Aloe

Summary of Use during Lactation

Aloe vera gel consists of the clear gel from the center of fresh leaves of Aloe vera and related aloes. Active ingredients include mono- and polysaccharides (e.g., acemannan, glucomannan), allantoin, enzymes (e.g., cyclooxygenase, amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase, carboxypeptidase), and salicylic acid. It should not be confused with Aloe latex which comes from the inner portion of the skin and contains potent anthraquinone laxatives. Aloe latex should not be used during breastfeeding.[1]

Aloe vera gel has been used topically on the nipples during nursing to help heal cracked nipples. One meta-analysis of experimental and observational studies on nipple pain and irritation concluded that Aloe vera can be considered a choice for relieving breast pain or irritation in lactating women compared with routine care or another treatment.[2] Aloe outperformed olive oil, lanolin and breastmilk in some studies.[3-6] However, another meta-analysis that focused exclusively on data from randomized controlled trials found no difference from placebo in treating nipple pain.[7] Topical aloe has also been combined with a cactus leaf preparation and massage to treat engorgement.[8] Aloe arborescens gel from leaves applied as a poultice to the nipples of nursing mothers reduced the redness of the nipples compared to a control group.[9] If Aloe is applied to the nipples, it should be washed off before nursing the infant because the taste might adversely affect nursing or cause diarrhea in the infant.[10,11] Aloe vera gel has caused itching, burning, and allergic contact dermatitis, possibly from contamination with the irritating latex from the leaves.[12,13]

Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products. More detailed information about dietary supplements is available elsewhere on the LactMed Web site.

Drug Levels

Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in Breastfed Infants

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

References

1.

Kopec K. Herbal medications and breastfeeding. J Hum Lact 1999;15:157-61. [PubMed: 10578793]

2.

Maleki A, Youseflu S. The effectiveness of Aloe vera on relief of irritation and nipple pain in lactating women: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol Int 2022;2022:7430581. [PMC free article: PMC9663246] [PubMed: 36388847]

3.

Saeidi R, Tafazoli M, Gholami M, et al. New treatment for nipple soreness in breastfeeding mothers: A clinical trial study. Iran J Neonatol 2015;6:48-51. http://ijn​.mums.ac.ir​/issue_626_671_Volume+6​%2C+Issue+2%2C+Spring+2015.html

4.

Eshgizade M, Moghaddam M, Moghaddam H, et al. A comparison of the efficacy of olive oil, aloe vera extract and breast milk on healing breast fissure in the breastfeeding women. Avicenna J Phytomedicine 2015;5 (Suppl 1):86-7. doi:10.22038/ajp.2015.5454 [CrossRef]

5.

Alamolhoda S, Mirabi P, Mojab F. Effects of both aloe vera gel and breast milk on the improvement of nipple soreness in lactating women? A randomized controlled trial. J Herb Medicine 2020;21:100327. doi:10.1016/j.hermed.2019.100327 [CrossRef]

6.

Wang R, Gong J, Liu P, et al. Effects of aloe gel on lactating women with nipple trauma. Breastfeed Med 2024;19:445-50. [PubMed: 38529934]

7.

Shetty A, Halemani K, Issac A, et al. Effectiveness of the application of lanolin, aloe vera, and peppermint on nipple pain and nipple trauma in lactating mothers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Matern Child Health J 2024;28:2013-25. [PubMed: 39436586]

8.

Meng S, Deng Q, Feng C, et al. Effects of massage treatment combined with topical cactus and aloe on puerperal milk stasis. Breast Dis 2015;35:173-8. [PubMed: 25881639]

9.

Tateoka Y. Effectiveness of aloe fomentation for nipple-related complications during the early puerperium period: a randomized, controlled, interventional study. BMC Res Notes 2022;15:94. [PMC free article: PMC8900332] [PubMed: 35255973]

10.

Yarnell E. Botanical medicine in pregnancy and lactation. Altern Complement Ther 1997;3 (April):93-100. doi:10.1089/act.1997.3.93 [CrossRef]

11.

Larimore W, Petrie K. Drug use during pregnancy and lactation. Prim Care 2000;27:35-53. [PubMed: 10739456]

12.

Barankin B, Gross M. Nipple and areolar eczema in the breastfeeding woman. J Cutan Med Surg 2004;8:126-30. [PubMed: 15129318]

13.

De Smet P. Health risks of herbal remedies: An update. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2004;76:1-17. [PubMed: 15229459]

Substance Name

Aloe

Scientific Name

Aloe vera

CAS Registry Number

8001-97-6

Drug Class

Breast Feeding

Lactation

Milk, Human

Complementary Therapies

Phytotherapy

Plants, Medicinal