Aloe Vera is a succulent, evergreen plant native to the arid, warm areas of the southwestern Mediterranean region. An annual, it usually originates from the Arabian Peninsula but grows best in warm, tropical, and semi-tropical climates. It’s cultivated primarily for its medicinal and culinary uses. Buyers should be wary of companies that tout the benefits of Aloe Vera for everything from “healing wounds” to “weight loss.”
In truth, Aloe Vera may help with some health conditions, although it will not cure or prevent any disease. For example, while Aloe Vera does have an anti-inflammatory effect, research indicates that the aloe plants anti-inflammatory power really works best when used externally–not internally. While Aloe Vera may reduce swelling and pain, a topical application can aggravate gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis. (Aloe plants are also useful for arthritis relief.) And while Aloe Vera can help increase the healing of deep tissue injuries, it’s not clear how it does so.
The FDA has not approved any internal Aloe Vera preparations, and the few studies on the herb show only limited benefits–not even a statistically significant difference in healing severity. In fact, Aloe Vera is probably best avoided by those with an internal ulcer, as the plant contains penicillin, which can cause an internal bleeding condition when administered improperly. Aloe Vera is, however, very useful for treating various superficial wounds, cuts, and burns, and its ability to promote circulation gives it some benefit in the treatment of bruises, spider veins, and discolored and dried out skin. In fact, Aloe Vera is probably the best known internal treatment for cold sores, although it is not considered very useful in the treatment of genital herpes.
So what’s all the fuss about then? Well, while there is good evidence that Aloe Vera does have some healing properties, the plant has been shown not to be effective in treating most forms of acne, skin ulcers, or eczema. It also does not work well for most warts. And contrary to common belief, applying aloe gel directly to a wound does not help to speed healing. Rather, you should consider applying the gel after your wound has been covered with a bandage. The reason for this is that the natural sugars in the plant’s gel can inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungus that can cause infection.
However, Aloe Vera did have some beneficial effects on minor burns. Aloe Vera gel showed improvement on blistered and dehydrated skin, particularly for minor burns. But, in most cases of first and second degree burns–the most severe forms of burns–aloe vera has been shown to have no effect or results. For instance, aloe vera has been shown to have no effect or results on sunburns, seborrheic dermatitis, or other types of dermatitis. In fact, some researchers found that aloe vera gel may even make sunburns worse!
So, what’s the take-away? To answer this, we recommend using it topically when you have major cuts, open wounds, or open sores. If you have moderate or mild burns, you may want to consider applying it topically as often as possible. When you have moderate to severe burns, or if your burns are very severe, you should consult a doctor and/or a pharmacist for the best advice and treatment. Aloe Vera may help relieve pain and inflammation, but is not effective on its own. In addition, topical Aloe Vera creams should be used with caution due to its harmful potential side effects.
The health benefits of Aloe Vera, however, far outweigh any of its potential side effects. In fact, Aloe Vera has been used for thousands of years to treat everything from fungal infections of the scalp to sunburns and wounds. While there is no clear evidence as to what, if anything, Aloe Vera can actually do for a burned area, those who are interested in trying it know that there are plenty of anecdotal reports of people who have gotten great results through topical uses, and that scientific studies have found numerous health benefits. Some research indicates that Aloe Vera can help speed up wound healing and reduce inflammation. Other research suggests that Aloe Vera can help reduce cell death in wounds.
Aloe Vera gel is widely used to promote overall health and to provide pain relief. Applying the gel directly to a painful site can provide pain relief, as well as promoting healing and reducing the swelling that can occur around a cut or burn. Topical Aloe Vera can be used to treat everything from athlete’s foot and ringworm to athlete’s foot as well as sunburn, cuts and many other forms of skin irritation. The only way to know for sure what you can use Aloe Vera for is to consult with your family doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to tell you what you can use Aloe Vera for, as well as what you should avoid using Aloe Vera for.