How does one treat burns? And what about sunburn? Bright red shoulders and sleepless nights. Other than cooling the burn immediately by running cold water over it for 5 to 10 minutes, there is little if anything that makes much difference – except wheatgrass. Let me illustrate using one of my own patients’ experience.

An 18 year old university student approaching final examinations spilt boiling hot soup over her hand while waitressing at a nearby restaurant. She had what appeared to be second degree burns and the whole palm was affected.  She was in severe pain. Desperate that her final examinations were imminent (she writes with the burnt hand), she was also facing eviction for overdue rent. If she didn’t work, she would be on the street.

At least two to three weeks off work. Painful, difficult daily dressing changes, wound debridement, pain management, infection risk and a possible allergic reaction from antibiotic creams crossed my mind as possibities. High medical costs to her employer would also be on the cards. He would need replacement staff and expect an increase in workers’ compensation insurance costs.

After soaking and cleansing the wound, I applied wheatgrass Skin Recovery Cream and a thick, firm dressing as protection and prescribed a strong analgesic. I told her she would most likely be able to return to work the next day, but she tearfully shook her head.

I have seen many burns recover as quickly and I often wonder if there are other equally effective topicals available. Wheatgrass reduces or prevents blistering and fluid loss, minimises the risk of bacterial infection and prevents scarring. Even if skin is lost, it regenerates much more quickly than by conventional treatments.

How does wheatgrass achieve such remarkable healing? It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory, but it also appears to influence gene expression – the rate at which DNA produces various proteins involved in the healing process. Exactly what this process is, is unknown, but chlorophyll was used for burns treatment in the 30′s (see research). Standard medical treatment for burns is application of silver sulfadiazine, an anti-bacterial cream. This helps prevent infection, but it does nothing for healing.

Imagine the potential savings to the insurance and health industries if doctors were open to using wheatgrass for burns. It’s cheap, effective, no prescription is required – and it works.

Kind regards,
Dr. Chris Reynolds. M.B.,B.S.