The indigenous Cape Aloe Plant is found in abundance in the Mossel Bay – Albertinia area of the Cape Province and is known for the high concentration of bitters (aloin) which has been exported to Europe for many years.
Aloe vera products are made of Aloe found in America whereas the Aloe ferox, grows indigenously in South Africa and is used to produce The House of Aloes (Pty) Ltd. products. Aloe ferox contains two principle ingredients, namely aloe bitters (not readily available from Aloe vera) and the white inner fleshy part of the leaf used to manufacture products similar to Aloe vera derived products.
Historical evidence taken from archives relating to Egyptian, Greek and Roman times, show that African Aloes have been used for many centuries in treating various ailments such as burns, sunburn, injuries to the skin, stomach ailments and as protection against the elements. Even the San tribe, have recorded their association with the plant in numerous cave drawings. Bitters have also been ingested by ancient people for it’s medicinal properties to treat with gout, rheumatism and arthritis.
Many recent Dutch remedies, such as Lennon’s medicines, contain large concentrations of the Cape Aloe. Today’s trend is to move back to natural remedies and products resulting in The House of Aloes (Pty) Ltd products, manufactured in South Africa, becoming increasingly popular as more and more people experience the benefits of physical well-being by using these products.
The Aloe Ferox Plant has 3 usable parts, which are:
1. The green epidermis as fibre.
2. The yellow, aloin rich bitter juice, which is found in the vascular bundles just under the skin.
3. The white inner flesh, which is rich in minerals, vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, enzymes and lipids.
The bitters are tapped from the plant and then processed to produce crystals or a powder. These by-products are then used in various forms as a great natural detoxifier.
The remainder of the leaf, which is the white inner flesh, is then further processed to produce an aloe juice, or a 200:1 concentrate white aloe powder. A large amount of the powder is added to produce Alcare Aloe Gelly and skin care products.
