Aloe (Aloeaceae)

Also known as aloe vera, aloe vera gel¹, Barbados aloe², curacao aloe², Aloe socotrina⁴, Bombay aloe⁴, turkey aloe⁴, moka aloe⁴, Zanzibar aloe⁴

Photo by Green Gal, 10/24/09

In Sanskrit, aloe means Goddess.¹ The genus Aloe contains almost 200 "succulent" species, most of which are South African.⁴

Aloe vera (a specific type of aloe) is in the family Liliaceae , or Lily family (5). Aloe vera is "distantly related to onions, garlic and asparagus" (5).

The ancient Greeks had knowledge of aloe.⁴ For more than 2,000 years, aloe has been collected on Socotra⁴ (an island near Yemen and Somalia in the Arabian sea).

Aloe vera's documented use has occurred for 3,500 years, although it has undoubtedly been used for far longer (5). "The earliest reference to its use can be found in the famous Egyptian Ebers Papyrus, which dates back to 1500 BC and is widely regarded as one of the earliest documents on what was to become the western Materia Medica" (5). In the Middle East and Mediterranean areas, aloe was used to soothe sunburns and as a "moisturizing cosmetic lotion" (5).

Aloe is perennial, with yellow to purple-colored, "drooping" flowers most of the year.² The fruit contains many seeds. The leaves look similar to the agave plant, but are smaller.²

Aloe found in Socotra has red or yellow flowers that are tube-shaped.⁴ Aloe characteristics vary with each different species. They vary in size, as evidenced by differences between miniature ones grown in homes and larger ones like the Aloe bainesii, which can reach 15 feet in height and 15 feet in base width.⁴

"American aloe" is actually Agave americana.⁴

It has a bitter/sickening taste, so it is generally ingested as a pill when used as a purgative.² It can gripe and become constipative, so it should be taken with a carminative.²

Soothing to tissue, lymph fluids, blood; does not gripe.⁴

-Location: warm, tropical regions; grows wild in north-eastern and southern Africa and Madagascar (5) and in Florida, USA⁴; cultivated in the West Indies²; Zapata area of Texas²; today it can be found in many places due to its commercial use in many products, like latex gloves, razors and liquid dishwashing soap (5).

"The natural jelly-like substance is not very stable and deteriorates quickly once the leaf has been damaged. Thus commercial producers have to process it in some way in order to preserve its freshness and extend its shelf-life. But processing rarely enhances a plant's properties. More often it reduces a miraculous healing herb to a mediocre substance that may still give you some benefit if you are lucky. But by the time this processed gel has been even further adulterated to make it suitable as an ingredient for creams and lotions, you can be fairly certain that the remaining benefit, if any, will be minimal" (5).

"A recent trend has popularized 'Aloe vera juice' (as well as a myriad of spin off products that contain the juice). This product is always processed, and often mixed with all kinds of other flavourings of dubious origin. In a natural form, Aloe..." (read more at SacredEarth.com).

- Parts used: insipid gel found in leaves (green, translucent), dried leaf powder

- Affects/cleanses: liver, spleen, heart, stomach⁴, kidney, bladder⁴

- Actions:
- gel: vulnerary, tonic, emmenagogue⁴, anthelminitic (Native American)⁴, purgative, emollient², immune system stimulant (5), anti-cancer (5)
- dried powder/latex (bright yellow⁴): cholagogic¹, laxative, cathartic (5), emmanogogue (5), digestive stimulant (5)

Considered estrogenic by Ayurvedic medicine, it has "vitalizing and tonic properties for women."¹

Uses for gel:
- treat sunburns, minor burns, insect bites, skin irritations², minor cuts and scratches (promotes enzyme activity)¹
- acne (to soothe) (5)
- psoriasis (5)
- shingles (5)
- cold sores (5)
- scarring, stretch marks (5)
- sunscreen (5)
- arthritis, tendonitis (5)
- stimulates creation of elastin and collagon in skin (5)
- fresh juice prevents/removes infection in wound healing²
- dried juice made into a tea can wash wounds and eyes²
- skin, aging and wrinkle treatment
- dyspepsia-indigestion (Native American)⁴
- skin legions (Native American)⁴
- ulcers (Native American)⁴
- overexposure to x-rays⁴

Uses for dried powder:
- treat liver issues, like hepatitis¹ (esp. when used with turmeric root¹)
- headaches (Native American)⁴
- when ingested, is usually combined with antispasmodic herbs to reduce issues with laxative effects of aloe (5)

Uses for dried latex:
- ("derives from the yellow juice contained in the pericyclic tubules of the inner leaf" 5): laxative. - suppressed menstruation (Native American)/regulation of female hormones (esp. with turmeric root¹)

Uses for leaf juice:
- salve of raw leaf juice for weaning babies from breastfeeding (Native American use)
- stomach/parasitic intestinal infections (5)
- immune system enhancer (5)
- cancer, HIV (5)
- digestive nutrient absorption and release of toxins (5)
- peptic or duodenal ulcers (5)
- colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (5)
- diabetes (5)

Cautions: not to be used when pregnant or menstruating, or by itself for hemorrhoids/piles (irritation to lower bowels if hemorrhoids present); do not give if you have liver or gall bladder "degeneration"⁴

Aloe Vera

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Sources (in order of when information was added):

1. Tierra, Michael. The Way of Herbs. New York: Pocket Books, 1990. Page 103.
2. Lust, John. The Herb Book. New York: Bantam Books, 1974. Page 91.
3. Rain, Mary Summer. Earthway. New York: Pocket Books, 1990. Page 117.
4. Hutchens, Alma R. A Handbook of Native American Herbs. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1992. Pages 3-5. (All information from this source pertains specifically to Aloe socotrina.)
5. SacredEarth.com.