The only two purported benefits of aloe vera—laxative and wound-healing—one poses a potential health risk, while the other's efficacy is questionable. We have safer and more reliable alternatives available, so there's no real need to choose aloe vera products.
From aloe vera, two types of products can be obtained: one is the transparent gel from inside the aloe leaf, and the other is the yellow latex found just beneath the leaf's skin. The latex is used as a laxative, while the gel is applied topically. Some small-scale experiments have shown that applying gel to wounds can aid in wound recovery. The theoretical basis for this is twofold: first, the gel contains aloesin, a substance with strong antimicrobial properties that can kill fungi, molds, bacteria, and viruses, inhibiting and eliminating the growth and reproduction of pathogens; second, aloectin in aloe vera can work with bradykinin to resist inflammation. In particular, the polysaccharides in aloe vera can enhance the body's resistance to disease and help heal chronic conditions such as dermatitis, chronic nephritis, cystitis, and bronchitis. From this perspective, aloe vera seems to have a certain positive effect on wound treatment.
However, scientists' opinions are not unified, and they consider it premature to draw a firm conclusion. One study showed that it not only failed to help wounds heal but actually delayed the healing process. Although it's difficult to judge the reliability of this study, this benefit has been called into question. Nevertheless, topical aloe vera products that have been stabilized and have irritants removed are generally safe. Therefore, while the effectiveness of cosmetic, skincare, and wound-treatment topical aloe products remains to be confirmed, the upside is that they are not harmful to health. If you don't mind wasting money and are willing to use yourself as a test subject, there's no harm in it. For example, one study showed that after applying a lotion containing aloe vera extract for four weeks, psoriasis patients experienced a reduction in symptoms.
Since the topical benefits of aloe vera are not as reliable as one might imagine, what about its oral laxative effect? Aloe vera contains certain laxative components, so the ancient knowledge of its laxative properties has been supported by modern medicine. In the United States, aloe vera extract has been sold as an over-the-counter laxative for many years. It was later discovered that the human body develops a tolerance to this laxative effect—that is, with prolonged use, the dose required to achieve the laxative effect gradually increases. Concerns about the safety of aloe products led the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) to conduct a two-year animal carcinogenicity study. The results found that un-decolorized aloe vera extract had a clear carcinogenic effect in rats, but no such effect was observed in mice. Other aloe products produced by different processing methods were not studied. Based on a single experiment, it is impossible to speculate whether it is carcinogenic to humans, but the result itself is enough to warrant attention and the need for further research.
In conclusion, the only two purported benefits of aloe vera—laxative and wound-healing—one poses a potential health risk, while the other's efficacy is questionable. We have safer and more reliable alternatives available, so there's no real need to choose aloe vera products.
Can you also eat aloe vera? Click here to see recipes for aloe vera.