Aloe vera, or aloe, has been used for thousands of years to support a healthy digestive system by promoting peristalsis and relieving constipation. Indeed, aloe juice was included in many over-the-counter laxatives in the United States because of its potent laxative effects. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has since mandated that aloe be removed from these products because of safety concerns. As with any supplement, consult your doctor before using aloe for health reasons.
Your Digestive System
A healthy digestive system works by breaking down food into nutrients in your small intestine, where the nutrients are absorbed into your blood. The leftover waste from digestion, or stool, is moved through your intestines by muscle contractions into your large intestine, which absorbs water back into the blood. Solid waste is then eliminated from your body as a bowel movement. If your colon's muscle contractions are slow, the stool gets hard and dry, causing constipation.
Preparations and Dosing
Aloe juice, or aloe latex, is the yellowish, bitter-tasting liquid found just beneath the skin of the leaf. You can buy aloe juice in several forms, including capsules, tablets and juice. According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, you can take aloe vera juice as a single 50 to 200 mg dose once per day for a maximum of 10 days for constipation.
Effectiveness
Aloe juice is a potent stimulant laxative, containing substances called anthraquinone glycosides, which stimulate your bowel muscles to contract. According to MedlinePlus, it takes about 10 hours for aloe juice to cause a bowel movement. With continued use, you may develop tolerance, meaning that you will need higher doses for the same laxative effect. This occurs because potassium is depleted in your intestine, which causes decreased speed and strength of the muscle contractions.
Considerations
Taking aloe juice may be unsafe because it can cause side effects such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, kidney problems, bloody urine, muscle weakness, weight loss and heart disorders. Taking aloe juice in doses of 1 g or more per day for several days can be fatal, notes MedlinePlus. You should not take aloe juice if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
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