Aloe vera (gel)

Other Botanical Names: Aloe barbadensis

Common Name: Aloe

Family: Aloaceae

Parts used: Gel (the clear, inner mucilaginous part of the plant). It is completely different from the latex.

Constituents: Polysaccharides (glucomannan) are anti-inflammatory, antipruritic (anti-itching), and a vulnerary. The constituents aloctin A and aloe-emodin appear to be immunomodulating.

Taste/smell: Gel by itself is pleasant tasting

Tendencies: Cooling, drying, stimulating

Actions

• Vulnerary

• Emollient

• Antipruritic

• Anti-inflammatory

• Demulcent

• Immunomodulating

• Anti-atherosclerotic

• Anti-diabetic

Uses

Topical Vulnerary and Emollient:

• 1st- to 2nd-degree burns

• Frostbite

• Skin wounds, including diabetic wounds

• Skin ulcers

Topical Antiprutitic:

• Pruritic (itchy) skin

Internal Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent, and Vulnerary:

• Gastritis

• Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease

• Peptic and duodenal ulcers

Immunomodulating:

• Interstitial or infectious cystitis

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Anti-atherosclerotic:

• Hypercholesterolemia

Anti-Diabetic:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Complementary Adjuncts

• Improves rate of healing occurs when it was applied locally with polyethylene oxide over dermabrasion, compared with standard polyethylene oxide gel wound dressing

• Improves the anti-inflammatory effect of hydrocortisone acetate cream when it is used as a vehicle for topical application to skin inflammation

Contraindications

• 3rd-degree burns

• Deep or infected wounds

• Surgical wounds

• Allergic hypersensitivity to aloe

Adverse Effects

• Cramping and diarrhea from internal use

Toxicity

• Extremely safe as a gel (not latex part)

• May delay healing of severe burns or deep, surgical wounds

Interactions

• Theoretically, polysaccharides may reduce the absorption of many agents if taken simultaneously

• Increases the hypoglycemic effects of glyburide (glibenclamide) due to its antihyperglycemic activity