Recipe for Aloe Extract

The juice from an aloe plant has major health benefits. Aloe extract can be used to treat burns, minor cuts, rashes and irritated skin. Most often, your lotions, after-sun care and facial products contain the juice of the aloe plant, but you can easily make your own aloe extract from the potent gel of the plant. To juice an aloe leaf, you simply need to know the best parts and methods to extract the most valuable juice of the plant.

Parts

• In order to understand what parts of the aloe leaf will yield the best juice, you must understand the anatomy of the aloe leaf. The most beneficial part of the aloe plant for health purposes is the core of the plant, called the "gel fillet," and the mucilage that lies outside of the core gel. The leaf will secrete a juice when it is cut, called the sap. This is not the beneficial aloe, and can be discarded.

  It is also important to choose the right leaves from the plant. Select a large leaf that is close to the ground on the outside of the plant. These leaves are the ripest, and therefore contain the strongest aloe. Cut the leaf from the plant as close to the stem as possible, slicing at an angle. If your aloe plant doesn't have any leaves close to the ground, it is not ready to be picked yet.

Process

• To juice an aloe leaf, you must first drain the sap from the leaf. You can do this by placing the leaf upright in a bowl with the cut part of the plant facing downward so the juices can drip out. The best way to withdraw the mucilage and core of the leaf is to cut the tips and both edges off the plant lengthwise with a sharp knife, and then to filet the leaf lengthwise so it can be opened like a book. The core and mucilage can then be scraped from the leaf gently using a spoon.

Uses

• The juice from an aloe plant can be used internally, however because this gel is not processed professionally, it is not recommended. Aloe leaves contain yellow sap called "aloin" that is used in laxatives, and can be harmful if ingested. Instead, use aloe externally to rub on burned or irritated skin. Aloe is especially calming on burns from the sun or heat. To ready the aloe for external use, mix the gel and mucilage together to form a juice, and then apply it to your skin.

Storage

• Keep the aloe juice in the refrigerator in a darkened glass or plastic container, because direct light will cause the aloe to spoil faster. Aloe has a natural tendency to turn brown, but adding a few drops of Vitamin E oil, grapefruit seed extract or citric acid powder to the aloe juice can slow this process. With the proper storage, aloe can last up to a year in the refrigerator.