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Plant of the month: Aloe vera – The Miracle Plant

Aloe vera is probably a name your more accustomed to seeing on the side of a bottle of care products of all shapes and sizes….but sitting behind the name is a plant that is widely hailed as a “Miracle plant”, and one of our all time faves. It’s bright green jewelled leaves add a splash of green to any room ( check out our latest blog on the benefits of green for your mental health) & the jelly found inside its plump leaves is chock full of antibacterial properties and vitamins.

So let’s take a closer look at this plant and understand why it is so renowned in the plant world and a beautiful addition to any home.

MIND – Striking and cleansing

Easy to care for and a beauty on a mantle piece or shelf, there is good reason for this plants popularity as a houseplant. Beyond being easy on the eye, studies have shown Aloe vera is able to remove formaldehyde and benzene from the air in our homes and replaces it with oxygenated air. And yes, we didn’t think that we had either of these things in our homes, it turns out they are commonly found in cleaning products we all use. In fact studies have shown that 24 hours of Aloe vera in a room can remove 90% of formaldehyde in the air (performing better than many of the small plastic air purifiers many of us have at home). So while you take a moment to admire the fleshy leaves on your lovely Aloe, take a deep breath and appreciate what it is doing for your home.

BODY – Soothing properties

Aloe vera is found in just about every skin-care product out there, from aftersun to suncream to moisturisers. The globular gel that gives the leaves of this plant their lovely shape is rammed with goodness. It is synonymous with health and has been for millennia with the earliest recorded use of Aloe vera being Mesopotamia in 2,200 BC. It has also been said that Queen Cleopatra, renowned for her beauty and glowing skin, applied Aloe vera to her skin every day to keep it soft and smooth. What is it about this plant that has been keeping our skin smooth for thousands of years…? Its a long list, so I am going to have to resort to bullet points:

  • Contains vitamin A (helps immune system, eye development & acne treatment)
  • Contains vitamin C (Repairs body tissue, iron absorption & helps with wound healing)
  • Contains Antioxidants (in the form of polyphenols) which have antiviral, antibacterial and antiseptic properties.
  • Boosts collagen production (thats the one that keeps those wrinkles at bay)
  • Lowers blood sugar levels.
  • Reduces dental plaque.

The list really does go on and on and this fleshy little beauty really is your on-hand first aid kit. You can literally take the gel straight out of the plant (if you have one at home) and apply it to a burn….and by keeping your little Aloe healthy you have an endless supply of its amazingly healing gel.

Queen Cleopatra – Aloe vera enthusiast

SOIL – How to look after your Aloe

Your aloe looks after you so how best to look after your aloe? Vera (we like to think she’a a gal)  likes to be warm and in a sunny spot & only watered when the soil feels dry ( all of her leaves are full of water like any succulent) but she is also a top chiller so don’t worry too much about her, easy to care for and not a fan of the cold (she comes from Africa remember!)

The phrase “Not just a pretty face” springs to mind, this plant has a LOT to give and hopefully you can see why this is one of our personal fave’s.

We want to bring you the best of the plant world and teach you how amazing some of the plants we have around us are. Our Mind, Body & Soil subscription is going from strength to strength and you will never guess what we are sending out this month…

We have a box jammed with value that will not only bring you all of the aforementioned benefits but a wonderful addition to your home. Our aim? To bring you a moment of calm and relaxation and absorb some planty goodness once a month. While we continue to live through uncertain times we reckon our subscription box is the perfect monthly remedy. So jump in!

p.s. Because you managed to read the whole of our blog, we want to give you a treat. Type in aloealoe at checkout and get 25% off your first box ? You can thank me later…. 

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