Feeling the burn!

OK... it's confession time. I am a klutz! Yup... a totally clumsy goof, and as the designated family cook, this comes with it's own perils and challenges. I honestly cannot count the number of burns and cuts I have received over the years, dating right back to my university years, when I first learned (badly) how to tackle an electric stove and its elements of torture! Well, it was only a matter of time before my kitchen minefield would find me yet another daily use for my new Reiki skills. In fact, it only took a few days...

I distinctly recall Jan teaching me a method for treating a fresh burn. (I even remember thinking at the time "Oh, this one is SO for me!") So, when I gave myself a nasty steam burn on a finger, that week, I figured it was time to give it a try. Honestly, I felt pretty silly at the time. As I sat there monotonously blowing away in the method we had been taught, I could not help thinking to myself "I don't think this is going to work... I should've put it under the tap straight away. I feel silly. I wonder if it is too late to try the cold water now??"

Doing this for 5 minutes felt, at the time, like an eternity. I had the dinner to finish cooking and this was taking FOR-EV-EEEERRRRR.... and then I crossed the 5 minute barrier... and the burning sensation stopped. "Hmmm... interesting... maybe it is actually working?" My patience and the awaiting dinner preparation could not wait any longer, so I stopped and continued with cooking.

Now, I don't know what your experience of burns are, but mine (and remember, I have extensive practical research in this field!) are that the initial cooling of the burn helps at first, but you will experience a little re-heating of the wound a few times over the coming hours. The next day, you will often meet Mr Blister (and maybe a few of his friends) who don't take kindly to any contact with warm or hot water. Well, the follow-up from THIS burn was very different. I had no residual sensation in the hours that followed, no blistering, and you could barely see any indication of the original burn the next day. Result!!

A photo taken the day after the steam burn - can you spot the injured finger??