It's a purgative. I don't think you'd like the result of including it in your diet....

I think there are probably other good ways to aid digestion.

I think I've heard that Papaya is good? I keep hearing about 'probiotics'? I don't pay too much attention because I generally don't have digestion issues.

Bonnie

I know I see the "juice" on the shelves at my healthfood store. But I'm not sure about the "raw" plant as "food".

ooh found this..eating: Aloe Eating

Here is a link that might be useful: Aloe Juice

Thanks jxbrown, bons, and terri, especially for the cool links. Terri, I am so ready to dive in now... but I don't have cranberry juice so will try it with some apple juice. I have honey on hand so just in case the apple juice doesn't thin out the nasty taste of Aloe I will eat honey, lots of it! LOL I always want to do something with that plant because it's getting so big that it begins to take over the entire window. Here's a picture of it:

OMG it must be terribly healthy because the taste was ultimately bitter! I used apple juice and agave and... I swallowed a few mouthful then SPLAT the after taste hit me! I quickly took some more apple juice but the taste lingered in my mouth and the back of my throat! So I popped a piece of chocolate in my mouth and held it there until completely dissolved. Now I am sucking on candied ginger and the after taste is finally gone. As stupid as it sounds but I am glad that I gave that a try. LOL

Below is a link (hope it works) to my aloe vera - or just a very small section of it in my garden. Countless pups have been removed to give to other people who ask for it.

If you decide to take it internally, start off with very small dosages, and gradually work your way up to the recommended dosage. However, see the warning below about internal use. When it says 'powerful laxative and purgative' it REALLY means it! Definitely do NOT administer to children.

Medicinal Uses: The sap from inside the leaves can be applied directly to ulcers, burns, sunburn, radiation burns, skin cancers, wounds, poison ivy stings, acne, oily skin and dandruff, and fungal infections. It aids in healing wounds by drawing out infection and by preventing infection from starting. The fresh gel is best to use, rather than Âstabilised gels found in the stores. Internally it is sometimes used as a laxative and a general tonic. It is also to treat amenorrhoea, asthma, inflamed or diseased breasts, bursitis, colds, colic, conjunctivitis, constipation, coughs, dysmenorrhoea, dysentery with bloody stools, ear infections, eye problems, fat and sugar metabolism, fever, gonorrhoea, heart pain, haemorrhoids, hepatitis, herpes, infant pneumonia, insomnia, intestinal worms, jaundice, kidney disorders, enlarged liver, menopause, rheumatism, skin inflammations, skin rashes, sores, sore throat, enlarged spleen, toothache, tuberculosis and other lung diseases, tumors, ulcers, chronic vaginitis, venereal diseases. See Warning.

Other Uses: The gel is used as a tree wound dressing. Mix the juice of 1 leaf with about 600ml water for a healthy plant spray.

So it's not called the First Aid Plant for nothing!

Warning: It is not advised to take Aloe Vera internally, especially if pregnant or breast-feeding, when menstruating, or if suffering from haemorrhoids or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It is a powerful laxative and purgative.

Here is a link that might be useful:

WOW, Al....I can never keep Aloe's alive...and Daisy, that's not fair you live in the "tropics"! (By my standards anyway..LOL)

I buy Aloe Butter (from a soaping supplies company) to use in my lotion bars. I also put it on one of my kids when he get sores from whatever..because he won't let me put Virgin Coconut Oil on him, because of the smell. LOL Aloe butter(and coconut blend) doesn't smell like NOTHING..Heals him up right quick.

Here is a link that might be useful: Aloe butter, not who I order from...just info

Thanks, daisyduckworth! Your plants look very health. Now you mentioned the sap, I think the bitterness must be from it. Next time when I prepare the pulp I will first wash off the green-yellowish stuff and use just the clear meat. I probably won't be able to eat too much of it LOL considered I could hardly hold down 3 sips of juice (1.5 cups of apple juice with about 7 grams of Aloe pulp). But I am not ready to quit. Will try it in very small amount next time. No, I won't give it to my son... not that he would even look at it anyway! LOL

Terri, I used to live in Hawaii... moving from Hawaii to Canada probably was the craziest thing that I have ever done in my life. I was surprised that the plant not only survived our brutal winters but actually grew! We keep it in the warmest spot of the kitchen where it can get the most sunlight. It's doing not too bad. Once I figure out more ways to make the best of the plant I will be even happier! :-)

Jeepers. There are so many herbal remedies for digestive issues that are palatable without all the fuss...why not simply keep the aloe for burns and scratches?

Althetrainer, it's the sap which has the medicinal qualities! I prefer to call it the 'gel'. Others might call it the gooey, oozy stuff inside the leaves.

The leaves themselves (which encase the gel) are NOT used. I'm assuming that's what you mean by 'the meat'.

Mind you, you can use the leaves as a handy applicator of the gel by cutting the leaves in half lengthwise - and removing the sharp edges!!

It is VERY important, when using herbs, to know which part(s) of the plant should be used!!

For the home-grower, use only the fresh gel. Commercial 'juices' are specially treated to preserve them, and make them (somewhat) palatable.

I agree wholeheartedly with Rachelellen - not only are there many other more palatable alternatives for digestive problems - those alternatives are much safer to use.

Off the top of my head, some examples include Peppermint (or other mint), Ginger, Apple juice (or fruit), Aniseed, Pawpaw (Papaya)fruit, Basil leaves, Caraway seeds, Cardamom seeds and pods, Catnip leaves or flowers, Chamomile flowers, Cumin seeds, Coriander seeds, Marjoram leaves, Sage leaves, Rosemary leaves, Parsley leaves, Thyme leaves.

Not quite so tasty, but very effective indeed, is Slippery Elm.

Given so many alternatives (some of which are downright delicious!), why not just leave the aloe vera for external use? Use it as an after-shave lotion and as a moisturiser as well as for burns, cuts and scrapes.

As for aloe vera's other medicinal benefits, these can be derived from other tastier, safer herbs too.

I use aloe for burns and such, but just the smell is so off putting, I can't imagine eating it. Yuck!

Sally

What kind of digestive problems can one have that aloe would help? Other than extreme constipation?

I use it for burns and sunburns, but I don't think there's any reason to ingest it.

Thanks Daisyduckworth. I appreciate your input. When I said the "meat" I meant the pulp that's clear and found in the middle of the leaf. When I said "sap" I meant the yellow liquid that oozes out once you cut the leaf. You're right. I don't know what all those parts are and I don't intent to make some medicine out of them.

I have a lot of fresh herbs growing in my backyard and we use them every day. I also make sourdough bread, yogurt, and kefir at home. Not that I needed more probiotics... it's just my personality and I always curious and want to try something new.

Thanks again for your advice. I doubt it if I will be able to hold down another sip of aloe. LOL