Practical
Plants

Aloe vera

Aloe Vera

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Aloeaceae
Genus
Aloe
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Growth rate
slow
Height
0.8 m
Spread
1 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves - cooked[2]. Very bitter, they are an emergency food that is only used when all else fails[5]. A gel in the leaves is sometimes used as an ingredient of commercial jellies[6]. Seed[2][6]. An emergency food used when all else fails[5]. It is very unlikely that the seed will be produced in Britain[10].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

Aloe vera is a fairly well known herbal preparation with a long history of use. It is widely used in modern herbal practice and is often available in proprietary herbal preparations[K]. It has two distinct types of medicinal use. The clear gel contained within the leaf makes an excellent treatment for wounds, burns and other skin disorders, placing a protective coat over the affected area, speeding up the rate of healing and reducing the risk of infection[254, K]. This action is in part due to the presence of aloectin B, which stimulates the immune system[12]. To obtain this gel, the leaves can be cut in half along their length and the inner pulp rubbed over the affected area of skin[K]. This has an immediate soothing effect on all sorts of burns and other skin problems[K]. The second use comes from the yellow sap at the base of the leaf. The leaves are cut transversally at their base and the liquid that exudes from this cut is dried[14]. It is called bitter aloes and contains anthraquinones which are a useful digestive stimulant and a strong laxative[12]. When plants are grown in pots the anthraquinone content is greatly reduced[12]. The plant is emmenagogue, emollient, laxative, purgative, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary[14][8][15][17][18][3][4]. Extracts of the plant have antibacterial activity[9]. Apart from its external use on the skin, aloe vera (usually the bitter aloes) is also taken internally in the treatment of chronic constipation, poor appetite, digestive problems etc[10]. It should not be given to pregnant women or people with haemorrhoids or irritable bowel syndrome[10][11]. The plant is strongly purgative so great care should be taken over the dosage[10]. The plant is used to test if there is blood in the faeces[18]. This plant has a folk history of treatment in cases of cancer[9].

Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Emollient
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Miscellany
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vermifuge
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

The leaf extracts are used in skin-care cosmetic products[10][12]. Plants have been grown indoors in pots in order to help remove toxins from the atmosphere. It is also unusual in that it continues to release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide in the dark, making it very suitable for growing in bedrooms[13].

Product or use
Cosmetic
Product or use
Pollution

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat
Maritime sands and rocks[16].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a warm greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 6 months at 16°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of very well-drained soil when they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in a sunny part of the greenhouse for at least their first two winters. If trying them outdoors then plant them out in early summer to allow them to become established before the winter, and give them some protection from the cold in winter[K]. Division of offsets when available, usually in spring. The plants produce offsets quite freely and they can be divided at any time of the year as long as it is warm enough to encourage fresh root growth to allow re-establishment of the plants[K]. Pot up and grow on in the greenhouse until established.

Cultivation

Requires a well-drained soil and a very sunny position[1]. Plants are tolerant of poor soils[7]. If trying to grow this plant outdoors then it will need the sunniest and warmest area in the garden plus some protection from winter cold (a glass frame perhaps)[K]. This species is not very cold-hardy outdoors in Britain, it is best grown in a pot placed outdoors in the summer and put in a greenhouse for the winter[1]. It grows very well in a sunny windowsill[K].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  4. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  8. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  9. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  10. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00

    ↩

  12. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  13. Wolverton. B. C. Eco-Friendly House Plants. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. London. 1996-00-00 ISBN 0-297-83484-3

    ↩

  14. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  16. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  17. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  18. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

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