There are more than 300 species of Aloe vera, with four of those having medicinal value. According to British researcher Dr. Peter Atherton, "Aloe vera's use as an aid to beauty and skin health is certainly not new and mankind has benefited from its internal and topical effects for at least 4,000 years."

Most noted for its external benefits, Aloe vera has been used successfully for a variety of skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, acne, chronic itching, skin ulcers, and burns. In addition, aloe can be used internally for asthma, sinus congestion, arthritis and gastrointestinal disorders like gastritis, diverticulitis, and inflammatory bowel syndrome.

Acemannan, an active ingredient in aloe, has been shown to be a powerful immune stimulant providing anti-cancer and anti-viral effects. IN one study, aloe gel was shown to have direct anti- inflammatory activity. "As well as being used on it's own, aloe gel had been successfully tested as a potentiating, biologically active vehicle for hydrocortisone," according to author and medical herbalist Rowan Hamilton, M.N.I.M.H.

Some cases of hypersensitivity to aloe have been reported. Some adverse reaction can be traced to inferior, poor-quality products. While aloe taken orally on its own can cause severe abdominal cramping, most oral aloe products contain fennel or other compounds to eliminate cramping.

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