Burns

Topical aloe gel applied to burns is reported to inhibit thromboxane B2 and prostaglandin F-2α, preserving dermal circulation and improving the outcome of first- and second-degree burns, alongside aloe’s documented anti-inflammatory and vulnerary actions ^{1Reference 1Bone · 2003A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs: Herbal formulations for the individual patient}. The source is a clinical textbook rather than a primary trial.

The inner-leaf gel is applied topically, to minor superficial burns, not to deep or full-thickness wounds.

Medical-grade manuka honey dressings may shorten healing of partial-thickness burns, and a Cochrane review of antiseptics for burns ranked honey among the better-supported options, both at low-to-moderate certainty ^{5,6Reference 5Jull et al. · 2015Systematic reviewHoney as a topical treatment for wounds [systematic review]View study →Reference 6Norman et al. · 2017Systematic reviewAntiseptics for burns [systematic review]View study →}.

The evidence is for the honey (osmotic, low-pH and methylglyoxal action), a distinct product from the leaf or essential oil. The manuka herb and oil have no burn evidence.

In a controlled human study of second-degree burns, a 10% Plantago major leaf ointment matched silver sulfadiazine on healing time, pain and infection control, consistent with the herb’s anti-inflammatory (NF-κB/COX-2), antioxidant and fibroblast-stimulating activity ^{7Reference 7Keshavarzi A et al. · 2022ObservationalTherapeutic efficacy of great plantain (Plantago major L.) in the treatment of second-degree burn wounds: a case-control studyView study →}. The trial is a small non-randomised case-control.

Plantain is used topically, and not on deep or extensive burns. Plantain leaf is a different medicine from psyllium seed.

Oral madecassoside accelerated burn-wound closure in mice, raising hydroxyproline (collagen) and reducing inflammatory infiltrate, fitting gotu kola’s well-mapped collagen/angiogenesis (asiaticoside, asiatic acid) mechanism ^{4Reference 4Liu et al. · 2008AnimalMadecassoside isolated from Centella asiatica facilitates burn wound healing in mice — animal modelView study →}. The evidence is animal and isolated-compound only; human wound data are for standardized topical/oral extracts (not tea or raw powder) and are not burn-specific.

German chamomile is a long-standing topical remedy for burns and irritated skin, resting on the anti-inflammatory essential-oil sesquiterpenes α-bisabolol and chamazulene ^{3Reference 3Jakovlev V et al. · 1979Pharmacological investigations with compounds of chamomile: antiphlogistic effects of (−)-α-bisabolol and bisabolol oxides — animal studyView study →}. No burn-specific trial exists — its topical trial evidence is in radiation dermatitis (null on primary outcome) and diabetic neuropathy — so the use rests on tradition and mechanism. Asteraceae allergy is possible.

Powdered slippery-elm inner bark has a long traditional use as a soothing poultice for burns, boils and inflamed skin, the same ~7% mucilage forming a moist protective barrier over damaged tissue. No study has tested slippery elm itself on burns — supporting wound data come from related Ulmus species with different bark chemistry — so the use rests on mechanism and tradition. It is used on minor superficial burns.

St. John’s wort infused oil has a long traditional vulnerary use for wounds, burns and nerve pain, and a topical hypericum ointment accelerated caesarean-wound healing in one RCT ^{8Reference 8Samadi et al. · 2010RCTThe effect of Hypericum perforatum on the wound healing and scar of caesarean — randomised, double-blind trialView study →} — but no trial tests it on burns, and a pressure-injury RCT was null ^{9Reference 9Yıldırım et al. · 2025RCTThe Effects of StView study →}.

Topical hypericum is photosensitising (hypericin), so it is kept off skin that will be sun-exposed, which matters for a burn remedy.

Despite calendula’s long topical vulnerary tradition for cuts, burns and rashes, a burns RCT found the flower preparation gave no advantage over control, and the herb’s clearest wound benefit sits in the inflammation/granulation phase and in post-surgical rather than burn wounds ^{2Reference 2Givol O et al. · 2019Systematic reviewA systematic review of Calendula officinalis extract for wound healing — [systematic review]View study →}. Calendula is plausible and low-risk but unproven for burns; the strongest calendula data (radiation dermatitis) are themselves null-to-negative on meta-analysis. Asteraceae contact allergy is possible.