Burns
A burn is damage to the skin caused by heat, chemicals, or electricity.
Most burns occur at home, and occasionally they require hospitalization.
Varying in depth and size, burns are classified as first, second, or third
degree. Most sunburns, for example, are considered first-degree burns
because they involve only the outer layer of skin, whereas second-degree
burns injure part of the underlying skin layer. Affecting all the skin layers,
third-degree burns cause harm to the muscles, bones, nerves, and blood
vessels below. They are always a medical emergency and require timely
treatment, such as skin grafting, to aid recovery and minimize
scarring.
Burns are commonly caused by scalding water, hot oil or grease, hot foods,
or overexposure to sun. More serious injuries may result from fire, steam,
or chemicals. Electrical burns, usually occurring from contact with faulty
or uninsulated wiring, can be deceptive: Skin damage may be minimal,
but internal injuries can be extensive.
Supplements and herbs
Self-care is most appropriate for first-degree and some small
second-degree burns (more serious burns demand medical attention). To treat,
immerse the burned area in cool water for about 15 minutes (be careful
not to-break any blisters) or apply cool compresses. Once the burn has
cooled, apply aloe vera gel, a dressing soaked in
chamomile tea, or
lavender oil directly to the injured area to relieve pain and inflammation
and soothe the skin. Then, use infection-fighting
calendula cream or
goldenseal cream on any raw areas and cover with a light dressing.
During the healing process, the body needs extra nutrients. These
should be taken for a week or two, until the burn heals. In combination,
the herbs gotu kola (which stimulates the growth of connective tissue in
the skin) and Echinacea, vitamins
A, C, and
E, and the mineral
zinc all
work together to boost the immune response, repair skin and tissues,
and prevent scarring.
Homeopathy
Internal remedies can be taken in the 6, 12 or 30th strength, every 15
minutes initially, cutting back to hourly or less with improvement. Calendula
and Hypericum tincture, used singly or mixed in equal parts, can be
diluted with water in a ratio of approximately 1 to 5 and applied hourly or
more often, as indicated by symptoms.
- Apis
Great swelling, rosy red, sensitive. Intense stinging, burning, prickling.
Skin is burning hot, dry, then may sweat profusely. First degree burn or
small vesicles surrounded by puffy skin. Burns and blisters of tongue.
Worse: heat, least touch, pressure, motion. Better: cold bathing, cool air.
- Arsenicum
Skin burns like fire. Infected blisters with foul discharge or become bloody,
bluish, black. Severe burns, blackened skin, gangrene. Tongue burns.
Burns with oil or grease, dry burns. Anxious, restless, weak, chilliness.
Worse: cold compress, cold drinks, night. Better: warm applications.
- Calendula
Applied as a wash externally, gives immediate relief, prevents blisters.
Prevention of scarring. Chemical burns to eye, scalds to mouth,
ulcers.
- Cantharis
Burns, scalds or sunburn, before or after blisters form, but also for
stages of infection, ulceration or gangrene. Second or third degree burn.
Scalds to mouth, throat. Acid or chemical burn. Chemical burns to eyes.
Rawness, stinging, smarting, burning and itching. Inflamed vesicles.
Worse: touch, scratching, coffee. Better: relieved by cold water, lying, rest.
- Causticum
Severe burns. Burns which are not healing well. Cracks, ulcers, scarring.
General after-effects of burn or scalds; has never been well since a burn.
Old burn scars that cause pain, re-open or bleed. Stiff, contracted flesh.
Burns of the tongue. Ingestion of caustic chemicals. Gangrene after burns.
Worse: dry cold, drafts, evening, motion. Better: warmth, damp weather.
- Hypericum
Burns that become infected. Effect of ultraviolet or radiation damage.
- Rhus tox
Red, swollen, itching, burning vesicles; like hot needles. Tingling.
Skin dark red. Infection, yellow pus-filled blisters. Hard, thickened skin.
Worse: cold air, getting wet, rubbing, scratching, night. Better: hot water.
What else you can do
- Gently cleanse burns daily using mild soap, taking care not to break
any blisters; rinse well. Use sterile gauze dressings to keep burns dry and
protected from dirt and bacteria.
- Drink plenty of fluids while your skin is healing.
- Avoid exposing your burned skin to hot showers or the sun.
How much to take
-
- Aloe vera gel
- Apply gel to affected areas of skin as needed.
Use fresh aloe leaf or store-bought gel.
- Calendula cream
- Apply cream to burns.
Standardized to contain at least 2% calendula.
- Gotu kola
- 200 mg extract or 400-500 mg crude herb twice a day.
Extract standardized to contain 10% asiaticosides.
- Vitamin A
- 25,000 IU a day for no more than 10 days.
Women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy
should not exceed 5,000 IU a day.
- Vitamin C
- 1,000 mg 3 times a day until healed.
Reduce dose if
diarrhea develops.
- Vitamin E
- 400 IU a day until healed.
Creams containing vitamin E are available and may
prevent scarring when applied topically.
- Zinc
- 30 mg a day.
Do not exceed 150mg zinc a day from all sources.
- Chamomile
- Use a strong tea: 2 or 3 tsp dried herb for each cup of hot water. Cool quickly in freezer or with ice cubes.
Apply tea-soaked cloth to burn for about 15 minutes.
- Echinacea
- 200 mg 3 times a day.
Standardized to contain at least 3.5% echinacosides.
For kids
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