What are the benefits of aloe vera? What research shows, and precautions
Aloe vera is a familiar plant, used both on the skin and in drinks, and many benefits are claimed for it.
This article summarises information from the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH): what research supports, where evidence is lacking, and what to watch out for.
1. What aloe vera is: gel and latex are different
- Aloe is a cactus-like plant that grows in hot, dry climates.
- The gel is the clear part of the inner leaf; the latex is the yellow liquid from the leaf's outer layer.
- Gel and latex have different research and precautions, so it matters which part a product is made from.
Reference: [1] NCCIH
Read next: DIY face mask with oats, honey and aloe vera gel: how to make it ›
2. Use on the skin: how strong is the evidence?
| Use | Evidence according to NCCIH |
|---|---|
| Burns | Clinical research suggests topical aloe gel may speed burn healing and reduce burn-related pain |
| Psoriasis | A small amount of research suggests topical aloe may help |
| Diabetic foot ulcers and others | Not enough information to draw conclusions |
Burns that are large, deep, or on the face, hands or feet need a doctor, not self-treatment.
Reference: [1] NCCIH
3. Taking it by mouth: be careful with the latex
- In 2002, the US FDA required manufacturers to remove aloe latex from over-the-counter laxatives because of a lack of safety data.
- Taking aloe latex by mouth can cause abdominal pain, cramps and diarrhoea.
- Some animal studies have linked a non-decolourised whole-leaf extract taken orally with gastrointestinal cancer in rats and mice.
- A 2023 review of food-grade drinkable products containing no more than 10 parts per million of aloin concluded they were not genotoxic.
- Research on other oral health uses is limited, and aloe should not replace medicines or treatment.
Reference: [1] NCCIH
4. Precautions
- Topical gel is generally well tolerated, but some people get burning, itching, rash or eczema; stop if this happens.
- Overusing aloe latex may increase the risk of side effects from cardiac glycosides such as digoxin.
- If you take any medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using aloe or other herbal products.
Reference: [1] NCCIH
5. How Herbalife makes its aloe drink
Section 3 mentions aloin in aloe latex, a compound in the anthraquinone group. Herbalife describes how it makes its aloe drink as follows.
- Aloe is sourced from farmers in Mexico and the leaves are hand-picked.
- The leaves are washed, sanitised and ground into juice.
- The juice is filtered with food-grade activated charcoal to remove aloin (the company calls this decolorization and says the process is patented).
- It is filtered again, pH-adjusted, pasteurised and condensed into a concentrate.
This section is the company's own description, not an independent test result.
Reference: [3] Herbalife · [4] Herbalife Thailand video
Read next: Refresh with a mango-flavoured aloe drink ›
6. Plant information, not drink benefits
Sections 1–4 describe aloe vera in general, not the benefits of any product. The aloe drink we sell is a beverage; its label lists water 95.94% and aloe concentrate 0.47%, and it is mixed as 3 capfuls (15 ml) with 120 ml of water.
Claims such as "heals stomach ulcers, detoxes the gut or makes you look younger" are not supported by the sources above and do not match the label.
Reference: [2] Product label
Video
Video: Herbalife material from the MyHerbalife media library · posted on the Well Nutrition Hub YouTube channel
Read next: Aloe vera drink: how to mix it, store it and take it on summer trips ›
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Read next: Getting to know your skin's structure and what affects it ›
This article is general information, not medical advice. Herbalife products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication, talk to your doctor before using herbs.
References
- NCCIH (US National Institutes of Health): Aloe Vera (last updated February 2025 · checked 15 Oct 2026) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Product label: Herbal Aloe Concentrate Mango Flavor (on this website's product page) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Herbalife: Herbalife Aloe Drinks: Ingredients, Benefits and Recipes (Luigi Gratton, 27 Dec 2024 · checked 15 Oct 2026) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Herbalife Thailand: video on how Herbal Aloe is made (Facebook, 2 June 2025) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Image credits
- Cover image: Sharath G. / Pexels ↗ (opens in a new tab) · licence Pexels License ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Compiled by Well Nutrition Hub from the sources listed at the end of this article. Copyright in the referenced content, images and media belongs to the respective rights holders. You are welcome to share the link to this article.