For irritable bowel syndrome, take 100 milliliters of aloe vera drink or juice twice daily for four weeks. King GK, Yates KM, Greenlee PG, Pierce KR, Ford CR, McAnalley BH, Tizard IR (1995). "The effect of Acemannan Immunostimulant in combination with surgery and radiation therapy on spontaneous canine and feline fibrosarcomas". J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 31 (5): 439–447. doi: 10.5326/15473317-31-5-439. PMID 8542364. Simply add a tablespoon of aloe vera gel to a skin-loving mixture of mashed avocado, honey, apple cider vinegar or plain yoghurt and apply to your face. Leave for around 10 minutes and rinse gently.

The discomfort of mild sunburncan be relieved by applying aloe vera gel directly to the skin like an after-sun. In fact, you’ll probably see aloe vera listed as an ingredient in some of your favourite after-sun products on the shelf! With mainstream consumers becoming more and more conscious about health and natural products, aloe vera drinks manufacturers clearly have the potential – if they market their products properly and find the correct balance between taste and authenticity – to grow significantly in the coming years.

Key challenges: education and drink formulations

Aloe vera has also been shown to reduce the time it takes for minor burns to heal. One study found that aloe vera application could shorten burn healing time by up to nine days. 8 Aloe vera is considered to be native only to the south-east [31] Arabian Peninsula in the Hajar Mountains in north-eastern Oman and eastern U.A.E. [32] However, it has been widely cultivated around the world, and has become naturalized in North Africa, as well as Sudan and neighboring countries, along with the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, and Madeira Islands. [16] It has also naturalized in the Algarve region of Portugal, [33] [34] and in wild areas across Spain, especially in the region of Murcia. [35]

While many consumers are aware of aloe vera for its external properties – for example in creams and cooling gels, the benefits of internal consumption are less widely known,” Reda confirms.While this sounds promising, research is limited. Larger, randomized, and controlled trials are needed to confirm the relationship between aloe vera juice and blood sugar control.