Aloe vera is a well-known herb with a long history of use in traditional medicine for ailments such as skin problems, digestive issues, inflammation, and diabetes.
Modern research shows that aloe vera possesses many health benefits.
This article provides an overview of the health benefits of aloe vera, safety, dosing strategies, and more.
Table of Contents
What is Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) is a cactus-like succulent plant from Africa. It is found in dry, subtropical and tropical climates, including the Mediterranean, parts of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Southwest United States.
The main feature of aloe vera is its rich water content (up to 99.5%), which is why it can thrive in dry, arid places.
Aloe also contains a number of different bioactive compounds, such as:
- Vitamins (e.g. A, C, E, beta-carotene)
- Minerals (e.g. calcium, copper, magnesium, potassium)
- Polysaccharides (e.g. mannan, glucomannan)
- Phenolic compounds (e.g. chromones, anthraquinones, anthrones)
- Organic acids
Many different parts of aloe vera can be used for health benefits, such as the leaf pulp, rind, and inner gel.
Health Benefits of Aloe Vera:
Aloe vera benefits health through a variety of different ways. Clinical research shows that aloe vera has the following benefits detailed below.
1. May Improve Wound Healing
The most well-known benefit of aloe vera is wound healing. Numerous clinical studies provide scientific evidence for this claim.
One clinical trial compared the effects of aloe vera gel to sulfadiazine (an antibiotic drug) in treating minor burns. The researchers found that aloe vera successfully treated 95 percent of the patients compared to 83 percent for the sulfadiazine group.
Another clinical trial also compared the effects of aloe vera to sulfadiazine in treating second-degree burns. They found that aloe vera sped up the healing of wounds in 90 percent of the patients compared to a mere 30 percent success rate with sulfadiazine.
In a clinical study on patients who underwent skin graft harvesting, aloe vera substantially increased the healing process when compared to the placebo treatment.
One clinical trial on patients who underwent a hemorrhoidectomy (surgery to remove hemorrhoids) showed that a cream containing aloe vera reduced the healing time and post-operative pain compared to the control cream.
In a clinical study on patients with either first or second-degree burns, aloe vera gel notably reduced wound itching and pain. Moreover, these effects were greater than those from sulfadiazine.
One clinical trial on women who underwent cesarean operation showed that a wound dressing with aloe vera led to greater improvements and faster wound healing.
Summary:
Clinical research has found that aloe vera may help to improve wound recovery and healing.
2. May Benefit Skin Conditions
Plentiful evidence also shows that aloe vera benefits other skin conditions, such as acne and dermatitis.
In one clinical study on patients with psoriasis (a skin condition characterized by red, itchy, dry skin), those who received an aloe vera cream showed a significant reduction in psoriasis symptoms compared to people who received triamcinolone (a corticosteroid cream).
In a clinical trial on adults with dermatitis (an inflammatory skin condition), topical aloe vera treatment showed greater reductions in itchiness, scaliness, and total dermatitis prevalence compared to the placebo treatment.
One clinical study looked into the healing effects of tretinoin (a topical medication cream) alongside aloe vera gel in patients with acne. The researchers found that tretinoin plus aloe vera was effective for reducing inflammation, lesions, and other symptoms of acne.
A clinical trial on patients with dermatitis revealed that treatment with a combination of aloe vera and olive oil cream had superior effects compared to betamethasone (a corticosteroid cream) in regard to acne severity, quality of life, and inflammatory markers.
In a clinical study on patients with radiation-induced dermatitis, the side treated with aloe vera lotion showed greater reductions in dermatitis intensity compared to the untreated side.
Summary:
Clinical trials show that aloe vera may promote skin health and reduce skin issues.
3. Potential Anti-Diabetic Properties
Research shows that aloe vera may benefit diabetes patients and help to improve blood sugar levels.
Diabetes is a disease that involves uncontrolled blood sugar levels and impaired insulin function, often leading to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Whereas type 1 diabetes is a genetic condition, type 2 is often developed over time as a result of diet and lifestyle habits.
In one clinical trial involving people with diabetes, treatment with aloe vera juice led to a notable drop in blood sugar and triglyceride levels.
In a clinical trial on type 2 diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia (i.e. high cholesterol levels), researchers administered an aloe vera dietary supplement to patients who previously did not respond successfully to metformin and glyburide (anti-diabetic drugs). They found that consuming aloe vera alongside the aforementioned drugs led to marked decreases in blood sugar, LDL, HbA1C (a measure of blood sugar), and total cholesterol compared to the placebo.
In a clinical study on pre-diabetic patients (those at risk for developing diabetes), a