Blisters can be painful and irritating. What can you do with them? How can they be treated? Have you thought of borage?
What are Blisters?
Intense friction against the skin can cause blisters. Sores appear on the skin from over use of the hands or feet such as working in the garden or wearing new shoes. But what you might not realize is that the blister is nature’s way of healing and protecting.
A blister is a protective cover of a sore. It contains water to keep the sore moist and allow it to heal. Too many times, people think a blister needs to be burst open. That actually hinders the healing process. You want to keep the blister as long as possible.
But what if it does burst open? You have several options with borage being one of them.
What is Borage?
Borage is an annual herb that is very attractive with little blue flowers and is commonly used in culinary arts especially in salads. This plant can be found in sunny places including along the road. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia and Africa though it can be grown in North America.
The best borage to use is fresh, but that is not always possible. For the winter months, collect borage leaves throughout the summer and dry them. They will last until the next growing season if they are dried right and stored properly.
Use of Borage for Blisters
If you have a blister that needs some medicinal attention before infection sets in, borage leaves could be what you need. A poultice works great.
Boil the leaves in water. You don’t want a lot of water. Just enough to create steeped leaves. Some people add oatmeal to the mix to thicken the poultice and use the healing properties of the oatmeal. The end result you are looking for is a paste to put over the blister.
Lay the poultice over the blister and put a bandage over it to keep the poultice in place. Clean it off in a few hours and put fresh borage poultice over it and repeat.
Fresh or dried borage leaves can be used. Keep a stock of dried leaves around just in case. During the summer have a few borage plants available for easy access.
Remember to not burst a blister open. Let nature heal it. If it does burst open, use nature through borage leaves to naturally heal your skin.
Sources:
Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs
Everywoman’s Guide to Natural Home Remedies
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