Herbal Salve and Tea for Burns


Burns are common skin wounds that can range from slightly irritating, to deep 3rd degree burns that penetrate to the subcutaneous tissue.  Minor burns can be caused by the sun or radiation therapy, scalding liquids or steam, fire, chemicals (ex. acids, alkalis, hair dyes, petroleum products, fabric detergents), or electricity.

The skin consists of three layers, the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis.  The severity of the burn is determined by the conductivity of the skin, the duration of contact, and temperature of the source.  The injury leads to the body’s immune system releasing cytokines that induce both local and systemic inflammation.  A superficial burn affects only the epidermis and is characterized by pain, erythema without blisters, capillary refill with pressure.  Second degree burns enter the dermis, either partially or completely and characteristically have blisters.  Third degree burns penetrate all the way down to the hypodermis, sometimes going to the muscle or bone.

There are many nutrients to repair skin, namely omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, lysine, zinc, b vitamins (especially biotin and niacin).  Deficiencies of any of these nutrients can lead to poor wound healing and skin repair.  Ensuring adequate intake of these nutrients will support the injured through the regeneration process.

 

A Salve and a Tea 

These herbal preparations are ideal for minor, first degree burns.  A salve is too heavy of an application to use on deep wounds or extensive burns because the salve will lock in the heat and perhaps even the bacteria, creating an anaerobic environment where an infection can be created.

The external herbal preparation moisturizes the skin, promotes connective tissue healing, and tightens the skin.  The herbs are also anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, to combat any potential infections and to aid in the healing and regrowth processes.  The tea is a nutritive tea that supports the growth of epithelial tissue and is high in vitamins and minerals to address any nutrient deficiencies.

A salve was chosen as an external application because of the healing properties of the fats, because it adds a protective layer to the skin, and because of the skin-healing properties of the herbs.  The salve will extract lipid-soluble constituents, such as lipids, resins, waxes, essential oils, and oleoresins (an oil and resin compound found in the Zingiberaceae family).  Other constituents that are also partially extracted in oil include alkaloids, flavonoids, and mucilage.

To support the topical condition internally, many of the same ingredients are used as a tea. Since water extracts tannins, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, alkaloid salts, and polysaccharides, it is going to extract out different constituents than the oil-based salve.  A cold infusion of the tea will extract out the nutrients in the nettle better to support connective tissue repair.  The combination of the salve and tea will provide the full constituent profile of the herbs to promote speedy healing for a burn wound.

 

Minor Burn Healing Salve

This salve is great for a sunburn or a minor kitchen burn!

 Equipment: herbal infused oil, beeswax, double boiler, container, labels, vitamin E, essential oils, frozen spoon, scale

  • 3/4 cup almond oil
  • 3 tbsp calendula flower (Calendula officinalis)
  • 2 tbsp gotu kola leaf (Centella asiatica)
  • 1 tbsp plantain leaf (Plantago major)
  • 1 tbsp comfrey leaf (Symphytum officinalis)
  • 20g shea butter
  • 20g beeswax
  • 40 drops lavender flower essential oils (Lavandula angustifolia)
  • 400IU vitamin E

Directions: Infuse herbs in the almond oil in a double broiler for 2 hours.  Strain the herbs out through a cheesecloth.  Add the oil back to a measuring cup/double broiler and add in the shea butter and beeswax until they melt.  Once all fats are melted, take a frozen spoon and dip into mixture to test consistency.  Adjust as necessary to obtain desired consistency.  Stir to mix and pour into a sterile container, stirring frequently while adding the essential oil and vitamin E.  Keep cap on as the mixture cools then remove any condensation once completely cooled.  Label and date your container.

Dosing: The salve should be applied at night before bed so that it can sink into the skin all night, without being washed off or rubbed away by day-to-day activities.  Ideally the salve would also be applied 2-3 times throughout the day in order to protect the burn site and keep the area saturated with the active constituents to optimize their healing actions.

 

Minor Burn Healing Tea 

Equipment:  herbs, strainer, water

  • 3 parts Nettle leaf (Uritca dioica)
  • 2 parts calendula flower (Calendula officinalis)
  • 2 parts gotu kola leaf (Centella asiatica)
  • 1 part plantain leaf (Plantago major)

Directions: Add 3tbsp herbs to 24 oz of filtered water in a glass jar.  Cover and let steep overnight, strain, and enjoy throughout the day.

Dosing: 8oz of the tea should be consumed 3 times a day until the burn site heals.

 

Herbal Formulation Information

Shea butter, beeswax, and almond oil were chosen for their soothing properties.  The shea butter is very emollient and often used to treat cracked/chapped skin.  It is very soft so it makes the salve lighter in consistency. Both beeswax and shea butter are antimicrobial to protect against any skin infections.  Almond oil was chosen because it is great for all skin types and is emollient so it will soften, soothe, and re-condition the skin.  Vitamin E was added for its preservative and wound healing properties.

 

Calendula flowers (Calendula officinalis, in the Asteraceae family) promote the growth of epithelial tissue and the healing of irritated, diseased tissue.  It has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and astringent properties.  It supports normal connective tissue growth and repair.  It is well known for it’s supportive role in healing wounds and skin conditions so it was chosen as the lead herb in the salve.

 

Gotu kola leaf (Centella asiatica, in the Apiaceae family) was chosen for both the salve and tea in order to accelerate the healing time for the wounds around the nails.  It normalizes the metabolism of connective tissue and enhances connective tissue growth by stimulating glycosaminoglycan synthesis.  It also promotes fibroblast proliferation and increases the synthesis of collagen and intracellular fibronectin content.  It also improves of the tensile strength of newly formed skin.

 

Comfrey leaf (Symphytum officinalis, in the Boraginaceae family) was chosen for the salve recipe because of it’s known vulnerary, cooling and moistening properties.  It is commonly used for burns to speed the healing time.  It is demulcent, anti-inflammatory, and mildly analgesic.  Comfrey contains allantoin, an active constituent that promotes cellular growth and reduces inflammation.  Allantoin is a very powerful constituent and should not initially be used on deep wounds because it will heal the top layers of skin first, potentially trapping bacteria inside the wound.

 

Stinging nettle leaf (Urtica dioica, in the Urticaceae family) is nutritive, high in minerals like calcium, magnesium potassium and iron.  It is an alterative, alkalizing tonic.  It is used as the lead herb in the tea formula for its flavor and nutrients.

 

Plantain leaf (Plantago major, in the Plantaginaceae family) is nutritious (abundant in minerals), mucilaginous and cooling.  It is also a vulnerary herb, antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. Therefore it makes for a great herb to support wound repair both internally and externally.

 

Lavender flower essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia, Lamiaceae family) is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.  The essential oil is used in the salve for it’s antimicrobial properties and for it’s calming aroma.

 

Resources

Bylka, W., Znajdek-Awiżeń, P., Studzińska-Sroka, E., & Brzezińska, M. (2013). Centella asiatica in cosmetology. Advances in Dermatology and Allergology, 30(1), 46-49. Retrieved December 3, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3834700/

Florin, T., & Ludwig, S. (2011). Nutritional Deficiencies. In Netter’s Pediatrics Book and Online Access. (Vol. 16, pp. 97-101). W B Saunders

Minor Burns. (2014, April 29). Retrieved December 3, 2014, from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.buproxy.bastyr.edu:2048/dynamed/detail?vid=2&sid=88df9258-d1fe-4ff0-85da-70bd555b1585@sessionmgr110&hid=115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZHluYW1lZC1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU=#db=dme&AN=901428

Tilgner, Sharol. Herbal Medicine: From the Heart of the Earth (2nd ed.). Creswell, OR: Malloy Lithographing, 2009.

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