Aloe Vera and IBD - Mythbuster
The Myth: Aloe vera can cure IBD
The Truth: Aloe vera may possibly affect ulcerative colitis (UC) but certainly won’t cure.
Background
Aloe vera (AV) has been used in some cultures for more than 5,000 years. It is claimed that AV can have beneficial effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and healing properties, many of which are still to be substantiated. We currently don’t really understand how AV works in the body, but animal studies have suggested it may down-regulate inflammatory messengers.
Can aloe vera help IBD?
There has been 1 very small human trial looking at AV gel in UC. The results showed that oral AV gel improved symptoms more than the placebo, when taken for 4 weeks, but it didn’t change blood markers or sigmoidoscopy scores.
The results of this trial, although promising, are certainly not definitive and other things need to be considered before taking AV, such as:
Quality - The AV gel used in this study was reported to contain a high concentration of active ingredient which might be hard to get hold of in the real world. There is no standardisation in these kind of herbal remedies so other products available for us to buy probably won’t be the same and may contain contaminants, like pesticides.
Interaction with medications - AV may interact with certain medications so its important to check with your health care team before trying it or any other supplement or remedy.
Side effects - AV juice, which is more widely available, is not the same as AV gel. AV gel is a clear jelly like substance found in the inner part of the plant leaf; AV latex is from just under the plants skin and is yellow in colour. Some products are made using the whole crushed leaf, so they contain both the gel and latex. AV latex has a laxative effect so is not advised for those already experiencing diarrhoea.
Take away
Overall, from the little we do know, the effect of AV gel on UC may be positive. However, getting hold of a good quality AV gel, similar to that used in the trial, may be difficult, AV may interact with medications, and there are no trials in Crohn’s Disease.
As we all know, everyone with IBD is different and you may have tried AV and found it has helped you. It appears to be safe to take but always check with your healthcare team before trying any new supplements.
Langmead, L., Feakins, R.M., Goldthorpe, S., Holt, H., Tsironi, E., De Silva, A., Jewell, D.P. and Rampton, D.S. (2004), Randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of oral aloe vera gel for active ulcerative colitis. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 19: 739-747. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.01902.x
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We are all wonderfully unique and what works for one person may not work for another so please seek help and advice before changing your diet to work out the right way forward for you.