There’s a lot of poor and inaccurate advice surrounding how to treat burns at home, from butter to olive oil to even urine, but using essential oils for burns is a viable option.
And while these are no substitute for medical treatment, with how much it costs for a visit to the doctor or the ER, sometimes home remedies are the more prudent option.
Essential oils are quickly becoming one of the go-to items for all kinds of home remedies, and this article will list the best essential oils for burns you can use to treat at home. Toss a couple of these in your bug out bag for a speedy home remedy.
Disclaimer: This is not meant as a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional medical help if available.
Chamomile is a versatile plant that has a long history of use in treating minor burns and wounds, including sunburns. It has a lot of the same properties as aloe vera. Chamomile is one of the best essential oils for burns.
Apply to the affected area three to four times per day until symptoms subside.
Recommended: Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
While a sandwich can’t help with a burn, pimento oil can. Pimento oil is used as a natural topical anesthetic. So while it doesn’t aid in the healing of the burn, it can be used to treat the pain from a burn, which is usually one of the worst parts of a burn. While pimento may not seem like the first choice of essential oils for burns, it is surprisingly effective.
Use as needed to control the pain associated with burns. Apply topically to the affected area.
Recommended: Healing Solutions Pimento Oil
Eucalyptus isn’t just for koalas anymore. With anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and astringent properties, this can help control some of the worst symptoms associated with burns. It can also be used to prevent infections, which are one of the worst risks of burns.
Apply three to four times per day to the affected area, especially after cleaning the area with soap and water to maintain sterility.
Recommended: Eve Hansen Organic Essential Oil
Studies have shown that cedar contains both thujone and pinene, two chemical compounds that can be used to treat minor wounds, speed healing, minimize scarring, and prevent infections.
Apply topically three to four times per day to the affected area. Use for several days after symptoms have subsided to minimize scarring.
Recommended: NOW Cedarwood Oil
As well as smelling fantastic, peppermint oil has been shown to have pain-relieving properties. Peppermint essential oil is an effective analgesic and can also help reduce inflammation.
Apply to the affected area as needed to manage the pain associated with burn.
Recommended: Plant Therapy Peppermint Essential Oil
While it is widely used as a homeopathic treatment for depression, St. John’s Wort has been shown to prevent infection and aid in the healing of burns. Its anti-inflammatory properties are also helpful in soothing burns and minimizing pain.
Apply three to four times per day to the affected area.
Recommended: Dr. Adorable St. John’s Wort Herbal Oil
Even if you don’t like Italian food, you’ll love the thymol found in thyme. Thymol is a chemical compound shown to have amazing pain-relieving properties, so it’s perfect for treating the pain associated with burns. Since treating the pain of the burn is half the battle, thyme is another one of the best essential oils for burns.
Apply as needed to the affected area.
Recommended: Plant Therapy Thyme Oil
Lavender is the renaissance man of the plant world. It is antimicrobial, can reduce inflammation, and it has pain-relieving properties, making it a one-stop shop for your burn treatment needs. It also smells wonderful, leaving you calm and relaxed.
Apply as needed for pain, but at least three to four times per day to maximize the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits.
Recommended: MADETEC Lavender Essential Oil
This list almost looks like a recipe, doesn’t it? That’s what happens when you commit to using all-natural remedies. Oregano oil is used for treating pain as well as increasing the speed of the healing process.
So not only will your burn heal faster and with less pain, but you’ll smell like an Italian grandmother’s kitchen, which has been scientifically proven as one of the best smells in the world (citation needed).
Apply three to four times per day to the affected area.
Recommended: North American Herb and Spice Oregonol
One of the most versatile oils around, tea tree oil has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, making it a fantastic choice for treating burns. This is such a popular, useful oil, that you can usually find it in your local grocery store.
Apply as needed for pain, but at least three to four times per day to maintain sterility.
Recommended: ArtNaturals 100% Pure Tea Tree Essential Oil
why use essential oils for burns?
One of the best things about essential oils is that they are all-natural and nontoxic when used properly. This means that you can combine the oils you want without risk of creating some poisonous cloud of vapors or some kind of explosion in your kitchen.
And, due to their inexpensive nature, it won’t break the bank to either experiment to find as blend that works well for you, or to mix and match oils to make a custom blend suited to your exact needs.
These Yesker Amber Glass Bottles are perfect for creating your own unique blends of essential oils for burns or any other use. They aren’t expensive but they look great, and they include droppers to allow you to manage exactly how much you use at one time, so you don’t have to worry about wasting any.
what are essential oils?
It’s hard to go online these days without reading about essential oils; they’re mentioned all the time, for a myriad of reasons. But if you’re inexperienced with them, it’s hard to know what they are or what they can be used for.
Essential oils are, essentially (ha-ha), highly concentrated plant oils. They are called essential because they contain the “essence” of the plant. They usually evaporate quickly without leaving residue or a stain, making them preferable to other, similar items.
Most people use essential oils for aromatherapy, but there are thousands of uses that people have found for all kinds of issues, including health, cleaning, deodorizing, and even cooking.
Essential oils are usually highly concentrated and not meant for ingestion with either diluting the oil in water or combining it with a carrier oil, such as avocado, olive, or coconut oil, which acts as a sort of blank slate so that it does not take away from the essential oil, but instead allows it to keep its properties while making it safe for internal use or consumption.
basic burn facts
Burns are a fact of life for most adults. Between cooking, working on your car or DIY projects around the house, some working conditions, and even your annual vacation to the beach, most of us will eventually burn ourselves. There are different levels, or “degrees”, of burns, each with distinctive symptoms and treatment options.
Four Types of Burns:
- First-Degree
- Second-Degree
- Third-Degree
- Fourth-Degree
Burns can be caused by all kinds of things. Heat is the most common type of burn, but other causes include chemicals, electricity, friction, and even cold. Burns aren’t limited to accidentally touching yourself with your curling iron. Using cleaning agents without proper protective equipment, receiving a shock from an improperly grounded power tool, touching dry ice during a party, or having a rope slide through your hands when trying to pull something are all common ways that people receive burns.
First-Degree Burns
Superficial, or first-degree burns, are the most common kind of burn. They occur when the topmost layer of skin, the superficial layer, receives a burn. Symptoms are red, inflamed skin without blisters and associated pain that usually lasts for about three days. The essential oils for burns on this list are best suited for treating first degree burns.
Second-Degree Burns
Partial-thickness, or second-degree, burns are the next level in severity. This is when the burn goes deeper into the underlying tissue. Blisters usually occur with an increase in pain. The wound can take up to eight weeks to heal, and scarring usually occurs.
Third-Degree Burns
Full-thickness burns are called third-degree burns. These burns affect all layers of skin. These burns usually have no pain as the nerves are seared and permanently damaged, and the affected area is stiff. These burns rarely heal on their own, and almost always require medical intervention.
Fourth-Degree Burns
While most everyone is at least passingly familiar with the first three types of burns thanks to medical shows and other pop culture, there is actually a fourth level of burn. Fourth-degree burns go deeper than the skin, affecting muscles, tendons, and even bone. The area is charred black and usually has to be removed or amputated, as at that point, healing is impossible. For treatment of more serious burns you will need a quality first aid kit.
when to seek medical treatment for burns
Burns require different treatments depending on the severity of the burn. First-degree burns usually just involve pain management. Second-degree burns, since they’re more severe, need more attention. Keeping the wound clean and covered is important, as well as managing the pain. Third- and fourth-degree burns require medical attention, and you should not attempt to treat on your own.
The essential oils for burns on this list are for treating first- and second-degree burns. They are used for topical, not-ingestive healing, and are not to be used as a substitute for medical attention for more severe burns.
The most common complication resulting from a burn is infection, so keeping the area clean, sterile, and properly dressed is of the utmost importance. Many of the essential oils for burns on this list have antimicrobial properties that can help reduce the chance of infection.
how to treat burns with essential oils
One of the worst things you can do is apply essential oil directly to a burn. This could exacerbate the burn or can even lead to an increase in the severity of the burn. There are many ways you can try to find something that works for you.
compress
Compresses are simple, quick, and effective. Mix a few drops of your essential oil blend into some warm water, soak a rag or towel, and apply to the affected area.
salve
It’s not hard to create your own salve, lotion, or balm. Find an unscented or pain lotion and mix some essential oil into it. Also, mixing a few drops into your chosen carrier oil creates an effective salve.
One note of caution, however: don’t apply a salve or lotion on a fresh second-degree burn, as this could exacerbate the burn. Use a compress for the first two days, then use the lotion or salve.
This will maximize the benefit from the essential oil while minimizing the chance that your wound will get infected or that your burn will get worse.
Do not take essential oils orally unless they have been properly diluted, and even then it is not recommended for the treatment of burns. Burns are not an internal issue, and as such should not be treated internally.
Aloe Vera and Essential Oils-Best of Both Worlds
Some people are skeptical about the benefits of using essential oils, and rightly so. The Internet is a breeding ground for false information.
But there are all kinds of studies showing that essential oils capture the natural healing products of plants, including this one from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. But, even still, skepticism is there.
When treating minor burns, the first thing you probably think of is aloe vera, which has been used for decades for that very purpose. And while the benefits of aloe vera are well documented, it can’t do everything. Wouldn’t it be better to combine the strengths of aloe vera with the benefits of the essential oils on this list?
Aloe vera can be used as a carrier oil for essential oils. Mix a few drops of essential oils into a squirt or aloe vera and mix it thoroughly, then apply it to the affected area. This will ensure that all of your bases are covered and that you’re getting the best of both worlds when it comes to treating your burn at home.
conclusion
Essential oils are some of the most versatile, underutilized tools we have available to us today. When it comes to treating burns at home, they can be extremely useful in preventing scarring, managing pain, and preventing infection.
But it’s important to know and understand the varying levels of burn severity so that you don’t accidentally harm yourself when trying to heal yourself and make sure you’re healthy and safe.
Just like any medicine, know the risks as well as the benefits, and know how to use it properly. Essential oils, when used correctly, can be one of the best tools available to you for the treatment of minor burns.
Try it for this, and you’ll soon find yourself traveling down the essential oil rabbit hole and using them for all sorts of things you never even thought of before.
