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- $Unique_ID{BRK01037}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Is Aloe Vera "Juice" a Good Treatment for Burns?}
- $Subject{aloe vera burns first aid superficial abrasion gel soothe soothing
- heal healing scar scars scarring burn infected wound wounds treatment
- treatments herbal plant medication medications skin abrasions}
- $Volume{R-20}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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-
- Is Aloe Vera "Juice" a Good Treatment for Burns?
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-
- QUESTION: I have a very nice, large aloe vera plant growing on my windowsill.
- Friends tell me its "juice" is a good treatment for burns and that using the
- sap will prevent scar formation. Is that true?
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: It depends upon the type of burn you use the aloe sap to treat. If
- you have a minor burn (superficial) or abrasion, gel from a leaf of the plant
- may be soothing and perhaps mildly healing. There is some scientific evidence
- to support that, but the gel does not prevent scarring.
- Should you suffer a more intense or deeper burn, (the old second and
- third degree burn) or if your wound becomes infected and/or cracked, applying
- aloe gel could do more harm than good. When applied to the skin, aloe vera
- gel, itself, is seldom irritating. Yet, a plant leaf placed directly on a
- burn can be treacherous because the latex which is also found in the leaf is a
- powerful laxative. With some additional care, you can avoid the latex by
- scraping gel from inside the leaf.
- If there is any doubt about the severity of a burn, forget about your
- aloe vera plant and see your physician immediately. There are more effective
- and less doubtful methods for treating these injuries, which may be prone to
- complications of infection if not dealt with properly.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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-