Hot liquids, fire, radiation, electricity, and the harsh heat of the sun are the most common causes of burns.
When treating burns, urgency is crucial. Do not wait for medical intervention before dealing with the problem. It pays to have first aid knowledge.
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Among others, using the best essential oils for burns can help. Keep on reading and learn from the insights I will share.
The Most Common Types of Burns
To understand the severity of burns and the action needed, you must know the different levels:
- First-Degree Burn: This affects the top layer of the skin and results in minimal damage. Some of the most common signs include redness, swelling, pain, and peeling. Once the cells shed, the burn heals, which will usually take seven to ten days. There is no scarring.
- Second-Degree Burn: It affects the top two layers of the skin and is a more serious condition. Blisters are common and the skin becomes extremely red. It will take one to three weeks to heal.
- Third-Degree Burn: It reaches the fat layer under the skin. It can destroy nerves and will cause numbness. This type of burn is commonly raised and has a leathery texture. It can result in severe scarring without surgery and other interventions.
How to Treat Burns
The first thing that you need to do is to stop the burning immediately. If it is caused by fire, extinguish the flames. For burns that are caused by smoldering or hot objects, remove the material. Once you have time to treat the burn, here are some of the best things to do.
- Use a topical antibiotic in the affected area. They are available over the counter, so it is good to have one ready at home. Make sure to clean and dress the affected area before using an ointment.
- Run cool, not cold, water in the affected area for about 20 minutes. After this, wash with water and mild soap.
- Applying a cold compress of the burned part will also help. This will provide relief from pain and swelling.
- Using aloe vera can also be effective. Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties and can inhibit the growth of bacteria, making it effective for burn wound healing (2).
- Do not apply toothpaste to the burn. This is a common practice that needs to stop. It can irritate the burn and cause serious infection.
- Reduce sun exposure while the wound is healing. The heat of the sun can be harsh and can cause complications.
- If it is painful, take pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Read the label and follow the recommended dosage.
Essential Oils to the Rescue
You can use essential oils for colds, sinus infections, sleep, anxiety, and even weight loss. An addition to the long list of its uses would be for the treatment of burns.
In the early 1900s, a French chemist was working in his lab and he accidentally burned himself. He used lavender oil, and it proved to be effective. This is believed to be the start of long years of studies proving the effectiveness of essential oils in burns.
Applying essential oils can provide immediate pain relief. Many have also antibacterial properties, which will help in the prevention of infection. There are also essential oils for scars, so they can help in treating the aftermath of a burn.
While using essential oils can be effective, however, limit its use only on small burns. If the burn is deep, it is best to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
When to See a Doctor
Most types of burns are manageable at home and there’s no need to see a doctor. However, many instances call for the need to have attention from a medical professional. Here are some of the cases when it is best to seek help from a doctor:
- The burn affects a large part of the body, such as the face, feet, hand, arms, and groin.
- You are having difficulty breathing.
- It looks leathery and has penetrated deep into your skin
- The burn is caused by electricity or chemicals
- It does not heal within two weeks
What are the Best Essential Oils for Burn?
If you are clueless about the essential oil to use, below are the top products that should be on your radar.
Majestic Pure Lavender Essential Oil
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This is the most popular oil that you can use for the treatment of burns. It is also the one used by a French chemist when he accidentally discovered the effectiveness of lavender essential oil in burn treatment.
It is known as an anti-inflammatory, making it effective for the reduction of inflammation or swelling as a result of a burn.
Lavender is also an antibacterial. Applying it to the affected area is an effective way to inhibit the spread of infection.
With the sedative properties of lavender, it is also one of the best essential oils for relaxation. Hence, it can help relax the burn site and provide pain relief.
Nature’s Star Peppermint Essential Oil
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A part of the mint family, peppermint has a long reputation for being effective in topical pain management. It has pain-relieving compounds, which will make it effective when used as an analgesic.
Like other mint essential oils, it delivers a natural cooling effect immediately after application. This will help to soothe the burn. If the burn occurs because of heat, this will make an effective home remedy.
Artizen Juniper Berry Essential Oil
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According to the findings of a 2015 study, juniper berry has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits (3). This is possible because of the presence of a chemical called thujone.
More than minimizing pain, juniper berry is also an effective essential oil for minimizing scarring. Apply it as an aftercare wound treatment.
doTerra Frankincense Essential Oil
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One of the beneficial compounds that you can find in this frankincense essential oil is a-pinene. The latter helps in the management of pain and inflammation, making it an effective choice for natural burn treatment.
Another compound that you will find in this essential oil is a-thujene. It is an antimicrobial, which will help in preventing the infection from spreading outside of the burn.
Using frankincense can also effectively minimize redness and scarring.
Essence Lux Helichrysum Essential Oil
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Like many of the essential oils that are mentioned in this guide, helichrysum will also work. By reducing inflammation.
It also has regenerative compounds, which will improve cellular regeneration. Because of this, it is a great choice to speed up wound healing and in helping scars to fade. This will also help improve blood flow, which is one way by which it helps wounds heal quicker.
Gya Labs Neroli Essential Oil
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Burns can leave unsightly scars, which can be bothersome for some people. If that’s the case, then this neroli essential oil can help. It promotes skin regeneration, making it an effective choice against scarring.
It also reduces peripheral and central sensitivity to pain.
As an anti-inflammatory, it will minimize swelling.
Young Living Peppermint Essential Oil
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This is the second peppermint essential oil that is included in this guide, which shows how effective the latter can be when it comes to burn wound treatment.
When you have a burn, you will feel a hot sensation, and this is when the pain starts manifesting. The use of this peppermint essential oil can help. It can provide an immediate cooling effect to the burn site. This is a great option if you are looking for natural pain management.
When applying this peppermint essential oil, it is best to combine it with coconut. This carrier oil can also have beneficial properties that will help burns to heal quicker.
Rainbow Abby Chamomile Essential Oil
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With this antiseptic, you can clean your wounds and kill bacteria that can harbor infection. This will make a great alternative to the use of water and mild soap in cleaning the burn site.
For centuries, chamomile has also been revered because of its calming and sedative properties. With this, you can use this essential oil in pain management.
Maple Holistics Tea Tree Essential Oil
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Derived from an Australian plant, this tea tree essential oil has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, so it will be effective in the healing of wounds while also preventing the possibility of an infection.
To use this tea tree oil, it is best to combine it with a light carrier oil. This is important in all other carrier oils we have recommended. Dilution is crucial to prevent harsh effects on the skin.
Handcraft Blends Lemongrass Essential Oil
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One of the first things that you need to do when you have a burn is to clean the infected area. While you can do this with soap and water, using this essential oil in its diluted form can also help. It cleans the wound effectively and kills bacteria to prevent infection.
Green Health Rose Geranium Essential Oil
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This rose geranium essential oil will trigger anti-inflammatory responses on the burn site, which makes it a great choice for managing swelling.
It is also a potent antiseptic. You can use this as a wound cleaner, but you should mix it with carrier oils to avoid irritation. This can effectively get rid of the bacteria on the wound site, which also minimizes the spread of infection.
SVA Organics Pine Needle Essential Oil
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Pine might not be as popular as the other essential oils that are included in our list, but it is equally effective when it comes to the treatment of burns.
This pine essential oil contains a compound called pinene. It is effective in the reduction of inflammation.
It also kills pathogens around the burn site. This will prevent the infection from spreading to the healthy parts of your skin.
Using this essential oil also prevents scarring.
Essential Oil Recipes for Burns
To make essential oils more effective when it comes to the treatment of burns, consider the recipes below.
Essential Oil Burn Salve
This is a simple recipe with powerful ingredients that can help speed up the healing of burns and minimize scarring.
- 20 drops of lavender essential oil
- 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 ounces of manuka honey
Mix the ingredients in a glass jar, making sure that they blend well. Apply to the affected area. Spread the salve immediately and wrap it with a gauze.
Sunburn Soaking Blend
If the burn is caused by the excessive heat of the sun, this is a good solution. It combines an effective burn relief with a soothing bath.
- 8 drops of lavender essential oil
- 2 drops of rosemary essential oil
- 2 drops of helichrysum essential oil
- 1 drop of peppermint essential oil
Fill a bathtub with warm water and add the oils listed above. Soak in the bathtub for 15 minutes. Avoid scrubbing the sunburnt part of the skin. Repeat as necessary or until the pain subsides.
Super-Charged Burn Healing Spray
With the extensive combination of the essential oils in this recipe, it will help in keeping the burn site clean and preventing the spread of infection. It can also help the scars to heal quicker.
- 25 drops of frankincense essential oil
- 20 drops of lavender essential oil
- 10 drops of tea tree essential oil
- 10 drops of coriander essential oil
- 5 drops of cedarwood essential oil
- 3 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 3 dropper-full of colloidal silver
- Aloe vera juice
All that you have to do is mix the essential oils, add the colloidal silver, and mix the aloe juice. Give it a quick shake and spray on the affected area.
Conclusion
The best essential oils for burn are must-haves in your first aid kit at home. From pain management to speeding up healing, essential oils can help you effectively deal with burns, specifically those that affect the top or superficial layer of the skin.
So, make sure that you have any of the essential oils mentioned above. The next time you need to treat a burn, these oils will come handy!
Sources:
- https://www.healthline.com/health/burns, Accessed Sep 05 2020
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305417906007029, Accessed Sep 05 2020
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4285653/, Accessed Sep 05 2020
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