Aloe vera has been explored as a complementary therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disorders (IBD), particularly ulcerative colitis. The plant's inner gel contains compounds such as polysaccharides, which have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in laboratory and animal studies. Several small human studies have evaluated the efficacy of oral Aloe vera gel for active ulcerative colitis. The most notable is a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in 2004 (Langmead et al., Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics), in which 44 patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis received either Aloe vera gel or placebo for four weeks. The study found that 30% of patients in the Aloe vera group achieved clinical remission versus 7% in the placebo group, though the difference did not reach statistical significance for all measured outcomes. Adverse effects were similar between groups.

Despite these promising, albeit limited, results, the overall evidence base remains weak. Subsequent reviews and guidelines indicate that current data are insufficient to firmly recommend Aloe vera for IBD due to small sample sizes, short durations, and lack of replication in larger, high-quality trials. There is also a lack of substantial clinical evidence for its use in Crohn's disease. Traditional use of Aloe generally pertains to constipation (via latex, not gel) or skin conditions, rather than IBD. Thus, while there is preliminary scientific interest, Aloe's use in IBD is not strongly supported and should be approached with caution.