My husband tells me that using aloe vera, straight from the plant, is enough by itself to heal a burn. Years ago, he was burned pretty badly on the arms from a barbecue pit, and his grandmother cut a piece of aloe vera, peeled away the outer layer of the plant and rubbed the inside gel on the burn. Within days the burn looked better. He did nothing else to it but keep it clean and dry. Is there a natural ingredient in this plant that keeps infection out of wounds? Should the wound also be treated with another ointment like bacitracin?

A.

Aloe vera has a long history of use in treating burns and recent studies have shown it is effective to soothe the pain and promote healing. While we don't know the exact way that aloe helps, it has a number of documented beneficial effects. Aloe can increase blood flow to the burned area; it contains enzymes that help relieve pain, swelling and inflammation; and it has antibacterial properties that can help prevent infection.

Choosing the appropriate treatment for a burn depends on the size and degree of the burn itself. The degree of the burn indicates the depth of tissue that has been damaged. A first degree burn causes redness and pain, a second degree burn produces blisters and more severe pain and a third degree burn chars and destroys all layers of the skin. All third degree burns and any second degree burn larger than a quarter should have immediate medical attention, as should any burn that is exposed to dirt or shows signs of infection.

Other helpful herbs for first degree and small second degree burns include echinacea, calendula, plantain and St. John's Wort oil. Applied to the burn they can help with promoting healing and preventing infection. Gotu kola taken internally has been shown to help prevent scarring from burns, probably due to its ability to stimulate collagen production (collagen is the basic protein structure of the skin).

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