What Can Aloe Do In Our Health?

Aloe, a prickly, green succulent native to Africa, is a widely used ingredient in hand lotions, soaps, sunblocks and shaving creams. Its skin-softening properties make it a mainstream cosmetic product, but practitioners of alternative medicine praise the plant as a medicinal herb as well. While you should consult your doctor before use, according to the Mayo Clinic, aloe may help inhibit skin conditions, constipation, cancer and type 2 diabetes.

Skin Disorders

Aloe has a lengthy history in treating skin disorders. Applied topically, its gel is thought to soothe burns, acne, frostbite, ringworm, eczema and psoriasis. The plant demonstrates powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce swelling, along with mild anesthetic qualities that relieve itching and pain. According to a 1996 study conducted at Malmo University Hospital in Sweden and noted in the book "Prescription for Herbal Healing," researchers found that daily use of aloe gel alleviated psoriasis symptoms in over 80 percent of participants, compared with seven percent of subjects treated with a placebo. However, while aloe gel contains enzymes and other key constituents that help treat skin ailments, prolonged use of the gel can cause hives and skin rash.

Constipation

Historically considered one of nature's beneficial herbs for gastrointestinal complaints, aloe juice is widely used outside the United States as a fast remedy for constipation. According to Drs. Joseph Pizzorno and Michael Murray, naturopathic physicians and authors of the "Textbook of Natural Medicine," small doses of the yellow, bitter liquid contained inside the skin of the plant's leaf helps your body digest protein and strengthens intestinal musculature, making aloe a potent and effective laxative. Compared, however, with herbal stimulant laxatives such as cascara sagrada or senna, larger doses of aloe can cause dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, diarrhea and cramping.

Cancer

Aloe appears to stimulate and regulate components of the immune system, stopping inflammation necessary for cancerous tumors to gain new blood supplies and grow. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reports that a 2002 study conducted at Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan suggests that certain components in aloe seem to prevent cancer-causing agents from entering liver tissue. Additionally, Sloan-Kettering says that aloe has been used to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and appears to inhibit leukemic cells in vitro. As with all herbal remedies, scientific evidence is lacking. To determine if aloe can benefit your condition, consult a physician.

Type 2 Diabetes

While the University of Maryland Medical Center cautions that more research is needed, preliminary evidence seems to demonstrate the anti-diabetic potency of aloe. Aloe appears to normalize blood sugar levels by stimulating the pancreas to secrete insulin. As an added bonus, aloe doesn't cause weight gain, a common side effect of certain diabetes medications. It's only potentially effective, however, for patients with type 2, or adult onset, diabetes.