Description

Aloe Vera oil provides brilliant health benefits for the skin, just like the aloe vera gel. Since it is turned into oil, this product has a longer shelf life and can be used even when fresh Aloe Vera plant is not available. Aloe Vera oil is good for treating skin wounds and for scalp conditioning.

Aloe Vera oil can be used as a massage oil. It penetrates well and feels soothing to the skin. One can use essential oils with this oil as an aromatherapy massage.


Aloe Vera Oil
Aloe Vera oil is the oil that is obtained from Aloe Vera plant by the process of maceration in some carrier oil. It is not 100 % aloe vera, but a kind of infused oil. The most commonly used carrier oil is soybean oil, although other oils like almond oil or olive oil may also be used. This oil is mostly made up of the carrier oil and some essence of aloe vera. Aloe Vera oil provides brilliant health benefits for the skin, just like the aloe vera gel. Since it is turned into oil, this product has a longer shelf life and can be used even when fresh Aloe Vera plant is not available. Aloe Vera oil is good for treating skin wounds and for scalp conditioning.

Source
Aloe Vera oil is made from the gel of Aloe Vera plant. There are many species of this succulent plant. The most common one is Aloe barbedensis. Aloe Vera has tremendous health benefits when applied topically and also when used internally. It has been mentioned often in medicinal books of the past where it is described how this gel is used for skin diseases, wounds and digestive complaints. Modern research also shows that many of these applications of Aloe Vera gel are really effective.

aloe vera used for aloe vera oil
( Photo credit : Jean )

According to traditional Indian system of healing, Aloe Vera oil is produced with many other ingredients like rose water, sandalwood oil and a base oil like Khus oil. This oil is believed to be excellent for hair care. It is known as Ghritkumari oil.

Production The method used to extract this oil is maceration. In this process, the herbal gel is mixed with oil at higher temperature. The oil soaks up nutrients from Aloe Vera gel. After some time, it is filtered to remove out the plant components. This oil extraction technique is used for many herbal oils.


 
soybean oil is base for aloe oil
( Photo credit : unitedsoybean )

Properties
Aloe Vera oil contains the therapeutic properties from the base oil as well from the nutrients that it provides to the oil.

Emollient Aloe Vera oil is a brilliant moisturiser for the skin.
Anti-Inflammatory It reduces inflammation and other signs related to it.
Anti Bacterial It has the ability to kill certain bacteria.
Anti-Viral This property makes it suitable for use on herpes and shingles rashes.
Anti-fungal This oil can be used to kill fungi that cause conditions like ringworm.
Anti-oxidant The oil protects the skin from free radical damage.
Cicatrizant Aloe vera oil speeds wound recovery.
Anti-Irritant reduces skin irritation.
Astringent shrinks the skin and makes it taut.
Sun protection Aloe Vera oil provides minor sun protection, especially in a base oil like Sesame oil.
Aloe Vera oil has been identified to be an excellent carrier oil. It penetrates deep into the skin layers quickly [1]. This makes it a wonderful carrier oil for massage therapy. Because of its powerful skin penetration property. it can carry other products into the skin quite fast, like essential oils.
Health Benefits
Because of its healing properties, Aloe Vera oil is used in many applications for personal use. One can make use of it as a home remedy for certain conditions.
1. Massage Oil
Aloe Vera oil can be used as a massage oil. It penetrates well and feels soothing to the skin. One can use essential oils with this oil as an aromatherapy massage.
2. Healing Skin Wounds
Aloe vera provides wound healing nutrients to this oil. One can apply it on a wound, cut, scrape or even a bruise. It prompts the skin to heal faster. It also helps in reducing the scar [2]. However, for burns and sunburns, the pure Aloe Vera gel can be more effective as it is much more cooling and soothing. It is good for healing post surgical scars.