• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

ESCOP

CHOOSE YOUR ACCESSVIEWING DOWNLOAD

  • Home
  • About
    • Members
    • Directors
    • Scientific Committee
    • Supervising Editors
  • Monographs
    • Download
    • Online viewing
      • Subscription
    • 2nd Edition of the ESCOP Monographs: two volume
  • Testimonials
  • News
  • Publications
  • Contact us
  • Mailing List
  • Login
  • 0 items€0.00
You are here: Home / News / Aloe gel might improve hypothyroidism

Aloe gel might improve hypothyroidism

December 12, 2018

Aloe vera. Photo: Erin Silversmith (licence CC)
Aloe vera. Photo: Erin Silversmith (license CC)

Several natural products are used in the alleviation of symptoms of autoimmune thyroid disease, including omega-3-fatty acids, L-carnitine, selenium and myoinositol. The clinical efficacy of these compounds has not been confirmed convincingly.

The gel of Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (syn: Aloe barbadensis Miller) has been used for several purposes, especially externally to treat burns and minor skin lesions. The gel, due to its polysaccharide content is occasionally also applied as a laxative, however, its potency is much weaker than that of the dried juice of the aloe leaves (more info below), which contains the strong laxative barbaloin.

However, the effect of aloe juice on thyroid function has never been studied and there are no folk medicinal data referring to this kind of effect.

One Italian researcher, who has a history of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis-associated mild hypothyroidism, decided to take aloe juice, at the dose of 50 ml daily as mild laxative. At the biochemical check performed three months after having started taking aloe gel, she was surprised by the remarkable improvement of all indices [serum thyroperoxidase autoantibodies (TPOAb), thyrotropin (TSH), and thyroxine (FT4)] related to her illness. The improvement was even more significant after six months. Based on this experience, the research group decided to assess the efficacy of aloe gel in a carefully designed clinical trial on women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis-related subclinical hypothyroidism who were not treated with levothyroxine.

30 women with levothyroxine-untreated Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and high TPOAb levels were enrolled. All of them took 50 ml aloe juice daily for nine months and were tested for serum TSH, FT4, free triiodothyronine (FT3) and TPOAb. TSH, FT4 and TPOAb improved significantly already at month 3 and further (−61%, +23% and −56%, respectively) at month 9. FT3 decreased significantly at month 3 (−16%) but its level did nut further decrease. No adverse efects were reported during the study. 15 untreated women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis of comparable age and baseline levels of TSH, FT4, FT3 and TPOAb served as control group. None of their measured indices changed during the 9 month observation period.

This was the first report of the beneficial effect of aloe juice in case of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. A 9-month treatment with 50 ml/day of Aloe vera juice restored euthyroidism in 100% of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis -related initial hypothyroidism, with statistically significant improvement in biochemical markers. The mechanism of action is not known, however, it might be related to the well-known immunomodulating effect of the gel, which migh decrease intrathyroid inflammation.

Author: Dezsö Csupor. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged (Hungary). President of the Medicinal Plant Section of the Hungarian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Reference: Metro D, Cernaro V, Papa M, Benvenga S. Marked improvement of thyroid function and autoimmunity by Aloe barbadensis Miller juice in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. J Clin Transl Endocrinol. February 2018;11:18-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jcte.2018.01.003.

More info:

Aloe barbadensis (Barbados Aloes)

Aloe capensis (Cape Aloes)

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Aloe barbadensis, Aloe vera, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Primary Sidebar

Join us

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Therapeutic indications (access to summaries and purchase)

  • Monograph (81)
    • Circulatory disorders (14)
      • Arterial hypertension (1)
      • Haemorrhoids (10)
        • Haemorrhoids (oral administration) (2)
        • Haemorrhoids (stools softener) (4)
        • Haemorrhoids (topical application) (4)
      • Microcirculatory disorders of the eye (1)
      • Mild cardiac complaints of nervous origin (1)
      • Peripheral vascular insufficiency (1)
      • Venous insufficiency (chronic) (5)
        • Varicose veins (oral administration) (3)
        • Varicose veins (topical administration) (2)
    • CNS disorders (7)
      • Depressive disorders (1)
      • Difficulty in falling asleep (1)
      • Exhaustion mental or physical (1)
      • Fatigue (1)
      • Headache (1)
      • Irritability (2)
      • Migraine prophylaxis (1)
      • Restlessness (3)
      • Tenseness (2)
    • Dermatological disorders (19)
      • Abrasions (2)
      • Acne (2)
      • Atopic dermatitis (1)
      • Bruises (4)
      • Cold sores (1)
      • Dermatitis (8)
      • Eczema (2)
      • Furuncles (1)
      • Herpes labialis (1)
      • Hyperhidrosis (1)
      • Insect bites (5)
      • Psoriasis (1)
      • Seborrhoea (2)
      • Skin inflammation (11)
      • Sunburn (1)
      • Wounds (7)
    • Digestive disorders (37)
      • Appetite loss (7)
      • Bloating (10)
      • Colitis (1)
      • Constipation habitual (3)
      • Constipation ocassional (6)
      • Diarrhoea (unspecific) (8)
      • Diverticulosis (1)
      • Dyspeptic complaints (16)
      • Enteritis (2)
      • Fissure anal (4)
      • Flatulence (10)
      • Gastritis (6)
      • Gastrointestinal complaints (6)
      • Heartburn (1)
      • Hepatobiliary disturbance (1)
      • Irritable bowel syndrome (3)
      • Spasmodic gastro-intestinal complaints (6)
    • Gynecological disorders (5)
      • Dysmenorrhoea (4)
      • Menopause (2)
      • Menorrhagia (1)
    • Metabolic disorders (4)
      • Diabetes (1)
      • Hypercholesterolaemia – Dyslipidaemia (4)
    • Mouth, ear, nose and throat disorders (18)
      • Anaesthetic dental (1)
      • Aphthous ulcers (3)
      • Dental healthcare: disinfectant mouthwash (1)
      • Gingivitis (5)
      • Inflammation of the oropharyngeal mucosa (13)
      • Pharyngitis (10)
      • Sore throat (2)
      • Stomatitis (10)
      • Tonsillitis (1)
    • Pain and inflammation (6)
      • Contusions (2)
      • Epicondylitis (1)
      • Low back pain (2)
      • Musculoskeletal inflammations (5)
      • Myalgia (2)
      • Osteoarthritis (3)
      • Periarthritis (2)
      • Rheumatic complaints (5)
      • Tendinitis (1)
    • Respiratory disorders (23)
      • Bronchitis (1)
      • Catarrh of the respiratory tract (14)
      • Common cold (12)
      • Cough (7)
      • Fever (3)
    • Urinary disorders (13)
      • Bacterial infections of the urinary tract (8)
      • Benign prostatic hyperplasia (2)
      • Cystitis (2)
      • Irrigation of the urinary tract (8)
      • Irritable bladder (1)
      • Urinary lithiasis (5)

Echinaceae purpureae herba

Echinaceae purpureae herba

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Echinaceae purpureae radix

Echinaceae purpureae radix

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Salviae folium (Sage leaf)

Salviae folium (Sage leaf)

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Vaccinii macrocarpi fructus

Vaccinii macrocarpi fructus (Cranberry)

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Pruni africanae cortex

Pruni africanae cortex (Pygeum africanum bark)

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Plantaginis ovatae semen

Plantaginis ovatae semen

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Vitis viniferae folium

Vitis viniferae folium

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Matricariae flos

Matricariae flos

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Arnicae flos

Arnicae flos

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Helichrysi flos

Helichrysi flos

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Calendulae flos

Calendulae flos

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Agrimoniae herba (Agrimony)

Agrimoniae herba

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Allii sativi bulbus (Garlic)

Allii sativi bulbus (Garlic)

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Chamomillae romanae flos

Chamomillae romanae flos (Roman chamomile flover)

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Menthae piperitae folium

Menthae piperitae folium (Peppermint leaf)

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Foeniculi fructus (Fennel fruit)

Foeniculi fructus (Fennel fruit)

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Foeniculi aetheroleum

Foeniculi aetheroleum (Bitter-Fennel fruit oil)

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Echinaceae angustifoliae radix

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Carvi aetheroleum

Carvi aetheroleum

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Leonuri cardiacae herba

Leonuri cardiacae herba

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Rhei radix (Rhubarb)

Rhei radix (Rhubarb)

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Althaeae radix

Althaeae radix (Marshmallow Root)

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Fumariae herba (Fumitory)

fumariae herba fumitory escop

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Urticae folium/herba

Urticae folium, Nettle leaf

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Equiseti herba

Equisetum stem, Horsetail stem

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Cat’s Claw Bark

uncariae tomentosae cortex

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Solidaginis virgaureae herba

solidago virgaurea herba escop

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Pale Coneflower Root

pale cornflower root escop

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

St. John’s Wort

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Black Currant Leaf

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Willow Bark

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Butcher’s Broom

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Rhatany Root

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Psyllium Seed

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Linseed

Purchase Checkout Added to cart

Shopping Basket

Number of items in cart: 0

  • Your cart is empty.
  • Subtotal: €0.00
  • Estimated Tax: €0.00
  • Total: €0.00
  • Checkout

Select the ESCOP monograph you require

Individual monographs can be purchased instantly on line for download in pdf format once selected and added to your shopping basket. Once you have made your selections, click on "checkout" to be taken to the payment page to complete your order. Payment is taken via the PayPal system where you can pay using a debit or credit card, or your PayPal account. Links to download copies of your monographs are included on the order confirmation page and the confirmation that will be emailed to you after payment is received

ORDER YOUR INDIVIDUAL MONOGRAPHS HERE


Privacy Policy and Disclaimer

Privacy Policy and Disclaimer

Are you looking to boost your knowledge?

Join us

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Members

AUSTRIA · GERMANY · HUNGARY · ITALY · NETHERLANDS · POLAND · PORTUGAL · SPAIN · SWITZERLAND · TURKEY · TURKEY · UNITED KINGDOM

Copyright © 1999-2022 ESCOP · Developed by Cita Publicaciones · Privacy Policy and Disclaimer