Natural Remedies for Burns, Bug Bites, Bruises and Heat Rash

Over the years, I have collected and personally tested an assortment of simple, natural remedies for treating burns, bugbites, and bruises, and I've compiled the best of them here in this article for you.

These are simple to prepare and convenient, as many of them require only vegetables that most of us keep on hand in the kitchen. Others are common flowers and shrubs grown in the landscape or new uses for all natural, off the shelf preparations that can be found in the local pharmacy.

Now, being an avid gardener, often the source of the very ailments I'm writing about, I have always been intrigued by the duality and versatility of the things I grow. Most of them have some kind of healing or medicinal powers in addition to being good to eat or pretty to look at. The onion, for example, has excellent anti-inflammatory properties which makes it very effective for treating bug bites.

Read on to learn more about common garden healers.

Witch Hazel- Is an ornamental garden shrub, the leaf and bark of which also happens to have fantastic anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. Astringents are a chemical compound that helps to shrink and contract blood vessels back to their normal size.

You can purchase an inexpensive Witch Hazel solution at the drug store, or if you're lucky enough to have a witch hazel shrub, you can make your own by adding a teaspoon of granulated leaves or bark to a cup of boiling water. Let the water cool, then moisten a compress and apply to your bruise.

Cabbage Leaves- are a natural source of an amino acid with anti-inflammatory properties. To speed up the tissue repair of bruised skin, warm the greenest leaves of a cabbage in hot water (but not the ribs) then flatten them with a rolling pin. Apply as a compress to the bruise and leave on for several hours.

Calendula (the common Marigold!)- Perhaps my favorite of all garden healers, Calendula is not only beautiful, it has so many healing properties (anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and astringent) that it is known for being one of the best. To arrest bleeding or reduce swelling of a bruise, simply crush the flower and apply it directly to the cut or bruise.

You have probably noticed that the common thread here is that all of these garden-goodies have natural anti-inflammatory properties---the reason why they work on bruising.

Any naturally grown item with anti-inflammatory properties will provide excellent relief for bug bites. These would include chamomile, calendula, lemon balm, plantain (not the banana, the weed!), onions, and garlic. I have tried them all and they work.

Onions and garlic are great for bug bite relief because they are quick. To apply the onion, just cut it in half and rub it on the bite. To apply the garlic, just crush it, pull the paper off and rub it on the bite. The obvious draw back with these two is that you are going to smell like onion or garlic.

Chamomile or Calendula flowers are better because you don't smell, but it takes longer to get it ready. To use them, just pick a few flowers and steep them in boiling water for a few minutes. Let the tea cool, then dip a cloth in the tea and apply it like a compress to the bites.

Plantain or Lemon Balm leaves are my favorites because you simply need to crush or pulverize them and apply---no boiling and no bad smell.

Heat rash is caused by (hello?) generating body heat with no way for it to escape; the trapped heat results in nasty, itchy little bumps known as heat rash or prickly heat.

I have two all natural favorites for relieving the symptoms of heat rash:

Potatoes- Are my favorite because while I may not always have them in the garden, I do always have one in the kitchen. The starchy nature of the potato makes it a natural emollient. Just rub a slice of potato over the rash to alleviate the itching.

Rose Petals-are another favorite. Just pour a cup of boiling water over two teaspoons of dried petals and steep for 5 minutes. Strain and cool, then apply as a compress.

The Aloe Plant- is highly effective for treating mild burns, especially sunburns, because it holds in moisture and encourages skin regeneration. Best of all, they are so easy to care for that almost everyone has one in a planter bed or sitting in a sunny window.

To use it, just snap off a lower leaf (because it's better for the plant), cut it lengthwise, and squeeze out the gel.

** If you don't have an aloe plant, you can purchase pure aloe gel off the shelf from almost any pharmacy.

Cucumbers- also work well on burns because they do double duty, first by preventing blisters and second by soothing the burn. If the burn is small, you can simply place a cucumber slice over the burn and wrap some gauze around it to hold it in place, or for better coverage, you can juice the cucumber and apply it like a lotion.

1. If you are using something straight from the garden, be sure you wash it well before applying it to your skin---especially if you spray chemicals!

2. These suggestions are intended for mild conditions only. If your symptoms are severe, then seek the help of your medical doctor.