316532 Thu Aug 10 17:52:43 -0700 2006 27 29 Not About Food 0 1799784 Hi! My forearms and hands always seem to have at least one fresh burn on them from reaching into the oven or toaster oven, and I've often got a kitchen knife cut on one of my fingers. I had a nasty but small cut on a finger recently and I was away from first aid, so I got the bright idea to keep squeezing this wet teabag that I had after drinking a cuppa tea. I am still kind of amazed, because the infected cut healed withing an hour. So, I'd like to pass that hint on. It was Just plain black tea. I had read recently in the NY Times about scientific experiments have shown that, contrary to a lot of people's belief, that cuts heal better when exposed to air - actually the opposite is true. Cuts heal better when kept wet and covered. I'm not saying you should abandon antiseptics and bandaids, but this wet tea bag healing was pretty miraculous. Soooo, have you got any handy dandy hints or remedies for kichen mishaps? Thu Aug 10 17:52:43 -0700 2006 23824 niki rothman 1 1799836 Burns, after icing for a minute or two, split open a vitamin E capsule and rub the sticky oil it on the spot, then ice some more. Thu Aug 10 18:11:25 -0700 2006 1799784 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 1799890 Instead of vitamin E (which I'll try next) I use the same icing procedure and plain old white toothpaste. Leave it on and it keeps the burn cool until your body has some time to start repairs. If you leave the toothpaste on overnight, by the time you go to wash it off the next morning you'll be past having any burning sensations. This, of course, is for a minor, non blistering burn. Thu Aug 10 18:30:43 -0700 2006 1799836 11577 Pei 1 1799901 We keep aloe plants for burns and cuts. Thu Aug 10 18:34:27 -0700 2006 1799784 10921 Janet 2 1799992 I've used aloe, but found vitamin E worked better. Thu Aug 10 19:04:25 -0700 2006 1799901 11369 Robert Lauriston 3 1800277 Yup! I have EXTREMELY sensitive skin and a few weeks ago got chemical burns from hair dye and Vitamin E cleared it up in a few days and I have NO scars... YAY! :) --Dommy! Thu Aug 10 20:38:47 -0700 2006 1799992 10659 Dommy 4 1803300 I have sensitive skin, too, and recently found out I am allergic to topical vitamin E in hair products, lotions, soaps, etc! Sat Aug 12 00:50:45 -0700 2006 1800277 16301 Non Cognomina 5 1806650 I'm sorry to hear that. But, It's not surprising, I have a friend who is allergic to Aloe. Sometimes so called "natural products" can be as dangerous as a chemical. My favorite line is "remember! Poison Ivy is 'All Natural'. Anyway, I hope you find something that works for you (I know for me it's been a struggle, I spent most of my life with tough oily skin) like Cocao butter can also be a great skin healer... --Dommy! Mon Aug 14 15:38:26 -0700 2006 1803300 10659 Dommy 1 1799909 The teabag idea is recommended to stop minor bleeding after oral surgery. It usually works. Years ago I had an aloe plant in my front yard and would break off a piece and apply to any cuts. Thu Aug 10 18:36:43 -0700 2006 1799784 13192 chocolatetartguy 1 1800103 I dropped a knife on my foot while doing the dishes. Not a terrible gash, but a decent cut which promptly started to bleed and my dog licked it and it instantly stopped hurting, bleeding and felt better. Hope my dog survives ;-) Thu Aug 10 19:43:15 -0700 2006 1799784 12701 davinagr 2 1800505 Now that's funny! Wonder if there is some antiseptic value to dog saliva? I'm a fan of Burt's Bees Res-Q ointment for burns and cuts. It's a beeswax/olive oil base with comfrey, rosemary and eucalyptus. Works like a dream! Thu Aug 10 21:56:08 -0700 2006 1800103 10556 geg5150 3 1800641 I don't know but I've discovered it works well on mosquito bites too, makes 'em stop itching. My dog is quite the lovebug ;-) Thu Aug 10 22:51:53 -0700 2006 1800505 12701 davinagr 2 1802110 Reminds me of my favorite story, which you now have the misfortune to hear: Hacked my finger cutting a lime. My own blood makes me faint. I hit the deck. After regaining consciousness, I'm telling my husband "I had the weirdest sensation of things crawling all over my face while I was starting to come to." He says "That was the dogs. As soon as you hit the floor they ran over and started licking you." Dogs are so good. Fri Aug 11 17:08:35 -0700 2006 1800103 10471 danna 3 1806760 That's so sweet. Thanks for telling me. Mon Aug 14 16:14:29 -0700 2006 1802110 23824 niki rothman 4 1807769 Awwwww, anytime we can squeeze a dog story into a thread I'm for it. Thanks for making me smile Danna :-) Mon Aug 14 21:48:31 -0700 2006 1806760 12701 davinagr 1 1801243 Not a very odd remedy, but when I get a burn on my finger or forearm (which is often), if I stop everything and put an ice cube on it until the ice is all gone, the burned patch of skin won't develop into anything. If I forget to do the ice cube thing or don't bother, the burn will turn pink and sometimes turn into a dry blister. Like with aloe this is for minor burns only. Fri Aug 11 05:18:44 -0700 2006 1799784 10961 Alice Patis 1 1801354 I knew about the toothpaste on the burns thing. (Apparently, Cindy Crawford uses it to shrink spots, but that's for a different board.) I would only add that you could use lemon juice to lighten any burns or marks that are left, as the acidity in the lemon will naturally bleach just about anything. TT Fri Aug 11 10:00:51 -0700 2006 1799784 19247 TexasToast 2 1806755 I use toothpaste and brush as a handy silver polish too. Mon Aug 14 16:13:37 -0700 2006 1801354 23824 niki rothman 1 1803323 Whenever I get a finger cut while I'm cooking, I clean it, dry it, and apply superglue immediately. It seals the cut, is watertight, and isn't as cumbersome as a bandaid when you are cooking. (By the way, superglue was originally invented to be used instead of stitches for people undergoing major surgery. The FDA didn't want to approve it, so it was marketed to stick to everything else. Interestingly, it is now sold as "liquid bandaid.") When I get a burn, I soak a cottonball with lavendar essential oil and stick it onto the burn with the help of a bandaid. Works like a charm. Sat Aug 12 00:58:27 -0700 2006 1799784 16301 Non Cognomina 2 1804548 As most regulars know, I had back surgery last month. No stitches! Superglue instead. Amazing stuff for something like that. I do keep the Liquid Band-Aid on hand too. Works really well. Sat Aug 12 23:42:53 -0700 2006 1803323 10285 Candy 3 1806747 Amazing! Get well soon! Mon Aug 14 16:11:58 -0700 2006 1804548 23824 niki rothman 2 1806751 Amazing about the superglue! How do you get it off when the skin is healed? Mon Aug 14 16:12:54 -0700 2006 1803323 23824 niki rothman 1 1803414 When I unfortunately discovered that bright orange thing on the top of the oven is really freaking hot (insert sound of singe here) i immediately shoved my knuckle under cold water and then iced for ten minutes. Not a cure but helpful. for less violent burns cold water for a few seconds and then ice it later. I forgot about the teabag, used it often years ago, thanks. Cuts. Minor ones I grab some neosporin and a bandaid and worry about it after dinner. I sliced a piece of the tip of my finger using a vegetable peeling and a cucumber that kept bleeding and I needed to go to a whole new level. I grabbed a septic pencil and shoved it into the wound (insert the sound of major pain here). But it worked. Two seconds of sheer pain and it was over. A little neosporin and a bandaid and back to my knives. Sat Aug 12 02:02:26 -0700 2006 1799784 11290 jfood 2 1805462 jf, hope it was a "styptic" pencil you used, o/w you're going to need antibiotics.... Sun Aug 13 20:54:34 -0700 2006 1803414 12889 Taralli 2 1806746 One of my fave home remedies for burns and muscle strain is to keep a bag of frozen peas in my freezer - makes the best cold pack Plus, it's edible, of course! Mon Aug 14 16:11:18 -0700 2006 1803414 23824 niki rothman 1 1803487 Never butter a burn. While having dinner with friends at El Cholo, a waiter brought someone's fajita platter (a cast iron comal) over to the table and pushed it onto my finger. It reddened and blistered immediately and I was in a lot of pain considering the burn was only an inch long. The manager came by and tossed a packet of some sort of unguent-stuff for me to apply. All it did was make for a fried finger. Ice water was the only relief. I slept in a chair that night with my finger immersed in ice water. About 7 or 8 hours after the burning incident it stopped hurting and I could go to sleep. Since then, I have treated all burns with ice water. Cecilia Sat Aug 12 03:07:51 -0700 2006 1799784 10493 sassille 1 1809070 I have an aunt who swears that bag baum is the cure all for any ailment ( kind of like what men think about duct tape!). It works for burns, and cuts. Also- if you slice your finger, MAry Kay extra emollient night cream helps the wound heal quickly. Great for paper cuts, too. Tue Aug 15 14:58:42 -0700 2006 1799784 11057 macca