Kumari, Korphad (Aloe vera) is really an extra ordinary herb of cactus type. This herb of cactus type. This herb has crossed the limits of villages and now has reached France and America, where it has become the most important herbal raw material to the companies manufacturing cosmetics.
It is called Kumari, Grihakanya, Ghritakumarika in Sanskrit; Gheekunwar, Kuwarpatta, Guar Patha in Hindi, and Kadevi Kunwar in Gujrati. When the outer most layer of Korphad is dried, inner layers take its place, so it remains afresh. How suitably has it been named ‘Kumaril (meaning virgin). Just hang the whole plant to the ceiling and it remaingetresh for many days. This is the beauty of the plant. This herb grows well in dry, sandy soil. It is found almost everywhere in India. The leaves of Aloe vera are thick and stout, containing fleshy and sticky material inside. The margins of leaves are turned inwards and have small thorns, on the edges.
