Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis)
What aloe vera is, how classical Indian texts describe it, what published studies show and where they fall short, how to use it safely, and which GraceYes products contain it.
Names
Ghritkumari or Gwarpatha (Hindi); Kumari (Sanskrit). The part used is the inner-leaf gel or juice.
Classical Indian view
API Vol I (Kanyasara) covers the dried bitter leaf juice (musabbar), which is taken internally as a purgative. The gel used in skin care is a different part of the leaf, used on the skin rather than taken.
Key compounds
Gel polysaccharides, which hold water.
What studies show
- Creams with 0.1–0.5% aloe raised skin water content compared with the base cream (n=20) (PubMed).
- A pooled analysis of four burn trials (371 patients) found healing about 9 days faster with aloe. The products varied too much for a firm conclusion (PubMed).
- Aloe gel healed skin-graft donor sites in 11.5 days versus 13.7 days with placebo. This was a double-blind trial (PubMed).
Safety
Contact allergy is reported (PubMed). Use decolourised, low-aloin gel.
GraceYes products that contain it
Aloe Vera Cosmetic Soap, Face Wash, Face Moisturizer, Sunscreen, Natural Vit. C Face Serum, Brightening Face Serum, Body Lotion, Hair Serum, Hair Mask, Hair Wash & Conditioner.
This page is for general information and is not medical advice. Studies are linked so you can read them yourself. Always patch-test a new product, and speak to a doctor about any skin or scalp condition.