The Burn that Didn't Blister

A couple of months ago, I made a stupid mistake that I am sure I am destined to make again and again as time goes on: I burned myself removing a pan from the oven. Although I was trying to be safe and used a hot mitt, I still managed to grab the side of the pan with my bare fingers, burning the tips of them.

It was incredibly painful.

As per usual with me, I didn't have any over-the-counter cremes or ointments to use on the burn (I tend to not stock too much OTC products at my house in general). My husband was out and about, so I immediately thought to call him and ask him to stop at the store and buy something for me to put on the burns.

Generally I wouldn't panic over something like this, but I make my living as a massage therapist, so my fingers are very, very valuable. Almost immediately, I mentally began to assess the damage and tried to figure out the best way (if it was at all possible) to wrap my wounds so that I would be able to make it to my eight hour shift the next day.

My finger tips throbbed.

Suddenly, I remembered a book that my mother bought me a while back about home remedies. It's called: The Guide to Remedies, Homeopathy, Essential Oils, Crystals, Home Remedies by Barnes and Noble.

Instead of calling my husband, I went to the book shelf and located the home remedy guide. In the first-aid section dedicated to burns, scalds and sunburn, a few home remedies were listed for the type of first degree burn that I was experiencing.

The first remedy listed described using plain yogurt of the burn to keep it cool. Well, it just so happened that I had a tub of plain yogurt in the refrigerator, so I pulled it out and, not wanting to waste any time, I dunked my fingers straight into the carton.

The burning stopped immediately.

Huh.

I followed the instructions in the book, and not only did the pain subside immediately, but the burns never even blistered. By the next morning I couldn't even tell I had burned myself. It was wonderful. And now I know where to go the next time something unexpected happens in my house. The answer isn't always: the nearest drug store.