Aloe vera (oral supplement)

Tier 3 — weak evidence · Gut · Glucose · Skin (oral)

Aloe vera gel taken orally shows modest blood sugar reduction in a few small trials, but the evidence is weak and inconsistent. The latex portion contains anthraquinones that act as a harsh laxative and can cause electrolyte imbalances with regular use. Only the inner gel (latex-free) should be used. Topical aloe for burns and wounds has better evidence than oral supplementation. Some products have been found to contain no detectable aloe.

Dose: 100–300 mg/day aloe vera inner gel extract (latex-free); avoid whole-leaf products containing anthraquinones