Aloe vera -- an attractive warm-weather plant used in landscaping and gardens -- is also valued by herbalists and naturopaths for its ability to soothe minor burns, wounds and inflammatory skin conditions. Commercially available in lotions, creams, juices and extracts, aloe vera is generally recognized as safe for external use. Some natural healers also recommend that the gel and juice be taken internally. Limited scientific evidence supports the use of oral aloe vera gel for conditions such as diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. Consult your doctor before using aloe vera.
Features
Aloe vera -- botanically known as Aloe barbadensis -- is a perennial succulent plant native to Africa. Aloe presently grows throughout most of Africa, southern Arabia and Madagascar, and is also cultivated in North and South America, as well as in the Caribbean and Mediterranean regions. Aloe vera features sword-shaped, spiny leaves that grow in a rosette pattern. Known in Egypt as the "plant of immortality," aloe has been rendered in Egyptian temple drawings dating back to 4000 B.C. Traditional medicinal uses for aloe include treating burns, wounds, skin conditions, colic and constipation. The use of dried aloe latex to treat constipation is no longer recommended. Drugs.com -- which provides peer-reviewed medical information to consumers -- notes that aloe vera-based laxatives were taken off the U.S. market in 2002 due to a lack of safety data.
Constituents and Effects
Aloe vera gel -- the clear, sticky substance obtained by cutting and crushing the leaves -- contains a polysaccharide called glucomannon. The latex of the plant, which is composed of 63 percent resin, contains anthraquinone glycosides; these intestinal tract irritants account for the plant's laxative qualities. Also present in aloe vera are tannins, amino acids, enzymes, fatty acids, the mineral zinc and the antioxidant vitamins E and C. Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health credits acemannan, one of the polysaccharides in aloe, with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, emollient and immune-stimulating actions that can help heal skin. Drugs.com concurs that aloe vera can inhibit infection and promote healing of psoriasis, and adds that one of aloe vera's constituents, bradykininase, has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
Research
Some scientific research supports the internal use of aloe vera extracts to treat diabetes. In a systematic review of 108 clinical trials published in 2003 in "Diabetes Care," the authors noted that aloe vera was among the herbal substances that yielded positive preliminary results in treating diabetes. Although there was insufficient evidence for definitive conclusions, the authors stated that the subject warranted further study. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial published in 2004 in "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics," researchers found that oral aloe vera gel taken for four weeks by ulcerative colitis patients produced clinical improvements and remissions more often than the placebo did, and it appeared to be safe. The team called for further study and evaluation of oral aloe vera gel for treating inflammatory bowel disease.
Usage and Precautions
Using aloe vera externally is considered safe, although cases of skin irritation have been reported. A 0.5 percent extract cream can be used three times a day for psoriasis. There is conflicting information, however, regarding the internal use of aloe vera gel and juice. According to BSCAH, 2 tablespoons -- or 30 ml -- of aloe vera gel may be taken three times a day to treat Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, while clinical trials for diabetes used 15 ml of aloe gel twice a day. However, Drugs.com does not recommend the gel for internal use and warns that prolonged ingestion can result in adverse effects. Aloe vera can interact with prescription drugs. Consult your doctor before using aloe vera. Don't use it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
References
- Drugs.com: Complete Aloe Information
- Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health: Aloe
- "Diabetes Care"; Systematic Review of Herbs and Dietary Supplements for Glycemic Control in Diabetes; G.Y. Yeh; April 2003
- "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
- Herb Companion; Aloe Vera Benefits; Staff; July 2002
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