Aloe

Juice and gel from Aloe (Aloe vera; Aloe barbadensis) may help treat alopecia areata, cicatricial alopecia types of hair loss. ^{135, 140}

Physiological Effects and Benefits of Aloe

• Consuming aloe juice induced hair growth in only a week of treatment in three patients with alopecia areata type hair loss. Studies suggest that it may work by enhancing immune system functioning. ¹⁴⁰
• Aloe contains beta-sitosterol, which study evidence indicates has hair-promoting properties. ²³⁴
• For nutritional support aloe offers nutrients crucial to hair health — vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and the essential minerals copper, iron, niacin, and zinc . ²³⁵
• Fresh aloe gel also has the powerful antioxidants glutathione peroxidase and vitamin E. ²³⁴
• In lab and animal studies aloe has shown collagen-increasing, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting effects — all helpful for healthy hair. ^{135, 235}
• Clinical trials show that topical aloe is effective in treating some inflammatory skin conditions and can help reverse oxidative damage from ultraviolet radiation. ¹³⁵

Precaution

People with hypothyroid -related hair loss may want to avoid oral consumption of aloe juice, however, since it reportedly can significantly decrease thyroid hormone levels. ²³⁵

Oral consumption of aloe is not advised for pregnant or lactating women. ²³⁴