Does aloe vera help with hemorrhoids?
In adults with symptomatic hemorrhoids, does topical application of aloe vera (gel or fresh plant) compared with no treatment or standard care reduce symptoms such as pain, itching, bleeding, or hemorrhoid size?
How people search for this, in their own words
- “aloe vera for hemorrhoids”
- “does aloe vera help shrink hemorrhoids”
- “aloe for hemorrhoids”
- “aloe vera gel for hemorrhoids”
- “is aloe plant good for hemorrhoids”
- “aloe vera plant for hemorrhoids”
- “frozen aloe vera for hemorrhoids”
Evidence review in plain language · compiled 2026-10-26 · checked 2026-10-26 · next 2026-11-26 · automated review, how it works
What the evidence says
Bottom line
No study has tested whether aloe vera treats hemorrhoid symptoms in people who haven't had surgery.
The studies found all answer a different question: one small trial and one network meta-analysis looked at aloe vera cream used after hemorrhoid removal surgery, measuring surgical pain and wound healing — not whether aloe shrinks hemorrhoids or relieves itching and bleeding beforehand. The other studies are a survey of traditional healers and reviews of historical texts, neither of which tested whether aloe actually works.
How certain
Very low
The 4 human studies found measure a related question rather than this one, so they can only be read indirectly.
What it shows
Not studied
No study has measured this in people with this condition.
- answer it directly
- 0answer it directly
- studies found
- 5studies found
- randomised trial
- 1randomised trial
- people studied
- 2,572people studied
- reviews of trials
- 2reviews of trials
- years covered
- 2010–2023years covered
What the research shows
Symptom relief (pain, itching, burning)
Pain was only measured after hemorrhoid surgery, not for ordinary hemorrhoid symptoms. One small trial found less pain with aloe vera cream than placebo after surgery, and a network comparison ranked it well for early post-surgical pain — but neither tells you whether it eases itching or burning from hemorrhoids themselves.[1,2]
Insufficient evidence
Bleeding reduction
No study measured whether aloe vera reduces hemorrhoid bleeding.
Not studied
Hemorrhoid size or grade reduction
No study measured whether aloe vera shrinks hemorrhoids or changes their grade.
Not studied
Not studied
Insufficient evidence
What it may help with
- In one small trial, aloe vera cream reduced pain and helped the wound heal faster than a placebo cream after hemorrhoid removal surgery — but this tested recovery from surgery, not treatment of hemorrhoids themselves.[1]
Important limitations
- No trial has tested aloe vera in people with symptomatic hemorrhoids who have not had surgery; all four relevant studies looked at post-surgical care, traditional healer surveys, or general wound healing instead.[1,2,3,4,5]
- The one randomised trial is small, with only 49 people, and it only measured pain and wound healing after surgery — not symptom relief, bleeding, or hemorrhoid size in non-surgical hemorrhoids.[1]
- The network meta-analysis of post-surgical creams called its own results inconclusive, since different products ranked best depending on which outcome and time point was measured.[1]
- Two of the five sources are not clinical trials at all — one surveys traditional healers about what they believe works, and one reviews historical texts — neither tested whether aloe actually helps.[1,2]
- A broader review of aloe vera for wound healing found mixed results across different wound types, and it is not focused on hemorrhoids as a condition.[1]
What the studies found
- Found a benefit1 · 20%
- Mixed or unclear4 · 80%
What kind of studies
- Meta-analysis1 · 20%
- Retrospective1 · 20%
- Narrative review1 · 20%
- Systematic review1 · 20%
- Randomised trial1 · 20%
The studies that decided it
Perivoliotis et al. 2023
Comparison of ointment-based agents after excisional procedures for hemorrhoidal disease: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Best for pain right after surgery, not clear overallMeta-analysisLow qualityRelated question
2,132 people14 days
Aloe vera cream ranked best for pain at 24 hours after surgery and during bowel movements at 24-48 hours, but metronidazole ranked best at 7 and 14 days, and lidocaine ranked best for overall complication rates; the authors concluded results were inconclusive and more trials are needed
- Who was studied
- patients who had surgery to remove hemorrhoids
- What they received
- aloe vera cream applied after hemorrhoid surgery
- Compared with
- other topical medications (EMLA cream, metronidazole ointment, lidocaine, and others) after hemorrhoid surgery
- Main outcome
- pain control after hemorrhoid surgery, and safety/complication rates
- Quality
- This is a network meta-analysis comparing many different post-surgery creams (not aloe vera versus no treatment) in patients recovering from hemorrhoid surgery, not people with untreated symptomatic hemorrhoids, and the authors themselves call the results inconclusive.
- Limitations
- The abstract reports the conclusion was inconclusive and that the study had several limitations, without specifying what they were; the population is post-surgical patients rather than people with symptomatic hemorrhoids who have not had surgery.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population
patients submitted to excisional procedures for hemorrhoids
- intervention
aloe vera cream (SUCRA 82.36%) scored first at 24 h
- comparator
EMLA cream (surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) 80.3%) had the highest ranking at 12-h endpoint
- primaryOutcome
Regarding postoperative pain
- result
Aloe vera had the best analgesic profile (24-h SUCRA 84.8% and 48-h SUCRA 80.6%) during defecation. Lidocaine (SUCRA 87.9%) displayed the best performance regarding overall morbidity rates.
- n
Overall, 26 RCTs and 2132 patients were included.
- followUp
Metronidazole ointments had the highest scores at 7 and 14 days postoperatively.
Langenbecks Arch Surg · PMID 37837466 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Kacholi et al. 2022
Herbal remedies used by traditional healers to treat haemorrhoids in Tabora region, Tanzania
No effectiveness data, just usage survey.RetrospectiveVery low qualityRelated question
44 people2022
Aloe vera was cited by 68% of surveyed traditional healers as a plant used to treat hemorrhoids, with no data on whether it works
- Who was studied
- Traditional healers in Tabora region, Tanzania (surveyed about their treatments, not patients)
- What they received
- Aloe vera applied topically (as reported by traditional healers)
- Main outcome
- Which medicinal plants traditional healers use to treat hemorrhoids
- Quality
- This is a survey of what traditional healers say they use, not a test of whether aloe vera actually helps hemorrhoid symptoms.
- Limitations
- Ethnobotanical survey of healer practices and beliefs, no patient outcomes, no clinical testing of effectiveness or safety.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n
gather ethnobotanical data from 44 THs
- population
gather ethnobotanical data from 44 THs on MPs used to treat haemorrhoids
- intervention
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (Asphodelaceae) (68%), followed by Allium sativum L. (Alliaceae) (66%) and Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) (66%) were the most utilized MPs
- primaryOutcome
This study documents MPs used by THs of the Tabora region in Tanzania to treat haemorrhoids.
- result
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (Asphodelaceae) (68%), followed by Allium sativum L. (Alliaceae) (66%) and Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) (66%) were the most utilized MPs.
Pharm Biol · PMID 36307997 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Dehdari et al. 2018
Traditional and modern aspects of hemorrhoid treatment in Iran: a review
No clinical evidence reportedNarrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question
size not given2018
Aloe vera was one of six plants (out of 37 found in traditional texts) with the most pharmacological effects documented in scientific databases, but no clinical trial results or outcome data for aloe vera itself are given
- Who was studied
- Adults with hemorrhoids (not a specific study population; review based on traditional medicine texts and scientific literature)
- What they received
- Topical aloe vera (one of several plants reviewed for hemorrhoid-healing properties)
- Main outcome
- Identification of plants with documented pharmacological effects relevant to hemorrhoid healing
- Quality
- This is a narrative review of traditional medicine texts and lab/animal data, not a clinical trial, so it gives no evidence about whether aloe vera actually helps hemorrhoid symptoms in people.
- Limitations
- The abstract does not describe any clinical trial testing aloe vera in patients with hemorrhoids; it only reports that aloe vera has documented pharmacological effects (unspecified) and is mentioned in traditional texts.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population
Hemorrhoidal disease is a prevalent anorectal condition which is generally not managed well with current pharmacologic interventions.
- intervention
Aloe vera
- primaryOutcome
Studying ITM textbooks revealed 37 medicinal plants with hemorrhoid-healing effects.
- result
Among the mentioned herbal medicines, six species, including Allium ampeloprasum, Phyllanthus emblica, Aloe vera, Terminalia chebula, Vitis vinifera and Commiphora mukul, had the largest number of related pharmacological effects documented in scientific databases.
J Integr Med · PMID 29526242 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Dat et al. 2012
Aloe vera for treating acute and chronic wounds
Mixed results on wound healing, not symptom reliefSystematic reviewVery low qualityRelated question
347 people2012
Findings varied by wound type: no benefit for burn healing versus silver sulfadiazine, faster healing noted after haemorrhoidectomy, no difference for skin biopsies or pressure ulcers, and significantly delayed healing in surgical wounds healing by secondary intention
- Who was studied
- Patients with various acute and chronic wounds, including burns, surgical wounds, pressure ulcers, and post-hemorrhoidectomy wounds — not specifically people with symptomatic hemorrhoids
- What they received
- Topical aloe vera gel, dressings, or mucilage applied to wounds
- Compared with
- Standard wound care treatments (e.g., silver sulfadiazine for burns) or no aloe vera
- Main outcome
- Wound healing (proportion healed or time to complete healing)
- Quality
- The review authors state the included trials were poor quality with a high risk of bias, so the results can only be viewed with extreme caution.
- Limitations
- Only 7 small trials (347 total participants) with high risk of bias; findings mixed across very different wound types; clinical heterogeneity meant results could not be pooled into a single meta-analysis; this review is about wound healing broadly, not about treating symptomatic hemorrhoids
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population
Five trials in people with acute wounds evaluated the effects of Aloe vera on burns, haemorrhoidectomy patients and skin biopsies.
- intervention
Aloe vera-derived products (for example dressings and topical gels)
- comparator
Aloe vera mucilage did not increase burn healing compared with silver sulfadiazine
- primaryOutcome
An objective measure of wound healing (either proportion of completely healed wounds or time to complete healing) was the primary endpoint.
- n
Seven trials were eligible for inclusion, comprising a total of 347 participants.
- result
A reduction in healing time with Aloe vera was noted after haemorrhoidectomy (RR 16.33 days, 95% CI 3.46 to 77.15)
- result
Aloe vera mucilage did not increase burn healing compared with silver sulfadiazine (risk ratio (RR) 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70 to 2.85).
- result
in a trial of surgical wounds healing by secondary intention Aloe vera significantly delayed healing (mean difference 30 days, 95% CI 7.59 to 52.41)
- result
The poor quality of the included trials indicates that the trial results must be viewed with extreme caution as they have a high risk of bias.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 22336851 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Eshghi et al. 2010
Effects of Aloe vera cream on posthemorrhoidectomy pain and wound healing: results of a randomized, blind, placebo-control study
Less pain, faster healing after hemorrhoid surgeryRandomised trialLow qualityRelated question
49 people4 weeks
Aloe vera cream reduced pain at 12, 24, 48 hours and 2 weeks, reduced pain after bowel movements, improved wound healing at 2 weeks, and reduced need for pain medication, all compared with placebo
- Who was studied
- Adults recovering from hemorrhoid removal surgery (hemorrhoidectomy)
- What they received
- Aloe vera cream applied to the surgical wound 3 times a day for 4 weeks
- Compared with
- Placebo cream applied the same way
- Main outcome
- Pain after surgery and after bowel movements, and how well the wound healed
- Quality
- It was a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial, which is strong, but it was small (49 people), from one center, and studied healing after surgery rather than treatment of hemorrhoids themselves.
- Limitations
- Small sample size, single study, and it tests aloe vera for healing a surgical wound after hemorrhoid removal rather than for treating symptomatic hemorrhoids directly.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population
after hemorrhoidectomy
- intervention
The study preparations were applied by patients to the surgical site 3 times per day for 4 weeks after hemorrhoidectomy.
- comparator
comparing the effects of a cream containing Aloe vera versus a placebo cream on posthemorrhoidectomy pain
- primaryOutcome
assessed the effects of Aloe vera cream in reducing postoperative pain, postdefection pain, and its promotion of wound healing after open hemorrhoidectomy
- result
Patients in the topical aloe cream group had significantly less postoperative pain at hours 12, 24, and 48 hours and at 2 weeks.
- result
Wound healing at the end of the second postoperative week was significantly greater in the aloe group compared with the placebo group (p < 0.001).
- n
Forty-nine (49) patients were randomly assigned to receive aloe (n = 24) or placebo (n = 25).
J Altern Complement Med · PMID 20569031 · Read it on PubMed ↗
What actually helps, on this site
More about the condition:
All 5 studiesEvery study that answered the question, with its design, size and result.
How we searchedThe exact query, the date it ran, and what came back — so you can run it yourself.
- Searched
- PubMed · ClinicalTrials.gov · Crossref on 2026-10-26
- The exact search — paste this into PubMed to repeat it
("Hemorrhoids"[Mesh] OR hemorrhoid*[tiab] OR piles[tiab]) AND ("Aloe"[Mesh] OR aloe vera[tiab] OR aloe[tiab])- PubMed expanded that to:
("Hemorrhoids"[MeSH Terms] OR "hemorrhoid*"[Title/Abstract] OR "piles"[Title/Abstract]) AND ("Aloe"[MeSH Terms] OR "aloe vera"[Title/Abstract] OR "Aloe"[Title/Abstract]) - What came back
- 10 records found · 10 read · 5 answered the question
- Included
- Human, animal or laboratory studies reporting an outcome relevant to the question
- Excluded
- Records about a different condition or intervention
- Studies of Oral aloe vera supplements — a different treatment from the one asked about
- Studies of Aloe vera combined with other active ingredients in multi-ingredient creams — a different treatment from the one asked about
- Studies of Aloin/aloe-emodin as a laxative for constipation — a different treatment from the one asked about
- Studies of Aloe vera for other anorectal conditions like anal fissure — a different treatment from the one asked about
- Records reporting no outcome
- Retracted publications, which are listed but excluded from every count
- Limits
- Details were read from abstracts, not full papers, so anything reported only in a paper's methods section is not captured here.
- Fields were read from abstracts, not full text, so detail reported only in a paper's methods section is not captured.
- Evidence strength is adapted from the GRADE framework. It is not a GRADE assessment and was not produced by a GRADE panel.
Automated evidence review — PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Crossref. Search strategy, grading rules and the checks that must pass before anything publishes were written by Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, colon & rectal surgery, Beverly Hills. The pages themselves are compiled by software running that method and are not read one by one before publication — saying otherwise would be the one claim here that could not be checked.
- 10records came back from the search
- 10were read
- 5actually answered the question
Risks and safetyReported side effects and who should be careful.
- No serious skin reactions were reported in these small studies, but they were not designed to systematically test for rare side effects of topical aloe vera.
Why people try itThe reasoning behind the question — not a claim that it works.
- Aloe vera is widely marketed as a natural, soothing remedy for skin irritation, so it seems like a reasonable thing to try on hemorrhoid itching or swelling.
- It's cheap, easy to find at home, and simple to apply directly, which makes it an appealing first step before seeing a doctor.
- Traditional and folk medicine has long used aloe for various skin complaints, giving it a reputation as a safe, natural cure.
- The cooling, gel-like feel brings immediate soothing relief, which can feel like it's working even if it isn't treating the hemorrhoid itself.
Common questionsShort answers, drawn from the same studies.
- Does aloe vera help shrink hemorrhoids?
- No study has measured whether aloe vera shrinks hemorrhoids or changes their size or grade. The available research only looked at pain and wound healing after hemorrhoid surgery, which is a different question.
- Is the aloe vera plant as good as aloe vera gel for hemorrhoids?
- No study has compared fresh aloe vera plant with gel products for hemorrhoids. The one relevant trial used a prepared aloe vera cream applied after surgery, so there's no direct evidence for the raw plant either way.
- Can I use frozen aloe vera for hemorrhoids?
- No study has tested frozen aloe vera for hemorrhoids. The research that exists used aloe vera cream at room temperature applied several times a day, not a frozen form, so there's nothing to say whether freezing changes anything.
- Should I stop using aloe vera on my hemorrhoids?
- There's no evidence that aloe vera is unsafe to use on or near hemorrhoids, so you don't need to stop on safety grounds. But the research is too indirect to say it actually treats hemorrhoid symptoms, bleeding, or size, so don't expect it to replace proven care.
- What does actually help with hemorrhoids if aloe vera hasn't been tested?
- This review covers only aloe vera, so it can't tell you what else works. A pharmacist or doctor can point you to treatments with stronger evidence behind them.
What has changedEvery re-check, and whether it changed the answer.
2026-10-26
Clear the 'Under re-review' backlog: rebuild every remaining first-method (ev-1) page under the current method.
This is information, not advice
This page summarises published research. It cannot tell you what is happening in your own body, and evidence changes. If something is bleeding, painful, or new, it is worth being looked at — that is a different question from the one on this page, and a better one to bring to a consultation.
Contact the officeAutomated evidence review — PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Crossref. Search strategy, grading rules and the checks that must pass before anything publishes were written by Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, colon & rectal surgery, Beverly Hills. The pages themselves are compiled by software running that method and are not read one by one before publication — saying otherwise would be the one claim here that could not be checked.