Aloe vera
Aloe veraAloe’s Arabic name is sabir; the Turkish sarısabır comes from it.
What is Aloe vera?
Aloe vera (Aloe vera) is a plant of the Asphodelaceae family. Traditions that use it: Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Part used: leaf gel, leaf latex.
What is Aloe vera used for?
Traditional use: In Ottoman pharmacy the dried leaf latex, called sarısabır, was used as a laxative. Scientific evidence: limited. Small studies suggest the gel may speed healing of mild burns and sunburn.
Is Aloe vera safe?
Safety label: caution. The gel is generally safe on the skin. The latex causes diarrhoea, cramps and potassium loss; drinking it is not recommended. Not for oral use in pregnancy.
Traditional use
In Ottoman pharmacy the dried leaf latex, called sarısabır, was used as a laxative. Today the leaf gel is applied to burns and sunburn; it is grown in pots in homes on the Mediterranean coast.
The island of Socotra was known for thousands of years as the source of the finest aloe.
In nature
Mix-up risk
Other Aloe and Agave species grown as ornamentals look similar; take gel only from Aloe vera.
Preparation
The clear gel inside the leaf is scooped out and applied to the skin. The yellow latex must be separated from the gel.
What science says
Small studies suggest the gel may speed healing of mild burns and sunburn. Leaf latex taken by mouth is a strong laxative; it has not been used in US over-the-counter laxatives since 2002. Leaf extract caused cancer in animal studies.
Safety
The gel is generally safe on the skin. The latex causes diarrhoea, cramps and potassium loss; drinking it is not recommended. Not for oral use in pregnancy.
Drug interactions
| Medicine or substance | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Diuretics, corticosteroids, licorice | Leaf latex increases potassium loss. |
| Digoxin and heart rhythm drugs | Low potassium raises the risk of toxicity. |
| Diabetes medicines | Oral aloe may lower blood sugar. |
This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Aloe vera.
Similar plants
Sources
- NCCIHUS National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: use and safety summary
- BookBaytop T. Türkiye’de Bitkiler ile Tedavi: Geçmişte ve Bugün. 2. baskı. İstanbul: Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri; 1999.
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Aloe vera
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe