How do you treat burns with herbal remedies

Skin Care article posted on Feb 13, 2009 by Joséphine Beck, Digestive Care Advisor & Optiderma Founding member

Herbs are great to treat a minor burn. Treatment with herbs has a long history and has been used for medicinal purposes for ages. Calendula, comfrey root, goldenseal, and tea tree are one of the most effective herbal remedies for burned skin. Find out how to treat a burn using these amazing herbs.

Treating a burn with calendula: anti-inflammatory and antibacterial
Treating a burn with comfrey root: regeneration of cells
Treating a burn with goldenseal: topical antibiotic
Treating a burn with tea tree oil: tissue healing
What about aloe vera?
Useful links

Treating a burn with calendula: anti-inflammatory and antibacterial

Calendula to treat burns Also called marigold, calendula is a common ingredient in skin medications. This plant contains flavonoids, which are antioxidants that protect the body against free radicals that damage the cells. Researchers are still not sure what active ingredients in calendula are responsible for its healing properties.

Calendula has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects and has been proved to speed healing of burns. It may be because it increases blood flow to the burned area.

How to treat burns with calendula?

Use a gel or ointment and apply it topically several times a day.

Treating a burn with comfrey root: regeneration of cells

Comfrey to treat burns Comfrey promotes the growth of new cells since it contains what is called allantoin. Because comfrey is a cooling herb, people have good success using comfrey poultices for healing burns. This herb draws out the heat, and regenerate damaged cells.

How to heal a burn with comfrey root?

Make a poultice: blend the plant with water to make a herbal bandage (1 tea spoon of powdered comfrey in 8 oz of water).

Before treating your burn with comfrey root, learn how to make a herb poultice

Treating a burn with goldenseal: topical antibiotic

Goldenseal to treat a burn Goldenseal is used as a topical antibiotic. Originally used by Native Americans for skin disorders and other health complaints, it has gained in popularity and has been used for wound healing and many other kinds of infection. Goldenseal contains berberine that possesses strong activity against a wide variety of bacteria and fungi. This plant has a soothing effect on inflamed skin.

How to treat burned skin with goldenseal?

Apply a cream, ointment, or powder on burn several times a day. Cautious: goldenseal should not be taken by pregnant women or by people with high blood pressure.

To know more about Goldenseal: Goldenseal (Healing People Network)

Treating a burn with tea tree oil: tissue healing

Tea tree oil to heal burns Tea tree oil is the essential oil from the leaves of the Australian Melaleuca alternifolia tree. It has strong antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Tea Tree promotes tissue healing and help soothe burned skin.

How do you treat minor burns with tea tree oil?

Dilute this essential oil with water and apply externally to burned skin 2 - 3 times a day. Tea tree oil can also be found in a cream combined with calendula flowers extract. It is safe for children. Don't use on infected burns.

What about aloe vera?

Aloe Vera to treat burns Studies have shown that Aloe Vera helps new skin cells form and speeds healing. Because Aloe Vera has a cooling effect, this plant offers relief from minor burns. However, cases have been reported of serious secondary infection related to the use of Aloe and its capacity to regenerate skin quickly sealing in emerging bacterial infection...

Read the article Can aloe vera gel heal burns? to know more about it.

Note: For external treatments, make sure to clean the wound at least once a day before applying any herbal treatment. It is advisable to take herbal remedies under the guidance of a knowledgeable health professional.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purpose only. Because burned skin can have serious consequences depending on the degree of severity, please consult a practitioner. For third-degree burns, do not try to treat the injury, as it requires immediate professional treatment.

Useful links

More natural remedies to heal a burn: how to treat burns with other remedies
Herbs used to treat skin conditions: herbal remedies for skin
Effect of Calendula officinalis Flower Extract on Acute Phase Proteins, Antioxidant Defense Mechanism and Granuloma Formation During Thermal Burns (Journal of Biochemistry and Nutrition)