Other names: Agave.
Diseases and effects: chronic and atonic constipation, purulent wounds, chronic ulcers, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, chronic gastritis with low acidity, with a tendency to constipation, chronic colitis, hypochromic anemia, diseases of the skin and mucous membranes, burns, osteomyelitis, trophic ulcers, diseases of the oropharynx, gums, skin tuberculosis, lupus, eczema, radiation dermatitis of the head, epithelioma, cervical erosion, acute rhinitis, ulcerative stomatitis, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, iritis, anemia, pulmonary tuberculosis, asthma, hypertension, gout, sciatica, influenza, tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis, eczema, malignant tumors, radiation sickness with leukopenia, loss of strength, incipient cataracts, colds, calluses.
Active substances: sugar, aloe resin, enzymes, vitamins, phytocides, anthraglycosides, aloin, nataloin, rabarberone, homonataloin, emodin, resinous substances, traces of essential oils.
Collection time: January – December
Family: lily (Liliaceae).\r
Botanical description
\r
Perennial evergreen tropical tree, reaching in its homeland – in South and East Africa – 4-10 m in height.\r
The leaves are large, up to 60 cm long, fleshy, juicy, xiphoid, armed with spines along the edges.\r
Kol flowers within the shape, red or yellow, are placed on the top of a long brush in the form of an inflorescence.\r
Distribution and habitat
\r
On the territory of the CIS countries, aloe is cultivated in the Transcaucasus, in Central Asia. Aloe is widely known in home culture; in everyday life it is called the agave and bred as an indoor flower. For medical purposes, the aerial part of the plant is used.\r
Chemical composition
\r
In the fresh leaves and juice of the plant there is a certain amount of enzymes, vitamins, phytocides were found. Anthraglycosides have also been isolated from aloe leaves – aloin, nataloin, rabarberone, homonataloin, also emodin, resinous substances and traces of essential oils.\r
Healing action and application
\r
Thickened and hardened aloe juice is called sabur.\r
Preparations of aloe and sabura (condensed aloe juice) have a laxative effect. When administered orally, anthraglycosides are cleaved in an alkaline environment and in the presence of bile into arabinose and aloe-emodin, which in 8-10 hours cause abundant soft stools, selectively affecting the large intestine. Galenic products of aloe and sabur enhance the secretion of the digestive glands, have a choleretic effect, improve appetite and digestion.\r
Aloe galenic products have pronounced anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antibacterial and anti-burn properties. An extract from biostimulated aloe leaves in an animal experiment actively increases the immunoreactive properties of the body. A biostimulant derived from aloe has actually given a new direction in the use of plants in practical medicine.\r
As a remedy, aloe was used more than 3000 years ago. In Egypt, India and Greece, this plant was used as an external remedy for the treatment of festering wounds and chronic ulcers. Aloe juice was drunk to stimulate appetite and in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.\r
Currently, aloe products are widely used in medical practice. Aloe juice, aloe liniment, aloe syrup with iron, aloe extract liquid for injection are prepared from aloe. In complex products for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and for external use in combination with other medicinal substances, dry or fresh plant juice is often introduced.\r
Fresh aloe juice is used for chronic gastritis with low acidity, with a tendency to constipation, to improve appetite, and also to increase the body’s resistance to infectious diseases.\r
When prescribing aloe juice as a laxative, it will be necessary to remember that higher doses can inhibit peristalsis and cause inflammation of the large intestine. This is due to the ability of anthraglycosides to irritate the intestinal mucosa when using large doses of products or when prescribing them for a long period.\r
Laxative products from aloe are contraindicated in hemorrhoidal and uterine bleeding, since the anthraglycosides contained in aloe contribute to the flow of blood to the abdominal organs and can provoke bleeding. Aloe products should not be prescribed for long periods of pregnancy.\r
A product made by the chemical and pharmaceutical industry containing liquid aloe juice, preserved with a small amount of alcohol, is recommended for gastritis with low acidity of gastric juice, for chronic colitis.\r
Aloe syrup with iron consists of a solution of ferrous chloride with an iron content of up to 20% per 100 g, hydrochloric acid, citric acid and aloe syrup. Aloe syrup with iron is indicated for chronic and acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract associated with posthemorrhagic anemia, with hypochromic anemia of various etiologies, as a result of infectious and other debilitating diseases or intoxications.\r
Aloe juice is widely used in the treatment of diseases of the skin and mucous membranes. It is used externally for purulent wounds, burns, osteomyelitis, trophic ulcers; used for rinsing with diseases of the oropharynx, gums. In a number of clinical institutions, compresses with aloe juice are prescribed for skin tuberculosis, lupus, eczema and other diseases. There is evidence that with radiation dermatitis of the head, compresses with aloe juice give positive results. In the very first days of treatment, pain disappears, after 5-6 weeks, complete tissue regeneration begins, susceptibility, pigmentation and hair growth are restored. Aloe is also used in the treatment of epithelioma. For external use in all kinds of skin diseases, an aloe emulsion is used, which is traditionally applied 2-3 times a day with a thin layer on the affected planes.\r
In gynecological practice, fresh aloe juice is used for cervical erosion. To do this, tampons moistened with aloe juice are inserted into the vagina.\r
For the treatment of acute rhinitis, 2-3 infusions of fresh canned juice, 5-8 drops each, into the nostrils with an interval of several hours are sufficient. The appointment of fresh juice in the form of turundas and irrigation for ulcerative stomatitis is accompanied by a significant improvement in the well-being of patients.\r
In the manufacture of an aqueous extract of aloe, the leaves are placed in extremely unfavorable conditions. In a dark place at temperatures up to + 3 ° C, they are kept for 20-25 days. Under these conditions, certain substances begin to accumulate in the plant, which are found in the leaves due to an increase in the viability of the plant product. Biological substances – stimulants obtained from aloe leaves – enhance metabolic processes in tissues, increase the body’s immune resistance, and promote the healing of sluggish inflammatory processes.\r
Aloe extract liquid for injection is widely used in the treatment of eye diseases (blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, iritis, etc.). It is also used for chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, bronchial asthma, gynecological diseases. Tissue therapy is used in these cases as one of the components in the complex treatment of patients.\r
Dosage forms, method of administration and doses
\r
Aloe extract liquid for injections (Extractum Aloes fluidum pro injectionibus). Aqueous extract from aloe leaves for subcutaneous injection. Transparent liquid of light yellow color. Enter under the skin every day, 1 ml (the largest daily dose of 3-4 ml); children under 5 years old – 0.2-0.3 ml, over 5 years old – 0.5 ml. The course of treatment consists of 30-50 injections. In case of painful injections, 0.5 ml of a 2% solution of novocaine is administered beforehand. Repeated courses of treatment are carried out after a 2-3-month break.\r
In the treatment of persons suffering from bronchial asthma, administered for 10-15 days, 1-1.5 ml every day, and then 1 time in 2 days; in total, 30-35 injections are made per course.\r
Aloe leaf extract is produced in 1 ml ampoules. Store in a dark cool place.\r
Aloe Linimentum (Linimentum Aloes) is a creamy mass of light cream color, a peculiar smell. It is used to prevent and treat skin lesions during radiation therapy. For prophylactic purposes, liniment is applied to the skin after each exposure; for therapeutic purposes, it is applied in a thin layer on the affected surface 2-3 times a day and covered with a gauze napkin.\r
Aloe syrup with iron (Siropus Aloes cum Ferro) is used for anemia (anemia); appoint 1/2-1 teaspoon per reception in 1/4 glass of water 3 times every day; the average duration of the course of treatment is 15-30 days.\r
Juice from fresh aloe leaves (or canned) is also used orally (1 teaspoon – 1 dessert spoon 2-3 times every day half an hour before meals) for chronic and atonic constipation, gastritis, obesity, as a choleretic agent, for diseases of the liver and bile bladder to stimulate appetite and improve digestion.\r
Also, aloe juice has a bactericidal effect on different groups of bacteria, including tubercle bacillus.\r
It is recommended to chew a piece of freshly cut raw aloe leaf three times every day and, after sucking out the juice, swallow everything that is left in case of stomach cancer.\r
1 Mix . 750 aloe juice, 1750 g of red grape wine and 1250 g of pure honey are infused for 7 days in a closed dark glass jar. Use: the first 7 days – 1 teaspoon, then for 5 weeks – 1 tbsp. spoon three times every day 2 hours before meals. Indications for the use of infusion – pulmonary tuberculosis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, asthma, hypertension, gout, sciatica, influenza, tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis, eczema, malignant tumors, radiation sickness with leukopenia, loss of strength, incipient cataract.\r
2 Blend . It is used for pulmonary tuberculosis. Take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of a mixture of melted lard, butter, pure honey, aloe juice and cocoa powder (in a ratio of 1000:1000:1000:150:100) to 1 glass of hot milk and drink 1 glass twice every day.\r
Aloe juice is instilled into the nose with a cold, with cataracts – in the eyes. In the later case, the juice is preliminarily diluted in a ratio of 1: 10.\r
The pulp of fresh aloe leaves is applied for several days in a row in the treatment of corns.