Aloe vera is a natural alternative that I’ve been using for a long time now to help heal both gastritis and ulcers caused by an h. pylori infection that drastically changed my life, and it’s something I always recommend to others who have similar digestive damage. Unfortunately, we live in a time where more people have digestive issues than not. There are many other temporary or even permanent gut problems that people are regularly being diagnosed with; leaky gut syndrome, IBS, ulcerative colitis, etc. Though a lot of factors go into it, a huge part of it always comes back to food. Majority of these issues can be healed or managed by a changed diet and the strategic addition of natural healing foods and supplements.

How Aloe Vera Heals The Stomach:

Aloe vera aids in healing internal organs, like the stomach or intestines, much like it does burns on external skin. It helps heal the irritated lining and ulcers in two main ways:

1. Its actual physical gel-like consistency. Aloe vera coats the stomach lining and sores, helping protect from stomach acids and soothing irritation.
2. Its nutritional makeup. Aloe vera is made up of water for the large part, but it’s also packed with many vitamins and key minerals such as magnesium, zinc, calcium, and potassium. But most importantly, it has both anti-inflammatory and acid-reducing properties that help heal gastritis and similar flare-ups.

There have been many research studies conducted that link the use of aloe to the improvement of gut disorders. One study in particular showed that the use of aloe vera reduced the size and aided the healing of gastric ulcers in mice (ResearchGate). Similar conclusions have been reached in many other studies. In addition to tackling stomach-specific issues, aloe vera can help ease intestinal problems (leaky gut, IBS, UC) with the same healing properties.

Potential side effect:

One important thing to note is that aloe does have a laxative effect if used too often or in large quantities. So, if you have a sensitive tummy or have flare-ups often, try to slowly introduce aloe vera in small quantities and take a cautious approach to prevent a negative reaction.

How Much To Consume And When:

When I was in the worst stages of my h. pylori infection, I consumed about 2 tablespoons in water everyday for 1-2 week periods, taking breaks in between. Now, I only incorporate aloe vera whenever I have a gastritis flare up. I typically make the recipe below and drink about 4 oz. every day for a week.

Aloe vera is most effective on an empty stomach so that it can better coat the lining or sores. It’s best to drink it in the morning at least 30 minutes to an hour before breakfast, in between meals, or at night 2-3 hours after your last meal (the latter is my preferred method).

Also, I’d highly recommend buying the aloe vera leaf and extracting the gel yourself instead of buying a processed drink that likely has additives or citric irritants. Since aloe is slightly bitter and slimy, this quick recipe makes it more palatable and encourages frequent consumption.

In this recipe I use chamomile tea which is known to calm and soothe the stomach and digestive system. I also threw in some chia seeds to add to the gel-like texture, which consequently provides a good kick of omega-3’s and fiber (#win). You can also include some raw honey for sweetness, but I prefer to keep it unsweetened as sugar does increase acidity in the stomach and the goal is to keep this drink as neutral as possible.

It’s such an easy thing to include in you routine to improve your digestive health, give it a go!

Yield: Approx. 24 oz. (3 cups)

Ingredients:

1 aloe vera leaf

2 cups room temp. water

1 cup hot water

1 chamomile tea bag

1 herbal flavored tea bag of choice (not something acidic like a strong fruit flavor)

1 tbsp. chia seeds

(Optional):

1 tsp. raw honey

Several pieces of sliced cucumbers and other fruit (I used pineapple. Don’t squeeze lemon or anything citric.)

Other Stuff You’ll Need:

Blender

Glass bottle or jar for storage

Directions:

1. Steep both tea bags in the hot water and set aside to cool.
2. Extract the gel from the aloe vera leaf. One leaf should give you about 1 cup of gel.
3. Pour the gel, cooled tea, water, chia seeds, and optional honey in the blender. Blend until no large pieces of aloe are left (about 5-10 seconds)
4. Pour the drink in a glass bottle, throw in the pieces of fruit, and store in the fridge. Enjoy when cooled!

Tips:

• When aloe is blended it can get foamy. Don’t be alarmed, it will go away.

• Drink about 4-6 ounces, or about half a cup a day. This is enough to gain the benefits without negative side effects.

• I mentioned this above, but you want to avoid acidity since the goal with this drink is to soothe and heal the stomach. I used a peach tea bag for some added flavor and only lightly steeped it so it wouldn’t be irritating. The pieces of fruit only slightly flavor the water. As long as you don’t squeeze or blend the fruit into it, you should be fine.
• Keep this stored in the fridge and drink it over the course of about 5-6 days. Aloe vera does tend to get more bitter with time, so I would avoid consuming after about a week.
• Don’t use caffeinated tea because it’s harsh on the stomach.
• Shake each time before you pour, because the chia seeds and the aloe tend to settle at the bottom.