The Foolproof Burn Remedy I Actually Tested

What would Rebecca do if someone burned their hand in the kitchen?

She’d reach for her satchel, plus have detailed instructions that work. (I’m sharing a foolproof remedy below!)

As part of my research into medieval healing, I attended a herb workshop. I learned so much! There’s a world of difference between reading about something and actually doing it with your own two hands.

It was a women-only session (fitting, since herbal medicine was long the domain of women). Except for the theoretical research I’ve done, yours truly was pretty clueless. I kept raising my hand with what felt like the silliest questions,(i.e., Which works better, fresh rosemary or dried? Answer: fresh). But the host was endlessly patient, and the atmosphere so welcoming, I never once felt out of place.

We made lavender sachets to scent our cupboards, and crafted a rich calendula cream, using shea butter and beeswax. Fun fact: calendula is named for its flowering pattern: it blossoms at the start of each month.

A few days later, I managed to burn my hand while cooking. I tested the workshop’s recommended burn remedy, and … it worked!

Esther Knight's herb workshop: calendula in a bowl

🌿 Foolproof Burn Remedy:

1. Crack an egg and whisk it in a bowl​

2. Soak the burn for 15 minutes​

3. Apply calendula cream generously, and often.

In Rebecca’s world, calendula, lavender, and rosemary were all household staples. You’ll find them in her satchel, and in the pages of my mysteries.