Aloe is a common houseplant because it's attractive and easy to care for, but this perennial succulent has benefits beyond decorating window sills. Aloe is a good source of polysaccharides---substances that help stimulate cell growth and repair---and glycoproteins, which help reduce pain and inflammation. Fresh aloe adds another ingredient to the natural remedy first-aid kit. Though aloe is generally considered safe, as with any herbal remedy, it's a good idea to check with a doctor before making aloe part of a self-care regimen.
Treating Burns
The gooey gel that oozes from the center of a fresh aloe leaf has the power to make skin heal itself faster and soothes pain and inflammation caused by burns, including sunburn, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. People who used aloe to treat minor burns healed up to nine days faster than people who didn't use aloe, in research cited by the University of Maryland. But aloe's healing benefits seem to be best suited to small wounds; using aloe may actually impede the healing process of major injuries such as surgical wounds.
Skin Irritation
The same soothing power that gives fresh aloe its burn-healing power also makes it a potentially good treatment for skin conditions like psoriasis vulgaris and seborrheic dermatitis, according to MedLine Plus, the online health information resource maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Fresh aloe added to hydrophilic cream showed benefits for treating psoriasis vulgaris, and lotion made with fresh aloe may improve seborrhea and dandruff. Though early research suggests these benefits, more studies are needed to confirm them, says MedLine Plus.
Other Uses
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, enough research hasn't been done to confirm the benefits of fresh aloe for other uses, but some early research shows potential. MedLine Plus says aloe is promising for treating genital herpes outbreaks and may have benefits for treating canker sores, dry skin and blood sugar levels for people with diabetes.
