Burns and scrapes are very common events, especially in households that spend a lot of time outside or households with children. If you cook a lot, or lead an active lifestyle, you may experience moderate to severe burns on the regular!
In these situations, most people tend to reach for cold water, ice, or some kind of over-the-counter burn ointment. Unfortunately, these creams tend to have lots of added icky ingredients that we really don’t want on our skin! Things like fragrance, dyes, and petroleum … a by-product of the gasoline industry. Yuck!
Fortunately, there are some amazing natural remedies available. Even better? You likely already have at least one of these in your cabinet already!
If you are trying to find a more natural way to handle the burns than a conventional ointment, or if you have severe allergies and want to make sure you aren’t making the burn or scrape worse, consider the following herbs that help heal and nourish burns, cuts, scrapes.
Lavender
You may have guess it already, but lavender is my number one choice for all things skin! Lavender can be used in oil, ointment, or lotion form to help soothe burns and scrapes. The natural oils produced by the lavender plant help with inflammation that can occur with burns and scrapes. The oils also work to help with any bacteria and offer an antibacterial barrier to the infected area. When mixed with other oils such as tea tree oil or Vitamin E, it can help to restore the skin and reduce further issues as well as speed healing. Read more about this super versatile herb here, including a brief history and other ways to use it!
Chamomile
While you may only think of Chamomile as a useful herb for calming purposes, those same calming properties can help with burns and scrapes! Think soothing, anti-inflammatory goodness. Chamomile works much in the same way that lavender oil does, helping to alleviate pain, inflammation, and soothe the skin. Learn more about chamomile here.
If you don’t have the essential oil on-hand, you can actually whip up a mug of chamomile tea to help the burn or scrape. You do this by making the tea just as you would for drinking. But be sure to allow the bag to cool down first, and only then press it to the burn or scrape. Be sure to drink the mug of tea while you’re at it for a full calming experience inside and out!
The tea bag works as a helpful delivery agent to cut down on the mess of a poultice. It also ensures no loose particles of the herb get into any open wounds. Check out my all-time favorite chamomile tea here.
Honey
If you are looking for something to use as a base for an ointment or paste that can help with natural healing, then honey is the way to go. The trick to using honey on a burn or scrape is to use organic honey only. You ideally are looking for raw, local honey that comes in a glass jar or container. Bonus points if you can find one with a piece of the honeycomb inside! Then you know it’s the real deal.
Sadly, store-bought, non-organic honey is primarily made from refined sugar and corn syrups. In other words, it’s not the same thing at all. Most non-organic synthetic options will not have any healing properties at all. There is very little regulation on what companies can claim on their honey labels, so use your discretion and make sure you know what you’re buying!
So there you have it! Most of these herbs can be stored in cool dry places and kept for an extended period of time. You can mix them as needed or make ointments and salves ahead of time. If you are using an essential oil form, keep a small bottle with you in your purse or car to ensure you have it when you need it.
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