Aloe is a succulent plant, meaning it has thick leaves that contain a lot of water. These leaves also contain the liquid that is used for various medicinal treatments, according to Medicinal Herb Info. The aloe plant originated in the West Indies and the eastern and southern parts of Africa. It's now cultivated around the world for medicinal use. Before beginning to use aloe, ask your health care provider for advice.
Aloe Uses
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's website, aloe is often used to treat genital herpes, constipation, dandruff, psoriasis, canker sores, cancer prevention, dry skin, type 2 diabetes, minor skin burns, ulcerative colitis, mucositis, wounds, skin ulcers and radiation dermatitis. The National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine's website reports that aloe is a common ingredient in many skin products and sunblocks. It's also commonly used to treat asthma, osteoarthritis and sunburn. According to CosmeticsInfo.org, the reason aloe is so often used in skin care products is that is used to reduce flaking skin and restores the skin's suppleness.
Research
A study described on the PubMed.gov website seems to show that aloe is safe when used medicinally in moderate doses. The Environmental Working Group's Cosmetics Safety Database website reports research showing that aloe is safe when used in cosmetics and skin-care products, in moderate amounts. It also reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved aloe as safe to use as a food additive.
Possible Side Effects
Using aloe topically as a skin treatment is considered to be safe. The USNLM website warns that some people might have allergic reactions to aloe. Watch for signs of allergy when using it and if they occur, stop using aloe and consult your health care provider. Ingesting aloe can cause severe abdominal cramps and diarrhea. People with appendicitis, severe abdominal pain or prolonged constipation should not take aloe, according to the site. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not take aloe because of the lack of safety evidence for the unborn or nursing child.
Potential Interactions
The USNLM cautions people taking diabetes medications, heart medications, diuretics, laxatives, blood thinners, the HIV drug AZT or drugs that affect the hormones such as hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives to avoid ingesting aloe. Applying aloe to the skin can affect the absorption of such topical medications as steroid creams.
Forms Used
Besides the many skin creams, lotions and gels, aloe can be found as supplement capsules, tablets and juice. But the NCCAM website says that the fastest and freshest way to get aloe for skin treatments is to break a leaf off a living aloe plant and use the clear, thick liquid inside.
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