Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Aloe hereroensis is documented in Kew’s SEPASAL inventory. This notice identifies the taxon and a selection of attributed historical uses. It does not recommend medicinal use.
Also known as: Aloe hereroensis Engl., Aloe orpeniae Schönland
The accepted name is reconciled with GBIF; historical source names remain visible as synonyms. Other species and plant parts are not interchangeable. A photograph cannot confirm an identification for consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Historical record: urinary incontinence
SEPASAL records an earlier use involving leaves under “urinary incontinence” (use group 59000). This is a documentary report, not a demonstrated action in humans. The entry does not establish an effective dose, safety or a suitable home preparation. The original publications are cited by Kew; they have not all been consulted directly.
Use reported in a survey or inventory. This establishes neither benefit nor safety.
Read the sourceHistorical record: urinary incontinence
SEPASAL records an earlier use involving roots under “urinary incontinence” (use group 59001). This is a documentary report, not a demonstrated action in humans. The entry does not establish an effective dose, safety or a suitable home preparation. The original publications are cited by Kew; they have not all been consulted directly.
Use reported in a survey or inventory. This establishes neither benefit nor safety.
Read the sourceHistorical record: gonorrhoea
SEPASAL records an earlier use involving leaves under “gonorrhoea” (use group 59003). This is a documentary report, not a demonstrated action in humans. The entry does not establish an effective dose, safety or a suitable home preparation. The original publications are cited by Kew; they have not all been consulted directly.
Use reported in a survey or inventory. This establishes neither benefit nor safety.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.
Contraindications & precautions
- Historical record only. Do not prepare or consume this plant based on this notice.
- A complete clinical contraindication assessment is not available in the references used here. Missing information is not evidence of safety.
Medicine interactions
- Interactions have not been systematically assessed in this historical inventory. Compatibility with medicines cannot be established.
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- The historical inventory does not provide a complete adverse-event assessment.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established here. No medicinal use is recommended.
Children & adolescents
No paediatric preparation or dose is validated by this notice. Do not extrapolate historical adult uses to children.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- SEPASAL, use group 59003 — Van den Eynden, V., Vernemmen, P. and Van Damme, P. — 1992 — The ethnobotany of the Topnaar; Malan, J.S. and Owen-Smith, G.L. — 1974 — The ethnobotany of Kaokoland; Von Koenen, E. — 2001 — Medicinal, poisonous and edible plants in NamibiaAccessed on 09/10/2026
- GBIF — Aloe hereroensis Engl.Accessed on 09/10/2026
Image: Christiaan Viljoen · CC BY 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.