Aloe Vera Burn Treatment Center

The Aloe Vera Training  and Treatment Centre for Children opened at Care For Natural’s project site in Mariamakunda in 2017.

The reason

Many commonly practised traditional healing methods are detrimental to the burn victim, often small children and babies.

The AVTTC project was set up with the aim to document the healing process, applying the unique Aloe Vera Fresh Leaf Burn-Treatment in order to draw the attention of medical doctors and researchers to the remarkable results. So that, in due time, the method can be shared with those that do not have access to  healthcare, e.g. in the villages or healthcare centers lacking the proper materials to treat burns adequately. Before sharing the method we need to obtain the governments official approval. It will then be a medical treatment, where it is still a traditional healing treatment at the moment.

The research  

To achieve approval scientific research needs to be done by medical doctors and/or scientist to confirm our empherical findings. The goal of the project has been reached successfully, we have shared our documented treatment information and results with an international selected group of scientist and medical doctors as well as our Gambia government. Our partner in the research is the Banjul-Ostende Citylink and her partners. Approval has been obtained from autorities, the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hosptial (EFSTH) ethics committee and funding has been secured through EU subsidy, initiated by officials of the city of Ostende. CFN has, since long, established a field of Aloe Vera plants at her project site, in anticipation of rolling out the method in the near future.

The start…

Founder, Claudette Sarr-Krook, has developed the Aloe Vera Fresh Leaf Treatment (AVFLT), a  successful, relatively easy-to-implement burn treatment method with fresh Aloe Vera leaves over the past 15 years. The treatment aims to treat in particular babies and toddlers, being the most at risk.  At first, babies and toddlers were treated on a small scale at the Kololi office of Care for Natural African Beauty Foundation. Since 2017 CFN opened a small out-patient clinic on her project site  in Mariamakunda where many patients have been treated successfully since free of charge. Treatments are on-going. 

The method and the results

The positive impact of the treatments has been established empherically. Patients find the clinic, by rapid word of mouths based on the results. The treatment-results are impressive, the method is effective and not as painful. The AVFL-Treatment prevents the need of many other (unhealthy) medications and prevents the use of expensive burn-treatment materials which are scarcely available in leading hospitals let alone in rural areas. The burn wounds heal relatively fast, without exhausting the child, the patient is not hospitalized and continues to be part of his social environment, mothers can this way, continue to be part of the household and continue to care for her other children.  AVFLT provides faster healing, it makes it easier to change the bandage. It causes less emotional trauma associated with painful other forms of treatments and being separated from the home environment. 

The Aloe Vera gelly leaf, left in tact

–  is shielding from damages to the wound as Aloe cushions the wound,

–  it keeps the wound hydrated but not moist, 

–  keeps it at a stable temperature, 

–  prevents infections (sallicylic acid),

–  prevents fungal infections, 

–  reduces the pain and discomfort,

–  prevents contractures 

–  it allows the patient to move freely thus less loss of muscle tissue,

 – it is easy to remove the bandage painlessly.

 Due to the fast healing, the 21 day limit, after which hypertrophic scarring is likely to occur in the period after healing of the skin, is greatly reduced. Due to the shorter healing time and absence of contracture, expensive and extensive skin grafts or other surgical interventions, if those would have been available at all, are not medically necessary.  Many non complicated burns could be treated at village level with this treatment.The process is relatively simple. CFN is convinced by transferring the basic method to the local community and training particular people in villages, we can help stop the detrimental traditional methods. For this is an improved, workable, practical and suitable, patient-friendly alternative. CFN has confidence that this unique and effective treatment, has the potential to improve the future method of burn-treatments. In communities, in hospitals and clinics. Aloe Vera can grow almost everywhere. Resources of plant material therefore can be secured at a local level.

More

Medical professional  literature on burn treatments, tells us that second degree full thickness  and third degree burns can not be treated with Aloe Vera. Our findings are that, if treatment is combined with Hydrocortizone 1% application, it can heal completely. Hydrocortizone is relatively cheap. This development was established  with the suggestion based on the knowledge and experience from research conducted at the University Hospital of Gent’s, specialised burn unit, sharing their profound experience and researched facts. Due to their support CFN is always able to improve the treatment of in particular the more severe cases. Presently (2021) a altered treatment of AVFLT and Hydrocortizone 1%, has shown to be successfull in reducing and preventing hypergranulation, which would prevent a wound to close. The Aloe Vera Burn Treatment Centre for Children refers more severe and complicated cases to better equiped hospitals. It does however happen often that families can’t afford the cost that come with it. In those cases we do try to facilitate treatment for those too. 

Finally

An Aloe Vera Leaf is packed with nutrients which are absorbed through the damaged skin into the bloodstream. Aloe provides a rich source of nutrients available to the patient who usually can do with all the nutritional help it can get, observing the often general poor diet at their disposal. Other than the healing and rehydrating wound treating factor, the nutritional functions in the plant, make it a “all in one” package deal. This powerful  Aloe Vera Fresh Leaf Treatment ( AVFLT) method goes from plant to the patient directly. No commercial matters obstructing or altering the natural synergetic power of the plant. Our African Aloe has not been genetically altered for commercial purposes.