Aloe vera 

Medicinal Preparations:

Capsules: "00" or "0"   Times a Day: 1x

Take with other carminative herbs to reduce cramping. Use juice or gel topically as needed 

Habitat and Botanical Description:

Aloe is native to East and South Africa and has been widely introduced and cultivated in tropical regions. These succulent plants thrive in warm, dry areas with plenty of sunlight, sandy well-drained soil, and moderate watering. Aloe is easy to grow both indoors and in gardens. The nature of aloe reflects its ideal environment: it grows in dry, hot climates but produces a moist, juicy, succulent quality. This characteristic often indicates that the environment in which a plant thrives can mirror the conditions in the body that it helps to treat.

Medicinal Uses:

Aloe vera, with its origins in the landscapes of the Arabian Peninsula, has been revered for centuries in various magical and medicinal traditions. Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans treasured this plant, often referring to it as the "plant of immortality." It played a significant role in traditional Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic practices, where its healing powers were considered almost magickal.

Today, aloe vera continues to enchant herbalists and healers worldwide. It thrives in warm, dry climates, spreading its healing touch from the Mediterranean and Africa to India and the Americas. This time-honored medicinal plant is one of the most commonly used demulcents in Western herbalism. Demulcents, in their essence, increase the moisture content of tissues and mucosal membranes, making them perfect for dry or atrophied tissue states. When you encounter dryness, think of your demulcents.

Aloe acts as a powerful demulcent, coating mucous membranes from the mouth down to the rectum, soothing inflamed tissues. This makes aloe an excellent remedy for treating ulcers and inflamed conditions in both the upper and lower digestive tracts. Aloe is also a valuable ally when there's a need to stimulate the bowels, especially useful for impacted, dehydrated feces in cases of constipation lasting 3-5 days. To enhance its effectiveness and prevent intestinal cramping, use aloe in combination with carminative herbs like ginger or fennel. It's best taken the night before, as it can take 12-18 hours to produce a bowel movement. 

Aloe is best suited for thin, nervous, dried-out vata types or overly hot pitta types with dryness in their constitution

Externally, Aloe's gel, with its magical cooling and soothing properties, can be  applied to the skin to treat burns, wounds, and various skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. It is a favorite for healing sunburns and is a common ingredient in potions and lotions aimed at hydrating and repairing the skin.

In Astroherbalism, Aloe is governed by the Moon. Lunar herbs, like Aloe, are known for their moistening, cooling, and soothing properties. The gel inside Aloe Vera is abundant in water and healing compounds, promoting hydration. The Moon's influence brings nurturing, calming qualities, making Aloe Vera a quintessential lunar herb with its ability to hydrate, soothe, and heal.

External:

Aloe is an excellent herb for the home apothecary. The gel or the inner fillet contain salicylic acid and magnesium, substances that work synergistically to ease pain, speed up healing and tissue repair. Its cooling, emollient and vulnerary properties make it useful for treating hot skin conditions such as burns of all degrees, acne, ring room, abrasions and aids in scar prevention.    

Harvesting: 

For the best results when harvesting aloe, choose mature plants, ideally those planted in the ground. Look for leaves with tips that have a rosy tinge, indicating ripeness. Since aloe grows slowly, be mindful not to harvest too many leaves in a short time. Focus on the larger upper leaves and avoid the smaller ones at the bottom. Select a thick, smooth leaf and use a clean, sharp knife to cut it as close to the trunk as possible. This method prevents tissue damage to both the leaf and the plant. The best leaves are unblemished, as they are less bitter and contain the most aloe gel. Store harvested leaves in the refrigerator for a few weeks, or longer if you add 500 IUs of vitamin C per cup of gel. Be cautious with the dried powder from the outer leaf, as it is a strong laxative and purgative. Always follow dosage instructions.

Recommended Products:

• Witch in the Woods Hydrating Face Cream
• Witch in the Woods Botanical Facial Toner

Contraintradictions: