Aloe Vera Leaf
Aloe vera leaf is best known for its soothing gel used topically for sunburn and irritated skin. Internally, aloe products vary dramatically: purified inner fillet gel is different from whole-leaf latex, which can act as a stimulant laxative and carries higher risk. For HerbMate, aloe is primarily a topical ally.
Key Benefits
- Soothes sun-exposed or mildly irritated skin (topical gel)
- Supports moisture and comfort for dry-feeling skin (topical)
- Can feel cooling and calming after minor burns (topical, intact skin)
Common Issues It May Help With
- Sunburn (mild)
- Dry skin
- Minor skin irritation
- Mild superficial burns (topical)
How To Use (Simple)
- Topical: apply pure aloe gel to clean skin 1–3 times daily. Choose products with minimal additives. For internal use, only use purified inner-leaf gel products from reputable brands and follow label directions
- avoid whole-leaf/latex products unless clinician-directed.
Taste / Notes
Gel is mildly bitter/green (internal use varies by product).
Evidence Level
Good evidence for topical soothing and moisture support; internal benefits depend heavily on product type and purity.
Cautions
HIGH CAUTION INTERNALLY: Whole-leaf aloe/latex can cause strong laxative effects, cramping, electrolyte imbalance, and may be unsafe for long-term use. Avoid internal use during pregnancy/breastfeeding. Topical aloe can rarely cause allergy—patch test first.
Interactions
If using aloe latex internally, it can interact like stimulant laxatives: increased risk of low potassium with diuretics or corticosteroids; increased digoxin risk Internal aloe may affect blood sugar—monitor if on diabetes medications Topical use has no meaningful drug interactions
Debug: Loaded Herb Fields (verification)
{
"slug": "aloe-vera-leaf",
"title": "Aloe Vera Leaf",
"latinName": "Aloe vera",
"category": "plant",
"tagsCount": 5,
"summaryLen": 314,
"benefitsBullets": 3,
"issuesItTreats": 4,
"howToUse": 2,
"hasTaste": true,
"hasEvidence": true,
"hasCautions": true,
"hasInteractions": true
}