Aloe Vera Gel from the plant

[Sibi]

I've never used gel from the plant but I'm curious to know if anyone has ever gotten the gel directly from the plant...how to you get it out? Do you just slit the plant and the gel oozes out? If so, how long can it keep before spoiling?

I ask because our local latino bodega sells these huge aloe vera leaves for under a dollar and I was wondering how I could use these.

 

[Deda]

I've never used gel from the plant but I'm curious to know if anyone has ever gotten the gel directly from the plant...how to you get it out? Do you just slit the plant and the gel oozes out? If so, how long can it keep before spoiling?

I ask because our local latino bodega sells these huge aloe vera leaves for under a dollar and I was wondering how I could use these.

We have a latino bodega? Where!

 

[artisan soaps]

..

 

[Layne]

I'd freez it, skin it, chunk it into blinder, hit liquefy.
subtract the amount to be used from the water for lye of course.
then add the liquefied aloe at trace
and cook it in my crock till it did what i want it to.
after all it is just another vegy and a good one at that.

just the way I would try.

so far, of all the vegies and fruits I have tried to date
the worse was todays soy milk cucumber .
it took forever to trace.
but I think it is going to turn out nice.

 

[blueberrylolli]

let the leaf stand upright for 15 - 30 minutes so the yellow sap can drain out. then wash it and slice it open in the middle, and then cut the gel part out being careful not to take the leave fibers or left over sap.

they're quite effective. my mom got 3 huge blisters on her fingers before and used the 100% aloe I prepared for her, blisters healed the next day. but i don't know if their effectiveness would be compromised by heating

 

[IrishLass]

An aloe plant is a permanent fixture in my kitchen. They grow like weeds out here (I live in the desert). I've never used the actual pulp from my plant in soap, but I have used the processed juice from the health food store (George's brand) in my soap.

I use the fresh leaves for sunburns and cooking burns. It's awesome. I just cut the tip of a leaf off (or however much I need), split it open, score the pulp a little with a tip of a knife, and apply to the affected area. It's amazing how it takes the pain of a burn away immediately upon contact and heals it so quickly, too.

IrishLass

 

[Sibi]

thanks for the tips everyone! I'll put this on my list of things I need to try.

Deb...yes, there is a bodega on Wellington, quite close to your house in fact. I can give you directions if you want.