BURNS
Most people have heard burns described in terms of “degrees” but they’re not sure what that means. A first-degree burn is the most common type of burn. A sunburn, for example, is a first-degree burn. If you touch something hot or spill boiling water on your wrist you’ll probably get a first-degree burn. This kind of burn will become red and may develop a scab that will eventually flake off. A second-degree burn means that a deeper layer of the skin has been affected. It will redden deeply and blister within a few hours or a day, but will ultimately heal and leave no scar. A third-degree burn is one in which the skin is burned through. It may be charred or may look white and will probably not be immediately painful. A third-degree is an emergency and should be treated immediately by a physician.
You can treat most first- and second-degree burns yourself at home. When should you see a doctor about a burn? When you have a third-degree burn; when a child is burned and the area of the burn is larger than a quarter; when the burn covers a large portion of the body, even if it’s a first-degree burn (with the exception of sunburn, which can be treated at home except in extreme cases); when the burn is extremely painful. You should also consult a doctor if your burn does not heal in a few days or you have blisters that develop dark pus, which could signal infection.
The best first aid for a burn is the simplest: cool water. As soon as possible after the burn, submerge the affected skin in cool (not ice cold) water. (If clothing is in the way, take it off. If necessary, cut the clothing off, particularly if it is saturated with a hot substance like grease. If clothing sticks to the skin, leave it intact and see a doctor.) It’s best to keep the whole burned area under water for a while. This can mean running the tap over a burned hand or wrist or submerging the whole body in a cool bath to treat a burned chest. The cooling effects of water will not only relieve the pain of a burn but will also stop the actual burning of the tissue. I suggest keeping the affected area submerged for a half-hour if possible. If you do need to have a burn treated by a doctor, use a towel or pillowcase that has been soaked in cool water as a dressing until the burn can be treated. If you are going to seek medical treatment for a burn, don’t use anything but cool water-no ointments or lotions-until the doctor has examined the burn.
It’s important to remember never to put that old-fashioned remedy, butter or grease, on a burn. This will only serve to hold in the heat and prolong the pain and increase the damage. In addition, if your burn develops blisters you should never open them; let them heal on their own.
There are over-the-counter creams and gels that are designed to relieve the pain of a burn. There are also natural treatments that can be helpful. You can apply these treatments after you’ve soaked the burn in cool water. (If after soaking, the burn is not extremely painful and is not large, usually the best thing to do is simply keep it dry and clean. In this case a bit of rubbed vitamin E into the burn will prevent scarring.)
Apple cider vinegar splashed on a burn is a favorite remedy, of mine. It helps to soothe the pain. You can simply splash it gently, on a sunburn or minor burn every few hours, or you can saturate a clean cloth with the vinegar and use it as a dressing on the burn for a half hour.
Tea which is a natural treatment available in health food stores, has been shown to be effective in relieving the pain of a burn. Apply it topically.
Aloe vera either squeezed directly from the plant or used in the form of a gel, can be applied to a burn to relieve pain.
If you have been severely burned you will, of course, be under the care of a physician. But you should know that supplements can help promote healing and should be part of your recovery. I suggest you take the supplements listed below to ensure the most rapid possible healing.
NATURAL PRESCRIPTION FOR BURNS
Gently splashing apple cider vinegar on a sunburn or any other type of burn every few hours can help reduce pain
Tea-tree oil, which is available in health food stores, is useful for relieving pain and promoting healing. It’s applied topically.
Aloe vera, squeezed directly from the plaint or used in the form of a gel, can relieve pain.
A vitamin E capsule stuck with a pin and squeezed onto the burn can help the healing process and prevent scarring.
You can use aspirin or NSAIDs to relieve the pain.
TO HELP PROMOTE HEALING FOR ALL BURNS, TAKE, IN ADDITION TO YOUR DAILY SUPPLEMENTS:
Vitamin C: 1,000 mg. daily.
Vitamin E: 400 I.U. daily,
Beta-carotene: 10,000 I.U. daily.
Zinc: 50 mg. daily.
