Aloe Vera 

This fact sheet provides basic information about aloe vera—common names, 

uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Aloe vera’s use 

can be traced back 6,000 years to early Egypt, where the plant was depicted on 

stone carvings. Known as the “plant of immortality,” aloe was presented as a 

burial gift to deceased pharaohs. 

Common Names—aloe vera, aloe, burn plant, lily of the desert, elephant’s gall 

Latin Names—Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis 

What It Is Used For 

•	 Traditionally, aloe was used topically to heal wounds and for various skin 

conditions, and orally as a laxative. 

•	 Today, in addition to traditional uses, people take aloe orally to treat a variety 

of conditions, including diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, and osteoarthritis. People 

use aloe topically for osteoarthritis, burns, and sunburns. 

•	 Aloe vera gel can be found in hundreds of skin products, including lotions 

and sunblocks. 

•	 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved aloe vera as a 

natural food flavoring. 

How It Is Used 

•	 Aloe leaves contain a clear gel that is often used as a topical ointment. 

•	 The green part of the leaf that surrounds the gel can be used to produce a 

juice or a dried substance (called latex) that is taken by mouth. 

What the Science Says 

•	 Aloe latex contains strong laxative compounds. Products made with various 

components of aloe (aloin, aloe-emodin, and barbaloin) were at one time 

regulated by the FDA as oral over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives. In 2002, the 

FDA required that all OTC aloe laxative products be removed from the U.S. 

market or reformulated because the companies that manufactured them did 

not provide the necessary safety data. 

•	 Early studies show that topical aloe gel may help heal burns and abrasions. 

One study, however, showed that aloe gel inhibits healing of deep surgical 

wounds. Aloe gel does not prevent burns from radiation therapy. 

•	 There is not enough scientific evidence to support aloe vera for any of its 

other uses. 
 

 

 

Side Effects and Cautions 

•	 Use of topical aloe vera is not associated with significant side effects. 

•	 Abdominal cramps and diarrhea have been reported with oral use of aloe vera. 

•	 Diarrhea, caused by the laxative effect of oral aloe vera, can decrease the absorption of 

many drugs. 

•	 People with diabetes who use glucose-lowering medication should be cautious if also taking 

aloe by mouth because preliminary studies suggest aloe may lower blood glucose levels. 

•	 Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you 

use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure 

coordinated and safe care. 

Sources 

Aloe. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed at http://www.naturaldatabase.com on 

June 5, 2007. 

Aloe (Aloe vera). Natural Standard Database Web site. Accessed at http://www.naturalstandard.com on June 3, 2007. 

For More Information 

Visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov and view: 

•	 What’s in the Bottle? An Introduction to Dietary Supplements at nccam.nih.gov/health/bottle/ 

•	 Herbal Supplements: Consider Safety, Too at nccam.nih.gov/health/supplement-safety/ 

NCCAM Clearinghouse 

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226 

TTY (for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers): 1-866-464-3615 

E-mail: info@nccam.nih.gov 

CAM on PubMed 

Web site: nccam.nih.gov/camonpubmed/ 

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements 

Web site: www.ods.od.nih.gov 

NIH National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus 

Aloe Vera Listing: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-aloe.html 

This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged. 

NCCAM has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute 

for the medical expertise and advice of your primary health care provider. We encourage 

you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The 

mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCAM. 

National Institutes of Health 

♦♦♦

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

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Created December 2006 

Updated April 2008 

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