Critical Care
Many second-degree burns and ALL third-degree burns require immediate medical attention. You must call your hospital and arrange ambulance pickup for a third-degree burn victim. There is very little you can do to remedy the situation, other than preventing additional burning from occurring. Do not remove clothing that is stuck to the burn and do not apply ice. You may lightly wash the exposed burn, if possible and if you feel confident in doing so, but do not apply any ointments, liquids, or other topical applications. It is best to leave treatment to a medical aide. The victim will be taken to a burn unit at the hospital where acute care is given.
For electrical burns, mouth, hand, or genital burns, burns that completely encircle an arm or leg, or burns that cover 10% or more of the body, seek immediate medical attention and notify your hospital.
85% of burns are first or second-degree and can be treated at home using a variety of remedies listed below. However, if your burned skin turns white, oozing or redness persists for more than twenty four hours, pain increases, or the burn does not heal in ten to fourteen days, seek medical attention.
Aromatherapy
Place a few drops of lavender oil directly on the burn. The oil has powerful antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. When applied topically to the skin, lavender encourages the wound cells to regenerate and heal more quickly. And by speeding up the keratinization cells, lavender helps prevent the formation of unsightly scars.
For larger burns, a lukewarm aromatherapy bath will help minimize stinging and reduce sunurn pain. Add six drops chamomile or lavender oil to the bath and soak for thirty minutes or more. Use a cup to pour water over any part of the body that is not submerged in the bath. Pat dry.
Food Supplements
Essential fatty acids (EFA's) promote tissue healing. Flaxseed/linseed oil, borage oil, pumpkin seed oil, hemp seed oil, evening primrose oil, fish, eggs, and walnuts are all sources of EFA's. The oils may be the most ideal. Take one tablespoon daily on yogurt, rice and/or bean dishes, salads, and vegetables. If using flaxseed oil capsules, take 2 to 3 capsules daily, in the morning. If using evening primrose oil capsules take 1 500mg capsule daily, in the morning.
Foods
Cucumber is often used to soothe burns. Slice and gently wipe it on the affected area.
Raw honey, which is very crystalline, has antiseptic properties and can be very soothing to a burn. Note that this form of honey differs from the more common liquid form. Raw honey is available at most health food stores.
The fat content of milk soothes burned skin. Dip a sterile cotton gauze in whole milk and apply to the burn for twenty minutes. Repeat every two to four hours. Be sure to wash the skin to avoid a sour smell.
If recovering from a second or third-degree burn, eat large quantities of protein to promote tissue repair and healing. Protein is found in animal and soy products, as well as brown rice, oatmeal, and legumes.
Herbs
Aloe vera helps soothe burned skin. It relieves discomfort, speeds healing, and moisturizes dried skin. Apply a thin layer of aloe gel and reapply every hour until the pain subsides. Use pulp taken from the inside of a fresh plant for the best results. If using a commercial preparation, ensure it is free of alcohol, colourants, mineral oil, and paraffin wax.
Prepare a salve of Calendula flowers and St. Johns Wort to treat badly burned areas. The preparation has antiseptic properties, reduces pain, and promotes wound healing.
A lukewarm chamomile bath will help minimize stinging and reduce pain in the same manner as the aromatherapy bath described above. Add six cups chamomile tea to the bath and soak for thirty minutes or more. Use a cup to pour water over any part of the body that is not submerged in the bath. Pat dry.
Make a strong infusion of comfrey tea in a large pot and allow to cool. Place a sterile cotton gauze in the tea to prepare a compress and apply to the burn. Leave for up to thirty minutes. NOTE: The internal consumption of comfrey is not recommended and may be prohibited by law.
Prepare gotu kola in the same manner as comfrey, above.
Homeopathy
Certain remedies can be used in acute situations if your symptoms fit the symptom picture of the remedy. For dosages, see the dedicated section on Homeopathy. Consult your homeopath or naturopath to determine your constitutional remedy: the remedy that best fits you as a whole person. Your homeopath or naturopath will take a complete case history considering all of your mental and physical ailments and match these symptoms with the symptom picture of the remedy.
Apis: Skin is red or pinkish-red. Burnt area is slightly swollen. Symptoms improve with cold applications. NOTE: Apis is derived from an animal and may not be suitable or appropriate if you are vegetarian or vegan.
Calendula: Add 20 drops tincture to 4 oz./ 120mL water and bathe the skin four to six times daily until the burn begins to heal.
Cantharis: Burnt area is covered by large blisters. Burning pain.
Rhus tox.: Skin is red and very itchy and the burnt area is covered by little blisters. Symptoms made better with heat.
Urtica: Can be used in the same manner as Calendula, above.
Lifestyle (Acute)
Do not rub butter, oil, or think ointments on burns. They merely trap heat and cause additional pain.
Do not use ice or ice water on the burn, which can cause further damage. Ice water should be used in only very specific cases (see Miscellaneous, below).
Place the burn under cold water until the pain is reduced. Follow this with running cool water over the burn until the pain is almost gone. Finish with an aloe vera application (see Herbs, above).
Leave blisters alone as they act as a protective cover for the healing skin underneath. Breaking a blister may lead to infection. If infection occurs, consult with your naturopath or other health practitioner. Indications include increased swelling or redness, oozing, or smell.
Wrap the burn in a clean, dry, sterile dressing such as a thick gauze pad.
Avoid sun exposure while your burn is healing, which will only worsen the burn.
Lifestyle (Prevention)
Take care when handling any hot equipment or tools to prevent burns from occurring.
Turn off any hot appliance when not in use to prevent burns from occurring.
Do not leave children unattended in the presence of hot appliances. Most burn incidents involve children.
Minerals
Zinc helps form collagen in the body and decreases healing time of external burns and wounds. Take 15mg daily.
Miscellaneous
Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and prevent your body from drying out. Once the burn begins to heal, apply a moisturizing cream or lotion to return moisture to dry skin.
An oatmeal bath is a traditional remedy used to heal large burns. Add 1 1/2oz./45g ground oatmeal to a tub of lukewarm water. Soak for fifteen minutes. Use a cup to pour water over any part of the body that is not submerged in the bath. Pat dry.
A baking soda bath helps soothe pain. Add one cup baking soda to a tub of lukewarm water and soak for thirty minutes to one hour. Use a cup to pour water over any part of the body that is not submerged in the bath. Pat dry.
Dip a soft cloth in cold water and apply to the burn for twenty minutes to relieve pain.
Hot tar, wax, and melted plastic can be removed from the skin by applying ice water to harden the heated substance. These are the only cases in which an ice preparation should be used in a burn incidence. In general, ice should not be used on a burn.
Vitamins
Vitamin A promotes tissue repair. Take 10,000 to 25,000 IU daily.
Vitamin C also promotes tissue repair. Take 1,000 to 10,000mg daily. Start at the lower dosage and increase up to bowel tolerance.
Vitamin E cream helps soothe burned skin, promotes tissue repair, and prevents scarring. Apply externally, in tocopherol form, as needed once the burn has cooled and begun to heal. Break open a vitamin E capsule and rub lightly on the burn. Also, take 400 to 800 IU daily.
