Aloe is from the Arabic “alloeh” meaning bitter and shiny. It is a member of the lily family. It is a good treatment for burns and wounds, just apply the juice of the plant directly to the lesion. Many people have aloe plants in their home and just break a leaf and apply the juice from the plant directly. Effective poultices are made using aloe juice mixed with comfrey powder and adding a little golden seal root as an infection fighter. For topical application to skin ulcers, burns irritations and bites, no combination of herbs is as effective as aloe alone.
Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed plant growing to 24–39 inches tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to
Potted Aloe Vera Plant. Aloe vera leaves tropical green plants tolerate hot weather
grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on their upper and lower stem surfaces. The margin of the leaf is serrated and has small white teeth. The flowers are produced in summer on a spike up to 35 inches tall.
Aloe vera leaves contain phytochemicals under study for possible bioactivity, such as acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones, other anthraquinones, such as emodin and various lectins.
ACTIONS: Cathartic, lowers bowel transit time, absorbs toxins in the bowel, cell proliferant (treat leaky gut).
