Toss the aloe vera. In a review of 15 studies, New Zealand researchers found that burned skin covered with honey healed as much as 4 days faster than skin treated with antibiotic creams or sterile wound dressings. Seems the sweet stuff has powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. “It’s ideal because it rapidly soothes the pain, promotes healing, and prevents further damage,” says study author P.C. Molan, Ph.D. Next time you singe yourself, cool your skin with cold water, spread honey on some gauze, and apply it to the burn. Change the dressing twice a day. If it’s a severe burn, see a doctor.
THE GIFT OF GAB
Next time your brain hits a roadblock at work, chat up a coworker. A 10-minute conversation can make you smarter, says a team of U.S. researchers. They found that college students who discussed a social issue prior to taking memory and mentalspeed tests scored significantly better than students who didn’t shoot the breeze. Study author Oscar Ybarra, Ph.D., says that social interaction activates the brain structures that allow us to store and sort information.
zulfa3083