Independence Day is right around the corner, and if your family is anything like mine, the fireworks have already been bought, the grill has been cleaned, and the invitations sent for one of our favorite summer celebrations.
While summer celebrations like the 4th of July are a lot of fun, burns are a common and serious concern, whether from fireworks, the grill, or too much unprotected time in the sun. Thankfully, burns are something we can be prepared for and manage with the help of some herbal allies – specifically comfrey (Symphytum officinale) leaf, calendula (Calendula officinalis) flower, and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil.
Today, I’d like to share one of my favorite herbal burn oils for first-degree burns. This oil is infused with herbs that help stimulate cell regeneration, which can help speed up recovery time by stimulating tissue repair after a minor burn.
Natural Burn Recources
Now before I share the recipe for my go-to first-degree herbal burn oil with you, let me share some links to other content I’ve written about managing burns using herbs, just in case you find yourself needing this sometime in the future.
You’ll find details about the herbs included in this herbal burn oil, why and how they work, other herbs that can be helpful, and some other DIYs you may prefer to use if an herbal burn oil isn’t for you inside these articles.
As always, it’s best to be knowledgeable about a topic BEFORE dealing with it and have the things you need on hand to prepare. Let me encourage you to read through all of this content, take notes, make a list of things you need to purchase and have on hand, and then take action and stock up on these items to be ready when the time comes.
- 3 Ways To Prevent A Sunburn Naturally + A DIY Herbal Sunburn Relief Spray
- How To Manage Burns Naturally From Start To Finish
- Herbal Care How-To For A Second-Degree Burn
- How To Make And Use A Simple Herbal Burn Salve
- How To Make A Homemade Burn Cream
Alright, now that you have some resources you can look into for further explanation and information, let’s move on to the recipe.
First-Degree Burn Oil
Nourishing oils can be very soothing for burned skin, especially when you’ve infused tissue-regenerating herbs into them. This herbal burn oil is perfect for minor sunburns and blistered or scalded skin, and it’s a great foundational recipe to use on its own or to turn into another type of herbal preparation, such as a salve or cream.
First-Degree Burn Oil
Yields 1-ounce
Ingredients:
- 1-ounce extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp dried comfrey (Symphytum officinale) leaf
- ½ tsp dried calendula (Calendula officinalis) flower
- 36 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil
*Mountain Rose Herbs is an excellent online source for high-quality herbs.
Directions:
- Using a glass measuring cup, measure out 1 ounce of oil. In a clean glass jar, combine herbs and oil, cap tightly, and label the jar.
- Infusion Method 1: Place the jar in a dark, warm location for 6 weeks.
- Infusion Method 2: Place the jar on a seed warming mat for 2-3 weeks.
- Infusion Method 3: Place the jar in a crockpot on top of a dishcloth. Add the appropriate amount of water to the crockpot. Infuse on low/warm for 3-5 days, carefully monitoring the water level.
- Whichever infusion method you choose, do your best to invert the jar a couple of times a day as often as you can remember to keep the herbs from settling at the bottom of the jar.
- When time is up, strain the herbs through a fine-mesh sieve lined with layered cheesecloth to filter small herb particles. Compost the used plant material. Bottle the strained oil in a labeled 1-ounce glass bottle with a dropper top. Add the essential oil, cap, and invert several times to incorporate the essential oil into the herbal oil. Store in a cool area away from sunlight.
- To use, gently dab a small amount of oil on the burn, allowing the oil to sit on top of the burn and slowly soak in. Repeat 3-4 times a day.
And that’s it, friend – my go-to first-degree herbal burn oil – ideal for sunburns and other minor burn injuries.
Happy summer celebrations!
Love and light,
Meagan