lavender essential oil & burns

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Photo credit: Hans from Pixabay

nothing to lose

(A short history lesson is coming your way, but it's relevant, I promise!)

Although essential oils were being used extensively as far back as the 1700’s, the term “aromatherapie” wasn't coined by Rene-Maurice Gattefosse until 1937. A Frenchman, his family was in the perfume industry (in the days when legit natural ingredients were still a large part of the process), and so his introduction to plants came at an early age. Originally, his work with these plants was largely for the creation of his perfumes, but later his use and understanding of them would broaden significantly.

As the years passed, Gattefosse continued on in the family business but his interests were expanding, eventually drawing him into the research of new and exotic plants. While in Africa—and through the help and wisdom of the local peasants—he became aware of essential oils being used for more than simply fragrance. This was apparently so fascinating to Gattefosse that he began to actively explore the ways in which essential oils could be used medicinally to support human health. Lucky for him, it was at this time that he was made privy to the incredible healing powers of the lavender plant.

Fast forward several years when, while working in his laboratory, he was burned badly on the arm during an explosion. Initially taking the conventional medicine route, his condition only worsened until his arm became dangerously infected and gangrene set in.

Presumably desperate now—especially if the threat of amputation loomed—the folk medicine of the peasants must have crossed his mind, and he decided he had nothing to lose by giving lavender essential oil a try.

Dropping it onto the infected skin, he rather quickly began to notice an improvement as the pain and inflammation decreased and his burns began to finally heal. Having now personally witnessed their efficacy and power in his own life, he began writing and publishing extensively about the medicinal benefits of essential oils. Today, in large part thanks to Gattefosse and his gangrene arm, aromatherapy is a word known to many and a practice that only continues to grow.

Aromatherapy

The holistic application of pure and genuine essential oils to support the

physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health of the individual

Lavandula angustifolia

I’ve been using essential oils extensively and intentionally for about five years now, and I definitely feel that my personal story about them is just as dramatic as Gattefosse's was.  On repeat, you'll often hear me say that I firmly believe it’s the wisdom of the body that does the actual healing, but along the way I have found means to effectively offer it a helping hand; when it comes to essential oils in particular, I’m continually blown away by how beautifully they support the natural systems of the body. So beautifully, in fact, that sometimes it seems like an almost effortless kind of synergy.

While I was studying aromatherapy, my collection of oils steadily grew until it became rather extensive—and expensive. I realize this isn't an affordable option for everyone, however, I do feel that there are a handful of oils that every household should have. The first of which is probably the most classic of all: lavender.

There are several different types of lavender, but I’m speaking of the Lavandula angustifolia plant in this post, and I can’t stress enough how important it is to know the Latin name of the oil you’re working with (it should be clearly stated on the bottle). This lavender is an extremely gentle essential oil with no warnings or contraindications when used properly by the average adult; it can also be safely used by women who are pregnant and breastfeeding (Lavandula angustifolia is considered safe for use in all trimesters, but always check with your doctor first :).  

Lavender’s sedative qualities are pretty legendary (awesome in a diffuser), its ability to address anxiety and panic is superb (awesome in aromatherapy inhalers), and its capacity for wound healing is clearly well-established (awesome in salves). But the reason I think every household should have a bottle on hand goes back to Gattefosse and his poor gangrene-riddled arm: it’s phenomenal when it comes to burns.

hard to fathom

How can I say this so confidently? Because I cook—a lot. And all of that constant contact with my stove (and steam!) has led me to my fair share of burns. Every time I yank my hand away with a curse, I find it hard to fathom how such a tiny area of burned skin can result in such blooming and tremendous pain.

So when I first learned about Gattefosse and his severe burn, I was pretty excited to give lavender a go for my decidedly less-severe ones. I tested it the first chance I got (which probably wasn’t long of a wait), and the results far exceeded my expectations while also giving me a little bit of a thrill! I applied only a single drop of neat (undiluted) lavender essential oil to the burn. Within mere minutes of application the pain began to ebb until it slowly but steadily disappeared about 15 minutes later—never to return. Subsequent burns consistently garnered the same results: lavender essential oil was actually working in the way I'd hoped it would! Evidently, the human body can use its support effectively, efficiently, and oh-so-quickly. And man, do I ever love me the occasional easy fix!

As I was drafting this post, my daughter unwittingly provided more post fodder by burning her hand while taking a loaf of bread out of the oven (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree). She's a smart girl who listens to her mama, so her immediate response was to reach for the lavender essential oil. She applied a drop on three separate occasions (each as the pain began to increase again), and within an hour the pain had completely disappeared. It was still a minor burn, but a bit more severe than the ones I usually get. The damaged skin was still visible the next day and sensitive to the touch, but it never bothered her again and is healing quite nicely.

Photo credit: Image by Tung Lam from Pixabay

important to note

It’s important to note that not all oils can be applied undiluted to the skin—some can actually cause burns and nasty skin reactions—so don’t just try this willy-nilly with whatever oil you have on hand. Essential oils are powerfully concentrated substances, so I always encourage you to research any oil you're not already thoroughly familiar with before using it. Even lavender, which is well-received by many, can cause unexpected reactions on rare occasions so it's always wise to test a new oil before going crazy with it. Lavender is the only one I use on burns in this way, largely because it works and it's safe. So why waste time looking any further?

Secondly, if your bottle of lavender “essential oil” is anything but pure oil (and you may not be able to tell by just looking at the bottle) I wouldn’t expect it to do much good, and it can perhaps cause more harm. Personally, I only buy organically grown (and once in a while wild-crafted), but at the very least make sure it's 100% pure. Because essential oils have become so popular in recent years, there are tons of diluted, adulterated, and synthetic knock-offs on the market. I recommend purchasing only from reputable oil companies who tests their oils and can vouch to their purity. I’ll list several of the companies that I use and trust at the end of this post in case you're not sure where to look.

When purchasing oils it's also important to consider the price tag and, unfortunately, a "deal" is virtually never the best option. While there are some oils that are fairly inexpensive due to how much of it the plant is able to produce, most oils cost money. (Some of my favorites cost A LOT of money.) I do often compare prices between my trusted companies, but the cost per mL/oz is usually pretty comparable. A big cheap bottle of “essential oil” isn’t pure, and it isn’t a bargain; most likely it's garbage. Don't waste your money.

Thirdly, I wouldn’t go crazy here and buy a large bottle, especially if you don’t use oils on a regular basis; it’ll just be a waste of your money and a waste of precious oils. A little 10mL bottle will be fine to keep on hand in case of minor burns. If you have small children in the house, I’d recommend a child-proof cap so as to prevent any accidental ingestion; this is especially important if your oils are stored within reach of curious, little hands.

I personally store all of my oils in a small refrigerator so as to extend their shelf-life for as long as possible. Each of my bottles also has a small sticker attached, noting the month and year that I opened the bottle for the first time. Lavender, when properly stored (cool, out of sunlight, tightly capped) should be good for about 5 years. At that point, it’s still safe to diffuse or add to your cleaning supplies, but I wouldn’t apply it to the skin, especially undiluted.

lavender essential oil

To summarize: When I have, once again, grabbed a damp potholder to pull a pan from the oven or carelessly reached over a steaming pot (or like my daughter, grazed the hot oven shelf), I immediately run the burn under cold water for about 30 seconds or so. Following this, I promptly head for the lavender oil, dropping one drop onto the burn. Genuine lavender essential oil will dissipate quickly, so I wait while this dries and usually after several minutes, I can feel the pain receding. When it comes to particularly painful burns, I've always found it immensely helpful to hold my hand over my head while I wait for relief. Occasionally, I do need to add a second drop if the pain begins to return, but quite often once is enough. If only more things in my life were this simple, I'd be a very (very) happy girl!

And lastly, even though I feel like this is obvious, in case of severe burns please seek medical attention (although using lavender in conjunction with treatment is always something you can address with your doctor). Also, discontinue use if irritation occurs. If you find you don't tolerate lavender essential oil well in its undiluted state, you could try adding 2 or 3 drops to a tablespoon of aloe vera gel, thereby diluting it before applying it to a burn and lessening your chance of a reaction. For the large majority of people, however, an undiluted drop on occasion will cause absolutely no problems.

where to buy

Plant Therapy: This company sells great quality essential oils (reports for each oil are available on their website) and has a large selection of organic ones. They ship quickly with free shipping over $25, their prices are good, and they even offer some bulk options. I shop here frequently.

Mountain Rose Herbs: I've been shopping Mountain Rose for many, many years now. Their selection of oils is superb and as far as I know, they're all organic; this is a company that steadfastly supports the environment and that commitment is reflected in everything they offer. Their shipping is somewhat slow and they don't offer free shipping, but their packaging is always eco-friendly. All of their oils come with a child-proof cap which is fabulous for those with kids but a pain-in-the-neck for those without. Personally, I always switch the caps for ease, but I am without small kiddos in the house.

Original Swiss Aromatics: Kurt Schnaubelt, the founder of Original Swiss Aromatics, is a name well-known and well-respected in the aromatherapy world. While not all of their oils are organic, I never, ever have to doubt their authenticity. Their selection is awesome, they ship very quickly, and I can find some oils here that I can't in other places. The prices do tend to be higher on average, but I always feel really good about supporting this company. They believe in oils as natural healing allies, and the company is focused almost exclusively on essential oils.

And that's it for today, friends. Have you tried lavender essential oil on burns before? Leave me a comment below and let me know how it worked for you :)

Hope your day is a super one,

Much love,

Melinda

L3 Holistic Aromatherapist

P.S. While we're on the subject of lavender, have you tried any of our lavender-scented soaps? There's our heavily textured one: Didja Sleep?, our moderately textured one: Love Ya, Baby!, and our deliciously smooth one: (zodiac) Cancer. All-natural, vegan, and crafted with certified organic ingredients--really, you should try one (or two or three) today! ;) And while you're here, don't forget to sign up for our newsletter to receive subscriber-only coupons and deals :)