Although aloe vera is most commonly used in medicinal preparations for its topical gel, aloe juice extracted from the leaves is also used for treating several different medical conditions. You can take aloe vera juice to treat diabetes, constipation and other gastrointestinal conditions. Aloe juice poses some health risks, however, so you should talk with your healthcare provider before taking it.
History
Aloe vera is a succulent plant that's been used for thousands of years in both topical and oral remedies. Although aloe gel has been used topically to treat burns, wounds and infections of the skin, aloe juice has historical uses for its laxative effects to treat constipation, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Herbalists in India have also used internal remedies containing aloe juice, also called "aloe latex," to inhibit menstruation, treat infections of the gastrointestinal tract and ease colic, notes the University of Michigan Health System.
Uses
Today, you can take aloe juice for many of these same traditional uses. Taking aloe juice orally may also help to treat diabetes, asthma, stomach ulcers and HIV, as well as to boost your immune system, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Aloe juice is sometimes a recommended herbal remedy for treating constipation, Crohn's disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or "GERD," and ulcerative colitis, notes the University of Michigan Health System.
Function
Aloe juice contains anthraquinone glycosides that cause the laxative effects while the chemicals enter the large intestine, says the University of Michigan Health System. Aloe also contains acemannan, a constituent that may have immunostimulating and antiviral effects, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. A polysaccharide in aloe juice called aloeride may also stimulate the immune system, adds the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Scientific Evidence
Several scientific studies have proven aloe juice's laxative actions, including a 1996 study that investigated aloe's anthraquinone glycosides called aloin A and B that cause the laxative effects, notes the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. A 1996 single-blind clinical trial found that aloe juice helped to regulate blood sugar levels in people newly diagnosed with diabetes over the course of two weeks, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Another clinical trial during the same year found that aloe juice combined with the diabetes medication glibenclamide helped to lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes more effectively than taking glibenclamide and a placebo.
A small double-blind study of 44 individuals with ulcerative colitis in 2004 found that taking 100 mL of aloe juice twice per day helped to ease symptoms significantly, the University of Pittsburgh says. Nearly one third of the study participants went into full remission after taking the aloe juice for about one month. Also, a 2001 test tube study found that aloeride derived from aloe juice had strong immunostimulatory activity, Sloan-Kettering adds.
Dosage
Generally, you should take one tablespoon of aloe juice twice per day to treat diabetes, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. If capsules of aloe latex are available, you can take 50 mg to 200 mg once daily for up to 10 days to relieve constipation.
Dangers
Despite aloe juice's beneficial effects, the remedy may present some dangerous risks. Like other laxative products, you shouldn't take aloe juice to treat constipation for longer than 10 consecutive days, warns the University of Michigan Health System. Taking aloe juice longer may cause dehydration and potassium depletion due to fluid loss, as well as a dependency on the remedy to have normal bowel movements. Aloe vera juice may also cause gastrointestinal upset.
You shouldn't take aloe juice if you're taking glyburide or other blood sugar-lowering medications for diabetes, because this could cause your blood glucose levels to drop too low, warns the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. You also shouldn't take aloe juice if you're taking diuretics or digoxin. A 2004 report also found that aloe juice increased the antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects of the anesthesia medication called sevoflurane, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
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