Medicinal aloe, Do you use it? Successes? Want some?

I have had and used aloe for many years and many things. Its' successes are remarkable. It worked well on a bad burn to the back of DH's leg from a heater. We immediately applied aloe. He said it quit hurting almost as an anesthetic. By the next day, the burn was a dark brown and on its' way to healing. I have used it on dry skin, wrinkles, cuts, burns and scrapes, etc.

I have eight plants rooted and am willing to share for the postage (which I am not sure how much that will be). And you can probably pick some up cheaper...

Would love to hear how you use it... pod

I love aloe too! Any burn I have applied it to, does not develop a blister. I use it in conjuction with Melaleuca oil a lot as well. In addition to burns, I taken with pulp and juice from a leaf, puree'd it and used it to moisturize my nasal passages when I'm pregnant or sick. Everything smells awfull for a while though. I use it for with menthol for massaging pulled muscles (poor sweetie works so hard). I want to try it out on my newborns face rash and diaper rash. She is so sensitve to everything!

I usually always have aloe on hand for burns and such. However, it is resting at my sister's house since I moved.

BTW, how did you propagate the aloe? I've always wanted to try that.

Just stick a broken off piece in the potting soil.

That's it? Then even I can't screw that up!

Yep, that's it!

I leave my plants out in the summer and hardly even water. The roots set more plantlets and sometimes the roots pop out the drain holes of the pots and set plantlets. I just break them off or turn a pot out and divide them up. I have heard that a fresh break can cause the plant to rot so I will let the starts air dry for a day or two before planting. I keep a plant by the kitchen door and carry one to work too. Really easy and more likely to rot from overwatering. Aloe will start puckering when dry and will let you know it is time for a drink.

We will take a leaf and split it open lengthwise, apply the inside of the leaf to a wound and tape or tie it into place. DH likes to chill a leaf that he uses for doctoring minor injuries, says the cold is more soothing.

Darius, I do believe I would visit Sis and reclaim the aloe. I would miss it! pod

Hey Podster! My dad grew up in Gilmer and Kelsie in East Texas. Are you familier with those parts? The Lindsey's the Rowley's . . .

Hi Renwings, Like most of Texas we are miles from anything. I have been thru Gilmer but never heard of Kelsie. We are deep in east Tx about 10 miles from the sight of the La. border. Probably 100 mi from Gilmer. We are so deep in the woods it takes sunshine a week to get here. I love this rural area. We are surrounded by communities named after their churches, families and who knows what. Goober Hill and Possum Trot are two in our area. Is your Dad still in this area?

No, he transplanted himself to Boise. But most of the family is still down that way. I vaguely remember a visit we made there when I was a child. The humidity nearly killed me, but it was awfull pretty! If you substitute hemlocks for pines, my local doesn't look all that different really. Kelsie is just a stretch down the road from Gilmer, last I remember anyway.

Hi Podster,
Would love one to keep in the kitchen, sending you d-mail.

And by the way, if you think you've killed it, leave it alone. I brought some over from my sweetie's when I moved, and left them wrapped in plastic in the garage and they were gray and shrivelled and horrible. So I stuck them in a pot, and they're big and glorious now. It took a while, but was worth the wait.

Yup! I thought the aloe was dying one spring when I moved it out. It turned brown and sickly looking. Turns out it was sunburned. Have to ease it out gradually.

bbinnj ~ I sent you dmail. Sorry not to get back to you sooner. Been doing manual labor today...

podster,

I have the same problem as you do. I'm over run by Aloe Vera plants!!! I started with only 2 plants 7 years ago... now I have at least 100 and yes I give them away to everyone I can!!! The 2 I started with are huge now... as big as I've ever seen an Aloe Vera get. And they keep spitting out pups. Like 30 a year.

Aloe Vera is good for a lot of skin problems. It's really just good for your skin... I even put it on my face occassionally. And here in FL it is a necessity to have it around for sunburn. It's great for burns. It's good for scraps and scratches. I've even used it on bug bites and it does help.

Well... that's my spill on my massive Aloe Vera.

Take care,
Donna

Donna, isn't it great to have a plant that you can share so freely. I feel bad as the postage to ship these is way too high. I currently have 3 big pots ~ 2 at home and I carry one to work as we also have a fireplace there. Aloe works great for wrinkles. If you hydrate the skin first (shower or bath) and slather the gel on it can make wrinkles recede. Wonderful stuff. : )) pod

podster,

Yeah, I love the plant. It's so very low maintenance... kinda thrives on neglect in fact. My 2 big ones are about 3 1/2' or more in diameter. I can't carry them anywhere without a forklift. I just pray I never have to repot them again. The last repotting, they nearly killed me... it was almost an impossible task then, that was 2 years ago. I have some planted in my gardens here and there... I have one on my front porch in a pot. Then there are the babies from 1 and 2 years ago. Then babies from this year still in the pots with the parents.

But yeah, they're plentiful. Most folks I come across say they already have an aloe plant... and they show it to me. I explain to them that their's is not an Aloe Vera plant... the medicinal one. Then they usually want one or two.

Take care,
Donna

Only one or two? You are fortunate to be in a great climate and can leave them outdoors. Here they need protection. Quite often, the folks who want them will let them freeze ~ mushy aloe is not good.... : )) pod

I have two large mother plants that bloom a couple times a year and put out lots of pups until I trim the roots back. They pup when they get root bound in the container. The hummingbird is very territorial! You'll be dive bombed if you approach the aloe during bloom without the hummer's persmission first. I'm grudgingly allowed to water the plant. I have to explain what I'm doing first......explain to a loud, roaring, fast moving dart with a very long beak who hovers three inches from my nose when I approach.

podster,

It does rarely freeze here... we usually get 2 or 3 days of 32 degrees or slightly below. I usher all the aloe I can in doors, or now, into my green house. I just hope for the best with my giant ones.

Donna

Donna, do you cover them with a blanket or some insulation to keep the frost off? Only 2 or 3 days of 32, hmmmm move over. I do hate the cold. We see a few more than that but this is still better than....

G_M how delightful, I don't ever recall my medicinal aloe blooming. I've had other types that do. I leave my so root bound that they set plantlets out the drainage holes and over the sides.

Definitely a carefree plant... pod

podster,

The big ones, no... the small ones that I can move I move to cover.

One of my big ones bloomed for the first time last year. I think it takes some time... age... perhaps even being root bound.

Donna

Sounds like the blooms are worth the wait! Around here on a frosty night the yard has blankets and sheets draped over plants. I pick up bedding at garage sales for this purpose. Just can't give it up!

podster,

Actually, I don't find them that great. But they are tall and skinny,

Donna

I have a gasteria plant that the bud starts out beautifully and the blooms will be four foot tall and mediocre. I do understand.

Here are a couple of sites that show the aloe barbadensis in bloom. My two mother plants have been with me about 12 years and have been blooming since the second year I've had them. I not sure if it is age or size that triggers the bloom. A friend had given me a small, somewhat sickly aloe plant that she had kept in her kitchen for burns. I put it out on the deck with some sunshine and it took off! We eat the gel periodically and use it on the skin from time to time. I use fresh ginger root juice for burns instead of aloe, so the plants don't get cut back very much.


They must put out a special signal when they are getting ready to bloom. The hummer will start checking and circling the plant as soon as the tiniest, itsy-bitsy, almost microscopic little bump appears down in the crown.
It will fly by several times a day watching and waiting. The blooms do drip quite a bit of nectar and can get very messy if you don't have a hummingbirds to keep the aloe blossoms milked.

http://tinyurl.com/y5y2he
http://tinyurl.com/5ch3x
http://www.floridata.com/ref/A/aloe_ver.cfm

Hope to someday see the blooms in person. We have the hummers and I am sure they will concur. Thanks for the informative links...

You have a deal, Podster. I have aloe, but it is Cape Aloe, (aloe barbadensis) grown from Horizon Herb seed. Your variety doesn't have as many spikes on the leaves....
Please let me know what postage will run you, and where to remit that amount to, ok?
I'm not very familiar with how to use this site yet, but I believe you can email me here, so I can send you my mailing info?
Thanks,
-Cyra

Hi Cyra ~ I was surprised to see this thread pop up. It is quite old. I managed to give all these plants away last fall rather than overwinter them.
I did keep one pot indoors at work and one inside at home. They should be producing again this summer and I will gladly share. Let me know if you are able to pick some up otherwise I will keep you in mind and let you know. Glad to meet you and hope to see you in the other forums... pod

Sounds good, podster, and it's a pleasure meeting you too. I can never have enough of this plant, my daughter and I both use it cosmetically. I don't take it internally, but I know some do. I'll get in touch after the summer, then.
-Cyra