You probably know aloe vera as that spiky green plant you reach for when you’ve had too much sun, or when you nick yourself in the kitchen. It’s earned its place as a household staple for soothing burns and healing skin. But what if this everyday remedy had benefits that went more than skin-deep?
Emerging research suggests aloe vera might also play a role in supporting thyroid health. Today, we’ll take a closer look at a fascinating study that points to aloe vera as a potential ally for thyroid function—and why it might deserve a spot in your thyroid-support toolkit.
Aloe barbadensis is a true nutritional powerhouse, packed with over 200 bioactive compounds working in beautiful harmony. We’re talking about 20 essential minerals (including thyroid-loving nutrients like iron, zinc, selenium, and magnesium), 20 amino acids, and a full spectrum of vitamins from A and C to all those crucial B vitamins.
The plant also contains quite a rich supply of polysaccharides, particularly one called acemannan [Source]. These complex carbohydrates are well-known for their anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects.
I’ve long recommended aloe vera for gut repair protocols because it has scientifically-proven benefits for digestive issues like reflux and IBS [Source, Source]. Research also shows that aloe vera enhances gut barrier function and reduces gut permeability—what many of us call “leaky gut.” [Source].
This is highly relevant to your thyroid health as increased gut permeability can be a major driver of autoimmunity.
When your gut lining is compromised, unwanted particles slip into your bloodstream, potentially triggering your immune system to attack your own tissues—including your thyroid.
The accidental aloe discovery
What started as a happy accident turned into fascinating research. Back in 2018, researchers published a study exploring whether daily aloe vera juice could boost thyroid function and tame autoimmune activity—but the story behind this research is what makes it truly compelling.
One of the study authors had been sipping 50ml of aloe vera juice every morning, hoping to improve her skin and digestive health. She happened to have Hashimoto’s disease— so she dutifully kept up with her regular thyroid monitoring.
Imagine her surprise when her routine blood work revealed something unexpected after just 3 months: her thyroid antibodies had dropped, her TSH levels had improved, and her T4 hormone was looking more robust.
Intrigued, she continued her daily aloe routine, and by 9 months, the improvements were even more dramatic:
- TSH dropped from 5.14 to 1.83 mU/L (moving into optimal range!)
- T4 increased from 8.3 to 11.44 pmol/L (great improvement!)
- T3 decreased slightly from 5.22 to 4.78 pmol/L (interesting!)
- TPO antibodies reduced from 1875 to 246 U/ml (great reduction!)
This discovery was too intriguing to ignore, and sparked a clinical trial that would validate her experience first-hand.
Aloe vera for thyroid health
The researchers recruited 30 women with Hashimoto’s disease and early-stage thyroid dysfunction (what we call subclinical hypothyroidism). These women weren’t yet on thyroid medication but had elevated TSH and high thyroid antibodies—classic signs that their thyroid was under attack and starting to struggle.
The protocol was 50ml of aloe vera juice each morning on an empty stomach for 9 months. They tested thyroid function and antibodies at the start, then again at 3 and 9 months.
After 3 months, significant improvements were already visible and by 9 months, the changes were significant:
- TSH had dropped by ~61%
- T4 had increased by ~23%
- TPO antibodies had reduced by ~56%
Now, you might be wondering about T3—the active thyroid hormone that makes us feel energetic and vibrant. Interestingly, T3 levels decreased slightly at 3 months and stayed stable there. But despite this slight reduction, all the women achieved healthy thyroid function by month 9.
The researchers believe this happened because aloe vera helped calm the autoimmune inflammation attacking the thyroid, allowing the gland to produce T4 more efficiently. The slight decrease in T3 suggests aloe might also influence how the body converts T4 to T3, but the overall effect was still positive.
The researchers even noted that aloe vera’s effects were comparable to—if not better than—selenium or selenium combined with myo-inositol, two of the most well-studied natural interventions for thyroid support.
This study had a control group of 15 women with similar thyroid dysfunction, who received no treatment and showed no significant changes in their markers over the same time period.
My thoughts
I love this study! It’s refreshing to see solid evidence for a natural, safe intervention that’s readily accessible with no reported side effects.
Yes, it’s a faily small sample size, and I would have loved to see data on how the women actually felt—their energy levels, brain fog, sleep quality, and other quality-of-life measures.
But when you consider aloe vera’s broader benefits for gut health and its potential to reduce intestinal permeability (thereby preventing immune triggers), it becomes a compelling addition to any thyroid-support protocol.
The gut-thyroid connection is something I see in my practice every day. When we heal the gut, we often see thyroid function improve. Aloe vera offers a beautiful two-pronged approach: directly supporting thyroid function while simultaneously healing the gut barrier that may be fuelling autoimmune activity.
Putting aloe into practice
Ready to give this a try? Here’s how to follow the study protocol: 50ml (just over ¼ cup) per day of a pure aloe vera juice (opt for one without any added sugars or artificial ingredients) on an empty tummy, consistently (months, not weeks).
Aloe does have a slightly bitter taste, so if that bothers you, try adding it to a smoothie instead.
Aloe vera juice is generally regarded as safe, but should be avoided if you have a known allergy to aloe plants.
Make sure you track your progress, and keep a record of how you’re feeling and monitor your thyroid labs over time.
Aloe is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and as always, if you have a medical condition or take medications, check with your health care provider to ensure this is safe and appropriate for you.
Further support
Every person’s thyroid story is unique–if you need personalised support from someone who understands the complexities of thyroid health, book a consultation today and let’s work together to support your body, naturally.
Lauren. 🌿
Study referenced:
Metro D, Cernaro V, Papa M, Benvenga S. Marked improvement of thyroid function and autoimmunity by Aloe barbadensis miller juice in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2018;11:18-25. doi:10.1016/j.jcte.2018.01.003
Should one do this protocol with Grave’s disease?
Hi Janice, no sadly, the research is limited to hypothyroidism, aloe lowers TSH, increases T4, which would not be suitable in Graves.