Aloe arborescens

Ethno Medicinal Uses of Aloe arborescens

Administered to people: The Zulus use leaf decoctions of Aloe arborescens in childbirth. In Transkei, cold water leaf infusions are used for stomach ache. Crushed leaves are used to treat burns and wounds.The leaves have purgative properties and the sap is reported to relieve X-ray burns. (Hutchings et.al.)

Administers to animals: Cold leaf infusions are used to drench sick calves and is also administered to chickens to prevent illness. (Hutchings et.al.)

Applied in a magical sense: The Zulus use pounded leaf infusions as protective charms against storms. (Hutchings et.al.)

Chemical constituents and biological properties: Leaf extracts show significant wound healing, antibacterial, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and hypoglycaemic activity. (Hutchings et.al.)

Eco-Gardening

Aloe arborescens is a large Aloe with narrow curved, bluish-grey leaves that form rosettes. Three to four flowering stems arise from each rosette and bloom all winter. It is an attractive plant that provides food for sunbirds in winter as well as attracting insects and thus other birds. (Wildflower Nursery)

It is easily confused with Aloe mutabilis, but the latter has no stem and has bi-coloured flowers, considered by some to be a highveld form of A. arborescens. (Schmidt et.al.)

References

This monograph contains details of Aloe arborescens as per the references cited below. If you can provide any additional information, photos or reliable use records, or spot any errors, please leave a comment below or in The Muthi Flora of southern Africa Facebook group

Arnold, T.H., Prentice, C.A., Hawker, L.C., Snyman, E.E., Tomalin, M., Crouch, N.R. and Pottas-Bircher, C. (2002). Medicinal and magical plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 13. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

Hutchings, A., Scott, A.H., Lewis, G., Cunnigham, A.B., (1996). Zulu Medicinal Plants: an inventory. University of Natal

Schmidt, E., Lotter, M., Mcleland, W. (2007) Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Jacana Media, Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Wildflower Nursery – https://wildflowernursery.co.za/indigenous-plant-database/aloe-arborescens/. Accessed on 2020/01/14

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