Aloe Vera for Constipation
Aloe latex is a genuine stimulant laxative and may relieve constipation in the short term, but the supporting trials are few, small, and old, while major regulators flag real safety risks. Note that aloe gel (the inner pulp in most aloe drinks) is not a laxative.
Why this grade7-layer evidence engine
The grade is weak (Tier C) because aloe latex has a valid laxative mechanism but only thin, dated clinical support. A 2024 systematic review (PMID 39606261) shows aloe anthraquinones speed defecation and lower colonic aquaporin-3 to cut water reabsorption, and a 28-adult study found aloin out-laxated phenolphthalein (PMID 22593933). But the only constipation RCT (PMID 1800188, 1991, n=35) tested a celandin-aloe-psyllium blend, so benefit cannot be pinned on aloe alone; no modern single-agent RCT or meta-analysis exists (PMID 26171992).
Regulators and clinics lean cautionary. The US FDA removed aloe from OTC laxatives in 2002 as not safe-and-effective, the UK NHS discourages it for IBS, and WHO/IARC class aloe whole-leaf extract as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B). Mayo Clinic warns it is unclear aloe latex even treats constipation and that roughly 1 g/day for a few days can cause kidney damage and may be fatal.
Together, a real but weak and outdated efficacy signal plus a serious safety overhang justify a weak grade rather than an endorsement. Crucially, this applies only to aloe latex; the decolorized aloe gel sold in most drinks is not a laxative.
Scoring transparency
All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditable▸View the full decision path (audit trail)
- compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.463
- tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
- apply_hec_rules — 高品質 SR/MA 顯示 positive (1 篇 > 0 negative)
- tier_strict_requirement_check — Tier 條件達標，未降階
- detect_disputes — 偵測到 0 個 hard + 0 個 soft dispute
- decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status