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.

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.