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Cape Aloes
 


Cape Aloes (Aloe ferox) is a plant related to the more common Aloe vera, growing on the Cape Horn of South Africa. The leaf juice is dried into a dark brown to black crystalline powder, called aloes. This very bitter substance acts as a tonic, purgative, emmenagogue, and anthelmic. Source

Cape aloes powder is available in capsule forms, as the taste is extremely bitter. Not to be confused with the leaf gel (see Aloe vera).

Reasons For Use
At 400-450mg/day, aloes acts to purge the bowels in 6-24 hours.

Aloes has an "Approved" therapeutic monograph for constipation by the German Commission E. To be used for short-term constipation (1-2 weeks).

Counter-Indicators and Warnings
Nursing infants will also be purged if the mother takes these same dosages. Pregnant women should not consume cape aloes, as they may stimulate the uterus to contract.





GLOSSARY

Commission E
The body of scientists and panel of experts that provides advice on herbal treatments and evaluates the safety, effectiveness and dosage of medicinal herbs; Germany's equivalent of the FDA.

Constipation (Constipated)
Difficult, incomplete, or infrequent evacuation of dry, hardened feces from the bowels.

Milligram (mg, Milligrams)
0.001 or a thousandth of a gram.

Uterus (Uterine)
The part of the female reproductive system specialized to allow the implantation, growth and nourishment of a fetus during pregnancy.




Last updated: Oct 08, 2008
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