Aloe vera has a long history of use dating back to 1500 BC, according to H. Panda, author of the "Aloe Vera Handbook." In the 18th century, English herbalist James Morison formed a system of medicine based on the use of aloe vera. Aloe vera juice is used currently for a wide variety of healing purposes, including some gastrointestinal problems. Check with your doctor before using aloe vera juice to treat a medical condition.
Ulcers
Aloe vera may help heal gastric ulcers, according to a study published in the April 2006 issue of the "World Journal of Gastroenterology." In the laboratory animal study, aloe vera reduced inflammation and white blood cell activity at ulcer sites. Aloe vera also decreased levels of tissue-damaging molecules. Ulcer sizes were reduced compared to a control group that did not receive aloe vera in this preliminary animal study. European herbal medicine uses aloe vera to treat heartburn and ulcers, according to Georges Halpern, M.D., Ph.D., author of the book "Ulcer Free! Nature's Safe and Effective Remedy for Ulcers." Dr. Halpern recommends small doses of one teaspoon after meals for up to eight weeks for relief of ulcer pain, after which you should visit your doctor to check on the healing progress.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Some forms of irritable bowel syndrome may respond well to treatment with aloe vera, according to a study published in the September 2006 issue of the "International Journal of Clinical Practice." In the study, participants with irritable bowel syndrome took aloe vera juice for three months. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome characterized by a predominance of diarrhea showed the greatest and earliest response, with symptom improvement within one month of starting aloe vera supplementation. Researchers called for further studies on this subcategory of irritable bowel syndrome patients.
Ulcerative Colitis
People with ulcerative colitis -- a form of inflammatory bowel disease that may have an autoimmune component -- responded well to supplementation with oral aloe vera gel in a study published in the April 2004 issue of the journal "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics." Study participants took 100 mL of aloe vera gel twice per day for four weeks. As many as 47 percent showed clinical remission of ulcerative colitis symptoms. Ulcerative colitis activity and tissue damage, as viewed by microscope, decreased significantly. However, visual signs of healing via sigmoidoscope -- an imaging procedure that enables your doctor to look at the last segment of your colon -- were not improved in the aloe group compared to a control group.
Constipation
Constipation may respond well to treatment with aloe vera according to a study published in the August 2010 issue of the journal "BMC Gastroenterology." In the animal study, 50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg aloe vera extract per kg body weight for seven days improved intestinal motility, increased fecal size and decreased transit time. The highest dose yielded the best results. Aloe vera compared favorably with a commercially available formula for constipation that uses the herb senna. By contrast, the University of Maryland Medical Center warns against using aloe vera for constipation, due to potential side effects. A latex compound in aloe skin effectively reduces constipation; however, it may cause painful cramping and is not recommended. Instead, the University recommends related plants that offer gentler laxative effects including the herbs cascara and senna.
References
- "World Journal of Gastroenterology"; Effects of Aloe Vera and Sucralfate on Gastric Microcirculatory Changes, Cytokine Levels and Gastric Ulcer Healing in Rats; K. Eamlamnam, et al.; April 2006
- "International Journal of Clinical Practice"; Randomised Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial of Aloe Vera for Irritable Bowel Syndrome; K. Davis, et al.; September 2006
- "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics"; Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of Oral Aloe Vera Gel for Active Ulcerative Colitis; L. Langmead, et al.; April 2004
- "BMC Gastroenterology"; The Effect of Aloe Ferox Mill. in the Treatment of Loperamide-induced Constipation in Wistar Rats; O.A. Wintola, et al.; August 2010
- "Ulcer Free!: Nature's Safe & Effective Remedy for Ulcers"; Georges M. Halpern; 2004
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Aloe
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