Aloe Vera Plant Care: How to Propagate & Trim for Optimal Health

The aloe vera plant is an attractive succulent in your home or patio area, but it is most famous for its healing properties. The gel-like substance inside its fleshy leaves is useful in treating burns, scrapes, insect bites, cuts and rashes. Aloe vera is often found in cosmetics, over-the-counter ointments and medicines. Burn plant and medicine plant are other names for this succulent.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp knife
• Bandage or gauze

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Instructions

• 1

  Select a leaf close to the base area of the plant.

• 2

  Make a slit along the length of the leaf and squeeze out the gel substance.

• 3

  Place the aloe vera on your burn, cut, scrape or rash. The itching and burning will stop almost immediately.

• 4

  Allow the aloe to dry on the skin for the best results, or cover it with a clean bandage or gauze if it is an open wound.

• 5

  Clean the area and reapply the aloe a couple of times a day, if the irritation persists.