Salve
Aloe vera gel, straight from the leaf
Aloe vera is the only plant in the apothecary you can use without preparing anything. You cut off a leaf, and the medicine is already there.
The gel is almost pure water, but that water holds compounds that cool, calm inflammation and keep the wound moist while the skin rebuilds itself. That is why it beats most creams on a light burn.
One thing first, and it matters more than the gel itself: cool the burn under lukewarm water for twenty minutes before you do anything else.
Ingredients
- 1 fresh aloe vera leaf from a plant at least 2 years old
Equipment
- Sharp knife
- Spoon
- Clean surface
Method
- 1
Cut a fresh leaf, scrape out the gel, and apply a thick layer to the cooled wound.
- 2
Repeat 3-4 times daily.
Dosage
A thick layer on the cooled burn, 3-4 times daily.
Let it dry on its own. Do not rinse it off.
Shelf life
Use fresh. A cut leaf keeps 3-4 days refrigerated in a closed container.
Safety
Cool it first. Twenty minutes under lukewarm running water before you put anything on. Never ice, never butter, never toothpaste.
Seek medical help immediately if the burn is larger than your palm, on the face, hands, feet, joints or genitals, if the skin is white, brown or numb, or if it happened to a child. Aloe vera belongs on a light, superficial burn, not a serious one.
Never put aloe vera on an open or weeping wound without speaking to a doctor first.
Rinse off the yellow sap that seeps out just under the rind. It is called aloin, acts as a laxative and can irritate skin. You only want the clear gel inside.
Try a small patch on your forearm first. Some people are allergic to aloe.
Aloe vera skin gel must not be drunk.
How the herbs work
Aloe vera gel is almost pure water, but that water carries polysaccharides which keep the wound moist while the skin rebuilds. Moisture is the single factor that matters most for how well a light burn heals.
The gel also cools by evaporation and contains compounds that ease inflammation and itch.
The content here is general knowledge and folk herbal lore, not medical treatment. In illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding or alongside medication: always talk to your doctor first.