Aloe Vera and Some Amazing Uses

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What Is Aloe Vera?                                                                                                                     

Aloe Vera is one of the most popular and widely used plants in herbal medicine, throughout the world.  It is so easy to grow and doesn't take hardly any work in caring for. With it's endless uses, Aloe Vera is one plant no household should go without! We use ours all the time! 

How to Prepare and Store Your Aloe Vera Gel                                                                           

Learning to prepare and store your own Aloe Vera Gel is one of the easiest, cheapest and healthiest ways to go! It's extremely easy to do too! To harvest your own Aloe Vera Gel: 

         1. Starting from the bottom, so your plant can continue to grow, cut off leaves from your aloe plant.

     2. Set your leaves, (the side you cut) down in a cup. Allow the yellowish resin from the leaves to drain 5-10min.    

     3. You can either harvest the gel the conventional way, by slicing the leaves in half and scooping out the gel; or you can peel the outer leaves off the gel.

     4. To store your Aloe Vera Gel, you can keep it in a jar in the fridge.  For a longer shelf life, you can either mix vitamin C powder or vitamin E into the gel. 

Uses For Aloe Vera                                                                                                                 

There are so many different uses out there for this AmAzInG plant! The list can go on and on...But I will list a few below! 

1. Aloe Vera Gel For Your Hair                                                                                                       

                                                                                        

Aloe Vera gel and juice contains all the B vitamins - B1, B2, B6, & B12 - All which play a major roll in protein metabolism and cell growth which are essential to hair growth. The B vitamins also help in preventing hair thinning.  

An excess amount of product used in your hair will cause blocked pours from which the hair grows. The antibacterial affects of aloe helps reduce this build up on the scalp keeping it clean and hair aiding in hair growth. 

Who doesn't love dandruff? Aloe vera can help in getting rid of that! The moisturizing and cooling affects of aloe keeps the dryness at bay which is often was causes the dandruff.

Use Aloe Vera as a curl defining and softening hair gel. Don't you hate when you put curling gel in your hair and it dries all yucky feeling or looking? Sometimes if you put too much it'll give you a more greasy look, or maybe a more stiff feeling? I hate that! I tried aloe in my hair the other day after washing it and loved how it looked. It left it with a wavy curl, while leaving my hair soft and not a yucky feeling or look. Take maybe a quarter-size amount in your hand and scrunch all through your wet hair...You can then either blow dry it or leave it to air dry. So not only is your hair looking great, but you're using a natural remedy rather than adding harmful chemicals to your hair. 

2. Aloe Vera For Your Face                                                                                                 

Not only is Aloe Vera good for your hair, but it's also great for your face too! Aloe Vera has a pH level that closely matches that of our skin's sebum and acid mantle, allowing you to cleanse your face without disrupting the natural oil cycle. Those with acne/oily skin have found relief in using aloe vera because not only does it tone the skin and close the pores while moisturizing, it also has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce acne as well. 

Below are some DIY face washes/masks & moisturizers....

Natural Homemade Anti-inflammatory Aloe Vera Face Wash    

Aloe Vera Scrub                                                                                

Diy Miracle Moisturizer                                                                   

               Homemade Aloe Vera Face Moisturizer                                                        

   My All In One Miracle Eye Serum                                                     

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3. Aloe Vera For Your Teeth                                                                                                     

Aloe Vera's natural antibacterial and antiseptics make it a great non-toxic choice for natural toothpaste!  Not only does its anti-inflammatory properties aid in helping  soothe inflamed gums, but it is also known to be just as effective in fighting cavities as your commercial toothpaste. Mix in a drop or two of peppermint essential oil for a minty fresh mouth! 

         4. Aloe Vera For Burns and Sunburns 

Aloe Vera is one of the most widely used remedies for burns of all kinds. Not only does it soothe and cool the skin, but it helps to speed up healing while even reversing blisters as they develop. If you keep your Aloe Vera in the fridge, it would even more amazing for sunburns being cold. We have used Aloe Vera countless times for sunburns, and it really works great!

5. Aloe Vera For Bug Bites                                                                                                       

With its amazing soothing properties, Aloe Vera is perfect for helping to relieve itching and burning of bug bites! Its antibacterial properties will help clean the wound, while its anti-inflammatory properties will help to reduce swelling and redness. Apply a dab of Aloe to your bug bites for relief.  

6. Aloe Vera For Reducing Stretch Marks, Scars, Wrinkles and Signs of Aging                     

Rich in vitamins A, C and E, Aloe Vera helps promote rapid healing and tissue repair in the skin. Use a small amount as a light daily moisturizer for your face and hands. The same antioxidants that help reduce the signs of aging and wrinkles, also help to reduce scarring and help prevent stretch marks. Apply twice daily during pregnancy, to help reduce stretch marks and scars. 

7. Aloe Vera For Cuts and Wounds                                                                                          

Not only is it antibacterial, but Aloe Vera also contains several antiseptics that all help to kill bacteria and fungi. Apply to cuts and wounds before bandaging, to help cleanse the wound, as well as to help promote a faster healing. 

There you have it, 7 AmAzInG reasons why everyone should have an Aloe plant in there home! That's just to name a few of all the wonderful benefits/uses this one plant will provide! I hope you all have an AmAzInG Friday!!! 

                                                                                                           

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12 Uses For Coffee Grounds

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       Have you ever wondered if there was something you could do with your used coffee grounds, rather than dumping in the garbage can? There are so many ways to recycle them! Below is a list of 12 different ways to use them! 

COFFEE GROUNDS IN THE GARDEN: 

1. Pest Repellent 

Sprinkle used coffee grounds around your plants to protect them against garden pests like ants, slugs, and snails. 

2. Add to your Compost 

If you don't have any uses for your coffee grounds right now, throw them in your compost! Coffee grounds make excellent "green" matter, being rich in nitrogen. Also, worms may be attracted to your compost with the coffee too! But be careful about the amounts of grounds you throw in your compost, so you don't throw off the "green" to "brown" matter. (I've been adding some coffee grounds to my compost). 

3. Color Change in Your Hydrangeas 

Hydrangeas are affected by the changes in the soil's pH balance. Adding coffee grounds to the soil reduces the pH and changes pink flowers into blue flowers. 

COFFEE GROUNDS AROUND THE HOUSE: 

4. Absorb Food Odors

Like baking soda, coffee grounds can be used for absorbing food odors in the refrigerator and freezer. Fill a open container with the grounds and place in the back of the fridge and leave them there for a couple of weeks. You can then replace the grounds and put the old ones on your compost! 

5. As a dye 

Don't you hate it when you spill coffee on your white shirt and it leaves that golden yellow stain?!? Well turn the idea around and use it to dye Easter eggs with Easter coming up! Or even dye a shirt or yarn with it! 

6. Homemade Candles 

Ok, who seriously doesn't love the smell of coffee?? Whether you like the taste or not, pretty much everyone loves the smell! Why not take the old coffee grounds and use them in a all-natural candle?!? 
 Here a link for DIY Coffee Candles! 

7. Fight Odor on Your Hands

After chopping garlic, onions, or opening a can of tuna and you want to get that smell off your hands? Take the coffee grounds and wash your hands with them and it will get rid of the smell! 

COFFEE GROUNDS For HEALTH AND BEAUTY:

8. Exfoliate Your Skin

Coffee grounds are great for exfoliating your skin! Add used coffee grounds to a little bit of warm water or your favorite all-natural coconut oil for an amazing body scrub! Scrub your body head to toe with the scrub to get rid of all those dead skin cells! Here's a recipe for Coconut Coffee Body Scrub Cubes! 

9. Facial 

Just as it works for a body scrub, coffee is also great as a facial! Use coffee grounds, honey, unsweetened cocoa powder and milk or yogurt, (I'm gonna try goat's milk) for the perfect all-natural facial. 

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10. Coffee Soap                                                   
Make a coffee soap that will leave your skin smelling amazing! Here's a simple recipe for a simple coffee grounds soap.

11. Coffee For Your Hair                                          

Wash your hair with coffee grounds to eliminate residue and oil build-up. Before shampooing, grab a handful of old coffee grounds and massage into your hair.                                  
           
12. Cellulite Treatment                                        

  Poor diet, frequent or extended periods of sitting, smoking, or genetic predisposition – cellulite has many causes and for every cause there are at least a dozen “cures” which may or may not actually work.  Well, here’s one that does: used coffee grounds. 
A simple mixture of used coffee grounds and warm water will do the trick! Use the scrub twice per week for 10min. on any areas       affected by cellulite. Results should start to show within 4 weeks of steady treatment.



There you have it, 12 different ways to use your old coffee grounds! So next time you make a pot of coffee, don't throw them in the garbage. Save them and reuse them! Have an AmAzInG Monday everyone!!!



                                      
                                                                                                                               

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