What is Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera is a medicinal plant with antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Its benefits include reducing dental plaque, accelerating wound healing, improving skin barrier function, and managing blood sugar. It contains more than 75 active ingredients, including enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, some of which make it useful for treating various medical conditions.
Some people use aloe vera gel as a home remedy to treat burns, heal wounds, and soothe other skin conditions. Aloe juice is also promoted as a natural remedy for diabetes, heartburn, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While some research suggests it is effective for these conditions, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm these benefits.
Aloe vera, or Aloe barbadensis, is a thick, short-stemmed plant that stores water in its leaves. It is best known for treating skin injuries, but it has several other uses that can potentially benefit health.
The Health Benefits and Risks of Aloe Vera
Here are eight potential health benefits of aloe vera, along with the risks of using it.
1. It Contains Healthy Plant Compounds
The cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries use aloe vera widely. The plant has thick, sharp, fleshy green leaves. Inside each leaf is a thick, slimy tissue that stores water. This water-filled tissue is the gel found in aloe vera products. This gel contains healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
2. It Fights Bacteria
Aloe vera kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Because of this, it can help heal wounds and treat skin problems. Studies show that aloe vera stops the growth of harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
3. It Speeds Up Wound Healing
People usually rub aloe vera onto their skin as a cream rather than eating it. Studies show that it works well to heal first-degree and second-degree burns. In fact, research shows that aloe vera can heal burns about 9 days faster than standard medications. It also prevents itching and infections. While research on other types of wounds is still ongoing, the results look promising.
4. It Reduces Dental Plaque
Tooth decay and gum disease are very common problems. To prevent them, you need to reduce plaque buildup on your teeth. Research shows that aloe vera mouthwash is just as effective as chemical mouthwashes. Aloe vera gel also kills Candida albicans, which is a common yeast found in the mouth.
5. It Heals Canker Sores
Many people get mouth ulcers, or canker sores, inside their mouths or under their lips. These sores usually last for about a week. Studies show that aloe vera heals mouth ulcers faster than other treatments and reduces the recovery time.
6. It Treats Constipation
Aloe vera can help relieve constipation. For this benefit, you must use the latex instead of the gel. The latex is a sticky yellow liquid found just under the leaf's skin. It contains a compound called aloin, which acts as a strong laxative. However, aloe vera does not help with other digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
7. It Improves Skin Health
Early research suggests that applying aloe vera gel can slow down the signs of aging skin. Compounds in aloe vera help the skin by improving moisture, elasticity, and collagen levels while strengthening the skin barrier.
8. It Lowers Blood Sugar
Some people use aloe vera to treat diabetes because it can help the body manage blood sugar and respond better to insulin. Reviews show good evidence that aloe vera helps patients with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. However, current studies are not perfect, so doctors do not officially recommend aloe vera for this purpose yet.
How to Use Aloe Vera
You can buy aloe vera as a gel or cream, use it raw directly from the plant leaf, or drink it as a liquid juice.
Health Risks and Side Effects
Applying aloe vera gel to your skin is generally safe, but it can cause irritation or hives if you have sensitive skin.
Taking aloe vera by mouth can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea, and even liver damage. Here are the main risks to keep in mind:
- Cancer Risk: Raw, unfiltered whole-leaf extract contains chemicals that may cause cancer. Avoid products that are not filtered.
- Organ Damage: Taking high doses of aloe latex by mouth can cause severe stomach pain, kidney damage, and dangerous chemical imbalances in your blood.
- Low Blood Sugar: Do not take oral aloe vera if you take diabetes medication. It can drop your blood sugar to a dangerous level.
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Pregnant women should never take aloe latex because it can cause a miscarriage or early labor. Breastfeeding mothers should also avoid it, as it can cause diarrhea in babies.
- Age Limits: Children under 12 years old should never consume aloe latex or whole-leaf extract.
Dangerous Drug Interactions
Talk to your doctor before taking oral aloe vera, as it can interfere with the following medications:
- Blood thinners (like Warfarin)
- Diabetes medicines
- Heart failure medicines (like Digoxin)
- Other laxatives
- Water pills (diuretics)
Summary
Aloe vera is excellent for healing skin and protecting gums. You can buy bottled gel or squeeze it directly from a fresh leaf. Keep in mind that aloe vera juice and aloe vera gel do different things. Always consult your doctor before using aloe vera to treat any medical condition.