The aloe vera plant (aloe barbadensis miller) has been touted as THE herb for healing cuts, scrapes and wounds. It is also the staple of beauty products. Rumor has it that Cleopatra bathed in aloe water before seducing Mark Anthony! Unless you really search, little has been said about aloe’s purgative, cleansing powers for restorative health. Especially during summer when the heat and humidity take a toll on the body, there is nothing like a cool aloe vera skin cream!

Recipe:
12 oz glass, cleaned
1/2 cup aloe vera extract (found at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and other natural food stores)
1/2 cup naturally sweet fruit juice (I like passion fruit, mango, apricot or a combination of)
*You could use a berry or pomegranate juice but I have found most people do not like the bitterness.

Refrigerate aloe and juices. Mix both ingredients together and enjoy in a frosty glass. You’ll taste a little “zingyness” due to aloe’s cactus-like properties.

Taken internally, the gentle purgative actions of both aloe and fruits relieve the gut of inner heat. Taken externally, aloe vera cream and aloe vera lotion is soothing to sunburnt skin, burns, irritations and even bites. I recommend using aloe vera gel for external applications and aloe vera juice for ingesting. Go ahead, give aloe a try. Your body can only thank you for it!