Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis
Family: Liliaceae
Other Names: Barbados Aloe, Curacao Aloe, Burn Plant, Medicine Plant
Description: Evergreen perennial 30cm/1ft. The root in very fibrous, strong and light brown in colour. The leaves are long, tapering and fleshy. In each leaf is a clear gelatinous sap. Yellow or orange flowers
Native to: Islands of the Indian Ocean. Africa, America and Caribbean.
Parts used: Entire plant, gel from inside leaves
Cultivation: Full sun and frost free. Well-drained, stony soil. Seeds sown in spring at 21C. Off shoots removed in summer left to dry for two days then planted in a sand/compost mixture. Normally an indoor plant
Harvesting: Gather leaves as needed.
Actions: Astringent, cathartic, demulcent, emmenagogue, emollient, laxative, vermifuge, vulnerary
Constituents:
Aloins, resin, saponins
Phenols and phenolic glycosides: Anthraglycosides –barbaloin c-glucoside of aloe emodin, aloesin c-glucoside of aloesin. Anthraquinones: aloe emodin
Sugars: xylose, arabinose, galactose, polysacchrides
Skin: Leaves used for skin- burns, cuts, scratches and wrinkles. Poultices-eczema, stings, bites, dermatitis, rough skin
Other Notes: According to legend it was found in the Garden of Eden
Aloe is derived from the Arabic “alloeh” meaning bitter
Caution: Do not use when pregnant or breast feeding