Aloe vera, also known as lily of the desert, burn plant and elephant’s gall, has been used for more than 6,000 years, according to the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or the NCCAM. In early Egypt, the plant was depicted on stone carvings, known as the “plant of immortality” and presented as a burial gift to pharaohs. Today, the uses of aloe vera are a little more practical and the plant has numerous uses, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Constipation
Aloe components such as aloin are well-known as effective laxatives, according to the Mayo Clinic, and in studies, a combination herbal remedy containing aloe was found to be an effective laxative. Traditionally, dried latex from the inner lining of the aloe leaf is taken orally to alleviate constipation. The NCCAM says that products made from aloe components, including aloin, aloe-emodin and barbaloin, were at one time regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as over-the-counter laxatives, although in 2002, all over-the-counter aloe laxative producers were removed from the U.S. market or reformulated because the companies that manufactured them didn’t provide necessary safety data, according to the NCCAM.
Genital Herpes
According to the Mayo Clinic, human studies suggest that extract from aloe vera in a cream may be an effective treatment of genital herpes in men, although more research is needed before a strong recommendation can be made.
Dandruff and Seborrheic Dermatitis
Aloe lotion has also been shown to be effective in treating sebborheic dermatitis and dandruff when applied to the skin, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Dry Skin
The Mayo Clinic says that aloe vera has been traditionally used as a moisturizer and that some studies have suggested that it effectively reduces skin dryness. The clinic notes that higher-quality studies are needed in this area before it officially recommends aloe vera for dry skin.
Sunburns and Wound Healing
Aloe vera is a popular ingredient in after-sun lotions, due to its reputation as a skin soother. The mechanism by which sunburns are soothed is similar to that by which wounds are healed. The Mayo Clinic says that some studies report that aloe vera is effective at hastening the healing of wounds, while other studies have shown no benefit. Still, the clinic says, wound healing is a popular use of topical aloe. The NCCAM notes that topical aloe gel may help heal sunburns and abrasion, according to many studies, but in one study, aloe gel appeared to inhibit the healing of deep surgical wounds. But, according to the NCCAM, the use of topical aloe is not associated with significant side effects, so there’s likely no harm in using a lotion or gel containing aloe vera.
