Difference between revisions of "Treat a Burn Using Honey"
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{{fa}}Medicinal honey is a bit different from the processed, food grade honey you will find on most store shelves, so you should ensure that you have a ready source of ''medical grade Manuka honey'' available before you proceed with the burn treatment recommended in this article. | {{fa}}Medicinal honey is a bit different from the processed, food grade honey you will find on most store shelves, so you should ensure that you have a ready source of ''medical grade Manuka honey'' available before you proceed with the burn treatment recommended in this article. | ||
| − | Honey has been used for hundreds of years to treat burns and other injuries. Honey's antioxidant and antibacterial properties give it healing qualities.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3188068/</ref> When honey is applied to a burn, it keeps the wound moist, allowing for quick healing and minimal scarring. Use honey to treat first-degree burns and small second-degree burns rapidly and naturally.\ | + | Honey has been used for hundreds of years to treat burns and other injuries. Honey's antioxidant and antibacterial properties give it healing qualities.<ref name="rf1">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3188068/</ref> When honey is applied to a burn, it keeps the wound moist, allowing for quick healing and minimal scarring. Use honey to treat first-degree burns and small second-degree burns rapidly and naturally.\ |
[[Category:Stings Bites and Burns]] | [[Category:Stings Bites and Burns]] | ||
[[Category:Home Remedies]] | [[Category:Home Remedies]] | ||
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== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Diagnosing Your Burn=== | ===Diagnosing Your Burn=== | ||
| − | #Recognize a first-degree burn. Burns can happen pretty easily. You can get burned by heat, fire, the sun, electricity, boiling liquids like water, sauces and other foods, and chemicals. A first-degree burn is the least severe, affecting the topmost layers of your skin.<ref>http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/staying-healthy/first-aid/first-aid-burns.html</ref> | + | #Recognize a first-degree burn. Burns can happen pretty easily. You can get burned by heat, fire, the sun, electricity, boiling liquids like water, sauces and other foods, and chemicals. A first-degree burn is the least severe, affecting the topmost layers of your skin.<ref name="rf2">http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/staying-healthy/first-aid/first-aid-burns.html</ref> |
#*A first-degree burn will be red and painful. It turns white when you put pressure on it. | #*A first-degree burn will be red and painful. It turns white when you put pressure on it. | ||
#*This type of burn usually heals within 3-6 days. The skin may peel during healing. There is usually little to no scarring. | #*This type of burn usually heals within 3-6 days. The skin may peel during healing. There is usually little to no scarring. | ||
| − | #Recognize a second-degree burn. A second-degree burn is more severe than a first-degree burn. It affects deeper layers of the skin. It will be red or splotchy, swollen and very painful. There may be blisters. <ref | + | #Recognize a second-degree burn. A second-degree burn is more severe than a first-degree burn. It affects deeper layers of the skin. It will be red or splotchy, swollen and very painful. There may be blisters. <ref name="rf2" /> |
#*This type of burn usually heals within 2-3 weeks. You may have some scarring. | #*This type of burn usually heals within 2-3 weeks. You may have some scarring. | ||
#*If your burn is any larger than about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters), see your doctor immediately. | #*If your burn is any larger than about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters), see your doctor immediately. | ||
| − | #Know what a third-degree burn is like. Third-degree burns are the deepest and most serious burns. They damage all the layers of the skin. The skin may be whitish (charred) or black. <ref | + | #Know what a third-degree burn is like. Third-degree burns are the deepest and most serious burns. They damage all the layers of the skin. The skin may be whitish (charred) or black. <ref name="rf2" /> |
#*Third-degree burns require '''immediate medical attention'''. Do not attempt to treat this type of burn on your own. | #*Third-degree burns require '''immediate medical attention'''. Do not attempt to treat this type of burn on your own. | ||
#*Third-degree burns are not usually painful because the nerves have been damaged. | #*Third-degree burns are not usually painful because the nerves have been damaged. | ||
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===Treating Smaller Burns Immediately=== | ===Treating Smaller Burns Immediately=== | ||
| − | #Run cold water over the burn. Immediately after getting burned, use cold, running water to cool the area to a comfortable level. Do this for at least 5 minutes. <ref | + | #Run cold water over the burn. Immediately after getting burned, use cold, running water to cool the area to a comfortable level. Do this for at least 5 minutes. <ref name="rf2" /> |
| − | #*Second-degree burns should be cooled for at least 15 minutes.<ref>http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02917/Burns.html</ref> | + | #*Second-degree burns should be cooled for at least 15 minutes.<ref name="rf3">http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02917/Burns.html</ref> |
#*Do not apply ice to the burned area. | #*Do not apply ice to the burned area. | ||
#Pour medicinal honey over the burned area. Use medicinal honey to cover the entire burned area and onto the surrounding, undamaged tissue. Don’t skimp on the honey. You want to have a pretty thick layer of honey over the wound. Depending on where the burn is, try to have the honey about ¼ inch thick (about ½ centimeter). | #Pour medicinal honey over the burned area. Use medicinal honey to cover the entire burned area and onto the surrounding, undamaged tissue. Don’t skimp on the honey. You want to have a pretty thick layer of honey over the wound. Depending on where the burn is, try to have the honey about ¼ inch thick (about ½ centimeter). | ||
| − | #*[[Verify the Purity of Honey|Use medicinal honey]] if possible. Examples of medicinal honeys are manuka honey from New Zealand and Medihoney from Germany.<ref> http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02917/Burns.html</ref> | + | #*[[Verify the Purity of Honey|Use medicinal honey]] if possible. Examples of medicinal honeys are manuka honey from New Zealand and Medihoney from Germany.<ref name="rf4"> http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02917/Burns.html</ref> |
| − | #*If you can’t find medicinal honey, a good choice is organic, unfiltered raw honey. Don’t use regular honey from the grocery store.<ref | + | #*If you can’t find medicinal honey, a good choice is organic, unfiltered raw honey. Don’t use regular honey from the grocery store.<ref name="rf3" /> |
| − | #*Avoid using rhododendron-based honey. It can contain toxins known as grayanotoxins and is known as “Mad Honey” because it has been known to cause lightheadedness and hallucinations. <ref>http://modernfarmer.com/2014/09/strange-history-hallucinogenic-mad-honey/</ref> | + | #*Avoid using rhododendron-based honey. It can contain toxins known as grayanotoxins and is known as “Mad Honey” because it has been known to cause lightheadedness and hallucinations. <ref name="rf5">http://modernfarmer.com/2014/09/strange-history-hallucinogenic-mad-honey/</ref> |
#Spread the honey around. Use a thin plastic bag, sandwich bag or wooden ice cream stick to gently spread the honey over the burned area and surrounding skin. | #Spread the honey around. Use a thin plastic bag, sandwich bag or wooden ice cream stick to gently spread the honey over the burned area and surrounding skin. | ||
| − | #Wrap the burned area with dressing. Use a clean, dry gauze bandage or a non-stick dressing like Telfa. Cover the burned area completely with the dressing. Hold it in place with medical adhesive tape.<ref> http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/art-20056649</ref> | + | #Wrap the burned area with dressing. Use a clean, dry gauze bandage or a non-stick dressing like Telfa. Cover the burned area completely with the dressing. Hold it in place with medical adhesive tape.<ref name="rf6"> http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/art-20056649</ref> |
#Get immediate medical attention for major burns. If you have received a large second-degree burn (larger than 1 inch or 2.5 centimeters), or you have a third-degree burn, get medical attention right away. | #Get immediate medical attention for major burns. If you have received a large second-degree burn (larger than 1 inch or 2.5 centimeters), or you have a third-degree burn, get medical attention right away. | ||
#*For second-degree burns, you should still cool the burn with cold, running water for 15 minutes, or until help arrives. | #*For second-degree burns, you should still cool the burn with cold, running water for 15 minutes, or until help arrives. | ||
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===Changing the Dressing=== | ===Changing the Dressing=== | ||
#Wash your hands. Make sure you have clean hands before changing the dressing on your burn. If your hand is burned, ask someone to help you. Have them wash their hands with soap and water first. | #Wash your hands. Make sure you have clean hands before changing the dressing on your burn. If your hand is burned, ask someone to help you. Have them wash their hands with soap and water first. | ||
| − | #Gently remove the dressing. If any loose skin sticks to the dressing, let it pull away from the burned area.<ref>http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/b/burndress/</ref> Studies have shown that honey helps loosen and separate skin more easily and without pain, so this should be relatively easy to do.<ref>http://www.drgrotte.com/honey-medicine.shtml</ref> | + | #Gently remove the dressing. If any loose skin sticks to the dressing, let it pull away from the burned area.<ref name="rf7">http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/b/burndress/</ref> Studies have shown that honey helps loosen and separate skin more easily and without pain, so this should be relatively easy to do.<ref name="rf8">http://www.drgrotte.com/honey-medicine.shtml</ref> |
#*Throw away the old dressing. | #*Throw away the old dressing. | ||
#Check for infection. Examine the burn area and look for signs of infection. This might include: | #Check for infection. Examine the burn area and look for signs of infection. This might include: | ||
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#*If you think you may have a more serious infection (for example, you are running a fever or you see red streaks), contact your healthcare professional immediately. | #*If you think you may have a more serious infection (for example, you are running a fever or you see red streaks), contact your healthcare professional immediately. | ||
#Do not remove tissue from the burn. Removing tissue (loose skin) from the burned area can cause further damage such as scarring. There is no need to remove tissue that remains on the burned area after you’ve removed the dressing. Let your body do the work. The tissue will fall off normally, and the honey will speed up this process. | #Do not remove tissue from the burn. Removing tissue (loose skin) from the burned area can cause further damage such as scarring. There is no need to remove tissue that remains on the burned area after you’ve removed the dressing. Let your body do the work. The tissue will fall off normally, and the honey will speed up this process. | ||
| − | #Don’t wash off any honey. The honey has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. It can prevent infections most of the time.<ref> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3263128/</ref> The honey forms a protective barrier over the area, and removing it will expose the vulnerable tissue. Leave the honey on the injured area. | + | #Don’t wash off any honey. The honey has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. It can prevent infections most of the time.<ref name="rf9"> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3263128/</ref> The honey forms a protective barrier over the area, and removing it will expose the vulnerable tissue. Leave the honey on the injured area. |
#Add more honey to the burned area. Use as much honey as is needed to cover over the burn area. Use enough to make a ¼ inch thick layer (about ½ centimeter). | #Add more honey to the burned area. Use as much honey as is needed to cover over the burn area. Use enough to make a ¼ inch thick layer (about ½ centimeter). | ||
#Apply a fresh dressing. Use gauze or Telfa to cover the burned area completely. Secure with medical adhesive tape. | #Apply a fresh dressing. Use gauze or Telfa to cover the burned area completely. Secure with medical adhesive tape. | ||
