Natural Health: Hot tea burnt the roof of my mouth and it's difficult to eat
Drink soothing herbal teas made with cold water rather than boiling water, like chamomile
Burning the roof of your mouth is painful and frustrating, but it typically only lasts for a day or two since the delicate tissues in the mouth tend to heal more rapidly. The fact that you are having trouble eating will certainly be part of the problem, as the body needs nutrients to recover.
One of the easiest ways around this is to drink soothing herbal teas made with cold water rather than boiling water. Cold infusions work best when the herbal infusion is prepared the night before drinking the tea.
Chamomile, spearmint, and calendula are my favourite calming and anti-inflammatory herbs for cold infusions. You can use a single herb or any combination of these three. Add a heaped tablespoon of dried herbs to a litre of cold water, then steep overnight. Strain the herbs and drink the herb-infused water throughout the day.
Aloe vera juice is excellent for any burn — make sure it is pure aloe juice rather than flavoured sugary aloe drinks. You will need to take around 20ml and hold it in your mouth for as long as possible before swallowing. Do this two to three times daily for best results.
Foods such as cucumber (without the peel to make it softer), yoghurt, and raw honey help heal and soothe the mouth. Other soft, nutrient-dense foods include mashed avocado, warm bone broth, and smoothies.
Oil pulling with coconut oil is another good way to relieve the discomfort of a burned palate. This technique is used in Ayurvedic herbalism to improve oral health.
Swish a teaspoon of virgin organic coconut oil in your mouth until it becomes a fine liquid, then spit it out in the bin or garden (not down the drain). Coconut oil is also well known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which are added benefits.
Oil pulling is not a substitute for regular oral hygiene practices and should be done alongside brushing, flossing, tongue cleaning, and saltwater rinses.
If the pain and discomfort don’t improve or worsen and the area is not healing, consult your doctor to investigate further.
The skin becomes thinner with age, particularly during the menopause. Our hands, being constantly in use and exposed to soap and detergents more regularly, are far more susceptible to thinning and dryness than the rest of the body.
A range of natural topical options can help. However, you will benefit most when you nourish from within by including healthy fats in your diet.
Taking a daily collagen supplement will also help restore skin moisture and elasticity.
Collagen is even more effective when taken with vitamin C, so ensure you get plenty of it through your diet or take a vitamin C supplement. If you decide to supplement, take at least 3,000mg daily in 500mg increments.
Applying a rich hand cream or lotion is a short-term solution, as it will be washed off quickly as you go about your day. Apply a nightly treatment to your hands before bed for the best results.
I recommend the Whipped Shea Butter treatment for dry skin and hair from Dublin Herbalists (www.dublinherbalists.ie). A tin of this deeply nourishing treatment is €20 and contains two simple ingredients — shea butter and almond oil. A little goes a long way so that it lasts well.
The information contained in this column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor
