The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Stop Antibiotics, Stop Shaving
Posted by Light Bulb (Ny) on 02/08/2012
Hello, I am a long time sufferer of boils, ingrown hair, and eczema. I have tried evrything u can think of to cure my ailments. Over the counter, scripts. U name it I have tried. I used to get boils mainly in the pubic area, and under my arms, and on my inner upper thighs, buttocks. Ugh. It was driving me crazy. First off what I did to try and cure it was stop taking the antibiotics. Now do not negate the fact that if you have a bad infection you need antibiotics to ward off the infections. What does the damage is the continuous intake of the drug because you build an immunity to it. Therefore it gets harder for you to the fight the infection off. It is crucial that you only use anti bacterial ointments or soaps on the place of infection. You lessen the depletion of the natural flora (good bacteria) that your body is supposed to have. Next stop shaving. It is better to cut down hair in the most sensitive areas of your body because they get the least exposure therefore are more prone to developing infections.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Wmj (Vancouver Island, Canada) on 01/06/2012
★★★★★
I have been using baking soda and probiotics made into a paste, sometimes adding natural raw sea salt. I had been using water, but now I'm trying it with Apple Cider Vinegar. This is on a case of MRSA I've been struggling with for months and heavy antibiotic only made it worse. The natural remedy seems to be working, unfortunately I got two new boils recently in another area. I find that washing with antibacterial wash only spreads it. Hopefully this will clear up soon, I'll keep the site posted.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Stephanie (Federal Capital Territory, Abuja) on 10/07/2017
You can make a sugar scrub paste with some honey and olive oil and use your hands to wash your face and scrub the dark area twice a day, it will remove the discolouration.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Anne (Brooklyn, Ny) on 09/05/2011
A year ago I started suffering from boils in my armpits. I got one on the right side, which finally resolved after antibiotics and compresses, and it was a traumatic experience. Nine months later, when it started getting hot out again, I noticed tiny little whitehead type things appearing in my pits, and two of them developed into boils on the left side. I had to take two rounds of antibiotics because the first did not kill the staph infection and I had to get one lanced. They hurt terribly and look awful, and since I keep getting them I feel like antibiotics are not the answer.
Last week I notcied a tender spot in my left pit but couldn't see anything, but two days later a boil was clearly developing and it was extremely painful. Went to the doc who gave me a prescription, but I was determined not to take more antibiotics. After all, the doc thought that taking antibiotics after I had surgery last year may have lowered my immune system in the first place.
I am currently trying several remedies and having success. I started taking turmeric in warm milk at the first sign (2x a day) and applying tea tree oil, but this did not stop the boil from getting huge. I've also been hot compressing it and I bought some Prid homeopathic drawing salve (it looks like black tar) from the pharmacy and applied that. Both things helped draw it to a head. The boil seemed ready to pop, so I sterilized a needle and just opened the tiny little white head to help it along and get it to start draining. It was draining slowly so I alternately applied hot compresses (with salt in them) and then applying the drawing salve and covering it with a bandage. Yesterday it drained a lot and is much less painful now (not waking me up at night), though still nasty looking.
I feel like I can beat it without the antibiotics, which I'm really happy about. However, I've noticed that I still have tiny little white heads on the other armpits so I do think that somehow my system is messed up and perhaps toxic.... Why else would I keep getting these? I am thinking I need to do a detox/cleanse and I have started taking probiotics to help boost my immune system. I will report back if I do the cleanse.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Maria (Gippsland, Australia) on 09/05/2011
Hi Anne, Shaving can be a cause. I was having them continuously and when I stopped shaving they stopped coming. Never had one since. Keep on with the turmeric as its long term use will help with the removal of toxins and infections in your body. It will also help your liver which may need some support in removing toxins from your system. All the best.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Maria (Gippsland, Australia) on 09/05/2011
Have just remembered I also stopped using my deodorants and switched to the solid crystal instead, rinsing it well after each use. Now I use lemon, just a little juice on both palms an put on each armpit.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Anne (Brooklyn, Ny) on 09/05/2011
Hi Maria, My doctor said razors could be the cause so I use Hibiclens after I shave, but that hasn't stopped them. This has abeen a very stressful time, so that probably is influencing it as well. I also have stopped using antipersperant and switched to a spray deodorant so that I don't have to worry about spreading it from side to side. I am thinking of possibly exploring laser hair removal...
I will keep on with the turmeric and try the clean program, and hopefully be done with this once and for all!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Anne (Brooklyn, Ny) on 09/06/2011
Thanks for all your feedback. I started taking chlorella a week or two ago and just got some probiotics, so hopefully that will help with my digestion. In the meantime, I'm going to try to really focus on eating a clean, whole food diet. I'm a pretty healthy person generally, but do eat some processed foods, so I'm going to try and cut those out. Perhaps I'll try taking a bit more turmeric and incorporate it into my cooking as much as possible. Thanks again for your suggestions.
Homeopathics
Posted by Janet (Hanalei, Hi) on 09/02/2011
A small scratch on my ear became infected with staph and now my ear is almost completely swollen. In addition, I have painful sores on my face and inside my mouth. All the little cuts on my body are full of pus and my lymph node in my neck is swollen. I don't want to take antibiotics so I went to a naturopath and he gave me arsenicum album homeopathics to take under my tongue. He said I should feel better in a day but it's been over a day and I still feel bad.
I'm wondering if I should try colloidal silver and if so, should I stop the aresnicum album or take both. I'm using ACV on the actual sores, gargling with it and other home remedies including noni, garlic, lysine, etc. Should I take colloidal silver in addition to all these other things or should I just stick to one remedy? Please advise. It's been 3 days and I am miserable enough to just take the antibiolics!
Muscular Pain
Posted by Mantics (Westchester, United States) on 08/18/2011
I got my first boil about a month ago and used this site to help me get rid of it. Mostly with baking soda, salt, garlic and finally apple cider vinegar. It was located under my
right armpit and when it started I got shoulder pain in my
left arm! Lifting my shoulder in a certain direction was excrutiating like I hard torn a ligament. The boil got worse and so did my body. The pain kind of spread to my other shoulder and my entire body was in pain (like you would after an extremely hard workout and your muscles are drained). This continued for about a week then the boil drained and I was pain free. I got two other tiny boils that were quickly healed after a week. Now I just got another one thats as deep as the first (all boils were under the same armpit) but I'm hoping it wont escalate to the painfullness of the first because I caught it early. Now im doing tumeric and ACV but I have that same intense shoulder pain.
Does anyone know if they could be related or if its just a coincidence that they occur at the same time?? I've never had a shoulder injury before nor do I do much with it to make it hurt this much. Any feedback would be great!
Muscular Pain
Posted by Annp (Schaumburg, Il) on 08/28/2011
I had a similar issue. A few years ago I had foot surgery and a week after had a fungus on my foot that was treated with ointment. I also had to use crutches for a few week. Then about 2 months from the date of surgery really bizarre things started happening to my body. That's when I woke up one morning and could not move my left arm away from my body. Normal every day activities like brushing or blow drying my hair were not possible, because I was unable to lift my arm. I also had a strange rash on the armpit of that arm. My shoulder eventually got better, but any time I would use my arm in repetitive motions it would start aching again and I would have limited range of motion and of course I would notice the rash again, until I went to a Functional Health Chiropractor who did applied kinesiology and fixed me up! I really don't have the rash now, but will occassionally get bumps on my armpits. They aren't bad, but I use things like colloidal silver, aluminum free deoderant, etc.. to help keep any bumps down.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Ali (Between A Corn Field And A Corn Field, Mid-west ) on 07/19/2011
★★★★★
I just wanted to make people aware that if you absolutely need to take Tumeric/Curcumin in supplement form, Vitamin World sells it in capsules and the only ingredients listed, other than the tumeric, is Gelatin and Vegetable Stearic Acid... There's no DiCalcium Phosphate. The pure spice form is preferable of course but I wanted to share another option. Also, buying pure Melissa (lemon balm) essential oil and using 1-3 drops in a carrier oil (like Vitamin E or Almond Oil) applied to the body or affected areas has antibacterial effects. Tea tree, rosewood, calendula and many other oils can provide you with daily prevention. My recommendation is to google any of those for further information. I hope this helps!
Misdiagnosis for Boils and Staph
Posted by Busycagal (Los Angeles, Ca, Usa) on 04/25/2011
My daughter was "diagnosed" with multiple spider bites, then allergic reaction to the venom, then skin Staph infection all with many month long antibiotic treatment that cured nothing, but kept the amount of boils somewhat less. After greatly suffering for 1-1/2 years, insisted on an infectious disease doctor and got the nasal cream. Went away in two days! However, a year later she was "diagnosed" with Crohn's disease with an unidentified bacteria in the stool and results not typical for IBD. History of chronic ear itching and flaking since also. Could this all be MRSA colonizing in the intestines and ear canal? I think so.
Misdiagnosis for Boils and Staph
Posted by Jennifer (New York) on 07/19/2018
I have had boils for years... Many many years... I also have Crohn's. I've asked my Drs if they are related and it's always no.... I think they are. I have been tested for MRSA from various boils only once I was told it was MRSA. I have a feeling I am infected with MRSA in my ilium and I don't even have Crohn's.. I am so covered in boils now tho it's scaring me and went need help with curing them naturally.
Misdiagnosis for Boils and Staph
Posted by Tom (Los Angeles) on 07/19/2018
Hi,
My daughter 11 years now, when she was a growing up she had boils/MRSA number of times. She was diagnosed with Crohn's at the age of 9. No typical symptoms of Crohn's tough but her ESR and CRP levels were really high when she was diagnosed. Doctors also were not sure if she had crohn's even though she went under colonoscopy. One of the doctors said she has lupus. Could it be MRSA causing this?
What is the treatment for this? Please advice.
Misdiagnosis for Boils and Staph
Posted by Anon (Usa) on 07/20/2018
That seems possible.
Look into:
Colloidal silver
Lugol's iodine
Essential oils like peppermint,
Wild oregano, thyme (check if it is safe for a girl her age)
Kefir
Kombucha
Turmeric
Garlic
Oxygen/magnesium colon cleanser
I would start with whatever I can get my hands on first. If you have limited funds the colloidal silver, colon cleanse, and kefir are probably the three you should do. Compared to treating her through a clinic they are probably more affordable.
The garlic, essential oils, silver and iodine I would take with fresh fruit, I prefer grapefruit (peel the colored skin off the white pith with a potato peeler and then cut the remaining fruit into bitesize pieces), watermelon (organic, peel and cut like grapefruit above), and papaya; the idea is to disperse the oils, silver and iodine along the digestive tract.
You can give her any combination or all of the above, they should not interact negatively. The colon cleanse as directed, though, away from food.
There is an older recipe online including molasses, yogurt, flax seed, and brewer's yeast you might consider, too.
Fresh green vegetable juices, raw eggs, colostrum, cranberries, all organic foods, reverse osmosis water for all her drinking water, some tanning/sun exposure, far infrared sauna or biomat, mustard seed powder or apple cider vinegar baths. These things can help, too.
Turmeric and Comfrey
Posted by Tulsa Girl (Tulsa, Ok) on 03/15/2011
★★★★★
I had a boil for about 4 weeks and tried things that were recommended on webmd to no avail. Thankfully I remembered earth clinic. I combined several things that seemed to work for people and found that each day the boil decreased in size and after 3 days I discontinued treatment all together. I used a tsp of tumeric 3 x a day... Sometimes in yogart and sometimes in almond milk. I also used topically, a mixture that I made in my blender of tumeric and fresh comfrey w a little olive oil. You will need to put this on a large bandaid or gauze w cover as tumeric is very messy and will easily dye anything that touches it yellow. Good luck!
Figs
Posted by Jo (New York) on 02/11/2015
Hi, did you mix anything in the fig? How long did it take?
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Nurseynurse (Dayton, Oh) on 01/09/2011
If you have a boil, especially a large boil, go to the doctor! To the person who says she can feel the boil popping up from her labia, you should really see a gynocologist because it shounds like you may have Syphillis and that is only cureable by antibiotics in the first 2 stages.
As for the other large boils, especially in hairy places where legs, faces, or other places are being shaved, try using salisylic acid moisturizer before shaving, and a few hours after shaving, but do not use on mucous membranes. Salisylic acid helps to disolve dirt in clogged pores. Also, Tumeric is not as effective as Nutmeg and non-fat milk paste for those unsightly pimples. Tea Tree Oil is good at times.
But if the boil is due to a staph infection maybe you should see a MD for longterm use of Bactrim as long as you are not allergic to sulfa you should be o. K. Motrin helps with pain as long as you don't have kidney disease or ulcers, briefly using Hydrocortisone cream helps with redness and swelling but can cause drying. I think using oil would only exacerbate the clogged pores.
GO TO THE DOCTOR AND GET REAL MEDICATION TO HELP WITH THE CHRONIC BOIL PROBLEMS PEOPLE! Some antibiotics are free from certain pharmacies or cost much less than buying Tumeric.
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 01/10/2011
Hi Tommy, you said in your post: "I believe also that the natural healing will force these big pharma to look for new remedies. " I am not at all sure about that.... Look what is going to happen to us here in Europe, most natural stuff is going to disappear. Will big pharma be willing to take over? In many cases they have already but anyway, if they have to go through many trials, pay lots of money to certify each component I don't think that they will do it and it will take many years so in the meanwhile we will have hardly any choices!
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Dmontg (Huntersville, Nc) on 02/24/2011
It is coming up on three years that I have been getting Staph infections. I have been to numerous drs, including a dematologist and an infectious disease Dr. I felt like I was going to final get some answers from the ID dr, but all he did was listen, quite attentively I might add, and say sorry. He said he could get me another prescription for antibiotics if I needed it, but that was it. At the time I lived in San Jose, Ca and went to Stanford University to see the infectious Dr. He said MRSA (that's what I have) is rampant in the area. He has seen people like me who get infections, which last about 2 years and then they suddenly go away. He wasn't sure why there are some people who contract MRSA and can't get rid of it and my susceptibility to MRSA had nothing to do with my immune system. So go figure. Sorry I don't have answers, but I do use colloidal silver and it does help me.
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Jennifer (Sacramento, Ca) on 01/25/2012
I have mrsa and have now tried to different antibotics from my doctor with no results. I will be trying the turmeric. Hope it works!
Turmeric, Grapeseed Oil, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Michelle (Cincinnati, Oh, Usa) on 12/10/2010
★★★★★
It's amazing! I went to the doctor on Wed to look at a painful place that was the size of a pea and getting bigger and more uncomfortable. It is in a delicate place and I've never had anything there like it before. Doc gave me antibiotics and told me to put warm compresses on it. Not much better in 24 hours and I remembered Earth Clinic.
Got on here yesterday and found the info about turmeric. I had some in my spice cabinet so I put a tsp in some water and drank it twice during the day. I also made a thick paste from turmeric, grapeseed oil (which I happened to have) and several drops of tea tree oil. I put the paste on around 7 pm. By the time I went to bed, the swelling was down and the pain almost gone. I just woke at 3am and it had opened and started draining blood and pus. Completely amazing. I never squeezed it at all and it was pretty deep below the surface. I just can't believe it. At this rate, I expect it to be completely gone within days. I had one other boil over 30 yrs ago and it took a couple weeks before it was back to normal. Thank you, thank you, thank you Earth Clinic and everyone that has shared their personal experiences here.
Turmeric, Grapeseed Oil, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Zee (New Orleans, Louisiana, United States) on 11/19/2012
I have had recurring boils for a several years now and I was recently prescribed a round of strong antibiotics. I finished all of the antibiotics and I felt better but the boils came back about two months later. I have noticed that after the antibiotics the boils aren't as severe. They aren't as painful and some of them don't even come to a head and just go away after a few days. Still I want to get rid of them once and for all and I really would prefer not to have to ingest antibiotics again.
Last night I felt another boil on my inner thight which is where they usually pop up. I came across this forum and the information on tumeric being a natural remedy. I bought some today and made a paste with a teaspoon of it, a teaspoon of olive oil and about 6 drops of tea tree oil.
I also mixed a half teaspoon of tumeric in about 6 oz of water and drank it. It wasn't that bad. I won't be ordering it as a beverage in a restaurant anytime soon(lol) but it wasn't as bad as one might think. I've eaten worse cooking!
It's been about three hours and I can already tell that something is happening to the boil. Normally it would be about a week and a half until the boil either went away or came to a head and drained. I put the paste directly on the boil and I put some of the paste on a piece of cotton gauze that I applied to the boil.
I will see what happens in the morning. But so far so good! I am praying this is the natural remedy that I have been looking for!
Turmeric, Honey Paste
Posted by Pats (Cctx) on 09/09/2015
As for drinking the mix and taste buds and all...
If you like savory foods you might try grinding some Turmeric Root, finely chopping fresh garlic, and adding it to a small cup of your favorite broth. I use Turmeric, Fresh Garlic, Black Pepper, Marmite, Vegetarian Bouillon and Hot Water and sip it for an immune boost.
I am not into sweet drinks other than soda (I know, bad for me) and the occasional sip of Eggnog at Christmas.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by E.j. (Brevard, N.c., Usa) on 08/19/2010
Hi Vivian, Is your boils from hidradenitis or something else? I am using turmeric at the moment and tea tree oil. EJ
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nikki (Olivehurst, Ca, United States) on 04/08/2011
Yesterday I started bandaging soaked apple cider vinegar cotton pads on two mrsa infections I have & it seems to be making all the stuff inside harden like a scab... A couple of days ago I tried the baking soda & apple cider mix but it didnt work. After that I tried a cotton pad soaked with castor oil & dipped in sea salt, that didnt work. But then the apple cider vinegar does this. It doesnt seem to be getting worse, a lot of the swelling has gone down but theyre still really red & hard. Im breastfeeding my son so I dont have very many options. I cant drink the vinegar or take turmeric capsules & this is all I have to work with at home.
In the mean time I bought some tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil & turmeric powder on ebay. For anyone who has had success with using apple cider vinegar this way, does the infection harden like a scab from the inside?? Any info about apple cider vinegar would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks! :)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nikki (Olivehurst, Ca, United States) on 04/10/2011
I ended up going to the doctor & getting antibiotics because the infections on my face & leg were getting worse & my eye was swelling up. I talked to my O.B. And he said it was fine if I drink the apple cider vinegar. Idk I just figured it would be bad for me to drink vinegar while breastfeeding. R from Denver, CO are you taking turmeric capsules or eating & drinking it?
Turmeric and Antibacterial or Hydrocortisone Cream
Posted by Momof2 (Leesburg, Va) on 08/17/2010
★★★★★
I had a painful boil where my leg meets my tush for over a week and it wasn't improving with Neosporin & bandaid and warm compresses, etc. It seemed to be getting worse with the current treatment.. It was was hard, red, and very very sore when I sought alternative treatments. I read that Turmeric can be helpful with boils and was skeptical, but willing to try anything that might ease the pain. I picked up Turmeric tablets (500 mg) and took 2 immediately. The next morning the boil was softer and not as red. The next day, I took two tablets in the morning and two in the evening. Today when I woke up, there was no pain and no redness. I still applied nesporin and a band aid (just as a precaution). I'm pretty sure the infection is gone and that the skin is just healing at this point. I can now sit in comfort.
Recurring Boils
Posted by Ingrid (Brussels, Belgium, Europe) on 03/18/2010
Recurent boils has a name!
Hi everyone, i just had to share this with you, because it took me years to put a name on these inner thigh boils i kept having. It is called hidradenitis suppurativa! It is a rare disease. Actually, it is not so rare, it just goes undiagnosed because of the places it's in and ignorance of doctors. Please look it up and see if this is what you have. Unfortunately i could not find any cure, but the simple thing that helped me was not to touch it: no epilation, no underware (the friction brings them on). Also hot baked onion used locally makes the puss collect. Good luck
Turmeric, Garlic
Posted by Swimmer (Cumbria, Uk) on 02/21/2010
★☆☆☆☆
Hi, I have recurring boils, they stated out solely on my inner thigh but now I get them in other areas too.
After reading through your site, I am currently taking Turmeric capsules 800mg per day and Garlic 400mg per day, and if anything it seems to be bringing out more boils, I now have two on my stomach.I have just started the Garlic capsules 3 days ago but have been taking the Turmeric for a couple of weeks.
Can anyone help? Thanks in advance. S
EC: Unfortunately, most of the people reporting Nays are using turmeric capsules, which contain other ingredients like magnesium stearate, a filler. The same may be true of garlic capsules. Much more successful a remedy (and far cheaper) is turmeric powder found in bulk at international grocery stores! Organic turmeric powder in bulk can also be found on the internet.
Turmeric, Garlic
Posted by Shaun (Old York, Uk) on 02/22/2010
Turmeric worked for me. I had an open sore (later discovered to be MRSA) on my cheek, which I thought I had gotten from either rugby (a finger nail scratch), or a scratch from something picked up in sub aqua diving in the ME. Anyway, I tried everything to clear this up (at one point I even convinced myself I had coeliac disease). What eventually did work was one teaspoon of turmeric 'mix' 3 times a day. Basically my mix was a heaped tsp turmeric powder dissolved in a tsp of virgin coconut oil. To complement this I took a tsp of black peppercorns (this catalyses everything and makes it more efficacious). After 10 days there was no sign of any sore what-so-ever. Seriously, turmeric is the business. No question.
Turmeric, Garlic
Posted by Cured (Niceville, Fl) on 02/23/2010
I am clueless when it comes to converting measurements but...it doesn't sound like you are taking enough turmeric. Up to 1 teaspoon/day, I take 4-7 "0" size capsules a day. This keeps them away until I slip up (usually on a weekend) and don't take then one will come up. I start taking up to 7 capsules and within 2-3 days it is gone.
I make my own because store bought ones have too many fillers. I just use the spice out of the spice aisle though now ordering online because I use so much. Also when you make a paste just use straight turmeric and water, no need for anything else.
Coconut Oil, Turmeric Paste
Posted by Ian (Capistrano Beach, Ca) on 02/04/2010
★★★★★
I've been using a paste made from turmeric powder and coconut oil to deplete acne boils and the scars left from it. I used pure virgin coconut oil alone on the boils and they depleted in about 5 days. when I mix the paste and use that as a facial mask before sleep it only takes about three days to completely clear my face. I've been studying and working with theses to substances for 3 weeks and am already very impressed with the results on my self and 5 other willing subjects.
Coconut Oil, Turmeric Paste
Posted by Buddhachica (Atlanta, Ga) on 03/09/2012
I am wondering if there is a difference between using fresh tumeric as opposed to the powder?
Coconut Oil, Turmeric Paste
Posted by Lee (Cranebrook, Nsw Sydney Australia) on 03/13/2012
Hi there! My ex husband used to have a lot of trouble with boils he was told to eat mackerel fish as the oil in the fish would help. To my amazement it did and as my son had a period of boils also I purchased the Mackerel Fish and the boils went and never came back. Good Luck
Boil Cores
Posted by Blanche (New Iberia, La) on 01/29/2010
When all the pus is gone, there will still be a whitish lump in the middle. It is like a small piece of cottage cheese. If you're very careful about sterilizing, you can lift it out with the very tip of a needle.
Squeezing the Core
Posted by M. E. (Columbus, Ohio) on 01/12/2010
★★★★★
The only boil I ever had was on my knee after skinning it on playground sand in California 66 yrs ago. I don't remember what the doctor did for it, but I do remember him squeezing the core out of it. I have heard that 'resentment' is at the basis of a lot of boils, and once I mentioned that to a relative, her son's endless boils seemed to go away. Glad to hear about the turmeric, as I have been thinking about getting some.
Keep up the good work....
