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Aloe vera gel is widely used to treat burns and other skin conditions, though the evidence for its effectiveness is modest and more research needs to be done. [1] X Research source But if you do use aloe vera , buying all that ointment adds up, and the aloe itself could either be diluted or have additional additives that might make it inappropriate for your needs. However, you can save money and be sure of the concentration of the aloe you have by first harvesting and then cutting open the aloe vera leaves.
Steps
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Assess your aloe vera plant. Before you start to harvest any aloe vera gel, you'll want to be sure you're working with a mature plant. A mature and healthy aloe plant is recognizable by its large, green leaves: they should be about 8 inches (20 cm) long. Aloe grows from the center outward, making the outermost leaves the oldest, largest, and richest of the leaves to use. [2] X Research source -
Cut off some aloe vera leaves. Depending on how much aloe vera you need, you will probably not need or want to use an entire aloe vera plant for this. Cut off one of the outermost leaves of an aloe vera plant using a sharp knife at the base of the plant. The leaves do not grow back, but by only cutting a portion of the plant , you will leave the whole of it to continue to grow and produce more aloe vera for you in the future.- Be sure that your knife is sharp to cause minimal damage to the plant.
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Clean off the cut aloe vera. Once you have cut the leaf, a yellow substance will begin to ooze from the cut. In order to keep the plant from making a mess, you'll want to point the leaf vertically, cut end down, into a bowl to allow the substance to continue coming out. Use a pitcher of water and your fingers to clean the leaf from top to bottom, directing the water into the bowl as well. [3] X Research source- The yellow ooze produced in this step is a sap called aloe latex. [4] X Research source It is not the aloe vera gel, which will be clear and thick in appearance, and you do not want it to contaminate your gel because it has laxative properties that may mess up your digestive track.
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Cut off the top third of the leaves. Because of the thinness of the top, pointed part of the aloe vera leaf, you will waste more time trying to get gel from this portion than is cost effective. Instead, cut this portion off and discard it. [5] X Research source- You will need to repeat the previous rinsing step for the top portion as it now will also produce yellow ooze.
- Depending on the size of your aloe vera leaves, you might find it easier to extract the gel by cutting the thick portion of the leaf into additional pieces, either along the leaves' length, width, or both ways.
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Remove the spines. Before you can get at the gel core of the leaf, you'll need to remove the hard, spine edges on either side of each leaf. Carefully cut them away, remembering to move the knife away from yourself and your hands so as to avoid potentially cutting yourself in the process. [6] X Research source
- Be sure that the aloe vera leaves are also dry before you begin this portion of the cutting as a slippery leaf could lead to potential accidents.
- Make your cut as close to the spines as possible so that you don't lose a lot of gel in the process.
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Remove the top and bottom layers. With your leaf laying flat on a cutting board, carefully slice away the skin of the aloe vera leaf. This will be the thin, outer green layer you see. Run your knife between it and the thick, clear gel at the center, and repeat this process for the remaining top layer by flipping it to the bottom. [7] X Research source
- If you would prefer not to use a knife for this step due to the potential for cutting yourself, you can choose to use a fruit peeler instead. [8] X Research source
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Remove and store the gel . At this point, you should have slabs of clear aloe vera gel. If you see any bits of leaf left on them, trim them off, and feel free to cube the gel for easier storage by cutting them with your knife. Be sure to rinse the aloe vera gel itself 2-3 times when you're finished to be sure that it's free of any aloe latex residue. [9] X Research source
- Use a spoon to scrape up any excess gel left over along the skin.
- Store all of the gel extract you get in a new glass or bowl separate from the water you used to wash the leaves with.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat is the best way to harvest aloe vera gel?Dr. Ritu Thakur is a healthcare consultant based in Delhi, India. She has over 14 years of experience in Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, and Holistic Care. Dr. Ritu also works as a business consultant in the life sciences domain. She has successfully executed 150+ small to large-scale custom consulting projects for both established and development-stage companies. She received her Bachelor Degree in Medicine (BAMS) in 2009 from BU University, Bhopal followed by her Master's in Health Care in 2011 from Apollo Institute of Health Care Management, Hyderabad.Extract the gel from fresh and intact aloe vera leaves. Check the bottom of the leaves for yellow discharge and cut it off if it’s there. Remove all the thorns and the green part of the leaves. Separate the white, clear fleshy parts. Blend the white flesh in the blender and make sure there are no lumps. You can store the gel in the refrigerator long-term.
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Warnings
- When opened, the plant is very slimy and icky to the touch.Thanks
- Be forewarned, the aloe vera plant has a strong, distinctive smell that some people may not be able to tolerate.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/aloe-vera
- ↑ http://www.aloeplant.info/harvest-fresh-aloe-gel/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiJhB_--EQ4
- ↑ http://www.aloeplant.info/extract-aloe-vera-gel/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiJhB_--EQ4
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD4Zjcd2jrs
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD4Zjcd2jrs
- ↑ http://www.aloeplant.info/extract-aloe-vera-gel/
- ↑ http://www.aloeplant.info/extract-aloe-vera-gel/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
If you want to extract aloe vera gel from a mature plant, choose leaves from around the outside of the plant that are about 8 inches long. Discard the yellow substance that initially drains from the leaf. Cut off the top third and the spines from each leaf, then carefully slice away the skin from the top and bottom of the leaf. You should be left with a slab of clear aloe vera gel. Rinse the gel 2-3 times and store it in a glass or bowl until it’s ready for use. Keep reading to learn how to tell whether your plant is mature enough to harvest.
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Reader Success Stories
- "I have a Great Dane that has a licking sore on her elbow, and have tried everything. I read about aloe vera and have been using it for several days, and the wound looks better. Problem is, it's so slimy even after blending - a tad messy. Looking for a way to make paste. " ..." more
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"I have a Great Dane that has a licking sore on her elbow, and have tried everything. I read about aloe vera and have been using it for several days, and the wound looks better. Problem is, it's so slimy even after blending - a tad messy. Looking for a way to make paste. "
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"I had damage my skin under my left eye on the cheek bone area with to much exposure to the sun over 10 years of playing golf. I decided to put aloe on that area and within 24 hours the swelling and inflammatory pain was gone. Aloe gel does work!!!"
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"Thank you for your clear directions to harvest aloe vera, and your informative article. I am particularly thankful to know more about removing the yellow substance and how long I may keep my supply of aloe gel in the refrigerator."
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"Amazing. I was having a really bad time with my face. I looked up how to use aloe vera, and this popped up. I read it, watched the video on how to use it, and so I did. A few days later, I was clear. Fantastic."
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"Terrible seasonal skin itch, had a leaf break off my aloe, so tried some on my skin. Instant relief! But now I know how to get the most from each precious leaf! Thanks, wikiHow!"
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