Sunburns and irritation are never fun, and a houseplant has become a common remedy to soothe inflamed skin. Breaking off an aloe leaf or grabbing a bottle of aloe gel can be convenient paths to relief. Edible substances with aloe may have laxative effects, and some varieties are processed into a juice, available bottled in stores.
Identification
Aloe is a plant that has long, green, thick, tapered leaves that stick up and are arranged in a rosette pattern around a central core. The edges of the leaves have small spikes running along them, though these are not like the sharp, thin spikes of its relative, the cactus. Aloe grows in the Southwestern United States, up the California coast into southwest Oregon, and in southern Texas, Louisiana and Florida. It is also available as a common potted houseplant.
Significance
The viscous gel that seeps out of the leaves when cut may soothe minor burns and irritation. The gel sold in stores may contain carrageenan, a thickening agent. A latex made from the skin of the leaves may have laxative effects, but it can also be highly irritating, leading to cramping, says the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Bottled aloe juice is available as a drink at specialized grocery stores. UMMC notes aloe juice may be beneficial for treating diabetes, but research is still in progress, and aloe has not been definitively identified as a hypoglycemic agent for humans. A 2009 study on non-insulin-dependent diabetic mice, however, did find that oral intake of processed aloe vera gel did stop disease progression.
Mechanism
The University of Chicago's Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research says the exact mechanism working within aloe to heal is unknown. Aloe works as a moisturizer, but it also has salicylates and magnesium lactate, which have anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties. UMMC reports that the gel also contains glycoproteins, which work as anesthetics and anti-inflammatories, and polysaccharides, which help skin grow. However, a 1991 study from the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that aloe vera gel delayed wound healing in women recovering from abdominal surgery.
History
Aloe is one of the herbal remedies in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda and Hispanic folk medicine. Both of these systems use it as a remedy for what are considered "hot" illnesses. The University of Vermont notes that Ayurveda considers aloe to be a cooling herb, used in treatments for inflammation, swelling and fever. Rice University reports aloe's use in Southwestern Hispanic folk medicine for burns and for diabetes, considered a "hot" illness.
Cautions
Despite aloe's gentle reputation, it can cause an allergic reaction in some. Don't apply it to open wounds, and the Tang Center notes that people with intestinal blockages and other intestinal and abdominal disorders, and especially pain from an unknown cause should not use it. The center also says long-term use may be implicated in an increased risk of colon cancer and dehydration. Do not take aloe internally if you are pregnant.
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