What are the benefits of aloe Vera? Let's find out
Aloe Vera is a popular medicinal plant that people have used for thousands of years.
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 also has several other uses that could potentially benefit health.
This article lists eight potential health benefits of aloe Vera. It also covers some of the risks associated with use.
Antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
Antioxidants are important for health. Aloe Vera gel contains a trusted Source of powerful antioxidants belonging to a large family of substances known as polyphenols.
These polyphenols, along with several other compounds in aloe Vera, help inhibit the growth of certain bacteria that can cause infections in humans.
Aloe Vera is known as a trusted source of its antibacterial, antiviral, and antiseptic properties. This is part of why it may help heal wounds and treat skin problems.
Accelerates wound healing.
People most often use aloe Vera as a topical medication, rubbing it onto the skin rather than consuming it. It has a long history of use in treating sores, particularly burns, including sunburn.
Aloe Vera could reduce the healing time of burns by around 9 days compared with conventional medication. It also helped prevent redness, itching, and infections.
Healthful plant compounds.
The cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries use aloe Vera extensively, and the plant has an estimated annual market value of $13 billion trusted Source globally.
Aloe Vera is known for its thick, pointed, and fleshy green leaves, which may grow to about 12–19 inches (30–50 centimeters) in length.
Each leaf contains a slimy tissue that stores water, and this makes the leaves thick. This water-filled tissue is the “gel” that people associate with aloe Vera products.
The gel contains most of the beneficial bioactive compounds in the plant, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.
Helps treat canker sores.
Many people experience mouth ulcers, or canker sores, at some point in their lives. These usually form underneath the lip, inside the mouth, and last for about a week Trusted Source.
Studies have shown that aloe Vera treatment can accelerate the healing of mouth ulcers.
For example, in a 7-day study trusted Source of 180 people with recurrent mouth ulcers, applying an aloe Vera patch to the area was effective in reducing the size of the ulcers.
In another study trusted Source, aloe Vera gel not only accelerated the healing of mouth ulcers, but it also reduced the pain associated with them.
Reduces dental plaque.
Tooth decay and diseases with gum are very common health problems. One of the best ways to prevent these conditions is to reduce the buildup of plaque, or bacterial biofilms, on the teeth.
After 4 days of use, the aloe Vera mouth rinse appeared to be just as effective as chlorhexidine in reducing dental plaque.
Reduces constipation.
Aloe Vera may also help treat constipation.
This time it is the latex, not the gel that provides the benefits. Latex is a sticky yellow residue present just under the skin of the leaf.
The key compound responsible for this effect is called aloin, or barbaloin, which has well-established trusted Source laxative effects.
However, people have raised concerns about safety with frequent use. For this reason, aloe latex has not been available in the U.S. as an over-the-counter medication since 2002Trusted Source.
Improve skin and prevent wrinkles.
There is some preliminary evidence to suggest that topical aloe Vera gel can slow the aging of the skin.
In a 2009 study trusted Source of 30 females over the age of 45, taking oral aloe Vera gel increased collagen production and improved skin elasticity over 90 days.
Reviews Trusted Source also suggests that aloe Vera could help the skin retain moisture and improve skin integrity, which could benefit dry skin conditions.
Lowers blood sugar levels.
People sometimes use aloe Vera as a remedy for diabetes. This is because it may enhance insulin sensitivity and help improve blood sugar management.
For example, a review trusted Source of eight studies found that aloe Vera could have benefits for people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes due to its effects on glycemic control.
However, the quality of the existing studies is not ideal, so scientists do not currently recommend using aloe Vera for this purpose.
Summary.
Aloe Vera has a range of therapeutic properties, especially as an ointment for the skin and gums.
People can use bottled aloe Vera gel or take it directly from the leaf of an aloe plant. Aloe Vera juice has different uses than aloe Vera gel.
Oral options should contain decolorized whole-leaf extract of aloe Vera to minimize risk.
A person should always speak to a doctor before using aloe products to treat a condition.
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