The aloe vera plant, a member of the succulent family native to South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, graces many homes and gardens in the United States. The plant's clear inner gel has been used for millennia by many different cultures for the treatment of various skin conditions and constipation. Current scientific research continues to investigate the potential uses of aloe vera.
Background
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NCCAM, relates that in the time of the pharaohs, the aloe vera plant was known as the "plant of immortality" and was given as a burial gift to the Egyptian leaders.
Aloe was widely prescribed in the 18th and 19th centuries and "remains one of the most commonly used herbs in the United States today," advises the University of Maryland Medical Center, UMMC.
Uses
Perhaps the most popular use of aloe vera is in the treatment of minor burns, sunburns and minor skin injuries. Many a homemaker has traditionally kept an aloe vera plant in her kitchen, to be used in case of a burn. Aloe vera gel is available commercially for the treatment of sunburns, abrasions, and minor skin wounds or conditions.
Mayoclinic.com compiles data from current research and from those conclusions indicates the effectiveness of a substance in treating various conditions. For aloe vera, Mayoclinic.com indicates that aloe vera has shown promise as an added ingredient in hydrophilic creams in the treatment of genital herpes in men and as an effective treatment for psoriasis vulgaris. Mayoclinic.com also advises that aloe lotion has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis--dandruff.
UMMC recommends the use of aloe vera for minor skin irritations in children. For adults, aloe vera may be applied to the skin liberally, but should not be used for open wounds.
Warning
Topical use of aloe vera on unbroken or on minor skin conditions is advised as safe by UMMC, but ingestion of aloe vera juice or other preparation of aloe vera is strongly advised against by UMMC, Mayoclinic.com, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center,MSKCC.
Ingestion of aloe vera juice may cause "gastrointestinal upset and electrolyte abnormalities" advises MSKCC. Aloe has strong stimulant laxative properties; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration required laxative preparations to discontinue use of aloe as an ingredient. Additionally, "aloe vera injections for cancer patients have resulted in several deaths," advises MSKCC.
Consult your health-care practitioner before using aloe vera on open wounds or severe burns. Ingestion of any aloe vera product should only be done on the advice of a physician.
Method of Use
There are many commercially available preparations for aloe vera gel, and even more skin care products such as lotions that have aloe as an ingredient. These products are applied to the skin and may be used as desired.
To use the gel directly from the plant, slit a leaf lengthwise and use the clear gel inside. If applying to a skin irritation, be sure to clean the skin first before applying the aloe vera gel, advises UMMC.
Expert Insight
Aloe vera cream in the treatment of second-degree burns was the topic of research that was documented in the June 28, 2009 publication of "Surgery Today." The study entitled, "Aloe Versus Silver Sulfadiazine Creams for Second-Degree Burns: A Randomized Controlled Study" was authored by G. Khorasani, S.J. Hosseinimehr, M. Azadbakht, A. Zamani and M.R. Mahdavi concluded that study subjects whose second-degree burns were treated with aloe vera cream healed three days faster than those treated with silver sulfadiazine cream with no adverse effects noted.
This research points to proof that complementary and alternative medicine proponents have long believed: aloe vera has healing properties for the skin.
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