Aloe vera, a succulent native to the Cape of Good Hope, is an ornamental plant with firm, fleshy leaves with a small spine along the edges. Aloe grows throughout Madagascar, southern Arabia and much of Africa. It also grows in North and South America, Japan, and in the Mediterranean and Caribbean regions. The plant has a long history of use for medicinal purposes. It was one of the most frequently prescribed medicines in the 1700s and 1800s, according the University of Maryland Medical Center, and remains an herb in common use.
Wound Healer
Clear aloe gel applied as a topical ointment can help heal minor skin burns, wounds, abrasions and frostbite. It cools sunburned skin. Aloe is often used as an ingredient in sun block, lotion and other skin products. It is best not to use aloe for deep wounds, however, since some evidence suggests it could inhibit healing in such instances, according to the National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine. On occasion, applying aloe gel may lead to itching or redness. It can cause burning sensations in skin that has undergone dermabrasion, a surgery to make scars less noticeable, according to Drugs.com.
Laxative
Some herbalists harvest the leaves of the aloe plant, the green part surrounding the gel, to make a juice or latex for oral consumption. Aloe latex is a powerful laxative, but its use for constipation is no longer recommended, according to the University of Maryland, because of the painful cramping that may occur after ingestion. The National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine reports that the Food and Drug Administration ordered all over-the-counter aloe laxative formulas reformulated or removed from the shelves in 2002 due to their lack of adequate safety data.
Herpes Treatment
Research evidence suggests aloe extract mixed into a hydrophilic cream could be an effective way for men to treat genital herpes. This treatment worked better than aloe gel in the studies. Though MayoClinic.com states there is good scientific evidence for using aloe extract to treat herpes, the site also calls for additional research for this use.
Diabetes Management
People with type II diabetes may experience lower blood sugar levels after taking aloe juice, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. But evidence so far is inconclusive. Other sources, including the National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine and MayoClinic.com, state insufficient research exists to support the use of aloe for diabetes.
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