Aloe Latex - Healthy Constipation Medicine?

Aloe Latex - Healthy Constipation Medicine?

Aloe Vera has been used as constipation medicine since the time of Cleopatra. It is actually the lining of the leaf that contains the natural laxative properties - quite different from the inner gel that is used for treatment of burns and abrasions. But while aloe may seem harmless and natural, laxative use of this plant has some strong side effects that it is prudent to consider.

This is mainly due to the fact that aloe contains anthraquinone glycosides (aloin, aloe-emodin and barbaloin) that result in its strong effect as a laxative. Natural products containing these chemicals have a variety of issues:

Research on Aloe as Constipation Medicine

• While the laxative effect of aloe is stronger than other anthraquinone containing herbs like cascara sagrada, rhubarb, and senna, it also has been shown to have more severe side effects like cramping, nausea, and diarrhea (sometimes even bloody diarrhea), making it a riskier choice for treating chronic constipation.


• Overdoses of aloe can occur with excessive use and lead to nephritis (inflammation of the kidney, hemorrhaging in the intestines, shortness of the breath and dehydration. One must be very careful of the dosage taken if treating constipation. Chronic use of aloe as a constipation medicine may also lead to potassium deficiency, muscle weakness and irregular heartbeats.


• Due to its high levels of anthraquinones, aloe can also cause melanosis coli - a condition of the colon discussed below.

Aloe & Melanosis Coli

Melanosis Coli is a darkening or staining of the colon that is a unique symptom of anthraquinone containing herbal laxatives. It is also sometimes called "pseudomelanosis coli" because the pigments in the aloe artificially blacken the intestines versus other forms of the disease where the darkness is caused by massive cell death. Still, "pseudomelanosis coli" is a concern as it relates to your constipation medicine. One study looked at over 3000 patients who had colon surgery in the past 6 years and found that the darkening of the intestines was consistently linked to anthraquinone containing herbal laxatives like aloe. When doctors then followed patients over the next 2 years, they found that patients with cancer of the large bowel had a much higher incidence (18.6%) of pseudomelanosis coli as well - reinforcing the link between cancer and laxatives (natural or not) that contain anthraquinones.

Another related study looked at the cells of colons that had been pigmented due to melanosis coli and the use of natural laxatives. It found that colon tissue with melanosis coli had a significantly higher rate of cell death among the epithelial (surface) cells of the tissue compared to controls.

Is There a Better Constipation Medicine?

Aloe's use as an herbal laxative has been superseded by other anthraquinone containing herbs like senna, cascara sagrada, and rhubarb. But while these herbs have reduced amount of the anthraquinones, the same core issues remain. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of natural non stimulant constipation remedies on the market.