5 home remedies for burns and sunburns

There are many everyday health problems that you can safely and successfully treat with homemade remedies. As you use these recipes to treat your burns, you will be happy to discover that they can make a real difference in how you feel.

This mixture gives relief, and you can safely use it several times a day.

• 1 drop tea tree essential oil
• 125 ml (1/4 c) organic olive oil1. In a small dish, dilute the essential oil with the olive oil.2. Gently massage the mixture over the burned area.

If the burn area is large, you may need to double the ingredients for this soothing oil.

• 2 capsules vitamin E, 400 IU
• 5 drops lavender essential oil1. Pierce each vitamin E capsule with a needle and squeeze the contents into a small dish. Stir in the lavender essential oil.2.  Massage into the skin.

Applying a spray doesn't hurt the burn the way massaging in an oil might. This cool mixture offers relief and healing at very little cost.

• 30 ml (1 oz) ice water
• 30 ml (1 oz) aloe vera gel
• 25 drops total lavender, chamomile, spearmint and yarrow essential oils
• 1 capsule vitamin E, 400 IU1. In a small spray bottle, mix the ice water, aloe vera and essential oils. Pierce the vitamin E capsule with a needle, squeeze its contents into the mixture and chill.2. Shake before use and spray over burned area. Keeps in the refrigerator for several days.

Nobody wants a burn to become infected. Here's a quick remedy that costs only pennies.

• 1 handful dried plantain leaves
• 125 ml (1/2 c) hot water
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil1. In a blender, add a handful of dried plantain leaves to about 125 millilitres (1/2 cup) hot water. Begin blending, slowly adding water or plantain leaves as necessary until the mixture becomes thick, like oatmeal. Mix in the tea tree oil.2. Spread mixture over affected area. You can refrigerate the remainder for several days.

Brew a pot of black tea (Lipton, Salada or a store brand will do fine). The tannins in the tea help soothe the burning feeling.

• 3 tea bags or 15 ml (3 tbsp) loose tea
• Boiling water1. Place the tea in a teapot. Pour in boiling water, cover and steep five minutes. Let cool.2. Use a cloth or cotton ball to dab the sunburn with cooling tea.

• Aloe vera gel is a traditional and effective salve for burns. And it costs you nothing if you have aloe vera as a houseplant.
• Pull a leaf off the plant and with a small spoon, scoop out the clear gel.
• Apply directly to the burn.
• Lavender essential oil provides relief from minor burns, including sunburn.
• Just apply several drops of the oil directly to the burn.

• You can buy an aloe vera plant at any garden shop or nursery.
• Aloes like warmth, so in most areas, it is safer to keep the plant potted and place it near a sunny window than to plant it outdoors. (You can move it outdoors during the summer.)
• Repot an aloe vera in a wide rather than a deep pot; it has shallow, spreading roots.
• Use a pot with a drainage hole.
• Use a good potting mix with extra perlite.
• Don't overwater this succulent plant.
• Let its soil dry completely between soakings.
• Fertilize it yearly, in the spring, with a half-strength 10-40-10 fertilizer mixture.
• When you need some aloe vera gel, just cut a lower leaf off the plant and squeeze it.