Aloe Vera Juice: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!
By Dr Rajeev Singh +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr Rajeev Singh
Last updated: Oct 23, 2024 Published on: Jun 10, 2022
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By Dr Rajeev Singh +2 more
Table of Contents
You might have seen a plant that looks prickly on the outside but is soft and mushy on the inside, just like many of us. Here, we are talking about Aloe vera. It is a cactus-like succulent plant that mainly grows in dryer areas of Africa, America, Europe and Asia. You can also find it growing in areas such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra in India.1
The scientific name of aloe vera is Aloe barbadensis miller. It belongs to the family Liliaceae. Its leaves are fleshy with tiny thorns at the edges. Its flowers are like tubes and its fruits have lots of seeds. The aloe vera plant may have a diverse range of potential uses in health, skincare and beauty. Aloe vera has been held in high regard for a long time, about 2000 years ago. It was regarded as the universal panacea by Greek scientists. It has been used by some of the most prominent names in history like Queen Cleopatra, Alexander the great and Christopher Columbus.1
The part of aloe vera that is most commonly used in aloe vera juice is its leaf. Each aloe vera leaf has three parts:
The nutritional composition of Aloe vera is as follows:
The total energy content of aloe vera juice is 15kcal.
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Did you know?
The various properties of aloe vera due to which it might be used for different purposes are:
The aloe vera plant is packed with many medicinal properties. Some studies suggest that aloe vera gel might aid in wound healing. It is believed that this gel might increase collagen production in wounds, might change collagen composition, and might improve collagen cross-linking, thus promoting wound healing.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)
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Aloe vera juice has many active components in it and may be used for treating various conditions. Aloe vera juice is obtained from the clear gel that is present inside its leaves. Just by scooping up this gel and mixing it with water, you can prepare a glass of refreshing aloe vera juice which might be particularly healthy in summers.3 It might have the following potential uses.
Aloe vera has been used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes since a long time in different parts of the world. Studies done in animals and even on humans have shown that aloe vera might have a positive effect on the blood sugar level. In some studies, aloe vera gel was administered alone, while in some studies it was mixed with certain other ingredients like psyllium husk (isabgol) and in one study it was given with a medicine prescribed for diabetes.3,4 All of them showed that the consumption of aloe vera might help in lowering blood glucose levels. This may indicate that aloe vera might be helpful for diabetes.4 However, further studies are needed to ascertain such claims. Moreover, diabetes is a serious condition and must be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Kindly ensure that you consult a doctor.
Aloe vera gel might also help in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides. In a clinical trial it was seen that the administration aloe vera leaf juice might apparently lower the serum cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins).3,4 It was also seen that due to the combined potential of blood sugar lowering and cholesterol-lowering action of aloe vera, the risk of heart diseases due to diabetes might also decrease.4 Further studies in humans are required for concrete proof of its use in lowering cholesterol. Therefore, you should consult a doctor.
The presence of bioactive anthraquinone glycosides in aloe vera might be responsible for its laxative potential (promotes passage of stools). In one of the studies, a preparation containing aloe vera was found to potentially help with a range of symptoms that occur due to chronic constipation.4 However, more studies are required to prove such claims.
Aloe vera might have a potential as a remedy for ulcers of the stomach and inflammatory disease of the bowel.4 Many studies have been conducted to prove the use of aloe vera gel in the form of juice for ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), etc. but the results were not consistent.3,4 There is a need for more research as significant proof for using aloe vera to treat stomach problems.4 You must consult your doctor before using aloe vera for your stomach problems.
Aloe vera juice might help in keeping the skin hydrated. As dehydration causes increased oil production from our skin leading to an acne breakout, aloe vera gel might help with such acne by keeping the skin moist and hydrated. Therefore, drinking aloe vera juice might be helpful for skin health and might give us supple and moisturized skin.3 However, more research is required to prove such claims.
PharmEasy Recommends – Everherb (By Pharmeasy) Aloe Vera Juice With Pulp
In a study done on sheep, aloe vera juice was orally fed to the sheep. Following this, hair growth was seen in areas on the sheep that were balding away. It was hypothesized that this activity may be due to the enzymes, mucopolysaccharides, and anthranols present in aloe vera plant. This might be an indicator that aloe vera might have potential hair growth action. There is a need for further studies in humans to understand the effectiveness of aloe vera for hair growth.5
Aloe vera juice was studied for its effectiveness as a weight-loss agent in the laboratory. The tests were aimed to study its activity against pancreatic enzymes which play a major role in the absorption of fats from our intestine. The results of the study showed that aloe vera juice might have use as a potent weight loss agent due to its activity against pancreatic enzymes and also due to its activity of lowering fats, triglycerides, cholesterol, etc.6 You must consult your nutritionist and do not make any changes in your diet on your own.
PharmEasy Recommends – Kapiva Thar Aloe Vera Juice (With Pulp)
Aloe vera possesses properties like anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immunomodulatory. These properties might be beneficial in managing certain dental diseases like lichen planus, oral submucosal fibrosis, alveolar osteitis, periodontitis, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, etc.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
There are a number of conditions on which aloe vera juice might have some effect such as congenital heart failure, varicose veins, haemorrhoids (piles), multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, and hepatitis.1 However, there is a lack of scientific evidence of its use for such purposes. You must consult your doctor for proper advice.
Though there are studies that show the potential use of aloe vera juice in various conditions, these are insufficient and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of aloe vera juice on human health.
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Aloe vera is available in the market in the form of juice for consumption. You can make fresh aloe vera juice at home as well. Simply scoop the clear gel inside the leaves and blend it with some water. You can add lemon, honey, salt or any other flavouring agent as per your preference. You can consult your Ayurvedic physician regarding the method and dosage of use. Kindly follow your doctor’s advice as they customize the dosage as per your specific body and health requirements.
You must consult a qualified doctor before taking any herbal supplements. Do not discontinue or replace an ongoing treatment of modern medicine with an ayurvedic/herbal preparation without consulting a qualified doctor.
There might be a few side effects seen with the use of Aloe vera.1 The most common side effects that you might experience:
If you experience any side effects, seek immediate medical attention from your doctors who have prescribed it to you. They will be the best guide to provide you with proper treatment.
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For using aloe vera juice for medicinal purposes, it is best to consult your Ayurvedic physician for advice and method of use. However, it is not to be used:
Please make sure that you give your Ayurvedic physician complete information about your health problems and the medicines that you take. This is so that they can take precautions while prescribing aloe vera juice as it interacts with a few drugs.
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There is not enough evidence that supports the use of aloe vera juice for pregnant women and due to possible side effects, one must avoid aloe vera juice during pregnancy.
An animal study has shown that aloe vera when taken orally might help hair growth. Therefore, aloe vera juice might be good for hair growth. There is a need for further studies on humans to be certain.5
No. There were no reports or scientific backing regarding the use of aloe vera juice for better eyesight. More evidence is required in the form of research to prove it as a fact.
A study has shown that aloe vera juice might help in lowering blood sugar and it might also cause a lowering of cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which together might be helpful for people with diabetes and it may also reduce the risk of heart diseases in them.4 However, more research is required. Kindly ensure that you consult a doctor.
No. There is not enough evidence to prove that aloe vera juice can lower blood pressure.
Red urine is one of the side effects of aloe vera juice consumption.1 Kindly consult a physician for further steps, they will provide you sound medical advice.1
Although the use of aloe vera juice for Alzheimer’s disease has been found in literature, there is a lack of enough evidence in the form of research.1
The use of aloe vera juice for various conditions like varicose veins, hepatitis, depression, etc. have been stated, but there is no scientific backing to these claims. So, the use of aloe vera juice for these conditions cannot be confirmed.1
Aloe vera juice might be helpful in weight management. It may be due to its action against pancreatic enzymes, thus helping in reduced absorption of fats and calories. Therefore, aloe vera juice might be a potential weight loss agent.1 However, due to insufficient evidence such effects cannot be confirmed, kindly consult a doctor.
Drinking aloe vera juice can be beneficial for our health as it has multiple beneficial effects such as: acting as a weight loss agent, helping in hair growth, may be beneficial for diabetes, cholesterol, skin etc.3–6 However, more research is required to prove such claims and a doctor may be able to advise better on using aloe vera in the correct dosage and form to benefit for different conditions.
1. Surjushe A, Vasani R, Saple D. ALOE VERA: A SHORT REVIEW. Indian J Dermatol. 2008 Oct 1;53(4):163. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/
2. USDA. FoodData Central Search Results: Aloe vera juice drink [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2022 May 23]. p. 1–4. Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170096/nutrients
3. The Benefits of Drinking Aloe Vera Juice What is Aloe Vera Juice? [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic. 2022 [cited 2022 May 27]. Available from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-aloe-vera-drink/
4. Foster M, Hunter D, Samman S. Evaluation of the nutritional and metabolic effects of Aloe vera. Benzie , IFF ; Wachtel-Galor S, editor. Vol. 1820, Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects: Second Edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. 37–54 p. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92765
5. Noreen S. A Close Look at Aloe Vera Barbadensis and Its Effect on Hair Health. 2020;(July). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342588964_A_Close_Look_at_Aloe_Vera_Barbadensis_and_It’s_Effect_on_Hair_Health
6. DISALVA X, SHARANYA M, MAHENDRAN RADHA. Aloe Vera: an Assured Weight Loss Diet – an Approach Toward Improving the Juice Palatability and in Silico Analysis. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2019;(August):331–6. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334989163
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