Key to Being…

• Types of Burns
  • First-degree: only surface skin involved, accompanied by some pain.  Color: light to medium red
  • Second-degree: deeper skin layers involved, along with swelling, more pain and blisters.  Color: darker red
  • Third-degree: all skin layers destroyed, also nervous sensation, though surrounding tissue is in pain.  Color: white or charred
  • Warning: If you have third-degree or second-degree burn on your face, hand, feet, genitals or anywhere else larger in size than the palm of your hand – see a doctor right away.  Do not try to self-treat or use the remedies below.  Elevate burned area while waiting for help.
  • If you have a first degree or small second degree burn (smaller than the palm of your hand), apply a cold compress to area immediately for 10 minutes or until pain lessens. Do not apply ice directly as that can damage the skin.  Alternately you can immerse the body part burned in ice water.
• Remedies
  • Aloe Vera, native to Africa, is by far one of my favorite remedies. I grow it on my porch for accidental burns. Aloe vera also stimulates cellular metabolism and helps skin renew itself. The gel inside reduces inflammation, eases pain and speeds healing.
    Cut the stalk at the base and slit it horizontally to expose the gelatinous core. Cut a large piece of the thickest and juiciest part of the stalk and put it directly on the burn, covering it entirely. The most potent aloe juice is at the bottom of the stalk.  Cover the piece with gauze and tape to keep it in place. Leave it on overnight, changing it a couple times throughout the day.
    Refrigerate the rest of the aloe, and use it the next day for a fresh compress. Repeat until the skin is healed.  The nice thing is you can also add it to salads as it is rich in vitamins, enzymes, amino acids and minerals.
  • Apple cider vinegar helps balance the skin’s pH (acid/alkaline balance). Get an organic, unfiltered brand that has been wood-aged. Soak a cotton ball or gauze and apply to burn.  Freshen with a new compress if needed and keep until pain lessens.  Vinegar should only be applied to first degree burns.
    After the application, use the aloe vera or lavender oil remedy listed on this page to speed healing.  Also, check out these other marvelous medicinal uses of vinegar as well as some practical home uses for vinegar!
  • Yogurt helps counteract hot and spicy foods by re-establishing the acid/alkaline balance. It works the same way for burned skin. Get plain, natural, full-fat yogurt with live cultures (preferably organic). Wrap it in a few layers of cheesecloth or a thin 100% cotton towel and place on burn. Replace with fresh yogurt as it warms on the skin. Repeat until the skin is cooled and calmed.
    Alternately, you can just spread the yogurt on the entire body or affected area, and then rinse off in a cool shower.
  • Lavender oil became popular as medicine in the middle ages and is famous for being a relaxing herb.  It soothes the skin and is one of two essential oils that can be applied undiluted to the skin (tea tree is the other). Lavender promotes healing of the skin, calms the nerves and eases the pain of the burn.  Check out the many other amazing healing properties of lavender, including depression, anxiety and insomnia.
    If the burn is a large area, lavender essential oil can be combined with a carrier oil, like sweet almond, castor, coconut, olive or sesame. Don’t apply oil to a fresh burn as that will make it burn more. Depending on the severity, wait a couple hours to a day before applying.
  • Calendula is a versatile and popular herb in Western herbal medicine with bright orange petals.  Its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and cooling properties are great for inflamed skin and burns, speeding up repair of the skin and helping prevent spread of infection.  Like aloe, it’s contained in many over-the-counter burn products.   To use, steep 1 heaping tablespoon of herbs in 1 cup of water.   Let stand about 10 minutes, strain and when it cools soak a clean cotton cloth or piece of gauze in it and apply to affected area.

References
- “The Herbal Drugstore” Linda B. White, M.D., Steven Foster, and the Staff of Herbs for Health, 2000
- “Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine”, Andrew Chevallier, FNIMH
- Folk Remedies For You
- Botanical.com