Aloes (Luhui)

Pharmaceutical Name: Aloe.
Botanical Name: 1. Aloe vera L.; 2. Aloe ferox Mill.
Common Name: Aloes.
Source of Earliest Record: Yaoxing Lun.
Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The leaves are gathered all year round. The juice is squeezed out of the leaves, boiled until it makes a thick soup and then put into a container and stored in a cool place.
Properties & Taste: Bitter and cold.
Meridians: Liver and large intestine.
Functions: 1. To purge feces; 2. To clear heat in the liver; 3. To kill worms.
Indications & Combinations:
1. Constipation accompanied by excessive fire in the liver meridian manifested as constipation, dizziness, headache and irritability: Aloes (Luhui) is used with Chinese gentian (Longdancao), Capejasmine (Zhizi), Natural indigo (Qingdai) and Chinese angelica root (Danggui) in the formula Danggui Luhui Wan.
2. Abdominal pain caused by accumulation of worms manifested as sallow complexion and emaciation: Aloes (Luhui) is used with herbs that kill worms, in a formula such as Feier Wan.
Dosage: 1-2 g.
Cautions & Contraindications: This herb is combined with other herbs in pills or powder, but should not be used in a decoction. It is contraindicated during pregnancy and in cases with weakness of the spleen and stomach manifested as poor appetite or diarrhea.
b) Herbs That Lubricate the Intestines.
These herbs are mostly seeds of plants which contain oil that lubricates the intestines and moves the stool. They are indicated in constipation due to deficient body fluids in an aged person or weakness of the body due to chronic disease. This category of herbs is often used in combination with herbs that nourish blood or promote circulation of qi, so as to strengthen the function of lubricating intestines for normal bowel movement.