Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Aloe, particularly Aloe vera, has a long history of use in traditional medicine for soothing skin irritations, burns, and gastrointestinal discomfort. In the context of chemotherapy, traditional uses focus mainly on Aloe's application for relieving side effects such as oral mucositis (painful mouth sores), radiation-induced dermatitis, and gastrointestinal irritation. These traditional practices stem from Aloe's reputed anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and wound-healing properties. However, scientific support for these claims is limited and mixed. Some small studies and anecdotal reports suggest that Aloe gel or mouthwashes may help reduce the severity of oral mucositis in chemotherapy patients, but larger, well-controlled clinical trials often fail to show statistically significant benefits over placebo. For example, a 2012 Cochrane review concluded that there is insufficient evidence to recommend Aloe vera for the prevention or treatment of chemotherapy- or radiotherapy-induced skin reactions. Additionally, oral consumption of Aloe latex is not recommended due to potential toxicity and gastrointestinal side effects. In summary, Aloe is used primarily based on tradition for supporting chemotherapy patients, especially to alleviate mucositis and skin irritation, but robust scientific validation is lacking, and the quality of supporting evidence is low.

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