Burns and sunburn

Pineapple

Ananas comosus

A sterile bromelain-enriched enzyme concentrate (NexoBrid) is approved by the EMA (2012) and the US FDA (2022) for removing eschar from deep partial- and full-thickness thermal burns. In the US pivotal trial, 93% of patients had at least 95% eschar removal versus 4% with the gel vehicle. This is a hospital procedure, not a home use of pineapple.

Mānuka

Leptospermum scoparium

Cochrane (2015, 26 trials of honey in general, not only mānuka): high-quality evidence that honey dressings heal partial-thickness burns about 4.7 days faster than conventional dressings; no difference from silver sulfadiazine in healing within 6 weeks, with fewer adverse events.

Western honey bee

Apis mellifera

A 2015 Cochrane review found high-quality evidence from 2 trials (992 people) that honey dressings heal partial-thickness burns about 4.7 days faster than conventional dressings; compared with silver sulfadiazine, healing within 6 weeks was similar but adverse events were fewer.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera

Clinical research suggests topical aloe gel may speed burn healing and reduce burn pain; WHO notes faster healing of first- and second-degree thermal and radiation burns in studies of gel preparations.

Cuachalalate

Amphipterygium adstringens

In mice with burns infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a folk remedy (washing with a bark infusion and applying powdered bark) increased survival by 50% and reduced spread of the bacteria; the extract reduced bacterial virulence rather than killing the bacteria.

Gotu kola (Indian pennywort)

Centella asiatica

WHO cites studies in which extracts were used on second- and third-degree burns; the trials are small and dated.

Great burnet

Sanguisorba officinalis

Widely used in China for wounds, especially burns. A root polysaccharide given orally (50 and 200 mg/kg) sped wound contraction and healing of burns in mice; no clinical trials were found.

Gumbo-limbo

Bursera simaruba

Bark macerations are washed over burns and other skin complaints in Mesoamerica. Lipophilic bark extracts reduced experimental ear swelling in mice when applied to the skin; there are no human data.

Henna

Lawsonia inermis

Leaf extracts inhibit bacteria that infect burn wounds in the laboratory, and one small trial compared a henna–beeswax ointment with silver sulfadiazine cream for second-degree burns.

Oat

Avena sativa

EMA traditional use for sunburn and as an aid in healing minor wounds. In 35 burns patients, a bath oil with 5% colloidal oatmeal reduced itch and antihistamine use compared with liquid paraffin alone (assessor-blinded).

Pot marigold

Calendula officinalis

In a randomised trial of 254 women having radiotherapy after breast-cancer surgery, calendula ointment reduced grade 2 or worse radiation dermatitis (41% vs 63%) and radiation pain compared with trolamine cream. EMA also lists traditional use for sunburn.

Sea buckthorn

Hippophae rhamnoides

In a triple-blind trial in 55 patients with second-degree burns in Iran, sea buckthorn cream dressings healed burns faster than 1% silver sulfadiazine. A single small trial.

Siam weed

Chromolaena odorata

Eupolin ointment, made from an aqueous leaf extract, is used for soft-tissue wounds and burns in Vietnam; the 1998 study describing it cites earlier clinical studies that were not available to check.

Sweet woodruff

Galium odoratum

In a rat second-degree burn model, topical woodruff extract formulations improved wound contraction and tissue healing; the active constituents were not identified. Animal data only.

American spikenard

Aralia racemosa

The Cherokee used the ooze of beaten roots as a wash for burns.

Amur cork tree

Phellodendron amurense

WHO records traditional use for burns, skin wounds and sores.

Annatto

Bixa orellana

Seeds and leaves are used for burns in Brazilian and Nicaraguan folk medicine.

Argan

Argania spinosa

Traditionally used on burns and chapped skin.

Balm of Gilead

Commiphora gileadensis

The bark exudate is applied to burns in Yemen, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Banana

Musa acuminata

Banana peel is used in local and traditional practice to promote wound healing, mainly after burns. Not tested in trials.

Black poplar

Populus nigra

The bark was applied to sunburn, insect bites and bruises.

Blue flag

Iris versicolor

Tête-de-Boule and Meskwaki people applied root poultices to burns.

Borneo camphor

Dryobalanops aromatica

Applied for limited painful conditions including burns and joint pain on the basis of its anti-inflammatory and analgesic action.

Broadleaf plantain

Plantago major

Leaves are applied to burns in India and among Thai hill peoples; untested in people.

Burn jelly plant

Bulbine frutescens

Recorded as a burn treatment in Afrikaans folk use; not tested clinically for burns.

Candelabra aloe

Aloe arborescens

Used in South African traditional medicine for burns and abrasions; lyophilised leaf gel promoted closure in a cell scratch test and was not genotoxic to skin fibroblasts in vitro.

Cleavers

Galium aparine

A folk recipe of butter mixed with the fresh juice is used as an ointment for scalds, burns and swelling. Estonian authors also cite traditional use for burns and skin diseases. Not clinically tested.

Corn smut

Ustilago maydis

Used in Mexico for skin burns, blisters, pimples, baby rashes and wounds.

Fish poison tree

Barringtonia asiatica

Seeds grated and mixed with coconut cream are applied to burns and ringworm, according to a 1998 WHO regional compilation cited in a 2020 Philippine study.

Giant puffball

Calvatia gigantea

The Māori of New Zealand used puffballs to stem bleeding and treat burns, as well as eating them.

Ivy gourd

Coccinia grandis

Leaves applied to burns in traditional practice; not tested clinically.

Japanese angelica

Angelica acutiloba

Shiunkō is traditionally applied to burns, chilblains and cracked skin.

Japanese knotweed

Reynoutria japonica

TCM uses include scalds, bruises, snake bites and carbuncles.

Joe-Pye weed

Eutrochium purpureum

The Forest Potawatomi applied a poultice of fresh leaves to burns.

Jurema

Mimosa tenuiflora

Aqueous bark extracts are widely used for burns and wound healing in Central and South America; bark polysaccharides stimulated human skin fibroblasts in the lab.

Labrador tea

Rhododendron groenlandicum

Cree healers applied powdered-leaf ointment or leaf-and-grease poultices to burns and scalds, and the Chippewa a powder containing the root.

Lady's mantle

Alchemilla vulgaris

Leaf powder is used for burns in the Taza region of Morocco, according to an ethnobotanical survey cited in a 2025 review.

Lentil

Vicia lens

Pliny records parboiled, sieved lentil meal with a little honey as a dressing for burns, and lentil poultices for abscesses and sores. Not clinically tested.

Narrow-leaved coneflower

Echinacea angustifolia

Dakota, Omaha and Pawnee people washed burns with the plant juice to ease the pain.

Oriental sweetgum

Liquidambar orientalis

Part of the same Turkish folk use; not tested clinically.

Pale purple coneflower

Echinacea pallida

Cheyenne and Sioux used a root decoction as a wash or dressing for burns; Dakota applied a root poultice to inflamed skin.

Papaya

Carica papaya

Mashed ripe fruit pulp has been used as a burns dressing in a paediatric unit in The Gambia to remove dead tissue before grafting; this is a descriptive report, not a controlled trial.

Purple gromwell

Lithospermum erythrorhizon

Used for centuries in Chinese medicine for burns, and Shiunkō is a Japanese topical medicine for burns and dermatitis.

Sandarac tree

Tetraclinis articulata

Powdered leaves are sprinkled straight onto burns in Moroccan practice, and a paste with honey and alum is applied to burns and skin problems.

Tamanu

Calophyllum inophyllum

The oil is used across French Polynesia for burns and sunburn.

Wild hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens

The Cherokee applied a poultice of scraped bark to burns and to 'risings' (boils), and used the plant for ulcers.

Wild verbena

Pentanisia prunelloides

Pounded roots are applied to burns. No experimental burn studies were found.