ALOE VERA

Aloe vera: Liliaceae

PLANET: Moon

ELEMENT: Water

TASTE: bitter, astringent, pungent, sweet	VIPAKA: sweet
WARMTH: cooling	DOSHAS: V=P=K=

MERIDIANS: liver, heart, spleen

ACTIONS: alterative, , digestive, hepatic, splenic and uterine tonic emmenagogue, emetic, vulnerary, cholagogue, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, regulates sugar and fat metabolism, tones digestive enzymes.

INDICATIONS: fever, constipation, obesity, inflammatory skin conditions, swollen glands, conjunctivitis, bursitis, jaundice, hepatitis, enlarged liver or spleen, congested gall bladder, herpes, venereal disease, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menopause, vaginitis, tumours, intestinal worms, need to reduce excess Pita, used topically for burns, rashes, and wounds.

PRECAUTIONS: clean surface of leaf very well with something that will kill bacteria, molds and fungi before applying plant material directly to burns or open wounds. Powder is contraindicated in pregnancy

CONSTITUENTS: polysaccharides, anthraquinone glycosides known as ALOIN, including barbaloin, aloe-emodin, isobarbaloin, resins.

PREPARATION AND USE:
-2 tsp of the gel three times a day as a general tonic, or same dose mixed with turmeric
-apply fresh juice externally for burns, sores, herpes
-the powder is a very strong laxative, which can cause severe griping, and so should be used with a carminative herb such as ginger or turmeric

NUTRITIONAL USE: used in cooling drinks in summer

USE IN MAGIC:Protection, Luck
-grown in a household, it protects against evil influences and prevents accidents
-hung over doors to attract luck

USE IN PERSONAL GROWTH:
-helps one assimilate postive experience and learn from it
-helps one let one's focus be the inner processes of learning and growth rather than the outer world

"My experience is an ever flowing, growing wealth that I hold in trust for those who can be helped when I share it."

THE FLOWER ESSENCE

PATTERNS OF IMBALANCE: Overuse, or mis-use of fiery, creative forces, "burned out" feeling

"Those needing Aloe Vera "burn the candle at both ends." They have an innate abundance of fiery forces, but tend to over-use this energy and literally "burn out". Typical of the Aloe Vera type are "workaholics" whose drive is so intense that they neglect their emotional and physical needs, often sacrificing rest, food, and social contact in order to accomplish their goals. Such an attitude cripples the ability to experience life in a heart-felt way, impoverishing the feeling life, and draining the body of vital energy. While will-power can carry such persons quite far, they reach a point of exhaustion, burn-out, or breakdown. Aloe Vera essence can then bring renewal and rejuvenation; it opens the soul to experience the nourishment which springs from the waters of life. When the soul learns to balance the fervent forces of the will with the fountain of feeling from the heart, a tremendous outpouring of positive creativity and spirituality can be realised."

Flower Essence information quoted from Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz, Flower Essence Repertory, The Flower Essence Society, Nevada City, CA. ISBN 0-9631306-1-7