Skip to main content

Table 2 The unique uses of Aloes in the study area with reference to ethnic group. The uses are categorized into seven groups of use. Species are presented sequential from the most to the least used. K-Kamba, Ki-Kikuyu, Kii-Kisii, Ma-Maasai, Mb-Mbeere, Sa-Samburu, So-Somali, T- Taita, Tu- Tugen

From: The uses of Kenyan aloes: an analysis of implications for names, distribution and conservation

Medicinal, humans

Ethnic group

Medicinal, livestock

Ethnic group

Fodder

Ethnic group

Fencing, soil conservation

Ethnic group

Local brew

Ethnic group

Cosmetic

Ethnic group

Other

Ethnic group

A. aageodonta L.E.Newton

             

High blood pressure

K

chicken coughs

K

        

termite resistant

K

Syphilis

K

          

ornamental

K

Gonorrhoea

K

          

lethal

K

Malaria

K

            

Diaphragm

K

            

A. ballyi Reynolds

             
            

poisonous

Ta

            

ornamental

Mb

A. chrysostachys Lavranos & L.E.Newton

             

Malaria

Mb

Cattle wounds, fly repellent

Mb

  

Boundaries

Mb

Miti dawa

Mb

    

Pneumonia

K

Chicken cough

K

          

Diaphram

K

            

A. deserti A. Berger

             

Arthritis

Ma

chicken cough

K

        

Ornamental

Ma

Chest pain

K

chicken diarrhoea

K

          

Gonorrhoea

Ma

chicken, bile treatment

T

          

Malaria

K

goats, general treatment

K

          

Pneumonia

Ma

            

Retarded growth

Ma

            

Tongue, inflammation

T

            

A. elata S.Carter & L.E.Newton

             
            

ornamental

Ma

A. fibrosa Lavranos & L.E.Newton

             
            

ornamental

Ka

A. kedongensis Reynolds

             

Typhoid

Ma

  

browsed by goats during drought

Ma

fences, hedging

Ma, Ka

Miti dawa

Ma

  

ornamental

Ma

Sexually transmitted diseases

Ma

          

decoration of sisal basket

Tu

Malaria

Ma, Ka, Ki

            

Vomiting

Ma

            

Diarrhoea

Ma

            

A. lateritia Engl.

             

Burns

Tu

Chicken diseases

K, T, Tu

Browsed by goats (/during drought)

Sa

Demarcating boundaries

Sa

Beer

Ka, Ma, Sa

Hair treatment

Sa

Not supposed to touch

Kii

Coughs

Ma

Chicken anti bodies

Kii

Browsed by sheep

Ma

    

Oil-glycerine

Sa

Attracts lightening

Kii

Diarrhoea

Tu

Goats diarrhoea

K

      

Skin lotion

Kii

Bed wetting

Tu

Eye infection

Sa

Sheep diarrhoea

K

      

pimples

Sa

Frost bite

Sa

Eye, allergy

Ki

            

Eye, used when poison enters

Sa

            

Malaria

T

            

Pneumonia

Ma

            

Ringworm

Ki, Kii, Sa

            

Skin disorders

K, Kii, Tu

            

Sleeping sickness

Tu

            

Stomach ache

Ki

            

Typhoid

Ma

            

A. morijensis S.Carter & Brandham

             

Pneumonia

Ma

  

Browsed by goats

Ma

        

Ear alignment

Ma

  

browsed by sheep

Ma

        

Medicinal, humans

Ethnic group

Medicinal, livestock

Ethnic group

Fodder

Ethnic group

Fencing, soil conservation

Ethnic group

Local brew

Ethnic group

Cosmetic

Ethnic group

Other

Ethnic group

A. morijensis (cont.)

             

Skin itchy

Ma

            

Vomiting

Ma

            

Malaria

Ma

            

A. ngongensis Christian

             

Back ache

Ma

  

Browsed by goats

Ma

Boundaries

Ma

Beer

Ma

    

Burns

Ma

  

Browsed by sheep

Ma

Fences, hedging

Ma

      

Diarrhoea

Ma

  

Browsed by camels

Ma

        

Ear alignment

Ma

            

Gonorrhoea

Ma

            

Itchy skin

Ma

            

Malaria

Ma

            

Pneumonia

Ma

            

Skin disorders

K, Ma

            

Stomach ache

Ma,

            

Syphilis

Ma

            

Ulcer

Ma

            

Vomiting

Ma

            

Wounds

Ma

            

A. nyeriensis Christian in Verd.

             

Back ache

Sa

Goats diseases, general

Sa

Browsed by camels

Sa

Fences, hedges

Sa

      

Chest pain

Sa

  

Browsed by goats

Sa

        

Clean blood

Sa

            

Eye infection

Sa

            

Gonorrhoea

Sa

            

Release bladder

Sa

            

Wounds

Sa

            

Medicinal, humans

Ethnic group

Medicinal, livestock

Ethnic group

Fodder

Ethnic group

Fencing, soil conservation

Ethnic group

Local brew

Ethnic group

Cosmetic

Ethnic group

Other

Ethnic group

A. scabrifolia L.E.Newton & Lavranos

             
            

Gums for arrows

Ma

A. secundiflora Engl.

             

Arthritis

Ma

Cattle disease, general

Sa

Goats browsing bark

Ma

Boundaries

Ma

Beer

Ma, Sa

Skin lotion

So

Goats die with eating

Sa

Backache

Ma

Cattle wounds, fly repellent

Mb

Eaten by livestock during drought

Sa, So

Demarcating roads

Ma

Miti dawa

T

Soap

T

Inflorescence eaten by children

Ma

Bile problems

Ma

Cattle, eye infection

Sa, So

  

Fences, hedging

Ma

    

Killing brown ticks

Tu

Burns

Ma, So

Chicken cough

K, Mb, T

  

Soil erosion

Ma

    

Ornamental

K, Ma, T

Cold, flue, coughs, Chest problems

K, Ma, Sa, So

Chicken white droppings/diarrhoea

K, So

        

Poison for arrows

K

Diabetes

So

Chicken, remove mite

K

        

Ritual

Ma

Diarrhoea, induce

Ma, T

Goats diarrhoea

K, Ma, Sa, So

          

Diarrhoea, stopping of

Ma

Goat disease, general

K

          

Eye infection, Trachoma conjunctivitis

Ma, Sa

Sheep's diarrhoea

K

          

Gonorrhoea

Ma

            

Headache

Ma

            

High blood pressure

So

            

Infections, cleaning of

Sa

            

Itchy skin

So

            

Kidney problems

Ma

            

Liver problems

K

            

Malaria

K, Ma, Mb, Sa, So, T, Tu

            

Medicinal, humans

Ethnic group

Medicinal, livestock

Ethnic group

Fodder

Ethnic group

Fencing, soil conservation

Ethnic group

Local brew

Ethnic group

Cosmetic

Ethnic group

Other

Ethnic group

A. secundifloracont.

             

Oral thrush

Tu

            

Pain relief

K

            

Pancreas, swelling of

K

            

Peptic ulcer

K

            

Pneumonia

K, Mb, Sa, Tu

            

Rachitis

K

            

Ringworm

K, So, T

            

Stiff muscles

K

            

Stomach ache, Diaphragm problems

Ma, Sa, K, T

            

Swelling of legs

K, Ma

            

Tuberculosis

Ma

            

Typhoid

Ma

            

Ulcer, boils

K, So, Tu

            

Vomiting

Ma, So,

            

Wounds (cleaning fresh -)

Ma, Sa, T

            

A. volkensii Engl.

             

Pneumonia

Ma

east coast fever, goats

Ma

browsed by goats

Ma

boundaries

Ma

Beer

Ma

  

gums for arrows

Ma

  

wounds, cattle

Ma

  

fences, hedging

Ma

      
      

wind breaking

Ma

      

A. ukambensis Reynolds

             

Diaphragm

K

chicken diseases

K

          

Malaria

K