An article in the January/February issue of General Dentistry suggests that aloe vera accelerates healing and reduces pain associated with canker sores, blisters on the lips or mouth.
Author Richard L. Wynn discusses a study done on a patient with lichen planus, a disease affecting the skin and oral mucus membranes. The patient drank 2.0 ounces of aloe vera juice daily and topical applied aloe vera lip balm. The oral lesions cleared up in four weeks and complete success was achieved.
"Aloe vera can be taken both as the aloe vera juice and aloe vera gel. These are the two modes of delivery recognized by the FDA," said Dr Wynn.
The herbal extract, more commonly used in cosmetics, is increasingly being added to foods, including yoghurts and drinks.