Did You Get Sunburned?
To enjoy the sun it is essential to protect yourself, but if you still get burned … Rest assured, there are 4 plants that will help you regain your skin.
Recommendations to avoid sunburn arrive every beginning of summer . Avoid prolonged exposures and midday hours, use a good sunscreen as natural as possible or wear clothing that covers us if we are going to be in the sun for a long time.
However, sometimes these tips are not taken into account or we simply forget that the sun also tans us while we walk along the street or sit on a terrace.
Sunburns are due to ultraviolet rays, which increase their incidence in the central part of the day. Fair skin burns in just 15-20 minutes.
Symptoms range from redness and tenderness to the touch to peeling, swelling, or even blisters.
And, if the beach is an area prone to burns, the mountains are no less so . Hikers need to exercise caution too!
4 plants that help relieve sunburn
Phytotherapy offers effective remedies to both prevent and cure burns, if they are not very serious.
1. Aloe
The pulp of aloe ( Aloe barbadensis ), rich in mucilage, is one of the best known remedies. Repairs skin damaged by burns and scalds.
In herbalists you can find quality natural products based on aloe, but you can have a plant at home and use it when you need it.
Make an incision in the leaves and spread their slimy pulp over the damaged skin, at least three times a day.
2. Calendula
Calendula ( Calendula officinalis ) brings freshness, reduces inflammation, disinfects, hydrates and restores the skin after a minor burn.
The floral chapters are used to prepare a decoction that is applied on the burn in washes or massage. It is also effective in ointment.
In oil it is a good preventive.
3. Comfrey
Comfrey ( Symphytum officinale ), thanks to its allantoin content , is also a great regenerator. It also reduces inflammation, hydrates, heals and regenerates the skin.
Try it in massage or washing with the decoction of the root, or in ointment, 3 times a day.
4. St. John’s wort
If you harvest St. John’s wort ( Hypericum perforatum ) at the beginning of summer , you can marinate the flowering tops in olive oil for about 20 days and you will have it ready.
Of great astringent and healing power , it is very useful to repair burned skin, with inflammation and blisters.
Use it in massage on burned skin. But avoid it in the sunny hours because it is photosensitive.
This article has been prepared with the advice of Josep Maria Teixé, herbalist at El Manantial de Salud
