Juice derived from the spiky succulent leaves of the aloe vera plant has been used medicinally for centuries. According to the University of Iowa’s Medical Museum, it was employed as a laxative by ancient Egyptians as early as 1500 B.C. Romans used the juice to treat skin irritations and bruises. Today, aloe is a common houseplant with purported uses that range from alleviating constipation to decreasing inflammation in ulcerative colitis.
Description
Native to Africa, aloe vera is commercially grown all over the world. The bitter-tasting brown or greenish sap, or latex, from the leaf is dried for oral use in juices and powders. The World Health Organization’s monograph on aloe vera states that aloe gel is also used in some aloe juice preparations. The gel, however, does not contain the plant compounds, anthraquinones, that give aloe a laxative effect, as stated in “The British Journal of General Practice."
Nutritional Content
Aloe vera is a plant rich in nutrients, as outlined by the the “British Journal of General Practice.” The minerals calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and manganese are present. Vitamins B1, B2, B6 and folic acid have been determined, as well as beta carotene and vitamins C and E. The perennial plant also contains sugars, enzymes and amino acids.
Uses
The aloe leaf contains compounds that stimulate the colon and speed transit time, generally within six to 24 hours of ingestion. Treatment of occasional constipation with oral ingestion of aloe is supported by the World Health Organization. Limited but promising research on the use of aloe vera for ulcerative colitis has been conducted. An article in the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association" maintains that short term oral use of aloe may improve average blood sugar control.
The Evidence
The use of aloe vera as a laxative is backed by good scientific evidence, according to the US National Library of Medicine. Aloe ingredients as stimulant laxatives were approved by the FDA in 2002. A 2004 issue of “Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics” stated that patients with ulcerative colitis who took aloe vera gel for four weeks experienced clinical remission and improvement more often than placebo-takers. The U.S. National Library of Medicine, however, states that research is insufficient to recommend aloe for ulcerative colitis. The “Journal of the American Dietetic Association” cites two studies from 1996 in which fasting blood sugar levels were decreased in diabetic patients who took aloe leaf gel, but more research is needed.
Safety
As conveyed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, oral aloe vera use may cause an allergic reaction in people with allergies to garlic and onions. Taking aloe as a laxative for more than seven days can lead to dependency and once stopped, can worsen constipation. WHO cautions that abdominal cramping, diarrhea and loss of electrolytes may occur with aloe ingestion. Due to potential adverse reactions such as abdominal spasms, the WHO advises against using aloe for ulcerative colitis. Use of aloe with blood sugar-lowering medications may increase hypoglycemic effects, warns the US National Library of Medicine.
References
- University of Iowa, Nature’s Pharmacy: Ancient Knowledge, Modern Medicine
- WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
- “The British Journal of General Practice”: Aloe Vera: A Systematic Review of its Clinical Effectiveness
- "AP&T": Randomized ...Trial of Aloe Vera for Active Ulcerative Colitis
- “The Journal of the American Dietetic Association”: Dietary Supplements in the Management of Diabetes: Potential Risks and Benefits
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