How To Heal Burns Naturally
Author: Jody Kelly
Aloe Vera
Heals burns, scalds, relieves sunburn, treats minor wounds
As a healing plant, aloe is something of a celebrity. Across
America, the spiky plant sits on untold numbers of kitchen
windowsills, just waiting. Waiting for what? A spattered bit of
grease, a careless moment at the oven, and the inner gel of the
aloe leaves gets called into service as a burn salve. Even
scientists take advantage of this simple home remedy.
Most household burns and scalds, and many other minor mishaps,
occur in the kitchen. With an aloe plant close by, it's easy to
snip off one the thick, fleshy leaves, slit it open and squeeze
the clear gel onto the injury. "Aloe gel dries into a natural
bandage, It also promotes healing and helps keep burns from
becoming infected."
Aloe has a long history as a healer. Around 1500 BC, the
ancient Egyptians began using aloe as a powerful laxative and a
treatment for skin problems. When Alexander the Great conquered
Egypt, he learned that an island off Somalia teemed with aloes.
He immediately seized it to guarantee a supply of the wound
treatment for his troops, while keeping the herb from his
enemies. Arab traders carried aloe from Spain to Asia around the
sixth century. Traditional Indian Ayurvedic doctors and Chinese
physicians quickly adopted it as a laxative and skin treatment.
American pioneers used aloe gel to treat wounds, burns,
hemorrhoids and rashes.
Scientific validation of aloe's wound-healing power dates from
the 1930s, when radiologists noticed that aloe gel scooped
straight from the cut leaves of the plant hastened the healing
of x-ray burns. Since then, many studies have confirmed the
herb's ability to promote healing of cuts, frostbite and first-
and second-degree burns.
"Aloe contains allantoin, a substance that speeds wound
healing," says Alan R. Gaby, M.D., a Baltimore physician who
practices nutritional and natural medicine and is president of
the American Holistic Medical Association.
One chemical in this herb — aloe-emodin — "has anti-tumor
activity," according to James A. Duke, Ph.D., a botanist retired
from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and author of The CRC
Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Aloe is not currently used to treat
cancer, but one day it might be. And some derivatives of aloe
are also being studies for both anti-AIDS and anti-cancer
potential.
How To Use Aloe Vera
Before applying aloe to burns of cuts, wash thoroughly with
soap and water. For minor burns, scalds, sunburns or cuts,
select a lower (older) leaf, cut off several inches and slice it
lengthwise. Scoop out the gel, apply it liberally to the
affected area and allow it to dry. (The injured aloe leaf
quickly closes its own wound. Periodic leaf-snipping does not
harm the plant.)
Aloe gel is safe for external use by anyone who does not
develop an allergic reaction. If your skin shows signs of
redness or irritation after using aloe, discontinue use.
Even if you have a brown thumb, you can grow aloes. They need
little water and no care other than good drainage and a
temperature above 40 degrees F. They prefer sun but tolerate
shade, and they don't mind poor soil. Aloes produce offshoots,
which may be removed and replanted when they are a few inches
tall. Simply uproot or un pot the plant, work the soil gently to
separate the offshoot and return the parent plant to its bed or
pot.
About The Author: Hello, My name is Jody Kelly. I live in the
state of Illinois & have been a certified natural health
professional since Dec. 2001. I have studied alternative health
for 25+ years. I'm very interested in Nature & herbs. Through my
herblogy classes, I have learned to formulate my own products
such as herbal skin care for those stubborn rashes, natural body
butters, bath salts, cough syrup, upper respitory oils, massage
oils & many more helpful items for natural health. I have a web
site with many healthy products for you, your home, children &
babies that are non toxic & safe to use. Look for my articles &
free bath salt recipes that you can make yourself for gift for
that special some one on your list. Thank you. Please visit my
website http://www.PureHealthChoices
