Burns

[Gill 05]

What can be used to soothe burns?

[nickmo]

Dab with vinegar - really does work and is antiseptic as well.

Also use an aloe vera gel.

[funkymoped]

please dont take this as 100%, but im almost certain i read somewhere that HONEY is a natural healer.

i do know that it has some very unusual "powers".

i dont think honey ever grows fungal spaws, so it could be the perfect covering for a burn..

if anyone knows any more, i would be interested to know...

[barb1314]

The latest thing to use to heal skin is Manuka Honey.It's quite expensive...about �5-�6 a jar.It's from the purest areas of New Zealand and is excellent to take orally or apply to the skin.Hope that helps

[helliebobs]

Lavendar essential oil really helps too - it reduces scarring.

[clairelb]

Lavender Oil - neat straight onto the burn or diluted in some water and sit with the burn dipped in the water. I agree with Nickmo that aloe vera gel is also very good. I sufferred quite a bad burn on my foot a while back and the hospital applied a gauze which was covered in petrolium jelly (eg vasaline). I always thought this wasn't meant to be good for burns, but this is exactly what it was.

[espresso]

Burnt my arm on hair straighteners 10 days ago... went to Neals Yard and got some calendula antiseptic cream as the burn blister had burst....and also some rosehip seed oil to rub into the skin once the open wound has closed...to be honest i found it best to leave it uncovered as the so-called burn plasters made it alot worse!

It' improved massively and an added bonus is that the rosehip seed oil is good for, err laughter lines ;o)

[Bohne]

I burn myself all the time, and for that reason have an Aloe Vera Plant near the kitchen...

[teag1rl]

Good one Bohne. My mum isn't particulalry clumsy or anything but works as a cook and cooks at home lots too. I got her an aloe vera plant last year and it's best thing ever. Just chop a bit off when needed and put the sap straight on the burn. The gel goes brown but she swears by it.

[fbg40]

As a retired fireman, please don't put anything on a burn other than a lot of cold water. Only let a doctor or a nurse at the hospital use anything else. Anything that you put on could possibly make the burn worse.

[teag1rl]

oh yes fbg40, always,loads of cold water is first thing, sorry if I mislead!

[swamp duck]

Funkymoped I have seen articles in medical journals, that Manuka honey is good (as barb1314 said)

I don't know whether it is good for burns, but I do know a kitchen fitter who uses it on any cuts he gets on his hands and swears by it.

[Fish Kid]

Semen.

[DavidUK]

I always used the holding under cold water method in the past but, although this initially took away the pain, as soon as I removed the burn from the water, the pain seemed worse. Also, blistering and soreness would follow.

But my homoeopath suggested that you should immediately run HOT water over the burn! This is based on the homoeopathy principle of treating like with like.

I was a bit dubious but the next time I got a burn (from a hot pan) I tried it. I held my hand under hot water for several minutes and it worked! As soon as I removed my hand from the hot water the pain had gone and I had no subsequent blistering or soreness.

I know this sounds unlikely but it's true. I know also that, with the usual cold water treatment, this burn had been bad enough to blister.

I wouldn't suggest risking using this method for anything other than minor burns, though, because I don't know if it would work for those!

[funkymoped]

swamp duck.

thank you, was sure i had read about honey but didnt want to advise without being sure.

[Gef]

DavidUK's answer is very interesting but I would like to see some scientific evidence.

As fbg40 says don't put anything on a burn unless advised by a medical professional.

Honey is just sugar, mainly fructose, so can't believe that.

[nickmo]

I recall that honey was used in history as an antiseptic dressing, but burns and scalds need to be treated carefully. A&E depts. let the burn breathe and don't cover them after treating.

Composition of honey: Bees produce an enzyme which splits sucrose (from nectar) into glucose and fructose. A typical analysis of honey therefore is:-

Water 17%
Fructose 39%
Glucose 34%
Sucrose 1%
Dextrin 0.5% (a polysaccharide formed as an intermediate in the splitting of starch to maltose)
Proteins 2%
Wax 1%
Malic, Formic, Citric acids 0.5%
Salts (Calcium, Iron, Phosphates, Magnesium, Iodine) 1%
Resins, Gums, Pigments, Volatile oils, Enzymes, Pollen grains 4%

and got this off a health site which is interesting:

'Several studies have recently shown the unique properties of honey as a natural remedy. Honey has been shown to have special antimicrobial and antibacterial components, which can help prevent infections by inhibiting the growth of certain bacteria.

It is also an antioxidant, especially in the darker honeys and those with higher water content and may help eliminate reactive compounds in our bodies called �free-radicals�. These are believed to contribute to many serious diseases when left unchecked.

It is also a humectant, which means that when honey is exposed to air it draws in and retains moisture. When used in cosmetics it can help hydrate the skin making it feel fresh and ideal for moisturising products. Furthermore it may help in the prevention of scarring by keeping the skin moist and helping in the growth of new tissue.

Research around the world has shown that honey is an effective treatment for serious wounds and burns and the use of honey, as a wound dressing material, an ancient remedy that has now been rediscovered.'

[funkymoped]

get you nickmo. answer 16..

brilliant answer, well studdied, well written.