Herbs, Plants, Trees and Roots | July, 2011

You entered American Aloe, the more common name is...

The liquid inside the flower stalk, taken before flowering occurs, is fermented into a milky alcoholic beverage called Pulque.

Agave

SCIENTIFIC NAME:
(Agave americana L.)


Originally native to Mexico, it has since been cultivated as an ornamental plant in many countries. It now grows wild in Europe, South Africa, India, and Australia.
The spikey gray green leaves of the Agave Americana, grow in clusters that can be as much as 6 ½ feet long, with tips sharp enough to cause deep puncture wounds. Towards the end of the plant’s life large yellow flowers bloom on spikes as tall as 8 feet. After flowering, at 10 to 30 years old, the plant dies. However, suckers are produced at the plant base from which new life grows.



Common Names:

American Agave, American Aloe, American Centaury, Century Plant, Flowering Aloe, Spiked Aloe


Uses:

The liquid inside the flower stalk, taken before flowering occurs, is fermented into a milky alcoholic beverage called Pulque.



Applications:

Tincture:
One glass at bedtime as a relaxing tonic.


Warnings:

The sap is quite acidic and can be quite painful if it comes in contact with the skin. It can form small blisters.

With any herb, there is the risk of an allergic reaction. Small children and pregnant women should use additional caution when considering the use of herbal remedies.