“Summer is singing with joy, and the beaches are inviting you with dancing waves.” Debasish Mridha
Summer. That time of year when the sun shines hot and the days are long. Living in Florida, the beach is never too far away. Landlocked folks in other states eventually make their way to a beach somewhere for Spring Break or summer vacation. In the western states, the desert sun rules the day. To escape its burning heat, native animals stay hidden in cooler shady places before venturing out when the sun sets. To escape the sun’s hot rays, people stay cool in their air conditioned homes and workplaces. To reduce the damaging effects of too much exposure to the sun, the use of sunscreen is highly recommended. But even the judicious use of sunscreen does not always prevent sunburn.
Hello, sunshine. Hello, sunburn. Sunburn is the result of overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, which is present in sunlight. Sunburn is the body’s inflammatory response to the damage caused by this overexposure. Redness, swelling, pain, itching are typical symptoms of sunburn. More severe sunburns include blistering of the skin, nausea, chills, fainting, and fever. The signs of sunburn usually appear after a few hours and increase over the next 48 hours. After pain and inflammation subside, the sun damaged skin peels. Usually sunburn will resolve within a week, but harmful effects can last longer. The cumulative effects of repeated sunburns over time can lead to skin cancer, which is the most common type of cancer worldwide.
Sunburn isn’t the only kind of burn, though. Fire, scalding water, touching a hot surface like a stovetop, electricity, and chemicals like hot oil or grease can all cause varying degrees of burns. Burns that cover a large part of the body need immediate medical attention. But for minor localized burns, homeopathic remedies can ease the pain and swelling. Homeopathy stimulates the body’s innate response to burns and promotes healing. Pain, inflammation, and damaging effects of the burn are reduced.
Burns are classified from minor to severe on a scale of 1 to 4.
- A 1st degree burn only affects the outer layer of skin, which becomes red, dry, swollen, and painful. A typical sunburn is a superficial burn.
- A 2nd degree burn will be moist and form clear, fluid filled blisters. This can happen with a severe sunburn or from touching a burning hot surface. Scars can form during the long healing process.
- In a 3rd degree burn, two thicknesses of skin, underlying tissues and nerve endings are damaged. The skin is black and charred while muscles, fat, even bones are exposed. Pain is minimal. Skin grafting and possibly amputation are often required.
- A 4th degree burn can be a life-threatening situation because all layers of skin, muscles, tendons, and bone are destroyed. There is no pain because nerves are also destroyed, but damage to the burned area is irreversible.
For minor burns, several homeopathic remedies can be helpful when taken internally and used externally as a wash. When choosing an appropriate homeopathic remedy, match the symptoms as closely as possible. Take a dose of the indicated remedy in a 30C potency every 15 minutes for up to 4 doses or until there is some improvement. Then only take the remedy as needed. If there is no improvement at all after an hour, try a different remedy. The severity of the burn will determine how long the remedy will need to be taken. This could be hours, days, or weeks.
If the burn covers an area of skin larger than the palm of your hand, seek conventional medical care immediately.
Remedies for burns:
- Apis – For a 1st degree burn when the skin is puffy and swollen, rosy pink and feels hot. The pain is intensely stinging, burning, or prickling. Cold applications feel soothing. This remedy is especially good for a typical sunburn.
- Urtica urens – Another remedy to consider for 1st or 2nd degree burns with strong stinging pains, including sunburn and scalds. There may be an itching or crawling sensation. Small clear fluid filled blisters may appear. The burn is worse from cold water and when the person becomes heated. A pellet of this remedy can be dissolved in water and applied topically to the burn.
- Cantharis – For 2nd degree burns with blistering from scalds, sunburn, or an irritating substance. There will be a feeling of rawness with stinging, smarting, itching, and burning. The blisters will be large, but if the remedy is applied topically early enough, it may prevent blistering. The burn will feel better from ice cold applications. A pellet of this remedy can be dissolved in water and applied topically to the burn.
- Causticum – Another remedy to consider for 2nd or 3rd degree burns or chemical burns when healing is slow or when there is lingering pain in an old burn scar. The person has never been well since being severely burned. Use the remedy and if needed, seek medical treatment.
- Arsenicum – For 3rd degree or chemical burns when the skin burns like fire but feels better for warm applications. The person will feel restless, weak, anxious or fearful, and chilly. Blisters may become infected, the skin will be blackened, and gangrene may set in. Medical treatment is usually needed.
- Phosphorus – For electrical burns and electroshock. Although the burn appears to be small, there may be extensive underlying damage, so seek conventional medical care.
Information contained on this site is for educational purposes only and should not be used to prescribe, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness. Any information provided is not intended to replace medical advice offered by a physician. If you desire or need such advice, you should consult a professional healthcare provider.