What Is Aloe Vera Gel Used for?

Aloe vera gel can be used as a remedy both internally and externally. Internally, the juice, including the gel, is used as a digestive aide, a laxative and an emmenagogue. Taken directly from the living plant, it can be used to heal a variety of skin conditions.

What Is Aloe Vera Gel?

Aloe Vera Plant

Aloe vera gel is obtained from the inside of the spiny leaves of the plant. When it is processed into a juice, it can be taken internally for a variety of healing purposes. It can also be used externally. When it is used for such purposes it is best taken directly from the living plant and used immediately.

Internal Uses

Spiny Leaves of an Aloe Vera Plant

Taken internally, aloe vera is a powerful laxative that can provide gentle relief for those who suffer from constipation.
It is an emmenagogue. It can bring on the menses and should not be taken internally while pregnant or nursing.
Aloe vera is a digestive aide, which can soothe the stomach and help with indigestion, acid reflux and heartburn.
It is taken to alleviate such chronic illnesses as colitis, osteoarthritis and epilepsy.
Aloe vera helps to increase circulation and oxygenation in the body and, thus, is helpful to diabetics who sometimes suffer from poor circulation. To help diabetics, aloe vera is also available in the form of capsules.
Rinsing the mouth with aloe vera, before swallowing, can help to speed the healing of injuries inside the mouth caused by dental procedures.
If you are under the care of a doctor or are on any medications for lowering blood glucose levels, it is important to ask your physician about using aloe vera juice with gel internally. For most people, there are few if any negative side effects to using aloe vera.

External Uses

Aloe vera gel is a natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory that can be effectively applied externally to all kinds of wounds, scratches and abrasions to speed healing.
Aloe vera gel can be applied to affected joints to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis.
A live aloe vera plant is commonly kept in the kitchen to apply to minor burns. It soothes and cools all kinds of burns, including sunburn.
Aloe vera gel can be applied to eczema, dermatitis, acne, skin ulcers and outbreaks of genital herpes to soothe and heal them quickly. It provides relief to sufferers of athlete's foot.
Aloe vera can be applied to wounds as they heal to reduce or eliminate scarring.
Applied to dry skin and wrinkles and left to dry, fresh aloe vera gel yields remarkable results in terms of visible reduction of wrinkling, rehydration and healing of the skin.
Aloe vera has remarkable healing powers, whether used internally or externally.

To Safely Obtain and Use the Gel From a Fresh Plant

To obtain the gel from a fresh aloe vera plant, cut one of the spiny leaves. Carefully use a knife to remove the barbs from the edges. Peel the skin from each side of the leaf.
If you are applying the gel topically, it can be held in place with a bandage and allowed to dry.

An Uncommonly Known Use for Aloe Vera Gel

In Mexican herbalism, the gel from one of these spines can be used as a pessary, inserted vaginally, to expel the placenta. The outside of the aloe vera leaf is carefully peeled and the gel is inserted in a lump. It should take effect in an hour or two.