Aloe Vera

If you have any bowel or IBS questions that don't fit into the topics below please post them to our experts here.

Moderator: talkhealth

Locked
4 posts
jivejunkie
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 4:54 am
Quote

by jivejunkie on Thu Apr 20, 2017 7:14 pm

Aloe Vera

I have IBS and have suffered with it for quite a few years now. Recently everything I eat makes me bloat. I was talking to someone who recommended taking Aloe Vera. Taking a couple of tablespoons on a daily basis helped the bloating. Is this true?

keri
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:26 pm
Quote

by keri on Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:11 pm

Re: Aloe Vera

Don't know if this is true, but from what I have read on other forums they always said to avoid as causes even more problems.

User avatar
Julie Thompson
Posts: 94
Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:24 pm
Quote

by Julie Thompson on Sun Apr 23, 2017 1:46 pm

Re: Aloe Vera

Hi Keri

The National Institiute of health and care excellence (NICE) guidelines advise health professionals not to encourage use of Aloe Vera. You can read what it says here

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg61/c ... yle-advice

If you need more information you could open the copy of the full guidelines as it has more information. It can in some circumstances make symptoms worse.

I hope this helps

Julie
Julie Thompson
Gastroenterology Specialist Dietitian - BSc (Hons) Dietetics

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... ompson.php

User avatar
Dr Neil Galletly
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2017 9:23 am
Quote

by Dr Neil Galletly on Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:13 pm

Re: Aloe Vera

Hi Keri

Julie is absolutely correct about the NICE guidelines. There doesn't seem to be much good scientific evidence to support the use of aloe vera - although anecdotally I have several patients who swear by it!

Peppermint oil capsules (e.g. Mintec or Colpermin) can be very effective for bloating at a dose of 1 or 2 three times a day. Other options are a trial of probiotics or charcoal tablets.

Asking your GP to refer you to a dietician may also help identify a cause for the bloating - for example FODMAP-containing foods tend to get fermented by bacteria in the gut producing gas and bloating

Hope this helps!

Neil
Dr Neil Galletly
Consultant Gastroenterologist - MA MBBS FRCP

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... lletly.php

Locked
4 posts