A medicinal succulent The armed succulent leaves of aloe vera (Aloe vera). (more) aloe vera plant Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/plant/true-aloe Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Aloe Vera Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Aloe vera, true aloe Written by Karen Sottosanti Karen Sottosanti is a writer and editor who works in educational publishing. Karen Sottosanti , Melissa Petruzzello Melissa Petruzzello is Assistant Managing Editor and covers a range of content including plants, algae, and fungi; insects and spiders; and renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles... Melissa Petruzzello •All Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep 3, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Also called: Barbados aloe (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is aloe vera used for? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Aloe vera is used for skin care, cosmetics, and traditional medicine. Aloe gel is applied topically for psoriasis, acne, insect bites and stings, minor wounds and burns (including sunburn), and other ailments. It is also ingested as a purported dietary supplement for weight loss, to control blood sugar and high cholesterol, and to treat irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, and other diseases and ailments. The bitter latex is sometimes used as a laxative." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How does aloe vera reproduce? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Aloe vera can reproduce sexually by seeds or asexually through offshoots (pups) or suckers. Asexual reproduction is commonly used for propagation by humans." } } ] } Top Questions What is aloe vera used for? Aloe vera is used for skin care, cosmetics, and traditional medicine. Aloe gel is applied topically for psoriasis, acne, insect bites and stings, minor wounds and burns (including sunburn), and other ailments. It is also ingested as a purported dietary supplement for weight loss, to control blood sugar and high cholesterol, and to treat irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, and other diseases and ailments. The bitter latex is sometimes used as a laxative.
How does aloe vera reproduce? Aloe vera can reproduce sexually by seeds or asexually through offshoots (pups) or suckers. Asexual reproduction is commonly used for propagation by humans.
aloe vera, (Aloe vera), perennial succulent plant cultivated worldwide as an ornamental and for medicinal and cosmetic uses. The gelatinous interior of the leaves is commonly applied directly to the skin as a beauty treatment or to soothe sunburns, and it is sometimes ingested as a traditional medicine for a variety of ailments. Thought to originally be native to the Al-Ḥajar mountains of northern Oman, the plant has become naturalized in many areas around the world and is considered an invasive species in some regions. Taxonomy Aloe vera is an herbaceous plant with a short stem and long, narrow, fleshy ...(100 of 692 words)
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