooth paste. Then, a couple of drops of lemon juice are added to the mixture and applied to the affected area for 30 minutes.

To relieve skin inflammation, add the plant's juice to white or blue cosmetic clay. Apply the mask for 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Secrets and difficulties of home cultivation

Growing aloe is not at all difficult. The plant is so unpretentious that caring for it is a pleasure. Aloe is one of the few houseplants that requires no fertilizer.

Temperature and light

The acceptable temperature range for normal plant growth is considered to be between 12 and 30°C. During the cold season, it is desirable to keep the room temperature below 20°C.

Aloe loves light. Therefore, if possible, place it on south-facing windowsills. To prevent sunburn during periods of high sun exposure, shade the plant with a curtain. In summer, it's best to move the aloe plant outdoors or onto a balcony.

Watering rules

Proper watering is key to growing aloe. Water the plant as follows:

1. From April to mid-October, water the plant as the top layer of soil dries. The rest of the year, water it no more than once a month.
2. Top watering alternates with bottom watering (through the tray).

   

3. As the plant's leaves become dirty, dust should be removed. Use a damp cloth for this purpose. Prickly species can accumulate dust around the spines, so it's a good idea to give the plant a monthly bath under running water.
4. It's best to use rainwater for watering. If this isn't available, filtering tap water is recommended.
5. The temperature of the water for irrigation should correspond as closely as possible to the air temperature in the room.

How to propagate and transplant a flower at home?

Aloe is propagated by cuttings and by separating basal shoots. Propagation by cuttings can be done year-round, and shoots are usually separated during replanting.

The cuttings are made from aloe leaves. They are cut, treated with crushed activated charcoal or charcoal, and left to dry slightly. The cut end of the leaf is then placed in damp sand. Aloe cuttings don't require greenhouse conditions, so they are usually not covered with glass or plastic wrap. The sandy soil is moistened daily using a spray bottle. As soon as the cutting produces its first roots, it is watered as usual.

Propagation by basal cuttings is an easier way to create a new plant. The cuttings are carefully separated from the mother plant. The broken areas must be treated with an antiseptic. The cuttings are planted in separate pots and cared for like adult aloe plants.

Young plants require annual repotting, while mature plants can be left in the same substrate for 2-3 years. Experts recommend repotting in the fall.

Aloe replanting consists of the following steps:

1. Choosing a pot. The pot should be deep and wide enough. It should have drainage holes and a removable tray at the bottom.
2. Drainage layer. A drainage layer of expanded clay or coarse sand is placed at the bottom of the pot.
3. Planting. Apply the required layer of soil to the drainage layer. Then, lower the plant into the pot and carefully fill the remaining spaces with soil. Moisten the top layer of soil.

Aloe soil can be purchased at flower shops or prepared at home. To do this, mix sand with turf and leaf mold in a 1:1:1 ratio.

Diseases and pests

Aloe vera has a strong immune system. All diseases it can be susceptible to are caused by humans. The most common ailments are:

Drooping leaves indicate a lack of light, and wilted leaves that have lost turgor indicate that the aloe has frozen.

Low air quality can lead to scale insect infestation. You can spot the insects by the marks they leave on the underside of the leaf. Small brown spots, easily removed with rubbing alcohol, are a sure sign of an attack. You can get rid of the pests without using chemicals. Treating the plant with a concentrated soap solution a couple of times is sufficient.

History of aloe cultivation and signs

The flower's natural habitat and homeland are Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The first mentions of the plant appear in the Bible. The flower also has a common name, "century plant." There's a myth that aloe blooms once a century, hence the name. Modern florists disprove this myth; it's been proven that the plant can bloom annually, provided it receives proper care and takes certain nuances into account.

1. Aloe enhances the positive biofield of the room in which it is located. As a result, residents of the home where the plant grows are less likely to get sick and feel well.
2. A dried leaf of the plant, placed above the front door, protects the house and its inhabitants from the evil eye, damage, and negative energy.

   

3. The dried root of the flower has long been considered a talisman. It was placed on chains and worn on the body.
4. The plant is used in magic for love rituals. It is believed that aloe vera has the ability to attract love.
5. Blooming aloe promises great joy.

The flower's magical powers, coupled with its medicinal properties, make aloe an indispensable houseplant that should be in every home.

Frequently asked questions about growing

Aloe is an invaluable plant with numerous beneficial properties. Before using aloe-based remedies, it is recommended to consult a doctor, as the plant has a number of contraindications.