Aloe vera, Aloe spp.
Scientific Name: Aloe vera/barbadensis
English Name: Aloe vera
Nepali Name: Gheukumari
Sanskrit Name: Kumari
Description:
Aloe is a coarse-looking perennial plant with a short stem,
erect, with crowded leaves that has spiny teeth on the margins.
Red colored flowers in a bunch appear during late winter.
This plant grows well in sandy soil. The tissue in the center
of the aloe leaf contains a gel which yields aloe gel or
aloe vera gel. Aloe
Distribution: mostly found in tropical and subtropical plains.
Often cultivated as a garden plant.
Parts Used: Leaf gel and sap. Aloin Extract, dried juice
of leaves and pulp root
Phytochemical properties: Aloin, obtained from the gel in
the leaf. Responsible for the plant's healing properties.
Its principal constituents are the leaves that contain barbaloin,
chrysophanol glycoside and the aglycone, aloe-emodin.
Medicinal value:
The gel obtained from the inner part of the aloe leaf is
used to treat burns, skin rashes, insect bites, healing
wounds by drawing out infection, and preventing infection
from starting and chafed nipples from breast-feeding. This
gel can also be used internally to keep the bowels functioning
smooth. It must be noticed that this medicine when taken
internally causes intestinal cramping and there are other
herbs that do this job better. This gel is best effective
when used fresh rather than "stabilized" gels
found in the stores. The fresh gel was used by Cleopatra
to keep her skin soft and young. It is also used in menorrhea,
asthma, inflamed or diseased breasts, burns, bursitis, colds,
colic, conjunctivitis, constipation, coughs, dys- menorrhea,
dysentery with bloody stools, ear infections, eye problems,
fat and sugar metabolism, fever, gonorrhea, heart pain,
hemorrhoids, hepatitis, herpes, infant pneumonia, insomnia,
Intestinal worms, jaundice, kidney disorders, enlarged liver,
menopause, rheumatism, skin inflammations, skin rashes,
sores, sore throat, spleen enlarged, toothache, TB and other
lung diseases, tumors, ulcers, chronic vaginitis and venereal
diseases.
Dosage:
Both pulp and juice: one teaspoonful (5 ml).
Ayurvedic preparation:
Kumaryasave, Kumari vati, Rajahpravartani vati.
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