Six Aloe Folk Remedies from Aruba
Text by Debbie Kunder
Ever since it was first brought to Aruba from Africa in 1840, the Aloe Vera plant has made a happy home on our little island, absolutely thriving in Aruba’s semi-arid tropical climate. While Aloe is certainly decorative, locals have always embraced this plant primarily for its curative properties. In fact, it’s precisely these curative properties that are still harnessed today by Aruba Aloe, one of the oldest Aloe companies in the world and one of the first to produce cosmetic products based on the nourishing Aloe Vera gel.
The following is a list of six ways that Aloe was traditionally used—and still used today—by Arubans to cure ailments or simply stay healthy.
1) It is believed that the clear gel inside the Aloe leaf can be eaten in order to help treat problems such as arthritis, diabetes, cough, and stomach ulcers. It’s also great for a quick energy boost if you’re feeling tired or lethargic. (Blending the gel with honey or fruit makes a tasty drink!)


2) The gel can be used to treat a lump caused by a blow to the body. Cut a small piece of the gel, place it on the lump, and hold it in place with a small bandage. After a few days, the swelling will have gone down and the pain will be gone.
3) Rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, and E, Aloe gel is fantastic for the skin. Skin problems such as dryness, psoriasis, acne, and eczema, as well as wounds and burns, can be alleviated by applying Aloe gel to the affected area. (Aruba Aloe offers a wide range of Aloe-packed products—including Alhydran, creams and lotions, after-sun care, soaps, and much more—that heal and nourish the skin.)

4) Washing your hair with Aloe gel cleans the scalp and leaves hair looking healthy and shiny. (Aruba Aloe’s hair care products, including sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners, are a must-try!)

5) The yellow oil that seeps from the Aloe leaf when it’s cut can be added to water to make a foolproof laxative. Interestingly, the Aloe Vera plant will only produce this oil if the climate is hot enough, like it is in Aruba.

6) Aloe can also be used to treat pets that have skin or digestion problems. It can even be used to rid your pet of ticks.
So there you have it! Six different Aloe remedies that hold up today just as well as they did when Aruban great-grandmothers used them. Try them out for yourself! Of course, Aruba Aloe makes it easy to experience the many benefits offered by Aloe vera gel, which the company harvests directly from its own Aloe plantation in Aruba in order to formulate its wide range of popular Aloe-enriched products. When visiting the island, make sure to stop by any of their 16 stores, or order online at www.arubaaloe.com.
