Aloe vera gel benefits

× This Dr. Axe content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure factually accurate information. With strict editorial sourcing guidelines, we only link to academic research institutions, reputable media sites and, when research is available, medically peer-reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to these studies. The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. × This article is based on scientific evidence, written by Our team includes licensed nutritionists and dietitians, certified health education specialists, as well as certified strength and conditioning specialists, personal trainers and corrective exercise specialists. Our team aims to be not only thorough with its research, but also objective and unbiased. The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Aloe Vera Benefits: Help Heal Skin, Constipation and the Immune System By Christine Ruggeri, CHHC July 15, 2019 • • • • • • Did you know that the manufacturing of aloe vera extracts is one of the largest botanical industries in the world? In the U.S., it has found widespread use in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries. If you walk down the health and beauty isles of your local grocery store, you’ll likely see multiple ...

There are hundreds of aloe plants, but aloe vera is unique in its ability to help you inside and out. Aloe vera is the only edible form of aloe. The aloe vera plant is native to the Arabian peninsula, but it grows throughout the world. This shrubby, pointy plant has been cultivated for its soothing gel for thousands of years. Aloe vera gel isn’t just good for skin issues. It can be blended with water to create aloe vera juice, which is full of nutrients. What Is Aloe Vera? Aloe vera is gel from the leaves of aloe plants. People have used it for thousands of years for healing and softening the skin . Aloe has also long been a folk treatment for many maladies, including constipation and skin disorders. Modern-day research into aloe vera's benefits is mixed, with some evidence showing it can cause cancer in lab animals. There are no foods that contain aloe vera, so it must be taken in supplement or gel form. Some forms of aloe vera are safer to take than others, and chronic use is discouraged. Aloe Vera Benefits The nutrients found in aloe vera juice can provide some health benefits. Beta-carotene is a yellow-red pigment that's found in aloe vera plants. It acts as an antioxidant that can help support eye health, including retinal and corneal function. Relieves heartburn. Heartburn is a painful condition that involves acid leaving the stomach and traveling up the esophagus. A recent study has shown that aloe vera juice can reduce the symptoms of heartburn without any uncomfor...

This adaptation helps the succulent plant survive in tropical climates around the world — or in a pot in your windowsill — but the species can go beyond beautifying your garden. There's a long history of using aloe vera gel as a home remedy, and it's likely safe to use topically, according to the Either snap a leaf off of your plant or stock up on a What is aloe vera gel good for? Easing irritation. If you're dealing with redness, try reaching for aloe. The leaves’ goo contains compounds that suppress inflammation, says Soothing psoriasis flare-ups. Applying an aloe extract cream several times daily might reduce redness, scaling, and itching inflammation due to mild to moderate Fighting acne. Beyond its antibacterial properties, the gel has salicylic acid, an exfoliant that unclogs pores and acts as an anti-inflammatory on Speeding up the healing process. "Aloe vera contains agents known to help inhibit fungi, bacteria, and viruses," says Helping with cold sores. Dabbing on an aloe-containing cream could get that pesky lesion to go away faster due to those antiviral properties, some With all of its moisturizing and soothing benefits, aloe vera deserves some space on your counter for more than just the summer. Stock up on the gel or Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She's ...

Ready to feel more confident when reading your beauty products' ingredient labels? Enter, the Allure Ingredient Index . In this comprehensive guide, you'll find everything you need to know about the most in-demand (and under-the-radar) ingredients in your favorite skin-care products. Aloe is one of the most prolific ingredients and recognizable botanical names in all of skin care. Widely available — you can find it potted in its succulent form mere feet away from its bottled extracts at virtually any CVS — aloe vera (the most commonly used species of the aloe genus when it comes to beauty and personal-care products) has been used on the skin for centuries, New York City-based board-certified dermatologist "Aloe is well known for its ability to help provide anti-inflammatory and soothing benefits to the skin, hence why it's so commonly used to help Allure. "It can also hydrate and provide antioxidant benefits. Because of this, it is being used more and more in skin care and hair care." Whether you've found yourself a little overexposed to the sun or you're simply in search of something calming for your Meet the experts: • • • What exactly is aloe vera? Aloe vera is a species of the aloe plant that grows around the world — perhaps even in a pot a few feet away from you as you're reading this, as it's a common houseplant. But in addition to being a lovely succulent with distinctively spiky leaves, what's in those leaves makes it a very desirable topical treatment. "Providing ...

How to Use Aloe: 11 Benefits for Skincare, Digestion, and More Susan Bowerman M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., C.S.O.W.M., F.A.N.D., Sr. Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training Laura Chacon-Garbato Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training, and Chairwoman of the Outer Nutrition Advisory Board Aloe vera is a popular ingredient common in many products. Whether you visit a grocery store or a beauty shop, you’ll likely come across aloe in one form or another: as a juice, in beverages, as a supplement, as well as in ointments, facial cleansers, or sunscreen. Widely known as a “miracle” plant, aloe vera can be used in many ways. In this guide, we’ll go over the basics of aloe, what you need to know about its versatility, as well as its benefits depending on type and use. We collaborated with our experts and What Is Aloe and Why Is It So Popular? Aloe is a genus containing more than 550 species of succulent plants. In today’s vernacular, aloe commonly refers to Aloe vera, the scientific name of a specific tropical succulent plant originating in the Arabian Peninsula thousands of years ago. Widely known as “true” aloe due to its many uses, aloe vera is a member of the Asphodelaceae Juss family. For centuries, people have cultivated the plant for its beauty and many benefits. Grown around the world, aloe can be found in gardens, in the wild, or even potted on a windowsill. As a tropical succulent, the plant can survive in hot temperatures with little water, thus storin...

Aloe vera is a popular medicinal plant with antioxidant and antibacterial properties. It may be useful for reducing dental plaque, accelerating wound healing, preventing wrinkles, and managing blood sugar, among other benefits. 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. Share on Pinterest Aloe vera may help treat skin injuries. The cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries use aloe vera extensively, and the plant has an estimated annual market value of 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 People most often use aloe vera as a topical medication, rubbing it onto the skin rather than consuming it. In fact, it has a long history of use in treating sores, and particularly burns, including sunburn. The United States Pharmacopeia describe aloe vera preparations as a skin protectant as early as Studies suggest that it is an effective topical t...

When you skimp on the “Aloe vera is a cactus-like plant known for its healing and medicinal properties,” says So does all the hype surrounding aloe vera gel mean you should make it a permanent fixture in your skin care routine? While research is currently limited on the benefits of aloe vera gel specifically, it does contain many well-studied vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins C and E, leading experts to believe that it may offer an assist to the products already in your arsenal. Madeleine_Steinbach // Getty Images Each triangular leaf of the aloe vera plant is composed of three layers, with the innermost layer containing a clear gel that’s made up of 99% water and roughly 75 potentially active ingredients, according to a International Journal of Research and Medical Sciences. The When it comes to solving specific skin issues, there’s not a lot of conclusive evidence on aloe vera’s efficacy, but “the biochemistry of aloe vera does have some anti-viral, anti-fungal, and cell-regenerative properties, so applying it to the skin in addition to other medications or remedies may prove to be helpful,” says Dr. Schlessinger. What makes aloe vera gel so tricky to study is the fact that it contains oodles of promising ingredients that can improve the skin—so many, that it’s hard to hone in on the exact compounds and mechanisms involved. Plus, But even though aloe vera gel won’t correct your skin issues on its own, when used in conjunction with other products, it may help speed ...

Aloe vera is often called the “plant of immortality” because it can live and bloom without soil. It is a member of the Asphodelaceae family, along with more than 400 other species of aloe. Aloe vera has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years, and studies have linked it to various health benefits as well. For example, the plant is used to treat sunburns, fight dental plaque and lower blood sugar levels. In addition, aloe vera is rich in nutrients with more than 75 potentially active compounds, including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, fatty acids and polysaccharides ( However, you may wonder whether the plant is safe for consumption. This article tells you whether you can eat aloe vera — and whether you should. Aloe vera leaves are comprised of three parts: the skin, the gel and the latex. They’re best known for their gel, which is responsible for most of its health benefits ( While most people apply the gel to their skin, it’s also safe to eat when prepared right. Aloe vera gel has a clean, refreshing taste and can be added to a variety of recipes, including smoothies and salsas. To prepare the gel, cut off the spiky edges on the top and alongside the aloe vera leaf. Next, slice off the skin on the flat side, remove the clear gel and dice it into small cubes. Make sure to wash the gel cubes thoroughly to remove all traces of dirt, debris and residue. Latex residue can give the gel an unpleasant bitter taste. The latex is a thin layer of yellow l...

• Burn Plant • Elephant's Gall • Lily of the Desert • Ghritkumari (Hindi) • Kathalai (Ayurvedic medicine) • Lu Hui (traditional Chinese medicine) Medical Uses of Aloe Vera The aloe vera plant has long, thick triangular leaves and is relatively easy to grow. The thick outer layer is the rind, the middle layer is a bitter yellow sap, and at the center is a gel that can be applied directly to the skin. Studies are conflicted on whether aloe vera taken by mouth can improve blood sugar control with type 2 diabetes. A 2021 review published in Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome concluded that based on a review of four quality studies, there was only modest evidence that aloe vera could lower blood sugar levels either when taken in juice form or as a supplement. In 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned laxative manufacturers from including aloe in their over-the-counter products due to a lack of evidence supporting its safety. Possible Side Effects of Aloe Vera Side effects of aloe vera are uncommon. Even in oral forms, the plant is generally well tolerated. This is especially true of topical and oral aloe preparations in which latex has been removed. • Drug-induced hepatitis: The risk varies, but liver toxicity generally occurs with the prolonged use of aloe vera supplements over the course of months or years. • Acute kidney failure: Kidney injury may occur with the prolonged use of aloe vera latex in doses greater than 1 gram per day. Some cases of aloe vera-indu...

How to Use Aloe: 11 Benefits for Skincare, Digestion, and More Susan Bowerman M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., C.S.O.W.M., F.A.N.D., Sr. Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training Laura Chacon-Garbato Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training, and Chairwoman of the Outer Nutrition Advisory Board Aloe vera is a popular ingredient common in many products. Whether you visit a grocery store or a beauty shop, you’ll likely come across aloe in one form or another: as a juice, in beverages, as a supplement, as well as in ointments, facial cleansers, or sunscreen. Widely known as a “miracle” plant, aloe vera can be used in many ways. In this guide, we’ll go over the basics of aloe, what you need to know about its versatility, as well as its benefits depending on type and use. We collaborated with our experts and What Is Aloe and Why Is It So Popular? Aloe is a genus containing more than 550 species of succulent plants. In today’s vernacular, aloe commonly refers to Aloe vera, the scientific name of a specific tropical succulent plant originating in the Arabian Peninsula thousands of years ago. Widely known as “true” aloe due to its many uses, aloe vera is a member of the Asphodelaceae Juss family. For centuries, people have cultivated the plant for its beauty and many benefits. Grown around the world, aloe can be found in gardens, in the wild, or even potted on a windowsill. As a tropical succulent, the plant can survive in hot temperatures with little water, thus storin...