Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera’s botanical name is Aloe barbadensis miller and it is a shrubby plant that grows in the dry regions of various continents including Asia, Europe and the Americas. Several ancient cultures have used Aloe Vera for health benefits such as ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Indians, and Chinese. They all used it to manage health conditions so successfully that the Ancient Egyptians called Aloe Vera “the plant of immortality”.¹

Aloe Vera has numerous well-documented health benefits due to its content of various phytocompounds. It is rich in Vitamins A, C, and E, antioxidants, enzymes, minerals, monosaccharides, polysaccharides, anthraquinones (providing laxative and antimicrobial properties), fatty acids, hormones, and amino acids.¹

Aloe Vera is available in numerous forms, including powder, capsules, liquids, mouthwashes, topical ointments, and cosmetics. Below are some of the health benefits and reasons people use Aloe Vera.

Health Benefits of Aloe Vera

Immune Booster

Aloe Vera is an immunostimulant. Various experimental studies show that Aloe Vera may influence human immunity in numerous ways which may be due to its content of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory enzymes, micronutrients, and so on. It seems that Aloe Vera extract may have a direct effect on human immunity, however, the underlying mechanism is not yet properly understood by researchers. Nonetheless, the ability of Aloe Vera to boost nonspecific immune responses is confirmed by experimental studies.²^,³
Anti-Inflammatory

Aloe Vera may also help suppress inflammation and therefore boost various healing processes. This is thought to be due to the direct anti-inflammatory action of some of the enzymes contained in Aloe Vera. Studies also show that the use of Aloe Vera can suppress the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine in response to various microbial infections.⁴
Antioxidant

There are numerous compounds in Aloe Vera, with antioxidant capacity, including Vitamin E, Vitamin C and various phenolic compounds. Studies show that aloesin derivatives in the plant also have potent free radical scavenging capabilities and therefore, the use of Aloe Vera and it’s extract can help in numerous health conditions.⁵
Antimicrobial

Researchers have isolated various Aloe proteins with potent antimicrobial activity. Therefore, Aloe Vera can suppress multiple gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens and it has also been found to possess antifungal activity.⁶
Prevent Dental Plaque

Aloe Vera also has a role as a natural mouth wash due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Studies in humans have confirmed that regular use of Aloe Vera can help prevent dental plaque.⁷

Manage Skin Issues and Aid Wound Healing

Aloe Vera has numerous beneficial effects on skin health. The use of Aloe Vera can help to prevent sunburn, fight infections, help with autoimmune conditions (like psoriasis), eczema, fungal infections and bacterial infections. The use of Aloe Vera may even help with certain viral skin conditions like human papillomavirus. Therefore, it is no surprise that Aloe Vera is commonly included in various topical applications.⁸
Manage Constipation

Studies show that Aloe Vera is a potent natural laxative. It seems to be comparable to some of the over-the-counter medications, in managing constipation, and so due to its excellent safety profile, it may be a particularly good alternative for older adults or those living with chronic constipation.⁹

Lowers Blood Sugar Levels

Aloe Vera may not be the most potent anti-diabetes remedy; nonetheless, studies show that use of Aloe Vera can help those living with type 2 diabetes.¹⁰

Side Effects of Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is relatively safe for short-term or intermittent use and rarely causes any side effects. However, its prolonged use may cause some adverse effects. Frequent topical use may cause allergic reactions and photosensitivity. Oral use may cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Its prolonged use at higher dosages may be toxic for some internal organs, like the liver and kidneys, and pregnant and lactating women should avoid its use internally. It should be used cautiously with other medications due to the possibilities of interactions.¹^,¹¹

Properties

Adaptogen²^,³^,5
Allergies²^,³
Anti-Bacterial⁶
Anti-Fungal⁶
Anti-Inflammatory⁸
Antibiotic⁶
Antimicrobial⁶
Antioxidant⁵
Antiseptic⁶
Asthma²^,⁵
Constipation⁹
Demulcent⁹
Diabetes / Blood Sugar¹⁰
Digestive Function⁹
Digestive Restoration⁹
Encourages Healing⁸
High/Good Levels of Phytochemicals / Phytocompounds¹
High/Good Levels of Vitamin A¹
High/Good Levels of Vitamin C¹
High/Good Levels of Vitamin E¹
Immune Booster²^,³
Laxative⁹
Oral Health⁷
Skin Issues⁸
Ulcer Support⁸
Wound Healing⁸

References