BULBINE FRUTESCENS SERIES — ARTICLE 5 OF 6TITLE:How to Use Bulbine frutescens Gel at Home: The African Answer to Aloe Vera

CATEGORY: Herbal Remedies / Frugal Herbal Living

READ TIME: 6 min

If you have a pot of Bulbine frutescens growing in your garden or on your windowsill, you have a living, renewable source of one of the most effective skin-healing gels in the African herbal tradition. Using it could not be simpler — and once you have experienced it on a burn or a sting, you will wonder why it is not more widely known in the UK.

How to Extract the Gel

The gel is contained within the slender, hollow leaves of the plant. To extract it:

Snap or cut a healthy, mature leaf cleanly at its base.

Hold the leaf over a clean bowl or directly over the skin area you wish to treat.

Snap the leaf in half or squeeze it gently — the clear gel will emerge from the cut end.

Apply the gel directly to the skin.

The gel is clear to very slightly yellow-tinged, with a light, non-greasy texture. It absorbs into the skin quickly and dries to a barely perceptible film. It has a very mild, slightly green scent — pleasant and unobtrusive.

One leaf provides enough gel for a small skin area. For larger areas, use several leaves.

Direct First-Aid Uses

Burns and Scalds

This is the plant's primary traditional use and the reason for its common name — the burn jelly plant. For minor thermal burns, apply the fresh gel immediately and generously. The cooling anti-inflammatory action begins within minutes. Reapply every hour or two as needed. For anything beyond a superficial burn, always seek medical attention.

Insect Stings and Bites

Apply fresh gel directly to the sting or bite immediately. Press a leaf onto the area and hold for several minutes if possible. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties reduce swelling, redness, and itching effectively.

Sunburn

Apply fresh gel generously across sunburned skin. It is cooling, non-greasy, and genuinely soothing. Reapply as the gel absorbs and dries. It can be used on the face, including around the eye area, with care.

Eczema and Dry Skin Flares

Apply a thin layer of fresh gel to affected areas twice daily during a flare. The anti-inflammatory compounds help reduce redness and itching. This is a traditional use supported by laboratory research into the plant's active constituents. It will not cure eczema, but many people find it significantly soothes the discomfort of a flare.

Cracked Heels and Dry Hands

Apply the gel to cracked heels or very dry hands before bed. Put on cotton socks or gloves over the top to help the gel absorb overnight. The wound-healing and moisturising properties of the gel are well suited to this use, and it is far gentler than many commercial cracked heel preparations.

Mouth Ulcers

Apply a small amount of fresh gel directly to a mouth ulcer using a clean fingertip. Hold it in contact with the ulcer for as long as comfortable. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties help reduce pain and support healing. This is a traditional use — repeat two or three times daily.

Nappy Rash and Sensitive Baby Skin

The gel is gentle enough for infant skin and was traditionally used in southern African households for nappy rash and minor skin irritations in babies. Apply a thin layer to the affected area at each nappy change. As always with any new preparation on a baby's skin, do a patch test first and discontinue if any reaction occurs.

Making a Preserved Bulbine Gel

For convenient daily use, particularly if you are applying the gel regularly for a skin condition, you can prepare a small batch to keep in the refrigerator.

Ingredients:

8 to 10 mature Bulbine frutescens leaves

A few drops of vitamin E oil (optional natural preservative)

A few drops of lavender essential oil (optional, adds antimicrobial support and a pleasant scent)

A clean small glass jar with a lid

Method:

1. Harvest the leaves cleanly from the base of the plant.

2. Rinse briefly and pat dry.

3. Snap each leaf and squeeze the gel out into a clean bowl.

4. Mash or blend the collected gel until smooth.

5. Add vitamin E oil and lavender oil if using, and stir through thoroughly.

6. Transfer to a clean glass jar and refrigerate.

7. Use within one week.

Apply to skin as needed. The gel may discolour slightly in the refrigerator — this is normal and does not affect its efficacy.

A Simple Bulbine and Calendula Skin Balm

For a slightly richer preparation that is particularly good for very dry, cracked, or damaged skin, you can combine Bulbine gel with calendula-infused oil and a small amount of beeswax to make a simple healing balm.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons Bulbine gel

2 tablespoons calendula-infused oil (available from herbal suppliers or easily made at home)

1 teaspoon beeswax pellets

A few drops of lavender essential oil

Method:

1. Melt the beeswax gently in a small heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water.

2. Add the calendula oil and stir to combine.

3. Remove from heat and allow to cool for two minutes.

4. Add the Bulbine gel and stir quickly and thoroughly to combine before the wax sets.

5. Add lavender oil and stir through.

6. Pour immediately into a small clean tin or jar.

7. Allow to set completely before sealing.

This balm is excellent for cracked heels, dry elbows, chapped lips, and irritated skin patches. It keeps at room temperature for up to four weeks.

A Note from ElderberryHerbal

Always perform a patch test before using any new plant preparation on your skin, particularly if you have known sensitivities. The internal uses of Bulbine frutescens mentioned in traditional literature should not be attempted without guidance from a qualified herbalist, as some constituents can be harmful in quantity. This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Read Next: 5 Ways to Grow Bulbine frutescens in the UK — Article 6 in this series.