The Reason You Should Start Keeping Aloe Vera In Your Kitchen
Keeping plants in the house can be nice for a variety of reasons. Aesthetically, plants can liven up a room, and atmospherically, plants can open up a space to breathe more organically. Medically, certain plants may even alleviate scorching pains from household and kitchen accidents.
Food Network suggests keeping an aloe vera plant in or near your kitchen for when you accidentally burn yourself and are in need of a quick natural fix. The sap and the sticky flesh from the aloe vera plant have been found to ease the pain of burns and even provide some protection to the affected areas. Aloe vera can help with anything from grabbing your ripping hot cast iron skillet on the handle without a towel to sunburns from standing outside barbequing without the right dose of SPF.
All you have to do is go to your aloe vera plant and cut off a leaf from the base of the plant (so as to preserve the plant's health and its looks), and then split the leaf lengthwise. The clear gel-like substance and flesh can then be applied to the skin directly. You can even puree the flesh or just use the gel. UAMS Health recommends putting the aloe in the fridge for a beat to cool it down and ease the pain more effectively.
The health science behind aloe vera
According to WebMD, aloe vera has been used as a burn treatment for thousands of years, and it acts as a very mild laxative when consumed. There are, however, potential side effects and risks that must be taken into account before just applying aloe to your skin or eating it. Some people have been known to have adverse effects to aloe, mostly involving irritation of the skin. If you are allergic to garlic, onions, or tulips, you are more likely to be allergic to aloe.
As a treatment against first- and second-degree burns and certain skin conditions like psoriasis, aloe can be effective, per the Mayo Clinic. However, it should not be applied to very serious burns or deep cuts. In addition, aloe should not supplant medical attention for serious injuries. If you find yourself in a situation where you or someone around you has gotten hurt, leave the plant where it is and seek medical attention immediately.