Burns

The vast majority of burns involve minor injuries that are most often treated at home. This section will deal only with these first-degree burns, affecting a limited area of the uppermost layer of skin. Fortunately, serious burns constitute no more than about five per cent of the total. Fifty per cent of the injuries affect the hands, and thirty per cent involve the neck and face Three-quarters of burn incidents are caused either by hot substances (water or oil) or by corrosive materials (such as bleach or caustic soda).

Essential advice

• Cold water is the best emergency treatment for a burn, and should be applied immediately, as it soothes the burning feeling and limits the extent of the bum. You can continue cooling down the burned area for as long as ten minutes, by running cold water over it (the water should be between 8 and 25° C)
• Do not apply oil or any creamy substance, and especially not butter
• Do not apply ice cubes directly to skin
• Do not disinfect the burn with alco­hol or hydrogen peroxide, for both of these will add to the discomfort
• Do not apply any ointment, unless on professional advice
• Do not use an antiseptic that stains the skin, such as Mercurochrome@, as this makes it more difficult to assess the seriousness of the burn, and increases the inflammation
• Do not dress the wound with cotton wool, as once this dries it becomes difficult to remove from the skin

Homeopathy

Apis mellifica, Belladonna, and Rhus toxicodendron

- Four 5c tablets of one or all of these remedies to be sucked slowly two or three times in succession, reducing the frequency as the symptoms improve

Apis mellifica

- Animal origin: the whole bee, steeped in alcohol
- The specific homeopathic remedy for swellings
- Two specific indications: the pain is improved by cold, and made worse by heat

Belladonna

- Vegetable origin: the leaves and fresh flowers of the deadly nightshade plant
- The homeopathic remedy for red, swollen blotches
- A characteristic indication: the sudden, violent onset of the symptoms

Rhus toxicodendron

- Vegetable origin: the sumach or poison ivy
- The specific homeopathic remedy for blisters or vesicles

The name 'Belladonna' (beautiful woman) comes from the historical use of the plant by Italian women to dilate their pupils, making them more attractive.

• You could also try Traumeel@ (Heel), which includes Belladonna D4, Calendula D2, Arnica D2
  - Available in drops, tablets and ointment
  - Drops: in general, 10 drops 3 times daily. Tablets: 1 tablet to be dissolved under the tongue 3 times daily

Herbal remedies

Calendula and tepezcohuite

Possible Prescription: You can apply compresses soaked in boiled water with ten drops of mother tincture of calendula (marigold), three or four times daily, to the burn.

Calendula (marigold)/tepezcohuite

The common marigold is considered to be one of the best plants for healing Tepezcohuite, a Mexican plant related to mimosa, has been widely used to reat burns since the days of the layans.

• You could also try Calendula-Salbeeel S, which includes tincture of calendula:
  - Sold in 50g tubes of ointment To be applied once or twice daily
• If you have nothing else to hand, you can apply slices of raw potato or cumber to the burned area, to cool and moisten it

Plant essential oils

Lavender

Possible Prescription: A few drops of a blend of five drops of essential oil of lavender and 10ml of St John's wort oil, to be applied directly to the burn two or three times in succession, at intervals of a few minutes. Then reapply twice daily for two or three days.

Lavender

This plant scents, soothes, cleans, disinfects, stimulates, and regulates all thanks largely to the essential oil contained within it

St. John's wort

Although this plant is currently sought after for its effects on mood (depression), it has traditionally been used for its benefits to the skin.