MEDICINAL PLANTS

With the fall term of aloe various species belonging to the genus Aloe, are often woody, with very large leaves and fleshy, arranged in large rosettes and with a stout spine at the upper tip that goes along with other smaller spines. They usually take one or more axillary scape end in beautiful bouquets. The flowers are tubular, red, orange or yellow. The fruit is a capsule. There are over 150 species which are divided into sunny slopes and stony or rocky places in most parts of Africa and Asia. In our Peninsula occur in the wild.

FLOWERING

Depending on the species concerned, can bloom in spring and summer, although in their countries of origin are some species that bloom in winter. Interested harvest juice extracted from the leaves, commonly known as wormwood.

APPLICATIONS

The leaf juice curdled into a solid mass dark and very bitter, is known by the name of bitterness. To obtain, proceed as follows: it lets the fluid flow is drained of its leaves cut crosswise, collected in a container designed for that purpose, this liquid concentrate is left in the hot sun or artificial heat. This procedure for obtaining the bitterness in the old way in the countries of origin. In Spain at present not known, but at other times he could get the aloes aloes that grow in our land. The composition varies with aloe aloes that appropriate harvest time and method to produce it. A high percentage of water is. It also contains anthracene derivatives as aloemodina, aloin and aloin A and B. At low doses it behaves like the bitterness and cholagogue digestive tonic. These doses should not exceed one-tenth of a gram. From 0.1, it behaves as a mild laxative, but if the doses exceed 0.2 g. Starting purgative effects, similar to those caused by senna, rhubarb or frangula. Not recommended for consumption by pregnant women or people with hemorrhoids. Additionally, this plant, administered in high doses can cause gastrointestinal cramping frames. In addition, aloe juice is a skin irritant, which should take into account the people who manipulated.

ADMINISTRATION

Powdered aloes
.-. 0.02-0,06 Dose g / day, without increasing the dose, unless prescribed by a doctor. This dosing interval acts as a tonic, digestive and cholagogue. When used as a laxative or purgative should be administered at night to produce its effects the next morning. In no case should exceed a dose of 0.5 gr. Day.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Liliaceae
HABITAT: Coastal roads
FLOWERING: Spring, summer and winter
PART USED: Leaf juice
CASTILIAN: Zabila, pitazabila
CATALAN: Áloe, séver
BASQUE: Belarrmintza

USES

Laxative Moderate, Mild laxative, Mild Colagogo.