Candelabra Aloe scientific name Aloe Arborescens is native to southern of Africa. It is usually found in mountainous areas where it favors exposed ridges and rocky outcrops. It is also found in dense bush. It is well known as Aloe Vera. This is an evergreen slow growing plant that grows to 6 – 8 feet (2 – 3 m). Its leaves are succulent and are green with a slight blue tint. Its leaves are armed with small spikes along its edges and are arranged in rosettes situated at the end of branches. It blooms in spring. The flowers color is red/orange with cylindrical shape. All plant of this species is also relatively popular among gardeners and has recently been studied for possible medical uses.
Uses and cultural aspects:
In many parts of South Africa Aloe arborescens is planted
around kraals (domestic stock enclosures) as a living fence. It
often happens that the position of old kraals can still be seen
many years after they have been abandoned because the aloes persist.
Cuttings intended for use as barrier plants are sold in muthi shops.
The Zulu people use the leaves of this plant, dried and pounded
into a powder, as a protection against storms. Decoctions of the
leaves are also used in childbirth and in treating sick calves.
In the Transkei it is used for stomach ache and given to chickens
to prevent them from getting sick. In the Orient, this aloe is grown
in domestic gardens as a convenient first-aid treatment for burn
wounds and abrasions. In fact it was only after it was used to treat
irradiation burn victims of Hiroshima that its healing properties
received attention from the West. Extracts from the leaves have
been widely investigated since then and shown significant wound
healing, anti-bacterial, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic,
hypoglycaemic and also alopoeic activity. The leaves have also been
found to have purgative properties and the leaf sap is reported
to relieve x-ray burns.
What is "alopoeic activity"
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