Home Remedies For Boils – Herbal Cure
Margosa Leaves
What Are Boils
Boils are bumpy red, lumps around a hair follicle and are tender, warm, and very painful. A boil, or furuncle, as it is known in medical circles, is a bacterial infection of a blocked oil gland or hair follicle. It generally starts off as an inconspicuous pink and tender bump localized to one area. This soon develops into a firm, hard, inflamed lump that is filled with infection-fighting white blood cells, bacteria, proteins that eradicate the infection, and dead skin tissue (pus). The affected area usually gets larger and more painful until the boil develops a yellow-white tip and finally ruptures and the pus drains out. While some boils disappear within a few days, many can take up to two weeks to heal.
Boils can appear on any part of the body that has hair follicles, but they usually occur on the face, scalp, underarms, thigh, groin, and buttocks. They also occur most frequently in areas containing hair and/or sweat glands, or in areas where chafing or recurrent friction occurs.
Carbuncle: A cluster of boils is called a carbuncle. These are most frequently found at the back of the neck, shoulders or the thigh, especially in older men. There may be whitish, bloody discharge from the carbuncle. They may even be accompanied by fever and fatigue. Carbuncles cause a deeper and more severe infection than a single boil and will require medical attention.
Causes
Boils are a result of a bacterial infection, usually staphylococcus aureus, occupying a hair follicle. They can be caused by ingrown hair, any splinter or foreign object lodged in the skin or clogged sweat glands that become infected. This can happen from a blockage, such as might occur from an oily ointment or lotion, or from irritation, as can happen when clothing rubs against the follicles.
Boils and carbuncles are more likely to develop in those with underactive liver, lowered immunity, diabetes, especially when treated with injected insulin, alcoholism or drug abuse, poor personal hygiene, crowded living arrangements, jobs or hobbies that expose them to greasy or oily substances, especially petroleum products.
People who tend to get boils frequently are staph carriers and therefore physiologically more prone to get boils.
Recurrent boils are commonly due to gastrointestinal bacteria which enter the blood stream and prompt a skin infection. They can also be caused by consumption of too much sugar. Men are more likely than women to get boils.
Complications
The most common complications of boils are scarring and infection or abscess of the skin, spinal cord, brain, kidneys, or other organs. Sometimes the infections are relatively limited, but other times they may spread to other skin areas (causing cellulitis, folliculitis, or impetigo). Unfortunately, these bacteria can reach the bloodstream (bacteremia) and end up in many different body sites, causing infections that may severely harm or even kill the infected person. S. aureus strains also produce enzymes and exotoxins that likely cause or increase the severity of certain diseases. Almost any organ system can be infected by S. aureus.
Home Herbal Remedies – External Application
In contrast to common belief, boils do not need to be drained in order to heal; in fact opening the affected skin area can cause further infections. In some instances, however, draining can be encouraged by application of a cloth soaked in warm salt water. Washing and covering the furuncle with antibiotic cream or antiseptic tea tree oil and a bandage also promotes healing. Furuncles should never be squeezed or lanced without the oversight of a medical practitioner because it may spread the infection. However, furuncles at risk of serious complications should be incised and drained by a medical practitioner. These include furuncles that are unusually large, last longer than two weeks, or are located in the middle of the face or near the spine.
The primary treatment for boils is heat application in the form of hot soaks or hot packs. Application of hot compress increases the circulation to the area, allowing the body to fight off the infection. 10-15 minutes of hot compress four to five times a day will help to bring the boil to a head and encourage easy drainage.
Washcloth compresses are the best and easy way to treat a boil. Take a clean washcloth and dip it in fairly warm salt water and place it on the boil. The compress should be very wet and warm and it should be placed on the boil for 10-15 minutes at least 5 times daily. It speeds up the process of bringing the boil to a head, which leads to draining and then healing.
A bread compress is an old folk remedy. Soak a slice of bread in warm milk and apply it directly onto the boil. Keep replacing the bread slices to keep the infected boil warm for 15 minutes at a time, four times a day.
Tea Compress: Simply place a warm tea bag on the boil for 15 minutes at a time, several times a day.
Tea tree oil: Another effective natural treatment for boils is tea tree oil, which comes from Australia and has natural antibacterial properties. Tea tree oil is applied topically. If you are using the oil straight, dilute it with water and apply using a towel or cotton ball.
Lavender oil: Dab some lavender oil on the boil, cover it with either a gauze or band-aid. Periodically through the day, cover the bandage with a damp washcloth, dry towel and then apply the heating pad and leave on for about 15 minutes. Change the dressing and reapply the lavender oil. It helps bring the boil to a head, and the warm compress helps pull the infection out of the skin.
Vegetable Compress: Heated slices of tomatoes, raw onions, mashed garlic, or the outer leaves of cabbage can be pressed directly onto the boil for at least 15 minutes several times a day. Make sure that you keep the area warm by replacing it with new heated slices.
Tomato: Treat boils using tomato paste – Apply tomato paste on and around the boil. Cover this with a piece of gauze and tape and leave it on overnight. The next morning the boil would have burst or would be about to burst. Repeat this remedy if necessary.
Onion. The pungent onion has antiseptic chemicals and acts as an antimicrobial and irritant to draw blood and treats boils by “heating” them and drawing blood to the infected areas. Cut a thick slice of onion and place it over the boil. Wrap the infected area with a cloth. Change the onion every three to four hours until the boil comes to a head and drains.
Garlic and Onions have been proved to be among the most effective home remedy for boils treatment among several other remedies. Onion juice or garlic juice may be applied on boils externally to ripen them, break and evacuate the pus. Juices of both these vegetables can be mixed in equal quantities and applied on the boil for beneficial results.
Turmeric: Application of turmeric powder on the boils enables to ripen it and burst.
Vinegar: Cut a brown paper bag big enough to cover the boil. Make several layers of the same size out of the brown paper bag. Soak each piece of paper in distilled vinegar until they are saturated. Place each layer over the boil. Tape in place and leave it on overnight. When you take it off in the morning the boil would have burst or would be very close to bursting.
Mix 1 tsp of milk cream mixed with 1/2 tsp of vinegar and a pinch of turmeric powder to form a paste. When applied, it helps ripening the blood boils and heals them without becoming septic.
Parsley flakes: Treat boils using parsley flakes. Do not moisten the flakes. Place dry parsley flakes on and around the boil. Cover the area with a bandage and leave it on overnight. This may have to be repeated if the pus is deep. Parsley is one of Mother Nature’s strongest drawing agents and is guaranteed to work.
Castor Oil: Put some Castor oil on a cotton ball and place it on the boil. Secure it with gauze or a band-aid. Castor oil will draw the poison right out of the boil and can heal it in as little as two days.
Castor Oil or Clay Poultice – Apply castor oil soaked pad or make a paste of powdered Bentonite or green clay by mixing a few teaspoons of the powder with some warm water. Apply to the affected area and let it dry. Remove it from the skin with warm water. This will help draw out the infection. Only use this treatment if the boil is not too large.
Cornmeal. Cornmeal doesn’t have medicinal properties per se, but it is absorptive, and this makes it an effective treatment for boils. Bring 1/2 cup water to a boil in a pot, and add cornmeal to make a thick paste. Apply the cornmeal mush as a poultice to the boil, and cover with a cloth. Repeat every one to two hours until the boil comes to a head and drains.
Jelly jar. “Cupping” a boil, or applying suction to a boil by placing a cup or jar over the infected area, is an age-old treatment for boils. Boil a cup in a pot of water for a few minutes. Using tongs, take the cup out of the pot and let it cool down a bit before putting it over the boil. The cup shouldn’t be too cool or there won’t be any suction, but be sure it’s not so hot that it burns you. As the cup cools over the boil, the suction brings blood and circulation to the area. Blot and wash pus away.
Bacon. The fat and salt content of salt pork are believed to help bring boils to a head. Roll some salt pork or bacon in salt and place the meat between two pieces of cloth. Apply the cloth to the boil. Repeat throughout the day until the boil comes to a head and drains.
Eggs. The whites of hard-boiled eggs were used for treating boils in the nineteenth century. After boiling and peeling an egg, wet the white and apply it directly to the boil. Cover with a cloth.
Milk. Heat 1 cup milk and slowly add 3 teaspoons salt (adding the salt too quickly can make the milk curdle). Simmer the milk for ten minutes. Then add flour or crumbled bread pieces to thicken the mixture. Divide the mixture into 4 poultices and apply 1 to the boil every half-hour.
Milk cream remedy is useful in the treatment of boils. An excellent poultice for boils cure is, to apply a mixture of a teaspoon each of milk cream and vinegar with a pinch of turmeric powder. This helps to ripen the blood boils and heal them without letting them become septic.
Nutmeg. Nutmeg stimulates circulation in the body, which can help your body fight the bacterial infection in your boil. Stir 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg into 1 cup hot water and drink.
Moist heat – soak the area in Epsom Salt baths or compresses for at least 1 hour. A compress could be left on overnight. Use it at least twice a day or more. This can help the boil drain and improve the blood flow to the area.
Gently warm a betel leaf till it becomes soft. Coat it with a layer of castor oil and put it over the inflamed part. Replace the leaf every few hours. Application of the castor oil coated betel leaf a few times will rupture and drain out the boil.
Ground cumin seeds in water forming a paste. Apply the paste to the boils with beneficial results.
Margosa leaves have proven effective in treating boils. They can be either used as a poultice, liniment or decoction with positive results. To make the decoction, boil 15 gm of margosa leaves in 500 ml water till it is reduced by one-third.
Calendula: Apply calendula cream to the pus filled area. It should be applied both morning and night until the boil breaks on its own.
Banana: For a great cure for boils use as ripe a banana as possible and mash up. Scrape the inside white part of the peel and include this in the mashed banana’s. Apply this directly to the boil and cover it with a bandage or gauze. Leave it on overnight.
Home Remedies – Internal
Diet: A good nutritious diet can help the immune system fight the infection. Maintain an overall healthy diet. This includes using fresh and unprocessed foods as close to the natural state as possible. Eat daily servings of leafy green vegetables, whole grains, fruit, and proteins with a minimum of animal fat. Keep the intake of sugar foods and refined carbohydrates (such as white bread and white rice) to a minimum.
Juice: For another internal cure for boils try juicing. Juice a carrot, some pumpkin and parsley to make a medium to large glass of this juice. Drink daily. Another thing you can do is to blend a carrot, pumpkin seeds, parsley and celery in a quality blender and drink. This will include fiber to help remove toxins from the body.
Turmeric: Many people have found the spice Turmeric to be an excellent remedy to treat boils and other staph infections. Turmeric is a traditional Ayurvedic spice that is often used as a blood purifier and anti-inflammatory remedy. Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of warm water. Drink 3 times per day. Healing will begin within a few hours. Repeat for 3 days. NOTE: Regular high doses of turmeric can lead to dehydration and constipation, so be sure to take the above remedy only when necessary.
Black Seed Oil has been used for hundreds of years as a natural remedy for skin infections including boils and carbuncles. Therefore, a simple boil remedy is to mix half a teaspoon of black seed oil into a hot or cold drink, and take this twice daily during a boil infection.
Echinacea has been found to be effective at healing boils. The active substances in the herb help to clean your blood and lymph glands, allowing antibodies to circulate better and fight off infections. Therefore, a simple boil remedy is to take two 300mg capsules of Echinacea per day. However, it is not recommended that you take Echinacea continuously for longer than two weeks.
Burdock & Echinacea Tea: Make a tea by mixing 3 cups of boiling water with 1 teaspoon each of Burdock and Echinacea and 1/2 teaspoon of Golden Seal. Simmer 5 minutes and steep 15 minutes. Drink 1 cup 3 times per day.
A cupful of fresh bitter gourd juice mixed with a tsp of lime juice taken on an empty stomach daily treats this condition.
Dandelion: This is a great detoxifying herb. Place the petals of the dandelion flower in a cup of warm water for 20 minutes. Drink a cup full daily.
Goldenseal- The herb is used for treating inflammations that occur on the skin due to any form of infection. The plant has a chemical content called berberine that can fight against various bacteria, yeast and fungi causing skin infections.
Dos and Don’ts
DON’T squeeze, lance or break the boil open, no matter how tempting that may be. Give the boil time to come to a head and rupture on its own. If you lance a boil, you risk spreading the infection and creating more painful problems.
DO be sure to wash any towels, compresses, or clothes that have touched the boil. Otherwise, you can spread the infection.
DON’T buy over-the-counter products that claim to draw out the fluid in boils. These just irritate the boil and cause it to burst prematurely. This can cause the bacteria-infested pus to spread in the body and possibly get into the bloodstream.
Avoid tea, coffee, sugary starchy foods, especially chocolates, pastries, sweets, cakes, white sugar and white bread. Avoid all condiments, sauces and pickles.
Prevention
The bacteria that cause boils can be found on the surface of your skin and a boil forms only once the bacteria enters the sweat glands. In order to keep your skin free of boils and the resultant blemishes and scars, it is best to bathe regularly with a soap that is suited to your skin type. If your skin often breaks into boils, start cleaning your skin with an antiseptic soap. This could lessen frequent appearance of boils. Regular use of antibacterial soaps helps prevent bacteria from building up on the skin. This can reduce the chance for the hair follicles to become infected and prevent the formation of boils.
A small tear in the skin will increase the probability of suffering from boils in that area, especially if you do not wash the area immediately. Cleansing a scratch with running water and an antimicrobial soap will help to prevent boils.
You should also use a moisturizer after your bath to protect your skin from infectious microbes. You can add a few drops of Margosa oil to your moisturizing lotion just before you apply it to your skin as this oil contains anti-microbial agents that will help to prevent boils and other minor skin problems.
Category: HERBAL REMEDIES
