Comfort for the Burned and Wounded. The book was published in 1999

Editor’s Introductory Note: The following is a eview and summary of a book by John W. Keim. This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice. Get any patient with severe burns to a hospital emergency room, immediately.

If you have an interest in herbal medicine or just want to be prepared if modern medical care is not available in the future, I recommend reading this wonderfully informative book that I discovered a few years ago. The book is titled “Comfort for the Burned and Wounded”, by John W. Keim. Mr. Keim is not a medical professional; he is an Amish farmer and wrote this book based on his decades of experience helping people in his community. He describes his method very thoroughly and clearly, providing many case studies. The case studies are informative, detailed, and inspiring.

The book was first published in 1999, and is getting harder to find, but is still available if you search online. It is a small paperback, so it can even be put in your medical kit. I’m going to take you through the highlights and add additional information that I have learned through my studies of herbal medicine.

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed medical professional. This information is provided only for informational and entertainment purposes. This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure any human or animal.

Keim’s basic approach is to immediately extinguish the flames or fire by using water or snow, smother with fireproof blanket, use the “stop, drop and roll” method or a proper extinguisher for chemical burns. Once the flames are extinguished then cool the burn, apply an ointment or salve and then apply dried leaves that have been scalded in hot water to the burn (let them cool before applying over the wound).

JWR Adds This Important Proviso: Keep in mind that burn ointments should not be applied to severe burns where there is any chance that the burn victim is headed to the hospital. For many years, the standard procedure by hospital staff has been to remove anything covering/coating a burn by irrigation, or if need be, by debridement. The latter can be incredibly painful. Also, note that any “do-it-yourself” burn treatments for anything worse than first-degree burns may result in permanent scarring.

Wrap the leaves with gauze and a towel, then replace every 12 hours. He prefers to use burdock leaves but has had success with many other leaves. Burdock (Arctium lappa) leaves also help stop bleeding, but do not work as well as Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) leaves.

Other leaves that can be used

Comfrey – excellent for stopping bleeding and is a excellent cell proliferent. Use externally only.
Plantain (Plantago major) – effective, but too small, need a lot and are harder to find
Grape leaves – the younger the better
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) leaves – would need a lot, excellent for treating mastitis (inflammation of the breast or udder).
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) leaf – will stop bleeding, including vaginal. Use scalded leaves or tea.
Tree leaves – just about any deciduous tree leaf will work in an emergency
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) leaves – Yarrow leaves are very effective at controlling bleeding. Yarrow is an antiseptic, helps reduce pain, heals wounds and is anti-inflammatory.
Other: The author has successfully used alfalfa (Medicago sativa) sprouts and even regular lettuce from the grocery store.
Sphagnum Moss was used during World War I to dress wounds when sterile bandages were in short supply, and it was effective at fighting and preventing infection. An informative article was published in the Smithsonian magazine in 2017. Links to other academic articles on the subject: Hotson, J. W. (1921). Sphagnum Used as Surgical Dressing in Germany during the World War (Concluded). The Bryologist, 24(6), 89-96. Morton, E., Winters, J., & Smith, L. (2010). An analysis of antiseptic and antibiotic properties of variously treated mosses and lichen.

Harvesting, drying and storage

Harvest young burdock leaves before the ribs form. If you can’t get them early, then cut out the ribs. Preferably, only the leaves from first-year plants should be used. Burdock is a biennial plant, meaning that its full life cycle takes two growing seasons, and it will produce seed after the second growing season, so avoid taking leaves from plants with a large seed stalk. After harvesting, dry to a moisture content of between 8 to 10%, they still should be a little pliable. Do not allow them to get wet or moldy during drying. The best way to store them is to pack them in a cardboard box, before they become brittle and never put them in plastic. If you don’t have dried leaves available, then fresh leaves can be used.

Treatment

The first step for treating a burn is cooling the burn. Ice or snow is very effective at this. Cool before attempting to remove clothing or footwear. The leaves should be prepared for use by scalding in very hot water (170 to 180 deg F. – USE CAUTION). Use a fork or other implement to submerge and remove. You will know the leaves are ready when the water darkens, dried leaves typically take 45 seconds to 2 minutes and fresh leaves take a little longer. Hold scalded leaves over the pan to drain and then place in another pan to cool down. Once they are cool, then slightly squeeze to remove excess water- a little on the moist side is better.

When the leaves are ready, apply a coat of burn ointment or salve to the burned area and then place the leaves over it. The ointment should be applied at least 1/8 inch thick. If the burn is too sensitive, then the ointment can be applied to the leaf and then applied. Large burns can use up to one pound per day of ointment, so it’s essential to keep a large supply on hand. Wrap the leaves with some gauze and then apply a towel or blanket for a top wrap. The leaves should be removed every 12 hours and the process should be repeated until the wound or burn is fully healed. The leaves should not stick to the wound if applied properly and with the proper amount of ointment. Mr. Keim points out that none of the people he has treated with this method have ever developed an infection.

Burn ointment or salves are important to consider. You can make a classic burn ointment by combing equal parts comfrey leaves or roots (chopped up fine or powder, either fresh or dried), wheat germ oil, and raw honey.ⁱ

A substitute for the classic burn ointment is to mix Dr. Christopher’s Complete Tissue and Bone Formula, in either paste or powdered form, with wheat germ oil and honey.ⁱⁱ

If you don’t have these options available, just using raw honey is a very good option. Some medical studies have been conducted over the years about the benefits of honey. Mr. Keim tells about a study conducted in China with over 50,000 patients that made full recoveries using raw honey to treat their burns. Raw honey has also proven to be successful for treating surgical wounds. A tea made with goldenseal is an excellent infection fighter and can be sprayed (after cooling) over wounds and burns. Mr. Keim also details several other salves and explains the actions of the individual herbs.

Other Beneficial Dressings

Ginger (Zingiber officinale )- Crush fresh ginger onto a cotton ball and apply to the burn. Relieves pain and reduces blisters and inflammation.

Clay – Apply gauze to the burn and then apply clay directly over it. This should be done immediately, and the application should be removed and re-applied every hour until new tissue forms. Once healing has begun the frequency can be reduced, but still three to four poultices should be applied every day.

Lard and Flour – Mix two parts of wheat flour and one part of un-salted lard into a paste. Cool the burn and then apply the paste directly to the burn, covering with a wrap to keep the paste in place. The consistency of the paste is very important, so proportions may differ from the prescribed two-to-one ratio. To test for the proper consistency, apply some paste to the back of your hand. After five minutes, it should be greasy, but should not run off. The dressings should be changed every four hours.

Aloe Vera Pulp – The leaves of aloe vera plants can be split and then used as a dressing for burns.

Grated potatoes – Grate raw potatoes over the wound and seal with honey. It is unclear in my mind what additional value the potato provides over just using honey.

Egg Whites- Beat the egg whites until foamy and apply immediately to the burn location.

Ground flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) – Ground flaxseed is not used for burns, but the author claims it is excellent for using as a poultice on tumors, after they have been drawn out of the body using other salves.

Sprains and Sores

The burdock leaf poultice has also been successfully used for treating sprains and leg sores. The poultice should only be applied to the sprained location after a full day of icing. After icing, the poultice will reduce the swelling and pain. The author reports they are effective for treating sore legs, but the poultice should only be applied overnight. He states that continual use will keep the sore too wet and this can cause a skin rash.

Tongue Diagnosis and Diet

The author explains that the appearance of the burn patient’s tongue can determine the severity of the burn and can indicate if the burn has caused the very serious and possibly deadly condition of septicemia (now called sepsis). Sepsis is blood poisoning caused by bacteria and if it develops into septic shock, the death rate is around fifty percent.ⁱⁱⁱ

When the burns are severe, the tongue will become red with purplish patches. This color change will appear more quickly and will be more conspicuous when the burn is more severe and covers a larger area. It will typically appear as soon as a couple hours after the burn occurs, up until twenty-four hours. If sepsis is present the tongue will turn red or cardinal red and will have a prominent fungiform papilla. The author explains this as: “similar to a mushroom development into a pimple or nipple”.

Mr. Keim discusses research conducted at the Shriners Hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania to show the importance of a healthy diet for burn patients. Burn patients on high-protein, low-fat, linoleic-acid restricted diets with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, arginine, cysteine, histidine, vitamin A, zinc and vitamin C experienced less infections and spent less time in the hospital.iv When glutamine, arginine and omega-3 fatty acids are consumed at two to seven times the normal diet levels, the burn patients recover much better. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids can alter the inflammatory and immunological responses of the burn patients.

Other Issues

Treating the burned skin is not the only issue that needs to be addressed with severe burns. The book discusses scorched lungs, shock, dehydration, and infection.

Scorched lungs are very serious and extreme cases could be fatal for the burn victim. The author advises that the patient needs oxygen and should go to the hospital immediately and this is excellent advice. If modern medical facilities are not available then the options are limited but could include rescue breathing or using a manual resuscitator and using herbs that will dilate the bronchial tubes and heal the lungs. Some herbs that could be used are green tea, coffee, Brigham tea (Ephedra viridis), mullein (Verbascum Thapsus), or comfrey however that is beyond the scope of this article.

Shock affects the flow of blood through the body and can be caused by injury or psychological trauma. It can ultimately lead to organ failure and possibly death. The range of signs and symptoms are long and can include: rapid or weak pulse, irregular heartbeat, rapid and shallow breathing, cool clammy skin, dilated pupils, chest pain, nausea, confusion or loss of consciousness.^v

Burn victims are very likely to experience shock and should seek immediate medical care by a medical professional if it is available. Mr. Keim recommends giving the victim electrolytes if they are conscious, He recommends starting with one quart of water and add one teaspoon salt, half teaspoon soda bicarbonate, two tablespoons sugar or honey, then add some orange or lemon juice. Some other treatments that are recommended for shock are hot water, lemon and honey to taste and then adding ten drops of cayenne tincture per cup of water.^vi Another effective treatment is to add 1/8 cup of honey, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, one teaspoon cayenne pepper to one cup of warm water.^vii

Dehydration is likely to show with severe burn patients after two or three days. It is a very serious condition that can lead to shock. Ideally, the patient will be treated at a medical facility where intravenous fluids can be administered. Just providing the patient with orally-administered water will not prevent or cure dehydration. If professional care is not available, the patient will need to receive electrolytes. If the person is conscious, then it is simply a matter of having them drink lots of fluids, but never try to force an unconscious person to consume fluids.

Mr. Keim states that he has never seen a patient experience infection if they follow the process that he has developed, but it is a very real possibility particularly for more serious burns or wounds. Professional medical care should be consulted. If professional care is not available, then keep the burn or wound as clean as possible and use over the counter (OTC) antibiotic ointments or herbal remedies to prevent it from becoming serious.

I hope you have found this book summary informative and that will get a copy of the book if this subject interests you. It has some very valuable lessons for treating minor injuries during normal times and addressing more serious injuries if modern medical care is not available.