Aloe in the Ebers Papyrus, and Why Gel and Latex Differ

The history of aloe vera in writing includes an Egyptian medical scroll, and gel and latex come from different parts of the leaf. Leipzig University Library holds the Ebers Papyrus. The 2002 FDA rule that ruled aloe out of OTC laxatives was a drug rule, not a food rule, and the gel trials are small.

The history of aloe vera in writing includes an Egyptian medical scroll, and the modern shelf story depends on which part of the leaf ends up in the bottle. Leipzig University Library holds the Ebers Papyrus, which its own pages date to the end of the 16th century BCE. According to PubMed, a 2013 historical review says Egyptian doctors used aloe, honey and tannic acid to treat burns, and it cites the Ebers Papyrus among the records of that practice ([PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23888738/)). The surprise is what the scroll cannot yet tell us: Leipzig says 70 to 80 percent of the ingredients in its remedies have not been identified. **Jump to:** [The Ebers Papyrus](#what-the-ebers-papyrus-does-and-does-not-show) | [Gel, latex and whole leaf](#gel-latex-and-whole-leaf-are-different-products) | [The 2002 FDA rule](#the-2002-fda-rule-covered-laxatives-not-foods) | [Gel trials](#what-the-gel-trials-measured) | [Drinks and supplements](#drinks-and-supplements-and-the-2023-beverage-review) ## What the Ebers Papyrus does and does not show Georg Ebers acquired the scroll for the library in 1873, and a facsimile appeared in 1875. Leipzig says the scroll holds nearly 900 prescriptions and was probably written by a single scribe. Its full text, with German and English translations, has been online since 2017 ([Leipzig University Library](https://www.ub.uni-leipzig.de/en/about-us/exhibitions/permanent-exhibition/ebers-papyrus)). The Leipzig pages do not mention aloe. The aloe entry therefore rests on the 2013 review, and we did not confirm it against the translations. We also could not confirm a named Greek or Roman author who documented aloe, so this page does not name one. ## Gel, latex and whole leaf are different products The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) describes three products. Gel comes from the inner leaf, latex from the outer layer, and whole crushed leaf contains both. NCCIH says aloe was used in ancient Greece, Rome, Babylonia and China, historically for skin conditions ([NCCIH](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/aloe-vera)). According to PubMed, a 2016 review describes aloe as a dietary supplement in a variety of foods and an ingredient in cosmetic products ([DOI](https://doi.org/10.1080/10590501.2016.1166826)). The safety record and the trial record point at different parts of the leaf. NCCIH says topical gel is generally well tolerated, while the most serious warnings attach to latex and to whole-leaf extracts taken by mouth. For a different plant, [turmeric's record](/blog/history/history-of-turmeric-and-curcumin-from-ayurveda-to-isolation) also runs from Eastern texts to the isolation of curcumin. A [collagen history](/blog/history/history-of-collagen-from-boiled-bones-to-peptides) traces another traditional preparation, a jelly made from boiled bone, to the capsule on the shelf. ## The 2002 FDA rule covered laxatives, not foods Aloe's modern safety record was written in a drug rule. The FDA final rule, published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2002, declared aloe, aloe extract and aloe flower extract not generally recognized as safe and effective as over-the-counter (OTC) stimulant laxatives ([Federal Register](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2002-05-09/html/02-11510.htm)). FDA had moved aloe to a category that needed more data in 1998, asked for mutagenicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity data, and received none for aloe. The rule took effect November 5, 2002, 180 days after publication. NCCIH describes it as removing aloe latex from OTC laxatives, though the rule text names aloe, not latex. The rule covers OTC drug products labeled for laxative use. The sources we checked show no regulatory action that bans aloe latex from food, so this page does not claim one. Oral latex has its own record. NCCIH says it can cause abdominal pain, cramps and diarrhea. Leaf extracts taken by mouth for as little as three weeks and as long as five years have been linked to acute hepatitis, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies non-decolorized whole leaf extract as a possible carcinogen in humans ([NCCIH](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/aloe-vera)). Cramps and diarrhea are gut events, and [the gut microbiome primer](/blog/digestive/digestive-health-and-the-gut-microbiome) explains what lives in that system. ## What the gel trials measured The trials are small, and each one measured something narrow. According to PubMed, a 2018 double-blind randomized trial in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery gave aloe gel or placebo to 12 patients with 24 skin graft donor sites. Time to complete epithelialization, the closing of the wound with new skin, was 11.5 days with aloe and 13.67 days with placebo (p below 0.05). Pain scores did not differ significantly ([DOI](https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000004515)). According to PubMed, a 2007 systematic review in Burns pooled four controlled trials with 371 patients and found healing 8.79 days shorter with aloe (P=0.006). Its authors still wrote that there is "paucity to draw a specific conclusion" because the products and outcome measures varied ([DOI](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2006.10.384)). A 1999 systematic review of ten controlled trials said oral aloe might help lower blood glucose and blood lipids, and that topical aloe was not an effective preventive for radiation-induced injuries. On wound healing, the authors wrote, "Whether it promotes wound healing is unclear" ([PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10885091/)). A 2008 randomized trial of 54 patients with oral lichen planus, an inflammatory condition inside the mouth, found that 81 percent of those on aloe gel had a good clinical response after eight weeks, against 4 percent on placebo ([DOI](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2007.08370.x)). The 2017 Cochrane review of burn antiseptics included aloe vera, but across 56 trials with 5,807 participants, most of the evidence was rated low or very low certainty ([DOI](https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011821.pub2)). ## Drinks and supplements, and the 2023 beverage review NCCIH says oral aloe is promoted for weight loss, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease, and that research suggests short-term use of oral aloe gel, up to 42 days, is safe. A 2023 review in Food and Chemical Toxicology looked at aloe inner leaf gel and decolorized whole leaf extract in food-grade drinks with no more than 10 parts per million of aloin, a type of anthraquinone. Its authors concluded the drinks are not genotoxic, meaning they do not damage DNA, "despite prevailing public health opinion, especially in Europe" ([DOI](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2023.113628)). Three of the six authors list an affiliation with Ashland LLC. A 2016 review associates aloe preparations with diarrhea, low blood potassium, kidney failure, phototoxicity (a skin reaction triggered by light) and hypersensitivity reactions ([DOI](https://doi.org/10.1080/10590501.2016.1166826)). The sources we checked do not show how aloe moved from leaf to drink, so that step is not described here. ## Bottom line Read the part of the leaf on the label, because gel and latex carry different records. The oral warnings attach mostly to latex and leaf extracts. If you take any medicine, including digoxin for a heart condition, or you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a clinician before you take aloe by mouth. ## Frequently asked questions ### Which ancient Egyptian records mention aloe? According to PubMed, a 2013 historical review says Egyptian doctors used aloe for burns and cites the Ebers Papyrus. Leipzig's pages do not mention aloe, so check the translations before you quote it. ### How did aloe move from medicine to cosmetics and food? NCCIH says aloe was used in ancient Greece, Rome, Babylonia and China, historically for skin conditions. A 2016 PubMed review describes its use in foods and cosmetics. The steps between those uses are not documented in the sources we checked. ### What is the difference between aloe gel, latex and whole leaf? Gel comes from the inner leaf and latex from the outer layer. Whole crushed leaf contains both. NCCIH says topical gel is generally well tolerated, while its most serious warnings attach to latex and whole-leaf extracts taken by mouth. ### Why does aloe latex have a safety history? FDA asked for mutagenicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity data on aloe in 1998 and received none. In 2002 it ruled aloe out of OTC stimulant laxatives. ### What did the early wound and skin trials measure? The 2018 donor-site trial measured how fast wounds closed and pain, in 12 patients. The 2008 oral lichen planus trial measured clinical response over eight weeks in 54 patients. The 2007 burn review pooled healing time across four trials. ### What do regulators say about aloe latex in foods? The 2002 FDA rule covers OTC laxative drugs, not foods. The sources we checked show no regulatory action that bans aloe latex from food. ### How did aloe become a beverage and supplement ingredient? NCCIH says oral aloe is promoted for weight loss, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. A 2023 review of aloe drinks concluded they are not genotoxic. The step from remedy to beverage is not documented in the sources we checked. ## Next reads - [NCCIH's aloe vera fact sheet](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/aloe-vera): the government summary behind the gel, latex and safety details here. - [The collagen history, from boiled bones to peptides](/blog/history/history-of-collagen-from-boiled-bones-to-peptides): another traditional preparation that became a capsule. ### Related reading - [the garlic history, from pyramid workers to allicin](/blog/history/history-of-garlic-from-pyramid-workers-to-allicin) - [the moringa history, from Ayurveda to superfood](/blog/history/history-of-moringa-from-ayurveda-to-superfood)