Aloe vera, or aloe, was once regarded as the plant of immortality by ancient Egyptians and was used for various medicinal purposes. Today, aloe continues to be used medicinally, but there are safety concerns, as the latex component of aloe can cause serious problems if used in high doses for long periods of time. There is also very little scientific information about its efficacy. Before considering self-treatment with aloe, first consult with your doctor.
Identification and Dosing
Common names for aloe include cape, burn plant, lily of the desert, elephant's gall and plant of immortality. The clear gel from the aloe plant is used on the skin, while the latex component comes from the green part of the leaf and is taken orally. Usual doses for constipation include 100 to 200 mg of aloe or 50 mg of aloe latex taken in the evening.
Uses
Aloe is taken either orally or applied to the skin. Aloe is most commonly used on the skin to heal burns, frostbite, sores and wounds from surgery and to alleviate symptoms of psoriasis. Aloe taken by mouth is used to treat constipation, diseases of the intestine such as ulcerative colitis, stomach ulcers, fever, diabetes, arthritis, seizure disorders and asthma.
Effectiveness
Aloe is rated as possibly effective for alleviating skin plaques from psoriasis when applied to the skin as a 0.5 percent aloe cream for four weeks, reports the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Also, aloe latex is considered possibly effective as a laxative. However, with continual use, more doses of aloe latex are needed to cause the same laxative effect, which may pose safety problems. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration removed all over-the-counter laxative products containing aloe latex from the market due to safety concerns.
Considerations
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, aloe is generally safe when applied topically. However, when taken by mouth, aloe can cause side effects such as stomach pain and diarrhea. Aloe may also decrease blood sugar levels, so blood sugar needs to be watched carefully in the presence of diabetes. Rare reports of liver problems, such as acute hepatitis, have also been documented from aloe use.
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