How Can Aloe Vera Juice Make You Feel Great?

AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS

Commonly known for it's ability to relieve a sunburn, aloe vera's appeal includes many other health benefits as well. The refreshing taste of Aloe vera is a soothing favorite when mixed with other fruit juices like honey dew melon or cucumber. As it decongests your lymphatic system, the cooling drink is an excellent way to help your body cleanse in the spring.

Cleanse & Detoxify

The main cleansing actions of Aloe come from its mild bitter taste, making it a cholagogue. That means it promotes the discharge of bile from the liver and gall bladder. As bile is an important carrier of firey blood toxins, purgation of bile is vital in order to eliminate pitta-aggravating impurities. Aloe vera gel is mildly laxative in nature, cleansing the bowels. It expels parasites. Drink one cup of aloe vera juice every day for two weeks for a cleansing effect on the body.

Lymphatic Congestion & Diabetes

As bile is a fatty substance, release of bile also tends to lower blood fat and cholesterol and improve fat metabolism. That reduces congestion in your lymphatic system. Aloe helps balance blood sugar levels, which is why aloe vera has been traditionally recommended for diabetes.

Skin Tonic

Got a minor kitchen burn? Tear a leaf off your household aloe plant, squeeze the clear gel out, and apply to the burn. Enjoyed a fun day at the beach? Aloe can soothe and cool your sunburn. Aloe is also renowned for its wound healing capabilities.

In Ayurveda, aloe is called 'Kumari,' meaning 'young girl,' a fitting term for this soothing plant that inspires the energy of youth to act on the bodily tissue systems. It balances all body types and especially rejuvenates the skin. Aloe's hydrating properties heal the skin from within, moisturizing topically but without the greasy feel of many lotions. It promotes the growth of collagen, maintaining elasticity of the skin, reducing scarring, stretch marks and signs of aging. Its collagen promoting abilities also help wounds heal faster.

Suffering from acne, scarring and redness of complexion? Aloe is an anti-inflammatory that reduces redness, and itchiness. While it moisturizes, aloe's bitter taste dries up greasiness, perfect for reducing acne in anyone with an oily complexion. The cooling and unctuous nature of aloe relieves the hot, dry symptoms of menopause and promotes healthy menstruation.

Anti-Inflammatory

As a cooling skin tonic, aloe effectively soothes inflammation of "intestinal skin" - the lining of the GI tract. It has been traditionally used to relieve hyperacidity, ulcers, ulcerative colitis and any bleeding from the intestines.

Antiseptic

Aloe acts as an antiseptic and antifungal that has been used to reduce bleeding & inflammation of the gums, gingivitis, cracked/split corners of the mouth, denture stomatitis and apthous ulcers. Aloe's bitter-cool quality effectively treats fevers arising out of congestion and a Kapha-rich diet.

Contraindications

People with a Kapha constitution can benefit greatly from cleansing with aloe. However, for those who belong to the Vata-deficient category, frequent use of aloe can be contraindicative. Aloe powder and its yellow sap are strongly purgative in nature and should be avoided during pregnancy. In cases of emaciation, dehydration, diarrhea, breast cancer, intestinal obstruction, and during menstruation, aloe is best avoided.

ABOUT ALOE VERA JUICE

Aloe includes more than 250 species of flowering succulents and is native to Africa, Madagascar and Jordan. It is closely related to cactus, yucca and onion. For thousands of years and across many cultures, aloe has been used to heal a variety of health conditions including burns, skin irritations, wounds, etc. Egyptians used to refer to it as "the plant of immortality."

BUYING & PREPARATION

Aloe vera gel and/or juice can be found at most health food stores. As preservatives are mixed into all commercial production aloe vera, check the ingredients to be sure the preservatives are as natural as possible. Aloe vera gel is far more potent than is the juice. Consuming one tablespoon of aloe vera gel is equivalent to drinking one cup of aloe juice. Also, the gel provides sustained action while the juice is short-term in its effect.

It is very simple to harvest fresh gel from your household aloe plant. When the leaves are 3-4 inches in width and roughly a foot in length, it is the perfect time to extract the gel from the plant. First select a leaf. Remove and wash it. Cut off two inches from the bottom of the leaf, so you have a flat surface to work with. Remove the thorns. Cut the green skin off beginning on the flat side of the leaf. Scoop out the gel and rinse it thoroughly. Now you can add it to your recipe. Take care that the yellow sap and the green skin are both removed entirely from the gel since they are highly purgative in nature. Browse Recipes

COOKING ALOE VERA JUICE

The tart-astringent flavor of aloe juice is not favored by everyone but add some crushed mint, a few drops of lime juice and a couple of tablespoons of simple syrup, and you have a refreshingly piquant midsummer day's treat! Or try aloe vera blended with honey dew melon to quickly cool your body. You can also blend 1/2 cup of aloe vera gel with 1 cup of water, 1/4 cup of lemon juice and 2 cups of fresh berries for a bright summer berry smoothie.

You may dilute the bitter flavor with apple juice or sugar, however to maximize the benefits of the medicine savor the rarely encountered bitter taste.

WHY SHOULD YOU EAT AYURVEDICALLY?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with at any given time. Foods that supplement your specific body type’s needs and digest easily create your menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you experience optimal health.

LEARN MORE

Is Aloe Vera Juice Good for Me?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether Aloe Vera Juice is a good fit for you. Time to complete: approximately 1 minute.

MEDICINAL QUALITIES

INCREASES Increases These Qualities (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main states (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which states are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every state has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite state. Learn More	CLEAR ABOUT CLEAR GUNA Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama. LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR LIGHT ABOUT LIGHT GUNA Lightness is identified by reduced weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT MOBILE ABOUT MOBILE GUNA Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity. LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE COLD ABOUT COLD GUNA Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow. LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD
TASTES The 6 Tastes Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below? Learn More	BITTER ABOUT BITTER GUNA Bitter is disagreeable and stimulating rejection, and a strong taste often associated with black coffee, dark chocolate, and most salad greens. LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER ASTRINGENT ABOUT ASTRINGENT GUNA Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying. LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types People tend to get sick, over and over again, due to similar causes and habitual imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Learn More	PACIFIES AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	EFFECT Prana PRANA Prana is the Sanskrit word for vital life energy, similar to Qi in Chinese Medicine. Many herbs stimulate your energy, or improve the flow of prana through your body. Generally, prana needs to be increased in spring after a sleepy winter. LEARN MORE ABOUT PRANA TYPE Vegetables ELEMENT Water WATER Resembles water (ap) in quality - fluid, sticky, soft, heavy, stable, cool. LEARN MORE ABOUT WATER SUBTASTE Bland BLAND Bland means doesn't have much taste. In Chinese medicine, bland taste refers to afood without little macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy. LEARN MORE ABOUT BLAND COLOR White

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Experiences are Personal

Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Digestion	Stimulant Laxative STIMULANT-LAXATIVE Stimulant laxatives induce bowel movements by stimulating peristaltic movement (the contraction of smooth muscle in the intestines). They are effective when used on a short-term basis. On a long-term basis, they can create dependency. LEARN MORE ABOUT STIMULANT-LAXATIVE
Cleanse and Detox	Detoxicant DETOXICANT An herb that eliminates or metabolizes toxins from the body. LEARN MORE ABOUT DETOXICANT
Heart & Circulation	Alterative ALTERATIVE Literally, an herb that restores the proper function of the body. In practice, alteratives are usually blood cleansers and blood chemistry balancers. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter. LEARN MORE ABOUT ALTERATIVE , Blood Thinner BLOOD-THINNER Herbs that thin the blood. Helpful for people with heart disease or clogged circulation. LEARN MORE ABOUT BLOOD-THINNER , Vulnerary VULNERARY An herb used for the treatment of wounds. Promotes healing of skin lesions and wounds/promotes cell growth and repair LEARN MORE ABOUT VULNERARY
Immune System	Anti Inflammatory ANTI-INFLAMMATORY Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems. LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTI-INFLAMMATORY , Antibacterial ANTIBACTERIAL Herbs that kill bacteria or slow their growth. LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTIBACTERIAL , Antifungal ANTIFUNGAL Herbs that destroy fungus. LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTIFUNGAL , Antimicrobial ANTIMICROBIAL An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals. LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTIMICROBIAL
Liver & Gall Bladder	Cholagogue CHOLAGOGUE Cholagogues stimulate the release of bile from the gall bladder for improved digestion. LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLAGOGUE
Lung and Sinus	Soothes throat SOOTHES-THROAT Soothes throat discomfort, including from a sore or ticklish throat. LEARN MORE ABOUT SOOTHES-THROAT
Skin Care & Beauty	Refreshes skin REFRESHES-SKIN Flushes the lymphatic system to cool, awaken, and revive the skin. LEARN MORE ABOUT REFRESHES-SKIN , Emollient EMOLLIENT soothes & softens the skin LEARN MORE ABOUT EMOLLIENT , Skin Tonic SKIN-TONIC An herb that strengthens and nourishes skin, improving tone, color, moisture and complexion. LEARN MORE ABOUT SKIN-TONIC
Weight Loss	Hypolipidemic HYPOLIPIDEMIC Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels LEARN MORE ABOUT HYPOLIPIDEMIC , Lowers Blood Sugar LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR An herb that lowers blood sugar. LEARN MORE ABOUT LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR
Bowel-Poop-Elimination	General Laxative GENERAL-LAXATIVE Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives... LEARN MORE ABOUT GENERAL-LAXATIVE