How I’ve Healed my Burnt Skin
In this article, I will share my experience with a serious burn and the herbal remedies I used to support my skin's self-healing process, including Ayurvedic tips. It is important to note that I am not a dermatologist and this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider before trying any remedies.
Ayurveda is an ancient healing system that aims to balance the body, mind, and spirit for overall health and well-being. One of its many benefits is the ability to support burnt skin.
After burning my entire right upper thigh, knee, and part of my foot with boiling water on the 23rd of December 2022, I turned to Ayurveda and herbal remedies for help.
The first thing I did was pour 100% high-quality lavender essential oil on my burnt skin. This may seem counterintuitive, but an aromatherapist had taught me years ago that lavender essential oil can help with burns. From an Ayurvedic perspective, lavender has cold, dry, and astringent properties that balance the heavier Kapha and fiery Pitta doshas, making it excellent for treating burns.
Scientific studies have also shown the benefits of lavender oil for burnt skin. In a 2016 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, researchers found that lavender oil reduced inflammation and promoted tissue regeneration in rats with second-degree burns. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing found that lavender oil reduced pain and anxiety levels in patients with burns and improved their overall mood. In a 2017 study, researchers found that lavender oil improved wound healing and reduced inflammation in rats with burn injuries.
When I burnt my skin, I was in such shock that I immediately took Bachblueten rescue remedy drops. The severity of the burn required me to be taken to the emergency ambulance, where doctors and nurses promptly put me on intravenous pain medication. Despite fainting from the medication, I felt well taken care of. After a while, a plastic surgeon arrived and recommended that I stay in the hospital for observation, but I assured her that I had many helping hands at home. She classified my skin as 2a and 2b burn, and my leg was treated with a thick layer of cortisol creme and a bandage.
The next day, I had to visit the plastic surgery department for another assessment, and for changing the bandage. That time, the bandage was a self-sticking silver foam that was put on my skin to avoid surgery, and I was instructed to rest and stay still. I spent three weeks in bed, and I'm grateful for the care my close family provided during that time.
As part of my treatment, I visited the hospital every week for a bandage change. I could not do anything, and my body did most of the healing work on its own, but Ayurveda helped tremendously. The doctors were amazed at how fast my skin was healing compared to their other patients. As a result, I wanted to summarize the methods that have worked for me personally.
During the bandage-wearing phase, I applied lavender essential oil around the bandages daily to aid my skin recovery. The doctors recommended pain medication, which I took for a few days before stopping due to stomach discomfort. Surprisingly, I did not feel much pain in my leg, possibly due to the shock making me disassociate from it for a while, which was a strange feeling.
I took Bachblueten rescue drops whenever I felt the need, and they helped me to calm down. Since I could not do anything but lay still in bed, I completely surrendered to the situation and accepted it as it was. I believed that I could avoid a skin transplant and started sending healing waves of light into my affected areas. It felt like waves of light moving into my leg, it gave me shivers, and I thanked every cell in my body for the work it does for me daily. I had taken it for granted and developed a new appreciation for my body's abilities.
The Mahamrityunjaya mantra, also known as the Tryambakam mantra, is one of the most famous Vedic mantras known for their beneficial effects on mental, emotional, and physical health. Some even believe that it bestows longevity and even immortality. I chanted this mantra out loud, and in my mind, several times a day.
ॐ त्र्य॑म्बकं यजामहे सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् ।
उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नान् मृ॒त्योर्मु॑क्षीय॒ माऽमृता॑॑त् ।।
oṃ tryámbakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhíṃ puṣṭi-vardhánam
urvārukam íva bandhánān mṛtyor mukṣīya mā 'mṛtā́t
I also did Brahmari pranayama, a breathing technique that helps soothe the mind, and nervous system, promotes healing, and balances all three doshas (bio-energies throughout body and mind). When all three are balanced, the body has the capacity for healing.
On a daily basis, I have been listening to Gandharva Veda music which has a calming effect on the body and mind, promoting relaxation and healing. Gandharva Veda is a Vedic science that has immense power through sounds, on animals, humans, and the environment. The sounds it produces, are a translation of the rhythms that are present in nature. You can read this scientific article about its healing effects here, it is truly mind-blowing. Check out this playlist for some of my favorite Gandharva Veda music.
To nourish the body from the inside out, Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of consuming wholesome, organic, fresh, and unprocessed foods, beverages, and supplements rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Meaning foods, and beverages that are sattvic. Sattva creates clarity, balance and light in our bodies and minds. I need to mention that my diet was and is mostly very pure and sattvic, already before my accident, so my bodily tissues were quite well nourished before it all took place, and that definitely helped. Hydration is also crucial for skin health, as rasa (lymph) and rakta dhatu (blood tissue) need to be well-nourished to transfer nutrients into the skin. I made sure that I drank enough throughout the day. Drinking hibiscus tea contains lots of vitamin C an important building block for collagen production. From an Ayurvedic perspective, this tea aids cell rejuvenation, and has astringent and cooling qualities, meaning it is great for promoting skin health.
Rasayanas are rejuvenatives, and played a crucial role in my healing journey. To support rejuvenation, I consumed a plethora of Ayurvedic rasayanas, including blanched almonds, cream, milk, dates, raisins, urad dal, rice, wheat, spelt, mung dal, and many more. Chyawanprash is an Ayurvedic rasayana and herbal jam, enriched with a variety of herbs and spices known for nourishing the body and promoting healing. However, I took it only after a few weeks of healing, because it is slightly heating for the body and mind. One thing, that I consumed right away, however, was Ayurvedic kunji, you can find a recipe here. In addition, I resumed taking my favorite herbal supplement, "Tvak" by the Austrian company “Prana for You”. This supplement is a remarkable aid for skin health and provides support for burnt skin. The plants used in this supplement are slightly cooling, wound-healing, and nourishing to mucous membranes. My wound-healing journey improved significantly through taking them. You can explore their various supplements on their website and receive a 10% discount by using the code LISATABEA.
During one of my visits to the hospital, a plastic surgeon suggested that I should wear shapewear or support stockings as soon as my skin healed well enough. Additionally, she recommended that I immerse myself in seawater to help my skin rejuvenate or add lots of sea salt to my bath tub43. However, I was advised to avoid showers and water in general at that time (as my skin was still open), as well as going to the sauna, chlorine water, and into the sun for two seasons.
It took several weeks until the doctors and nurses removed all the bandages and I was finally able to apply something directly to my skin. When the time came, I prepared something special to promote my skin's rejuvenation.
SOOTHING BALM FOR BURNT SKIN
Based on what I know, I have created a homemade balm for burnt skin with soothing ingredients. Shea butter and coconut oil in this recipe provide deep hydration, while aloe vera and sea buckthorn oil soothe and heal the skin. The lavender essential oil has a calming and healing effect on the skin and scar tissue, while frankincense essential oil promotes cell regeneration.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 tbsp shea butter
- 4 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tbsp aloe vera pulp
- 1 tbsp pure vitamin e oil
- 20 drops pure lavender essential oil
- 10 drops pure frankincense essential oil
- 8 drops sea buckthorn oil
It takes about 15 minutes to make, plus several hours to cool down. This recipe makes one medium-sized jar of balm.
INSTRUCTIONS
Melt coconut oil and shea butter on very low heat. As soon as they have melted, but are not hot, add the rest of the above-mentioned ingredients. Mix well.
Pour the mixture into a sterile jar, and store in the fridge.
Let it set overnight.
Apply the balm to your skin as needed.
In addition to the burnt skin balm, there are other remedies that helped heal my skin.
Before putting on this skin balm, I made sure to cover my leg and foot with fresh aloe vera gel. After it had been absorbed, I put the homemade creme over the affected areas.
Helichrysum oil is known for its ability to regenerate skin tissue and reduce inflammation, making it an effective remedy for reducing scarring and promoting healing. Another natural remedy that works great is rose oil. This cooling and astringent oil is also known to help on an emotional level with the grief of an accident. Rose petal powder mixed with honey can be applied to open wounds to prevent scarring. Just so you know, I only used lavender essential oil – and it helped to prevent scars just as great. However, I want to mention these, as you may have these things at home. Whenever you apply essential oils to children, make sure not to use more than 3 drops of them because it can be taxing for their livers. As for adults, one should not use more than 10 drops of essential oil per day.
For those who prefer a natural alternative to traditional wound washes, Hildegrad von Bingen recommended washing open wounds with the water of cooked yarrow leaves. If you're looking for something even more potent, try applying highly potent Manuka honey, which can help promote healing and soothe the skin. I used Manuka honey daily on my skin.
An Ayurvedic tip is applying shapta dhauta ghritam. I made it a year ago, by washing ghee in ice-cold water for several hours while infusing it with mantras. This creates a deeply nourishing ghee cream that penetrates all layers of the skin.
To take good care of my skin, I also used a natural cream that contained calendula and a homemade oil with St. John's wort. These ingredients are known for their ability to heal and soothe the skin, reducing inflammation and promoting cell regeneration. However, be careful with St. John's wort as it makes you and your skin very sensitive to sunlight. Please research if you are able to use these ingredients on you, especially if you are pregnant or nursing.
In conclusion, if you have suffered from burnt skin, Ayurveda offers a variety of natural remedies that – like in my case – may help you heal much faster. By using natural remedies and taking good care of my body, I could promote healing and rejuvenation from the inside out. I am mind-blown by how fast my skin has healed. You can see for yourself, in the next few pictures. I want to show you, what my leg looked like, in full honesty and transparency.
Here is the worst my leg looked, it was about 10 days after the accident, in between putting off the old bandages, and putting on new ones.
My leg was mainly closed off and wrapped well in silver foam and bandages, like this one, for several weeks.
And this is what my leg looked like when they told me at the hospital, now I am on my own, they can’t do anything anymore for me.
And what it looks like three months after the accident.
You clearly see, how wonderful my tips have helped me. Please make sure if try them, that you check in with your doctors.
If you have any additional tips, tricks, or remedies, let us know down below! This will be interesting for many :)
With love,
Lisa