Re: [compost_tea] The toxic part of aloe

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 09:57:34 -0500

As I understand this (I haven't checked it out myself), the layer of material just under the skin surface of the aloe leaf contains a high amount of fairly toxic material. You must not use that layer when making something to feed people, animals or microbes. So when growing aloe, you need to find out from someone who knows about aloe just how thick that layer is.

My understanding is that the alloin is a normal ingredient in aloe, and this complex molecule has antimicrobial properties as well. Or maybe the layer under the leaf surface is the alloin which gets into the jelly-like material during harvest.

We have had people add aloe to teas, and see no benefit. BUT that may be as a result of other factors, such as they added too much food, and the microbes grew so fast they used up the oxygen in the brew. We all know what that does to the beneficial fungi.

Ask questions of how much food, what were oxygen levels during their brew, and getting the actual data, not just the "summary statics" is probably a good idea.

If you ever have trouble understanding a report, please call the SFI consulting hotline. Check the website to get the number (guess what, I don't know the number! Maybe I never call the hotline ;-)

I don't mean to have people not use aloe. I think it very wise of Judi to ask questions before jumping into using something new. Getting the facts, and not just swallowing hype, is a good approach.

Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
SFI Corvallis, OR
SFI Port Jefferson, NY
SFI Lismore, NSW, Australia
SFI Hilversum, The Netherlands
SFI Cambridge, New Zealand
www.soilfoodweb.com

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Received on Mon Nov 03 2003 - 14:45:48 EST

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