Complementary Therapy

Nutrition and Diet Supplement
-Often given high-calorie, high-protein diets to speed recovery
-Eat antioxidant food (beta-carotene, vitamin C and E)
*Fruits : blueberries, tomatoes, cherries, papaya, guava etc.
*Vegetables : broccoli, spinach, green pepper etc.
^neutralize free radicals by offering their own electrons
-Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy) or beans for protein.
-Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
-Avoid fatty food (saturated fats, trans-fats) and processed food
-Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.
-Vitamin C (1,000 mg two to six times per day)
*helps skin heal by enhancing new tissue growth and strength.
-Vitamin E (400 - 800 IU a day) promotes healing.
*May be used topically once the burn has healed and new skin has formed.
*Higher doses may help in healing burns.
-Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 - 2 capsules or 1 tablespoonful oil, one to two times daily
*to help decrease inflammation, and for healing and immunity.
*Cold-water fish, such as salmon or halibut, are good sources.
-Coenzyme Q10
*for antioxidant and immune activity.

Herbs
-Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) as a cream
*contains chemicals called triterpenoids
*In animal and lab studies, these compounds appear to help heal wounds.
*For example, some studies indicate that triterpenoids strengthen the skin, boost antioxidants in wounds, and increase blood supply to the area

-Calendula (Calendula officinalis), or pot marigold
*contains high amounts of flavonoids, plant-based antioxidants
*Animal studies show that calendula does appear to speed wound healing, possibly by increasing blood flow to the wounded area and by helping the body produce collagen proteins, which are used to heal skin and connective tissue.

-Aloe Vera
*“Burn plant”
*contains over 75 known active ingredients including a wide range Vitamins A,B,C,and E, antioxidant, minerals, calcium, essential Amino Acids, Sugars, Digestive Enzymes, Anti-inflammatory Enzymes, Plant Sterols, Lignin, Saponins, Anthraquinones and more.
stimulate skin growth and repair
*ability to provide essential nutrients needed to promote healthy tissue growth
^by reducing inflammation
^killing bacteria and other foreign organisms
*Aloe Vera’s cooling effect offers instant relief from burns
^prevent, or greatly reduce, blistering when applied immediately after receiving a burn.
*In a review of the scientific literature, researchers found that patients who were treated with aloe vera healed an average of almost 9 days sooner than those who weren't treated with the medicinal plant.

-Honey
*Current interest in medicinal honey focuses largely on its antibacterial effects.
*It is acidic
^prevent infection
*High concentration of sugar
^absorb fluid that weeps from the wound
*Contains natural plant chemicals that are anti-bacterial.
*May help the body remove dead tissue
*Anti-inflammatory activity reduces edema and minimizes scarring
*Stimulates growth of granulation and epithelial tissues to speed healing
*Removes malodor
*Hydrogen Peroxide
^When honey is applied as a wound dressing, it is diluted with fluids from the damaged tissue and
^combines with an enzyme added by the bee to form hydrogen peroxide
^the same antiseptic found in drugstores.
^Diluted honey- an excellent antiseptic
^naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide won’t harm the tissues and no scarring will occur.
*The evidence :
^level 2 evidence that honey is effective for healing superficial burns and scalds.
^unclear what type of honey product (eg, natural honey, medicated dressings) is best for burns.
^not safe or effective as a dressing for more serious burns (level 2 evidence).
^None of the honey-based or other dressings tested were reported to cause adverse effects.
*Ancient Egyptian surgical texts recommended using honey on wounds, and some animal studies and trials suggest the sweet solution may speed up healing.

Acupuncture
-Electrical Stimulation
*Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses controlled, low-voltage electrical stimulation of the skin to relieve pain.
*Recent studies have suggested that TENS applied to acupuncture points (called electroacupuncture) on the ear (auricular acupuncture) may relieve pain for people with burns.

Masssage Therapy
-"hands-on" therapy
-muscles and other soft tissues of the body are manipulated to improve health and well-being.
-electrical signals are transmitted both to the local area and throughout the body
*heal damaged muscle,
*stimulate circulation,
*clear waste products via the lymphatic system,
*boost the activity of the immune system,
*reduce pain and tension, and
*induce a calming effect.
*stimulate the release of endorphins (natural painkillers and mood elevators)
*reducing levels of certain stress hormones.
-People receiving a massage reported significantly less itching, pain, anxiety, and depressed mood compared to those who received standard care only.

Physical Therapy
-to improve movement and function of the areas affected by a burn.
-reduce scar formation.
-Practices include :
*Body and limb positioning
*Splinting
*Help with activities of daily living until normal function and ability are recovered
*Passive (physical therapist moves the person's limbs) and active exercises
*Help with walking

Homeopathy
-important principles : dilution and succussion.
*Remedies are diluted and then "succussed," or shaken,
^to increase their potency.
-act as catalysts that aid the body's inherent healing mechanisms
-Examples:
*Place the burned area in cold water until the pain goes away (at least a few minutes).
*Arnica Montana -- taken orally immediately after the burn.
*Hypericum perforatum -- used on the skin if there are sharp, shooting pains with the burn.
*Causticum -- taken orally for burning pains with great rawness (as from an open wound) or when there are long-term physical or emotional symptoms after a burn.

Mind Body Medicine
-healing that uses the power of thoughts and emotions to positively influence physical health
-Hypnotise
*a person's body relaxes
^thoughts become more focused and attentive -in the state of deep concentration
^people are highly responsive to a hypnotherapist's suggestions.
^reduce pain and anxiety and enhance relaxation

-Therapeutic Touch
*based on the theory that the body, mind, and emotions form a complex energy field
*correct the body's imbalances by moving their hands just over the body.
^"the laying on of hands.“
*studies have shown conflicting results

Maggot Therapy
-For maggots to function optimally :
*require a moist environment;
*saline soaks were therefore applied for 48 hours
*to moisten the wound
^remove excess SSD prior to application of maggots.
-Maggot secretions appear to
*amplify the healing effects of host epidermal growth factor
^allantoin and urea (antimicrobial activity)
^calcium carbonate (stimulation of phagocytosis) and
^proteolytic enzymes (slough/necrotic tissue breakdown)
^The resultant enzymatic degradation products are subsequently ingested and digested by the maggots.
-Micromassage of the wound by maggot movement is thought to
*stimulate the formation of granulation tissue and wound exudate by the host
-accelerated debridement of slough and necrosis
-a reduction in the bacterial load of the wound,
*leading to earlier healing, reduced wound odour and less pain.
-Evidence suggests that maggots can be used successfully in a wide variety of wounds (trauma, vascular, infected, malignant and a single report in an infected burn wound