Aloe Vera for Cuts

Aloe barbadensis

Aloe is a desert plant, which as been used medicinally for at least 6,000 years. It even appears in ancient Egyptian stone carvings. Treating cuts, burns, and wounds with topical applications of aloe is one of the oldest ways to use the plant; unfortunately, science has not been able to verify that aloe can help to heal wounds. Some studies have shown that aloe does aid in healing, while other studies have shown a delay in healing after aloe was applied. Most health practitioners now advise using aloe mainly for minor burns and skin irritations, and recommend against applying it to an open wound.

Using Aloe to Treat Cuts

Method

• The simplest method is to break an aloe leaf off the plant and squeeze some of the gel directly onto a cut.
• Aloe is also available in gels that you can buy and keep in a first aid kit. Many over-the-counter products contain aloe as one of several ingredients that are intended to soothe and to speed healing.

Why It Works

Aloe contains anti-inflammatory substances, called glycoproteins, which can provide some relief from tenderness and swelling. If aloe does speed the healing process, it is probably because it also contains polysaccharides, which are thought to stimulate skin growth and repair.

Precautions

Topical applications of aloe have no known side effects. Taken orally, aloe can cause abdominal cramping and diarrhea, as it has a fairly well documented laxative effect -- but it’s unlikely anyone would take aloe orally to heal a cut.

More Remedies

• Click here to view all remedies for Cuts

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