What it does: Applied to the skin, aloe vera is an excellent treatment for wounds, burns and other skin disorders.

How to do it: Cut the leaves in half along the length to reveal the clear gel inside. Rub the clear gel over skin.

Why it helps: The clear gel makes a protective coat over skin, speeds up the rate of healing and reduces the risk of infection. This is due to aloectin B, which stimulates the immune system. The mucilage in aloe, which contains mucopolysaccharides, is largely responsible for aloe’s healing action both on burns and wounds.