Botanical Overview
Aloe vera (family Asphodelaceae), commonly called Aloe or Burn Aloe, is native to Northeastern Africa but widely cultivated in Mediterranean and tropical Asian regions. The leaf yields two main medicinal parts: a mucilaginous gel and a yellow latex beneath the rind. Aloe vera has been valued traditionally for its soothing, healing, and laxative properties.
Energetics
This plant is typically regarded as cooling and moistening in nature. Its tastes are primarily bitter and mucilaginous, with descending directionality. It is relaxant in tonicity and particularly supports the body’s fluid systems.
Primary Actions
- Demulcent
- Laxative
- Anti-inflammatory
- Wound healing
- Emollient
Indications
Western
- Constipation
- Burns
- Skin inflammation
- Minor wounds
- Irritations
- Digestive discomfort
Syndromes
- Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation
- Topical skin lesions
- Inflammatory dermatoses
TCM
- Constipation due to heat accumulation
- Heat in the blood causing skin eruptions
- Inflammation and swelling
Syndromes
- Stomach Heat
- Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine
- Blood Heat syndrome
Ayurveda
- Pitta disorders
- Constipation
- Burns
- Skin diseases
Syndromes
- Pitta imbalance
- Agni (digestive fire) irregularities
- Vata-related constipation
Unani
- Burns and wounds
- Constipation
- Inflammation
Syndromes
Constituents & Mechanisms
Aloe vera contains anthraquinones such as aloin, polysaccharides, saponins, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and aloesin. These constituents contribute to its laxative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating, and wound-healing effects.
Dosage & Preparations
- Topical gel applied 1-3 times daily for skin conditions
- Oral latex: 20-50 mg aloin daily as stimulant laxative for short term
- Juice or extract standardized for polysaccharides 50-200 mg daily
Safety & Contraindications
Topical application is generally safe. Oral use of aloe latex can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and should not be used long-term due to risks of electrolyte imbalance and potential toxicity. It is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation due to uterine stimulant effects and insufficient safety data. Caution is advised for patients with intestinal obstruction or inflammatory bowel diseases. Interactions may occur with diuretics and cardiac glycosides; monitoring is recommended.
Astrological Correspondences
No well-supported planetary or elemental rulers are reliably attributed to Aloe vera in credible esoteric or herbal traditions.
Selected References
- WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, 2008
- EMA Herbal Assessment Report on Aloe vera, 2018
- Pharmacological properties and therapeutic potential of Aloe vera, Surjushe et al., 2008
- Plants For A Future (PFAF)
- Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, Bensky et al., 2004
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, 2001