{ "slug": "aloe-hemorrhoid", "question": "Does aloe vera help with hemorrhoids?", "shortTitle": "Aloe Vera for Hemorrhoids", "clinicalQuestion": "In adults with symptomatic hemorrhoids, does topical or oral aloe vera (gel, juice, or extract) reduce symptoms (pain, bleeding, itching, swelling) or hemorrhoid size compared with no treatment or standard care?", "pico": { "population": "Adults with symptomatic hemorrhoids (internal or external)", "intervention": "Topical application of aloe vera gel or raw aloe, or oral aloe vera juice/extract", "comparator": "No treatment, placebo, or standard hemorrhoid care (e.g., topical corticosteroid/anesthetic creams, fiber, sitz baths)", "outcomes": [ "Symptom score (pain, itching, irritation)", "Bleeding frequency or severity", "Hemorrhoid size or grade reduction", "Time to symptom resolution", "Need for further medical or surgical treatment", "Adverse skin or allergic reactions" ] }, "category": "anorectal", "relatedConditions": [ "hemorrhoids", "anal-fissure", "anal-itching" ], "relatedTreatments": [], "relatedEvidence": [], "bottomLine": { "verdict": "No study has tested whether aloe vera relieves hemorrhoid symptoms like pain, bleeding, or itching in people who have not had surgery for hemorrhoids.", "detail": "The evidence that exists comes from different situations: small trials of aloe vera cream applied after hemorrhoid removal surgery, a mixed review of wound healing, and surveys of herbal traditions. None of these directly tested aloe vera against the everyday symptoms of hemorrhoids in people who haven't had an operation.", "studyIds": [ "pmid:37837466", "pmid:36307997", "pmid:29526242", "pmid:22336851", "pmid:20569031" ] }, "strength": { "level": "very-low", "why": "The 4 human studies found measure a related question rather than this one, so they can only be read indirectly.", "override": null }, "direction": { "level": "not-studied", "why": "No study has measured this outcome in people with this condition.", "override": null }, "counts": { "recordsRetrieved": 10, "recordsScreened": 10, "included": 5, "rcts": 1, "systematicReviews": 2, "observational": 0, "participants": 2572, "yearFrom": 2010, "yearTo": 2023, "registeredTrialsWithoutResults": 0 }, "excluded": [], "outcomes": [ { "name": "Symptom score (pain, itching, irritation)", "status": "not-studied", "note": "No study measured pain, itching, or irritation from hemorrhoids themselves in people who hadn't had surgery. The closest data is pain after hemorrhoid surgery, where aloe vera cream reduced pain at several time points in small trials - but that's healing a surgical wound, not treating a hemorrhoid directly.", "studyIds": [ "pmid:37837466", "pmid:20569031" ] }, { "name": "Bleeding frequency or severity", "status": "not-studied", "note": "No study measured whether aloe vera changes how often or how much a hemorrhoid bleeds.", "studyIds": [] }, { "name": "Hemorrhoid size or grade reduction", "status": "not-studied", "note": "No study measured whether aloe vera shrinks a hemorrhoid or changes its grade.", "studyIds": [] }, { "name": "Time to symptom resolution", "status": "not-studied", "note": "No study tracked how long it takes hemorrhoid symptoms to go away with aloe vera. The available data instead tracked how long a surgical wound took to heal.", "studyIds": [ "pmid:22336851", "pmid:20569031" ] }, { "name": "Need for further medical or surgical treatment", "status": "not-studied", "note": "No study tracked whether using aloe vera changed the chance someone later needed a doctor's treatment or surgery for their hemorrhoids.", "studyIds": [] }, { "name": "Adverse skin or allergic reactions", "status": "insufficient", "note": "The small trials available did not report serious safety problems, but they were not designed or large enough to reliably detect allergic or skin reactions.", "studyIds": [ "pmid:37837466", "pmid:22336851", "pmid:20569031" ] } ], "benefits": [ { "text": "In a small trial of people recovering from hemorrhoid removal surgery, applying aloe vera cream to the surgical wound was linked to less pain at 12, 24, and 48 hours and at two weeks, less pain after bowel movements, and somewhat faster wound healing, compared with a placebo cream.", "studyIds": [ "pmid:20569031" ] }, { "text": "In a comparison of different creams used after hemorrhoid surgery, aloe vera cream ranked among the best for easing pain in the first two days, though other creams ranked best at other time points.", "studyIds": [ "pmid:37837466" ] } ], "limitations": [ { "text": "Every human trial here involves people who already had surgery to remove their hemorrhoids. These studies test healing of a surgical wound afterward, not whether aloe vera treats the swelling, pain, or bleeding of a hemorrhoid that hasn't been operated on.", "studyIds": [ "pmid:37837466", "pmid:22336851", "pmid:20569031" ] }, { "text": "The one randomized trial testing aloe vera cream against a placebo cream included only 49 people, which is too small to be confident the results weren't due to chance.", "studyIds": [ "pmid:20569031" ] }, { "text": "Two of the five sources aren't clinical studies at all. One surveyed traditional healers about which plants they use for hemorrhoids, and one is a narrative review listing plants mentioned in historical texts. Neither tested aloe vera in patients or measured any outcome.", "studyIds": [ "pmid:36307997", "pmid:29526242" ] }, { "text": "A broader review of aloe vera for wound healing found its effects varied a lot by wound type, including no benefit for burns and even slower healing for some surgical wounds left to heal on their own - showing that results from one situation don't reliably carry over to another.", "studyIds": [ "pmid:22336851" ] } ], "risks": [], "whyPeopleTryIt": [ { "text": "Aloe vera gel feels cooling and soothing on irritated skin, which can feel like fast relief for itching or burning." }, { "text": "It is marketed as a natural, chemical-free remedy, which appeals to people who want to avoid prescription creams." }, { "text": "Traditional and folk medicine in many places, including Tanzania and Iran, has long used aloe vera for hemorrhoids, which makes it feel like a tried-and-true remedy." }, { "text": "It is cheap, available as a houseplant or an over-the-counter gel, and easy to try at home without seeing a doctor." } ], "keyStudies": [ "pmid:20569031", "pmid:37837466", "pmid:22336851", "pmid:29526242", "pmid:36307997" ], "studies": [ { "id": "pmid:37837466", "pmid": "37837466", "doi": "10.1007/s00423-023-03128-4", "nctId": null, "pmcid": null, "title": "Comparison of ointment-based agents after excisional procedures for hemorrhoidal disease: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials", "firstAuthor": "Perivoliotis", "multipleAuthors": true, "journal": "Langenbecks Arch Surg", "year": 2023, "design": "meta-analysis", "n": 2132, "nField": "reported", "population": "patients who had surgery to remove hemorrhoids", "intervention": "aloe vera cream applied to the surgical wound", "comparator": "other topical medications (EMLA cream, metronidazole ointment, lidocaine)", "primaryOutcome": "pain after hemorrhoid surgery", "result": "aloe vera cream ranked best for pain at 24 hours and for pain during bowel movements at 24 and 48 hours, though other agents ranked best for other timepoints", "resultDirection": "mixed", "quality": "low", "qualityWhy": "the review itself says results were inconclusive and limited by weaknesses in the included trials.", "directness": "indirect", "limitations": "Authors state: 'Due to the inconclusive results and several study limitations, further RCTs are required.'", "followUp": "14 days", "plainFinding": "Helped pain after hemorrhoid surgery, not plain hemorrhoids", "retracted": false, "expressionOfConcern": false, "hasErratum": false, "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37837466/", "sourceText": "INTRODUCTION: Efficient postoperative pain control is important after hemorrhoidal surgery. Although several locally applied medications have been used, current evidence regarding the optimal strategy is still conflicting. This network meta-analysis assessed analgesic efficacy and safety of the various topical medications in patients submitted to excisional procedures for hemorrhoids. METHODS: The present study followed the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the PRISMA guidelines. The last systematic literature screening was performed at 15 June 2023. Comparisons were based on a random effects multivariate network meta-analysis under a Bayesian framework. RESULTS: Overall, 26 RCTs and 2132 patients were included. Regarding postoperative pain, EMLA cream (surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) 80.3%) had the highest ranking at 12-h endpoint, while aloe vera cream (SUCRA 82.36%) scored first at 24 h. Metronidazole ointments had the highest scores at 7 and 14 days postoperatively. 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. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the inconclusive results and several study limitations, further RCTs are required.", "provenance": [ { "field": "n", "quote": "26 RCTs and 2132 patients were included" }, { "field": "population", "quote": "patients submitted to excisional procedures for hemorrhoids" }, { "field": "intervention", "quote": "aloe vera cream (SUCRA 82.36%) scored first at 24 h" }, { "field": "comparator", "quote": "EMLA cream (surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) 80.3%) had the highest ranking at 12-h endpoint" }, { "field": "primaryOutcome", "quote": "Regarding postoperative pain" }, { "field": "result", "quote": "Aloe vera had the best analgesic profile (24-h SUCRA 84.8% and 48-h SUCRA 80.6%) during defecation" }, { "field": "limitations", "quote": "Due to the inconclusive results and several study limitations, further RCTs are required." } ] }, { "id": "pmid:36307997", "pmid": "36307997", "doi": "10.1080/13880209.2022.2136204", "nctId": null, "pmcid": "PMC9629089", "title": "Herbal remedies used by traditional healers to treat haemorrhoids in Tabora region, Tanzania", "firstAuthor": "Kacholi", "multipleAuthors": true, "journal": "Pharm Biol", "year": 2022, "design": "case-series", "n": 44, "nField": "reported", "population": "Traditional healers in Tabora region, Tanzania (not hemorrhoid patients themselves)", "intervention": "Aloe vera and other medicinal plants as reported by traditional healers", "comparator": "", "primaryOutcome": "Which medicinal plants are used by traditional healers to treat hemorrhoids", "result": "Aloe vera was the most commonly used plant, cited by 68% of healers surveyed, but no treatment outcomes were tested", "resultDirection": "unclear", "quality": "very-low", "qualityWhy": "This is a survey of what traditional healers say they use, not a test of whether aloe vera actually works for hemorrhoids.", "directness": "indirect", "limitations": "Ethnobotanical survey only; no patients were treated or assessed, and no clinical outcomes were measured.", "followUp": "", "plainFinding": "Survey only, no outcomes tested.", "retracted": false, "expressionOfConcern": false, "hasErratum": false, "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36307997/", "sourceText": "CONTEXT: Haemorrhoids are one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in humans. In Tanzania, particularly in the Tabora region, medicinal plants (MPs) are used by traditional healers (THs) to treat haemorrhoids, but no study has explicitly attempted to compile these treatments. OBJECTIVE: This study documents MPs used by THs of the Tabora region in Tanzania to treat haemorrhoids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather ethnobotanical data from 44 THs on MPs used to treat haemorrhoids, parts used, preparation methods and administration routes. The collected ethnobotanical data were analysed by computing percentage frequencies and relative frequency citations. RESULTS: Twenty-six MPs belonging to 19 families and 25 genera, used to manage haemorrhoids, were documented. Fabaceae was the dominant family (four species), whereas shrubs constituted a high proportion (38.46%) of the MPs, and the root was the most (30.3%) utilized plant part. Decoction (38.5%) and topical application (53.8%) were the most preferred preparation and administration techniques. Most MP materials (76.9%) were sourced from the wild. 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. Among the recorded MPs, 12 are reported for the first time for the treatment of haemorrhoids. The recorded MPs are believed to possess anti-inflammatory properties that aid in managing inflammation associated with bowel diseases, including haemorrhoids. CONCLUSIONS: This study has documented valuable MPs used to manage haemorrhoids and provides a basis for further studies to discover efficient and affordable anti-haemorrhoid drugs.", "provenance": [ { "field": "population", "quote": "A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather ethnobotanical data from 44 THs on MPs used to treat haemorrhoids" }, { "field": "intervention", "quote": "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" }, { "field": "primaryOutcome", "quote": "This study documents MPs used by THs of the Tabora region in Tanzania to treat haemorrhoids" }, { "field": "result", "quote": "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" }, { "field": "n", "quote": "gather ethnobotanical data from 44 THs" } ] }, { "id": "pmid:29526242", "pmid": "29526242", "doi": "10.1016/j.joim.2018.01.002", "nctId": null, "pmcid": null, "title": "Traditional and modern aspects of hemorrhoid treatment in Iran: a review", "firstAuthor": "Dehdari", "multipleAuthors": true, "journal": "J Integr Med", "year": 2018, "design": "narrative-review", "n": null, "nField": "not-reported", "population": "People with hemorrhoids", "intervention": "Aloe vera (among other traditional Iranian medicinal plants)", "comparator": "No comparator described", "primaryOutcome": "Plants with documented hemorrhoid-healing pharmacological effects", "result": "Aloe vera was one of six plants identified as having the most pharmacological effects related to hemorrhoid treatment documented in scientific databases", "resultDirection": "unclear", "quality": "very-low", "qualityWhy": "This is a review of traditional medicine texts and existing literature, not a clinical trial testing aloe vera directly on patients with hemorrhoids.", "directness": "indirect", "limitations": "The abstract does not describe any original clinical trial, patient outcomes, or comparison data for aloe vera specifically; it only compiles mentions in traditional texts and pharmacological literature.", "followUp": "", "plainFinding": "Listed as traditional remedy, no outcome data", "retracted": false, "expressionOfConcern": false, "hasErratum": false, "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29526242/", "sourceText": "Hemorrhoidal disease is a prevalent anorectal condition which is generally not managed well with current pharmacologic interventions. However, in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) there are numerous plants with hemorrhoid-healing properties. The present research assembled plants with hemorrhoid-healing properties in ITM; their related pharmacological effects, phytochemical constituents and mechanisms of action in the modern medicine were also gathered. For this purpose, leading ITM textbooks were searched for plants with hemorrhoid-healing effects. Further, in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies on the most cited species were considered using scientific databases. Studying ITM textbooks revealed 37 medicinal plants with hemorrhoid-healing effects. 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. These herbs from ITM should be considered as important resources for producing novel drugs for hemorrhoid treatment.", "provenance": [ { "field": "intervention", "quote": "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." }, { "field": "population", "quote": "Hemorrhoidal disease is a prevalent anorectal condition which is generally not managed well with current pharmacologic interventions." }, { "field": "primaryOutcome", "quote": "plants with hemorrhoid-healing properties" }, { "field": "result", "quote": "had the largest number of related pharmacological effects documented in scientific databases" }, { "field": "comparator", "quote": "in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies on the most cited species were considered using scientific databases" } ] }, { "id": "pmid:22336851", "pmid": "22336851", "doi": "10.1002/14651858.CD008762.pub2", "nctId": null, "pmcid": "PMC9943919", "title": "Aloe vera for treating acute and chronic wounds", "firstAuthor": "Dat", "multipleAuthors": true, "journal": "Cochrane Database Syst Rev", "year": 2012, "design": "systematic-review", "n": 347, "nField": "reported", "population": "people with acute wounds (burns, haemorrhoidectomy, skin biopsies) and chronic wounds (pressure ulcers, surgical wounds)", "intervention": "Aloe vera-derived products such as topical gels and dressings", "comparator": "standard wound care treatments such as silver sulfadiazine or no Aloe vera", "primaryOutcome": "wound healing, measured as proportion of wounds completely healed or time to complete healing", "result": "effects varied by wound type: no improvement in burn healing, faster healing after haemorrhoidectomy, no difference for skin biopsies or pressure ulcers, and slower healing for surgical wounds left to heal naturally", "resultDirection": "mixed", "quality": "very-low", "qualityWhy": "the included trials were small, poor quality, and at high risk of bias, so the results can't be trusted much.", "directness": "indirect", "limitations": "Clinical heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis; trials were of poor quality with high risk of bias.", "followUp": "", "plainFinding": "Mixed results, mostly poor-quality evidence.", "retracted": false, "expressionOfConcern": false, "hasErratum": false, "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22336851/", "sourceText": "BACKGROUND: Aloe vera is a cactus-like perennial succulent belonging to the Liliaceae Family that is commonly grown in tropical climates. Animal studies have suggested that Aloe vera may help accelerate the wound healing process. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of Aloe vera-derived products (for example dressings and topical gels) on the healing of acute wounds (for example lacerations, surgical incisions and burns) and chronic wounds (for example infected wounds, arterial and venous ulcers). SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (9 September 2011), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 3), Ovid MEDLINE (2005 to August Week 5 2011), Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations 8 September 2011), Ovid EMBASE (2007 to 2010 Week 35), Ovid AMED (1985 to September 2011) and EBSCO CINAHL (1982 to 9 September 2011). We did not apply date or language restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included all randomised controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of Aloe vera, aloe-derived products and a combination of Aloe vera and other dressings as a treatment for acute or chronic wounds. There was no restriction in terms of source, date of publication or language. An objective measure of wound healing (either proportion of completely healed wounds or time to complete healing) was the primary endpoint. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently carried out trial selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment, checked by a third review author. MAIN RESULTS: Seven trials were eligible for inclusion, comprising a total of 347 participants. Five trials in people with acute wounds evaluated the effects of Aloe vera on burns, haemorrhoidectomy patients and skin biopsies. 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). A reduction in healing time with Aloe vera was noted after haemorrhoidectomy (RR 16.33 days, 95% CI 3.46 to 77.15) and there was no difference in the proportion of patients completely healed at follow up after skin biopsies. In people with chronic wounds, one trial found no statistically significant difference in pressure ulcer healing with Aloe vera (RR 0.10, 95% CI -1.59 to 1.79) and 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). Clinical heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. 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. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is currently an absence of high quality clinical trial evidence to support the use of Aloe vera topical agents or Aloe vera dressings as treatments for acute and chronic wounds.", "provenance": [ { "field": "n", "quote": "Seven trials were eligible for inclusion, comprising a total of 347 participants." }, { "field": "population", "quote": "Five trials in people with acute wounds evaluated the effects of Aloe vera on burns, haemorrhoidectomy patients and skin biopsies." }, { "field": "intervention", "quote": "To determine the effects of Aloe vera-derived products (for example dressings and topical gels)" }, { "field": "comparator", "quote": "Aloe vera mucilage did not increase burn healing compared with silver sulfadiazine" }, { "field": "primaryOutcome", "quote": "An objective measure of wound healing (either proportion of completely healed wounds or time to complete healing) was the primary endpoint." }, { "field": "result", "quote": "A reduction in healing time with Aloe vera was noted after haemorrhoidectomy (RR 16.33 days, 95% CI 3.46 to 77.15) and there was no difference in the proportion of patients completely healed at follow up after skin biopsies." }, { "field": "result", "quote": "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)" }, { "field": "qualityWhy", "quote": "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." } ] }, { "id": "pmid:20569031", "pmid": "20569031", "doi": "10.1089/acm.2009.0428", "nctId": null, "pmcid": null, "title": "Effects of Aloe vera cream on posthemorrhoidectomy pain and wound healing: results of a randomized, blind, placebo-control study", "firstAuthor": "Eshghi", "multipleAuthors": true, "journal": "J Altern Complement Med", "year": 2010, "design": "rct", "n": 49, "nField": "reported", "population": "patients who had surgery to remove hemorrhoids (open hemorrhoidectomy)", "intervention": "Aloe vera cream applied to the surgical wound 3 times a day for 4 weeks", "comparator": "placebo cream applied the same way", "primaryOutcome": "pain after surgery and after bowel movements, and wound healing", "result": "Aloe vera cream reduced pain at 12, 24, 48 hours and 2 weeks, reduced pain after defecation, improved wound healing at 2 weeks, and reduced need for extra pain medicine", "resultDirection": "benefit", "quality": "moderate", "qualityWhy": "It was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, but with only 49 patients from what appears to be a single study, so results need confirming in larger trials.", "directness": "indirect", "limitations": "Small sample size (49 patients); studies post-surgical wound healing rather than treatment of hemorrhoids themselves without surgery.", "followUp": "4 weeks", "plainFinding": "Less pain, faster healing after hemorrhoid surgery.", "retracted": false, "expressionOfConcern": false, "hasErratum": false, "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20569031/", "sourceText": "OBJECTIVE: Aloe vera is an herbal medicine, which has wound healing effects in burn injury. This study assessed the effects of Aloe vera cream in reducing postoperative pain, postdefection pain, and its promotion of wound healing after open hemorrhoidectomy. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted comparing the effects of a cream containing Aloe vera versus a placebo cream on posthemorrhoidectomy pain. The study preparations were applied by patients to the surgical site 3 times per day for 4 weeks after hemorrhoidectomy. Pain was assessed with a visual analog scale immediately postoperatively and at hours 12, 24, and 48 after surgery and at weeks 2 and 4. Wound healing was examined and evaluated at the end of 2 and 4 weeks. The use of analgesics was recorded. RESULTS: Forty-nine (49) patients were randomly assigned to receive aloe (n = 24) or placebo (n = 25). Patients in the topical aloe cream group had significantly less postoperative pain at hours 12, 24, and 48 hours and at 2 weeks. Aloe cream reduced the pain after defecation in 24 and 48 hours postsurgery (p < 0.001). 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). Patients required fewer additional analgesics posthemorrhoidectomy (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Application of Aloe vera cream on the surgical site is effective in reducing postoperative pain both on resting and during defecation, healing time, and analgesic requirements in the patients compared with the placebo group.", "provenance": [ { "field": "n", "quote": "Forty-nine (49) patients were randomly assigned to receive aloe (n = 24) or placebo (n = 25)." }, { "field": "population", "quote": "after open hemorrhoidectomy" }, { "field": "intervention", "quote": "The study preparations were applied by patients to the surgical site 3 times per day for 4 weeks after hemorrhoidectomy." }, { "field": "comparator", "quote": "comparing the effects of a cream containing Aloe vera versus a placebo cream on posthemorrhoidectomy pain" }, { "field": "primaryOutcome", "quote": "assessed the effects of Aloe vera cream in reducing postoperative pain, postdefection pain, and its promotion of wound healing after open hemorrhoidectomy" }, { "field": "result", "quote": "Patients in the topical aloe cream group had significantly less postoperative pain at hours 12, 24, and 48 hours and at 2 weeks." }, { "field": "result", "quote": "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)." }, { "field": "followUp", "quote": "evaluated at the end of 2 and 4 weeks" } ] } ], "faqs": [ { "q": "Does aloe vera shrink hemorrhoids or stop the bleeding?", "a": "No study has tested this. The available trials only looked at pain and wound healing after hemorrhoid surgery, not at hemorrhoid size or bleeding in people who hadn't had surgery." }, { "q": "Should I stop using aloe vera on my hemorrhoids?", "a": "The small trials available didn't report safety problems, so there's no specific reason from this evidence to stop. Just don't expect it to treat the hemorrhoid itself, since that hasn't actually been tested." }, { "q": "Did aloe vera help after hemorrhoid surgery?", "a": "Yes, in a couple of small trials, aloe vera cream applied to the surgical wound was linked to less pain and somewhat faster healing compared with placebo. That's a different situation from using aloe vera on a hemorrhoid that hasn't been operated on." }, { "q": "Is aloe vera used in traditional medicine for hemorrhoids?", "a": "Yes. Surveys of traditional healers and reviews of historical medical texts show aloe vera is commonly used for hemorrhoids, but these sources don't include any testing of whether it actually works." }, { "q": "What should I use instead for hemorrhoid symptoms?", "a": "This review only looked at aloe vera, so it can't tell you what else works better. It's worth asking a doctor or pharmacist about treatments that have actually been tested for hemorrhoid symptoms." } ], "patientTakeaway": "Aloe vera has not been tested for treating hemorrhoid symptoms like pain, itching, or bleeding in people who haven't had surgery - that question simply hasn't been answered yet. The only supportive evidence comes from small trials where aloe vera cream was applied to the wound after hemorrhoid surgery, which is a different situation entirely. If you have hemorrhoid symptoms, aloe vera gel probably won't hurt you, but talk to a doctor or pharmacist about treatments that have actually been studied for this problem.", "methodology": { "databases": [ "PubMed", "ClinicalTrials.gov", "Crossref" ], "searchStrings": { "pubmed": "(hemorrhoids[MeSH] OR hemorrhoid*[tiab] OR piles[tiab]) AND (Aloe[MeSH] OR aloe vera[tiab] OR aloe[tiab])" }, "pubmedQueryTranslation": "(\"hemorrhoids\"[MeSH Terms] OR \"hemorrhoid*\"[Title/Abstract] OR \"piles\"[Title/Abstract]) AND (\"aloe\"[MeSH Terms] OR \"aloe vera\"[Title/Abstract] OR \"aloe\"[Title/Abstract])", "searchedOn": "2026-10-05", "inclusion": [ "Human, animal or laboratory studies reporting an outcome relevant to the question" ], "exclusion": [ "Records about a different condition or intervention", "Records reporting no outcome", "Retracted publications, which are listed but excluded from every count" ], "extractionLevel": "abstract", "gradingNote": "Evidence strength is adapted from the GRADE framework. It is not a GRADE assessment and was not produced by a GRADE panel.", "limits": [ "Fields were read from abstracts, not full text, so detail reported only in a paper's methods section is not captured." ] }, "seo": { "title": "Does Aloe Vera Help Hemorrhoids?", "description": "Aloe vera for hemorrhoids: 5 studies found, but none tested it for symptoms directly - only after surgery. See what the evidence really shows." }, "lastChecked": "2026-10-05", "lastChanged": "2026-10-05", "nextCheckDue": "2026-11-05", "history": [], "pipeline": { "screenModel": "claude-haiku-4-5", "extractModel": "claude-sonnet-5", "composeModel": "claude-sonnet-5", "promptVersion": "ev-1", "ranOn": "2026-10-05" }, "status": "published" }