Aloe vera var. chinensis
Aloe vera is a member of the Aloaceae family. With over 450 species of Aloe identified, they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Although there are over two hundred species of Aloe Vera, there are probably only four or five with medicinal properties. Of these, Aloe Barbadensis Miller (also known as Aloe Linne’) is the most potent and it is really the only true aloe.
It has been used for medicinal purposes the centuries, having been mentioned in the bible, in the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus (ca. 1552 BC) and of course well-known to the Greeks. Dioscorides (41-68 AD) recommended Aloe applied externally for wounds, hemorrhoids, ulcers and hair loss, and internally as a laxative. Rome, China, India and the West Indies all used it as a wound healer, laxative, and purgative.
When sliced open, the leaves reveal its famous gel. The properties of this gel have, many times, been scientifically evaluated, and it has been found to contain up to an amazing 70 Essential Ingredients including most vitamins (including B12), minerals, amino acids, enzymes and protein. The gel, used as a topical treatment for skin irritation, wounds and other skin disorders, creates a protective shield over the skin, which then allows it to heal more quickly and guard against infection.
The yellow sap, from the base of the leaf, when dried is known as ‘bitter aloes’ and acts as a strong laxative, effective for chronic, stubborn constipation. It stimulates bile flow, digestion and the appetite. The sap, however, should not be used on the skin, in the presence of hemorrhoids, kidney disease, or while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Its super nova healing ability may be attributable to Aloectin B, which stimulates and strengthens the immune system.
Organic Aloe Vera gel is not easy to find but is worth sourcing….
Here are some of the other Aloe family….The genus includes small grass-like herbs and stemless succulent rosettes a few inches tall to larger species with stout 60 ft trunks, occupying the ecological niche of trees. They make for a pretty diverse family!
Aloe Ukambensis, Kenya
Aloe harlana, Ethiopia
Flowers of the Aloe diolii, Sudan
Flowers of the Aloe petrophila, South Africa
Aloe castanea, South Africa
Aloe bussei, Tanzania
All photos were take at the amazing Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California.
Sources: The Succulent Plant Page, New Directions (a fantastic supplier of organic aloe vera gel)
Dear stephteresa,
I am currently searching for images of Aloe bussei on behalf of the ARKive project and found your image on this page that I would really like to include on the ARKive site with your permission. Having this image represented on ARKive would greatly assist us in our conservation efforts and hopefully raise awareness of the threats posed to the species.
ARKive – http://www.arkive.org – is a unique conservation initiative.
Films, photographs and audio recordings of the world’s animals, plants and fungi are being gathered into one centralised digital library. To date we have created digital multi-media profiles for over 4000 species, digitising and storing more than 30,000 still images and over 5000 videos. These important audio-visual records are being preserved and maintained for the benefit of future generations and are being made available via the ARKive website.
I can send some documentation that will tell you a lot more about the ARKive project. However, in summary:
• It is ARKive’s current aim to compile audio-visual records for the 17,000-plus species currently threatened with extinction, according to the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
• We are looking for media (moving footage, still images, audio) to depict each species’ life history as comprehensively as possible. In order for us to achieve this aim we need help from as wide a variety of donors as possible and would like to be able to add you to our list of contributors.
• The ARKive website acts as a showcase for image providers, displaying copyright and contact details with every image and links to each media donor’s own web activities.
See examples of species which have been ARKived at http://www.arkive.org.
Please let me know if you would like to contribute to ARKive or if you have any queries.
Thank you in advance for your time, I look forward to hearing back from you.
Kind regards,
Kaz Armour
ARKive Media Researcher
katrina.armour@wildscreen.org.uk
Hi Kaz, Very happy for you to use my photo. Quite chuffed to be asked, actually!
Stephanie