Aloe arborescens (aloe vera) - aloe arborescens mill.

Botanical characteristics. The family is lily. Perennial tree plant up to 4 m in height. The leaves are large, fleshy, regular, and apparently elongated, with large spike-like teeth at the edges. Large orange flowers form a long brush of cylindrical shape. Fruits - boxes, filled with numerous seeds. In the room, aloe fruit does not ripen, flowering is most often observed at the end of winter - early in spring.

Spread. Aloe is a resident of southern Africa. It is widely distributed as a room medicinal plant. For the needs of the medical industry, it is cultivated in the Caucasus, propagates by cuttings.

Used parts of the plant. Leaves, from which they receive juice and powder called sabur.
Aloe vera juice contains anthraglycosides and free aglycones, resins, essential oils, enzymes and vitamins.

Application. In folk medicine with neuroses, asthenic conditions, with headaches of unclear etiology. In a mixture with honey and wine, aloe juice is used for chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and pulmonary tuberculosis.
It is widely used for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases: chronic gastritis, colitis, ulcerative colitis and peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, to improve appetite. Has a pronounced laxative effect, which occurs 8-10 hours after ingestion.
Aloe is prescribed in menopause, with amenorrhea, with inflammatory diseases of female genital organs.
Has a good effect in asthenia, as well as after the transferred infectious diseases. It is used for long healing wounds.
Currently, aloe is widely used in the treatment of eye diseases and in otolaryngology as a means to increase the overall reactivity of the body.
Outer aloe juice and saber are used for burns, purulent wounds, inflammatory diseases of the skin of infectious etiology, lupus and radiation injuries.

Contraindications. Aloe preparations are contraindicated in diseases of the heart, liver and gall bladder, kidneys and bladder, with a tendency to diarrhea.
Aloe increases the tone of the musculature of the uterus and is contraindicated in pregnancy. In case of an overdose of aloe preparations, pain in the heart, kidneys, uterine bleeding, a sharp exacerbation of hemorrhoids, and even hematuria - blood in the urine may appear.
By its nature, aloe is not suitable for every patient: the people of the choleric temperament are not prescribed for internal use.

Preparation. Large leaves of aloe are torn off, washed, squeezed juice. Squeezed juice is mixed with honey and wine type "Cahors" (200 g of juice, 300 g of honey, 350 g of wine). The mixture is aged for 5-7 days in a dark place at room temperature. Take 1-2 teaspoons 3 times a day for 20-40 minutes before eating. The course of treatment is 3-4 weeks.
N.G. Kovalev gives another recipe: 150 g of leaves (cut off the edges with spines) to grind and pour 300 g of hot honey, not brought to a boil. Infuse for a day, warm up, strain and take up to 5-10 g in the morning an hour before meals.
For outdoor use, prepare aloe in the form of ointment: aloe juice is mixed in equal proportions with honey, add pure alcohol (1 tablespoon per glass of mixture), mix again and store in the refrigerator. Smear ointment 2-3 times a day for a long time not healing wounds, ulcers and fistulas, if necessary, impose a bandage. It is necessary to take into account the individual tolerability of the ointment.
In medical practice the following preparations of aloe are used: tincture of sabur: 10-20 drops 3 times a day; 1 teaspoon of aloe juice 2-3 times a day before meals; Emulsion of aloe - external; Syrup of aloe with iron 30 drops 3 times a day; Dense aloe extract of striped 1 tablet 2 times a day; Water extract of aloe for injection.

Use of aloe vera in the diet

The method of preparation with therapeutic purpose of preparations from aloe corresponds to the preparation of certain dietary dishes in combination with aloe.

Aloe juice with lemon, walnuts and cocoa

The kernels of walnuts are ground into a powder and mixed with a lemon, cocoa ground in a meat grinder or in a mixer, add aloe juice. Take 2 tbsp. L. 3 times a day with exhaustion, decay, at the stage of recovery after severe illnesses, with growth rate disorders in children with pituitary dwarfism and diabetes mellitus.

Aloe juice with butter, cream, cocoa, hazelnuts and honey

Mix 0.5 glass of aloe juice with a glass of honey, a glass of ground hazelnut powder, as well as a glass of melted butter and 2 tbsp. L. Cocoa powder. Allow the mixture to settle and re-mix thoroughly until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Eat with whipped cream or cottage cheese or cook sandwiches.

Use in the diet of tuberculosis patients suffering from adrenal insufficiency, exhaustion, thyrotoxicosis, with delayed growth of the pituitary and dental types.