Aloe – Health Benefits, Uses, Research, Preparation, Precautions

How to Prepare Aloe for Medicinal Use

I keep aloe plants in my garden, as I live in a warm climate. Aloe may be grown as a houseplant as well. If I need aloe to soothe minor skin problems, or as a cooling relief for hemorrhoids, I simply break off a leaf and slit it open. The gel may be applied directly to freshly cleaned skin or mucus membranes.

Some herbalists use fresh plant gel for making internal preparations and creams. I prefer the commercially prepared aloe gel. Aloe gel is readily available from herbalists or at large grocery stores and pharmacies. Aloe juice is available as well; however, I recommend using the gel, as I believe it is more effective, internally and externally. Follow the instructions on the product label. Aloe juice and gel must be kept in the refrigerator.

Powdered aloe gel is available from some herbalists and online. It is a handy form of aloe to use if traveling or for making skin preparations.

Precautions

Aloe is generally a well-tolerated herb. Do not use aloe if you are allergic to it. Aloe should not be applied to deep or puncture wounds. Do not apply it to infected wounds. Check with your healthcare provider before applying aloe to a second or third degree burn.

Aloe should not be consumed if a bowel obstruction, kidney, or liver disease is present. Consult with a health care provider before using aloe if you have an inflammatory bowel disease. Only use aloe to treat occasional constipation. It is not recommended for long term relief of constipation.

Do not consume the whole leaf as it may cause severe diarrhea, and electrolyte imbalances. It also contains compounds which may harm your liver.

If you take medications, do not take them simultaneously with aloe internally as the medications may not be absorbed properly.

Reference

Engels, G. Aloe.http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/issue87/article3543.html

Author

This article was written for Insights-on-Health.com in 2015 by Patricia Bratianu RN PhD RH-AHG. Patricia has been a Registered Nurse for almost forty years in a wide variety of settings. As a Registered Nurse, she realized that conventional healthcare was not meeting the needs of all patients. She became an herbalist and obtained a PhD in Natural Health. Patricia is a professional member of the American Herbalist’s Guild, passing the stringent peer reviewed process to become a Registered Herbalist.

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