Health benefits of Aloe vera

Brief history

Skin care

The Aloe vera gel contains glycoproteins and lectins that are molecules with cell proliferating properties. This is why aloe is commonly used in dermatology and cosmetology^{2, 7}. There are several scientific studies and clinical trials that have also shown that Aloe vera is effective against several skin conditions:

Acne

Acne can occur due to several reasons. Some of the most common and important ones are hormonal changes, high stress levels and diet. There are several scientific studies that have tested the treatment of acne with products that contained Aloe vera. It seems that if Aloe is combined with other natural ingredients, such as Gingko biloba and green tea, it is effective against acne. This happens because Aloe has great anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties^{7, 8}.

Wound healing

There are numerous clinical studies that have shown the magical wound healing properties of aloe^{11, 15, 16}. These properties of Aloe vera are attributed to the hormones that it contains, such as auxins and giberellins, which promote growth and have anti-inflammatory action¹⁶. Thus, Aloe is effective for treating post-operative wounds created for example by C-section, hemorrhoids removal, skin biopsies or skin grafts¹¹.

Aloe vera gel is also great for healing cracked nipples during breastfeeding¹⁰. Although Aloe is not toxic for the baby, it is better to be removed from the nipples before breastfeeding, because its’ bitter taste may avert the baby. Something else to keep in mind is that in some people, Aloe gel may induce itching, burning, or topic allergic reactions. This usually happens if during its’ preparation has been mixed with latex, a compound found in the leaves. Thus, purchasing a latex-pure product is important.

You can also use Aloe gel or cream to treat melasma, a skin condition that occurs mostly in women during pregnancy. People who get exposed too much to the sun, may also develop brown patches on their skin and Aloe vera gel can help reduce the coloration¹⁷.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease and people that suffer from it have skin areas that are red, itchy and dry. As Aloe contains mucopolysaccharides, it is very effective in maintaining the skin moisture. In two scientific studies, aloe cream was applied twice a day for 4-8 weeks to these skin regions and it was shown that it is effective^{12, 13,14}. A recent study also showed that Aloe vera gel is also effective against psoriasis due to another compound contained in it, aloe-emodin. Finally, according to a study in Palestine, Aloe vera is one of the four most used plants for the traditional treatment of psoriasis.

Moisturizing and anti-aging effect

Aloe is used a lot in the cosmetic industry for its moisturizing effect. It contains mucopolysaccharides which are effective in maintaining the skin moisture and gibberellin, a hormone that stimulates the growth of new cells¹⁵. Aloe, activates also the fibroblasts, skin cells that produce collagen and elastin fibers, making the skin more elastic and less wrinkled¹⁷.

Eczema

Due to Aloe’s moisturizing effect, it is often used for skin diseases related to dry skin and scaling, such as eczema²⁴. ALHYDRAN®, is a cream based on Aloe, vitamins and natural essential oils with regenerating properties that has been tested in 18 people with venous eczema. It was applied twice per day on the affected skin for 4 weeks. The results were very encouraging as the itchiness was reduced and the color of the skin improved. So, the authors concluded that ALHYDRAN® is a safe, effective and feasible treatment for the skin symptoms of venous eczema²⁴.

Antimicrobial and antiviral properties

Aloe vera has been studied extensively in the food and medical industry due to its antimicrobial and antiviral properties^{3, 20}. It can inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi, as well as viruses because it contains many antiviral molecules.

There are 6 antiseptic agents in Aloe vera: lupeol, salicylic acid, nitrogen urea, cinnamonic acid, phenols, and sulfur. All of them have inhibitory effects on the growth of fungi, viruses and bacteria. The most studied compounds found in Aloe for their antiviral activity are the anthraquinones, but there are also other ones like quercetin, catechin hydrate, kaempferol, acemannan, azidothymidine, acyclovir, aloin and emodin²⁰.

For example, lectins inhibit the growth of cytomegalovirus²², chrysophanic acid inhibits the growth of polioviruses and from preliminary experiments in cats, acemmanans can inhibit the growth of HIV²³. Moreover, in another scientific study, the gel extract of Aloe was tested in cell lines and was effective against herpes virus (HSV-2)²³.

Finally, in a very recent research article it has also been suggested as a natural treatment against Covid19, due to its well-studied antiviral effects²⁰. However, more research is needed in order to show its potential for Covid19 treatment.

Anti-inflammatory

Some phytochemicals that Aloe Vera contains have the ability to reduce inflammation by directly modulating some components of our immune system, such as cytokinins, interleukin and leukocyte cells’ production^{16, 29}. It also contains fatty acids, such as cholesterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol, and lupeol, which also have anti-inflammatory action¹⁶. Thus, if you are suffering from a chronic inflammation disease, such as arthritis, joint and muscle pain, any kind of infection or even allergies, it is worth adding some Aloe vera juice without sugar to your daily diet.

Phlebitis

According to an extensive analysis of scientific studies, Aloe vera is a great alternative and natural therapy for intravenous phlebitis and chemotherapy induced phlebitis. So, it can be used topically as a cream, gel or ointment and it is a cheap and effective way to prevent serious side complications²⁹. Our go to cream is ALHYDRAN®.

Improves intestinal health and reduces IBS symptoms

Aloe vera contains anthraquinones. These compounds have laxative properties and can help reduce constipation as they can increase the water content of your intestine, they induce mucus secretion and they improve the movement of the intestine. For these reasons, Aloe vera juice is often used as complementary and alternative therapy for the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)¹⁶. Thus, dinking Aloe vera juice can help you prevent stomach ulcers, reduce IBS symptoms and improve the bowel transit and digestion.

Oral health

According to a scientific review, that summarizes different research articles about the effects of Aloe vera on oral health, this plant can be used as a natural treatment for several oral diseases. Some of them are gingivitis, periodontitis, aphthae (aphthous stomatitis), mucositis or dry socket (alveolar osteitis). Basically, the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as some unique compounds that Aloe contains, make this plant unique for maintaining a good oral health.
A few studies have also shown that Aloe vera can be used as an effective mouthwash for the prevention of plaque formation^38-40.

Other potential, but understudied health effects

Sun burns or acute radiation dermatitis

Aloe vera has not been proven to be effective for the treatment of sunburns, frostbitten skin or radiation dermatitis. However, as it has great moisturizing, nourishing, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties you can consider using it for prevention and for keeping your skin hydrated. Thus, using it as a complementary aid alongside with other treatments could also help you accelerate the healing process of your skin.

Most of the people that go through radiation treatment because of cancer, suffer from topical skin “burns” (also known as acute radiation dermatitis). Unfortunately, there is still not enough scientific proof that shows the effectiveness of Aloe vera against radiation dermatitis symptoms. However, using a cream that contains Aloe vera combined with other anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and skin healing plants is important for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis.

Basically, taking care of your skin since day 1 of radiation therapy is very important for the prevention of radiation dermatitis. It has been proven that the most effective practice is to wash and cleanse well the zone of treatment with mild soap and water⁹. Doing this 3-4 times per day and putting some hydrating, nourishing and anti-microbial cream after drying well the place is very important for keeping your skin clean and healthy.

One cream that we like and recommend is Actinike from RNV. 

Ulcer prevention and treatment

Cancer Prevention

Aloe vera gel contains a molecule called emodin, which has been shown to be effective for cancer prevention and metastasis. More specifically, emodin is very effective in the prevention of breast cancer metastasis and proliferation of breast cancer cells^{25, 26}. There is also one study that showed that Aloe emodin inhibited the growth of polyp formation in mice that were fed with high-lipid diet²⁷.

Vaginal health

Many women suffer from vaginal atrophy after menopause. This happens because our estrogen levels drop after menopause and the vaginal cell layers get more dry, inflated and thinner. Usually, medical doctors try to treat these symptoms with estrogen creams, but a recent scientific study has demonstrated that an Aloe vera cream is equally effective. Although, more research is needed to prove this, given the fact that Aloe gel has well-proven moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effects it could be effective and worth trying it.

Analgesic

Salycilic acid is the main compound of aspirin, but it is also contained in the Aloe vera gel. Furthermore, Aloe contains a substance called lupeol that has analgesic effects. Thus, consuming Aloe vera juice could help you relieve pain, related to chronic disease such as arthritis.

Diabetes type 2 and high cholesterol natural prevention

To date, there are only a few studies in mice and fish that show the potentially beneficial action of Aloe vera on metabolic diseases like hyperlipidemia and diabetes^33-37. These studies show that consuming Aloe could reduce the levels of triglycerides, cholesterol and free fatty acids in the plasma, liver, and kidney⁴¹. However, a recent meta-analysis of the scientific data, shows that Aloe vera juice can reduce the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, and increase the levels of HDL cholesterol in prediabetes and early non-treated diabetic patients. The authors suggest that more randomized controlled trials should be performed in humans, so as to prove the potential health benefits of Aloe on human health.

Take home message

Aloe has been well-studied for its’ effective properties on skin care, wound healing, and skin related diseases, like psoriasis and eczema. On the top of that, Aloe can also be used for maintaining a good intestinal and oral health, but it is better to be consumed in low amounts (30-40ml/day) to avoid reverse effects.

From preliminary research, it seems that Aloe may also be effective for cancer and diabetes prevention. It may also have good analgesic effects or help you maintain a good vaginal health. However, more research is needed for these properties to be proven.

Important Note

Tips and tricks

• In order to benefit the most by Aloe vera, it’s better to consume it fresh or in powder form. The longer it is preserved in the fridge the more the gel’s composition changes.
• Aloe vera powder can be used as a preservative agent for your food due to it’s antimicrobial properties. You can use it to maintain chicken nuggets in the fridge, up to 6 days or you can use it to marinate your chicken in order to make it softer⁶.

References