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.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Jen (Mission, Ks) on 01/11/2010
★★★★☆
I have had a boil for the past 8 days ... first time I have ever had one, and was completely freaking out! It just appeared one day, and progressively hurt worse each day. The second day, I began drinking a half glass of warm water with turmeric powder mixed in it, tasted gross but I just plugged my nose and chased it with a glass of cold water. I did this 3 times a day, also took acidophillus pills 3 times a day. The swelling went down, within a few hours. I took two hot showers each day, and thought that the boil was ready to drain several times but after trying realized it was not. I began to mix the turmeric with water and put the paste on the actual boil, which helped a lot! It finally began to drain. I also got manuka tea tree honey which I applied, and it drained it completely. I have been taking echinasea drops in water as well to boost my immune system. I do not want more of these! The boil is not totally healed, but no longer hurts, and has drained pretty much completely. I will continue to take the herbs internally, and put the honey on the boil directly since bacteria cannot live in the honey. Hope this may help!
Foods to Avoid
Posted by Geetha (Chennai) on 04/24/2015
Please suggest me what are the diets I can take. I'm having boils in every week.
Lemon Oil
Posted by Douglas (Dillon, Co.) on 08/09/2009
★☆☆☆☆
I've had a bump on the top between my toes for a year now. Lemon oil seems to reduce it but it comes back just as big. At times it hurts as it is alittle bit bigger. I'm now trying a poltis of turmeric and goldenseal. I'll let you know how it works. Doug
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Sarah (Los Angeles, Ca) on 08/01/2009
Hi, Ted- hope you get this... have been having an issue with a small boil-like thing on the back of my upper thigh. It has been there on and off before in the past- I have picked at it before, some small puss will come out and then it usually goes down again. It errupted again about a month ago- I put colliodal silver on it and it seems to be going down, but then I did about 2 weeks of heavy-metal cleanse, borax, occasional hydrogen peroxide inhalation, etc. and during that time felt like a had some kind of bug that i was chasing around my system. I had a respiratory type thing right before started cleanse, then it went into my nose for weeks- had several small pustules inside nose and both nostrils were raw and swollen... i kept draining the pustules and then applying various things: colloidal silver, neosporin, clove and basil, oregano and sea salt nasil spray, etc... but what's interesting is that when it went away in my nose the boil started to fill again. I even went to the dr. who didn't really tink the boil was anything b/c was small and no head to it ( it never really comes to a head, though i HAVE picked at it tried to squeeze it...)
Anyways- I put compress of milk of magnesia, borax, silver, and sea salt on it and covered with a band aid... about 8 hours later (last night) i got really sudden intense vertigo, nausea, followed by a bad fever. I took the sea salt cure for vertigo, along with niacinide and magnesium... and was able to sleep but have been exhasuted all day and slight fever again. Also got bitten or stung by spider or mosquito 2 days ago. am wondering if could be blood poisoning from spider or if could possibly be staph or MRSA that got into my blood? Any advice on how to treat? thanks
BTW- the sea salt in water worked AMAZING on the vertigo was only thing that gave me any relief last night,... you're brilliant thanks!
Turmeric Recipes
Posted by Hil (Esco, CA) on 06/30/2009
I have had boils since I was 13 years of age, I am now 56 years old. I have tried everything imaginable even doctors, antibiotics of all kinds and lancing. My sister told me about this site and off I went reading. I just happen to be experiencing one of my episodes with boils. I bought the turmeric and smelled it and tasted it and no way that would go down and stay down. So I bought empty gel capsules and filled 4 to 5 of them with turmeric powder, from an Indian resturant/store. That is equivalent to 1 tsp. That did not seem to be doing much, until I read one of the newer accounts that indicated that turmeric was oil soluble. So I bought some Almond Oil and honey and tried the tea recipe, but no way I could drink so much tea. So I did a paste of 1 tsp turmeric and about 1/2 tsp almond oil. I also add a drop of honey just because I bought it. It looks like peanut butter. I make this paste and with a paring knife I stuff it into the gel capsules and drink them down with water. No taste in my mouth and it works. By the end of one day the pain of the boils was gone. I just had to write to let you all know. I will continue and see how long I can get away with not having any boils. Lord willing, it will never happen again. Thanks to all who have passed on their testimonials.
Turmeric Recipes
Posted by Dianna (Austin, Tx) on 06/30/2009
turmeric is amazing! my dbf has recurring boils on his rear - and after much coaxing i got him to take turmeric. now he only wanted the kind in the capsules and was taking several - but finally i opened some of them and measured a teaspoon of powder and it was at least 5 capsules worth!!! also i made him take it in milk so it would be dissolved better.
he was in such pain when he started this - and he didn't believe it would work since he didn't see immediate improvement. but he started feeling very sick and dizzy and just horrible (cleansing reaction IMO) and then he fell asleep and the next day the boil was much less painful and had gone down in size. over the next couple of days he continued taking the turmeric at a smaller dosage and it went away.
Ice Cubes
Posted by Erin (Naperville, IL) on 06/15/2009
★★★★★
Ice cubes got rid of my boils! For three weeks, I suffered with boils around my waist. I think the waistbands of my pants actually caused them to spread. They weren't very large, but boy, were they painful! Being a veteran Earth Clinic user, I tried everything recommended ... H202, coconut oil, ACV, baking soda, hot moist heat, antibiotic ointment, turmeric and garlic. NOTHING worked. The other night, as I was going through my familiar routine of applying hot moist heat and draining them, it suddenly occurred to me taht maybe the heat was making them worse. I remembered that years ago, when I suffered with cystic acne, the only thing that would get rid of the painful bumps was in ice cube applied directly to them. Somewhere, I had read that bacteria thrives on hot moist heat and is killed by freezing cold temps and that's what made me try the ice on my cystic acne. I could often get rid of a cystic acne bump before it even became noticeable just by applying ice. So I decided to try it with the boils. I got an ice cube and held it directly to the biggest boil and then after a minute or so began rubbing the ice cube over the whole area that was infected with boils. I did this before bed and when I awoke the next morning, the smaller boils were completely gone and the bigger boils were less than half the size they had been. After I ate breakfast, I got another ice cube and applied it to the bigger boils first and then rubbed it over the whole area. By evening, the bigger boils were super tiny. I continued the ice cube treatment another day and then they were all gone. I cannot tell you how happy I was after suffering with these things for nearly three weeks and watching them grow worse and worse!
Nic's Turmeric Recipe
Posted by Judy (Jackson, MI, USA) on 07/26/2009
I love Turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties. Over a year ago I suffered from arthritis in my hips. I was (WAS) in so much pain. I couldn't walk with my usual speed. My hips would actually lock up on me. I wrote about Turmeric because I was researching multiple spices/herbs and their natural abilities to heal when I came across information on Turmeric and pain management. I was so amazed with the results that I now take it daily and wrote an article about it also. I love the stuff!
Nic's Turmeric Recipe
Posted by Patricia (Viroqua, Wisconsin) on 02/25/2010
★★★★★
I discovered a boil on the face of my healthy 9 month old daughter. She is our fifth child and I had never seen this on any of the other children.
I identified it quickly and responded the first day with tea tree oil. To my surprise, it continued to grow.
Day two, I applied colloidal silver about 6 times per day. But, by that evening, I could see the boil was steadily multiplying. One boil was now four. One 1/4" round and the others about 1/16th".
Day three I found your website and was intrigued by the turmeric treatment. I created my own recipe that went like this:
2 T coconut oil
2 T turmeric
10 drops tea tree oil
10 drops oregano oil
10 drops colloidal silver
1 opened capsule acidophilus
1 opened capsule 2,000 IU Vit.D3
I applied this very potent, messy paste to her boils (and put her in some older clothes we didn't care about).
By the end of the day I noticed all growth had stopped.
Day four, the healing was obviously underway. All of the boils began to heal over, the smaller ones nearly diminishing.
Day five, I applied the paste only at night.
By morning, I could see only a mark where the largest one had been and very faint marks where the smaller ones had been.
All total, I applied the paste for 3 days with excellent results!
Thank you for the invaluable website!
Nic's Turmeric Recipe
Posted by Milena (Orlando, Fl) on 01/21/2012
I did the turmeric recipe too, I could not drink it, it tastes really bad, I am sorry, maybe I put too much oil or spice.
Cell Salt Silica
Posted by Kissyc. (Florida, US) on 04/20/2014
I have also had success with #12; I use NuAge #12 (also sold as Hylands) for tissue repair. In addition, during a MRSA outbreak, I make a mixture using Moringa, Tea Tree, and Oregano oils mixed with Coconut oil as a base. (All available at health food store, call around and make sure they have #12, not everyone carries it) Make sure and take a good vitamin supplement as well, including high doses of Vitamin C, Folic Acid, B vitamins, and Magnesium. I try to avoid the pharmaceuticals, I have taken three types before, and can cause internal damage to your organs. I have an outbreak in my nose right now, and already better in one day using the above remedy. (Use the oil on a Q-tip to apply, and also using a triple antibiotic salve three times a day). This is my second time using this method, cleared up an outbreak on my leg this way in the past.
Boil Tips: Prick the Boil
Posted by Ellen (Pineville, Louisiana) on 05/14/2009
★★★★★
Boils/Staph" Most all of the treatments mentioned here are helpful, but the single most important thing I have found is lancing or pin pricking the boil AS SOON AS YOU NOTICE IT. Even if it doesn't appear to have any drainage in it, IT DOES. Clean the area with soap and water, let dry and quickly make about 3 quick needle pricks right on top of the thing, then take a dry washcloth and apply even pressure around the thing to get the junk out. You don't want to waste time in doing this step, because the tissue begins to swell right after the needle pricks and it will be more difficult to get it all out.
There is no good reason to wait until the boil has "come to a head". The sooner you put a stop to it the better.
Lugol's Iodine
Posted by Steven (Shohola, PA) on 04/05/2009
★★★★★
Iodine Resolves Developing Boil
I have been taking 5 drops of Lugol's 2% strength solution for 3 months now. [I understand this to equal 12.5 mg of iodine whereas the 5% solution would require only 2 drops.]
About a month ago I began getting an infection in one nostril and could feel a boil developing. My nose was sensitive to the touch and I knew it was only a matter of time and it would be really bad. I waited a couple of days as it worsened. I then increased my dose of Lugol's 2% solution to 5 drops in a pint of water 6 times a day along with 500mg of vitamin C 6 times a day. After 2 days, the infection was 95& better and I dropped my dose to what I normally take. Another 2 days later I was back to normal.
Lugol's Iodine
Posted by Susan (Santa Rosa, Ca) on 06/21/2012
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
One potential warning about this - combining Vit C and Iodine is said by many to convert the iodine to iodide.
Lugol's Iodine
Posted by Jules (Colorado Springs, Colorado) on 06/23/2012
How far apart shoul Lugol's Iodine and vitamin C be taken? Thanks!!
Turmeric and Antibacterial or Hydrocortisone Cream
Posted by Rickey (Phoenix, Arizona USA) on 03/24/2009
★★★★★
I read that if you add the tumeric to an anti-bacterial cream and put it on the boil, it will go away. I could not find the cream for the life of me 5 days ago and had 2 boils - one very close to my va-jay-jay and the other on the upper thigh in the same area. i could not walk at all and no pain meds helped.
i mixed up some hydrocortisone 1% that i had handy and tumeric in a little contact lens cap (the case was old) and made sure the mixture was gooey and pliable. i then applied the mixture directly on the boils and taped a gauze on top of both areas.
when i woke up the next morning, my thigh boil burst and overflowed (i did not notice while sleep) and my va-jay-jay boils went down significantly.
after that night they did not hurt. after two days, there were no remnants of any boils.
one piece of advice: USE OLD SHEETS OR VERY DARK SHEET TO SLEEP WITH THIS ON! i used cheap black satin sheets i bought from a store that sells brand names for less ;) otherwise, your reguler sheets will be lots of yellow tumeric patches (i know from experiance).
Turmeric and Antibacterial or Hydrocortisone Cream
Posted by Pmclarke (Allegany Ny) on 12/01/2014
★☆☆☆☆
I did what you did and got a terrible infection. It burned down in the boi , producing a raw pus-filled mess.
Sun, Then Warm Shower
Posted by Lisa (Doha, Qatar) on 03/15/2009
In order to absorb the Vitamin D, I believe you need to wait at least 20-30 minutes after sunbathing to take a shower. The shower washes away all the oils on the skin.
Garlic
Posted by Sandy (Bangalore, India) on 02/18/2009
Apply coconut oil. It's miraculous at healing wounds. You will find the wound is much better overnight.
Garlic
Posted by Tiffany (Houston, TX) on 02/21/2009
Try washing with Dial Bar Soap (yellow bar) and Neosporin the (original kind) and cover it at first to absord the drainage. Once it's closed continue to wash and apply the Neosporin but don't cover it. I had the same problem and this worked for me. Dont stop when it gets better, continue to do it until it heals. I still use Dial bar soap daily and it seems to keep the infections away. I hope this helps.
Garlic
Posted by Kiwilaurel (Richfield, Oh, Usa) on 08/14/2011
It is amazing how many natural cures are suggested for boils - and very few if any modern medicinal treatments. My brother, who is a farrier, uses this on horses feet that are infected all the time and used it recently on a nasty boil and was amazed at the cure time. The boil was already seeping (this might make a difference). He soaked a gauze pad with Betadine liquid, put pure sugar on it until the sugar was red from the betadine - then packed it on the boil and changed it frequently. - Two - three day cure.
Hot Flannel With Soap
Posted by Sarah (London, GB) on 02/15/2009
★★★★★
What I found worked for me was getting a hot/warm flannel and putting soap on it. Try to use soaps that are free of perfumes e.g. Simple and hold it on your spot/boil. Do this for a few days maybe 3 if you do it enough. it will take a while but it does work!!
Cortisone Shots
Posted by Lyn (Vancouver, BC Canada) on 02/06/2009
★★★★★
i admit i will now try turmeric etc, but years ago when i would get boils on my face for a QUICK fix...
when i NEEEEDED IT GONE like TOMORROW FOR SURE as a self conscious teenager.... i went to my dermatologist and got it injected with cortizone ...have repeated that more than 30 times over the years also through a general practicioner as well. If you call and say you have a boil needs cortizone injection so it wont scar they will squeeeeze you in asap. The moment you get the injection you can feel it start to go away, the next day its TOTALLY GONE.
course now i would try the turmeric etc if i could wait a couple days to get rid of it the healthy way ;)
also, i have used table salt on staph, im allergic to bactroban, and im prone to staph even if i think im very hygenic in giving myself a facial, occasionally i notice the next day every place that i removed a blackhead or anything is swollen from staph... salty paste kills germs period they cant live in it. i will get some sea salt to see if its better but table salt is wonderful for infections.
Seabuckthorn helps with acne boils rosesea and other skin conditions.
vitamin e oil on open weeping sores will seal them and heal them quickly.
Antibiotics
Posted by Judy (Beverly, MA) on 12/19/2008
★★★★★
i have tried many antibiotics for my boils the only one that has helped me is sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (sulfa) 800/160 tabs.
Hibiclens Wash
Posted by Liz (Boulder, CO) on 12/08/2008
★★★★★
I've suffered from recurring non-MRSA staph in the groin area for years. I've recently found that using Hibiclens cleaner helps prevent recurrence. It's not a natural remedy, but a great preventative step. I also use tumeric orally when boils first pop up, but they pop up much less frequently after using the Hibiclens twice a day.
Turmeric, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Mark (Nashville, TN) on 11/21/2008
★★★★★
I wrote in about dietary things I did to help the antibiotics work better when I had a staph infection on my face that the antibiotics alone would not kill. This is an update. I wrote in too soon, because there were a few places on my forehead and ear that the antibiotics and dietary changes would not cure. I experimented with various things I read about on this website. I found that coating the remaining infected areas on my face with tea tree oil caused some of the areas to break open, bleed out and heal. However, I still had a couple of places that just would not heal. A place on my ear flaired up with infection which spread back across my face (probably from rubbing on my pillow as I slept). I tried putting white vinegar on a cotton ball. I did it in the morning, and when I did it again in the evening the remaining places opened up and bled out. I stopped and let them heal. As they were healing, I went back to the dermatologist and had a culture done on the place on my ear. It came back with no more staph infection. Because I had been using a plastic pillow cover under my pillow case to try to keep the staph out of my pillow, I developed boils on the back of my neck. As they were healing on their own when on my final visit to the dermatologist, I did not mention them. About three of them still hadn't healed up, though, after a couple of weeks. Knowing how great tea tree oil and vinegar work, I used the "holy grail" treatment on this website for the boils (basically topical tea tree oil and internally taken tumeric). The only change I made was to put vinegar on a cotton ball and also wipe that onto the boils from time to time. It only took two days for the boils to break open and bleed out. Thanks for the great information on this website. Even though vinegar, tea tree oil and tumeric work as well (or better when it's MRSA on your skin) than antibiotics, I believe that by law doctors are only allowed to use FDA approved drugs to treat you. Thus, they can't even tell you about using non regulated household items like vinegar, and some act like you are crazy if you mention them. They would rather put you into the hospital and administer intravenous antibiotics for a mild skin infection than tell you about tea tree oil and vinegar. All this being said, I do think it is important to at least "touch base" with a treditional dermatologist (maybe one visit). That way if a skin infection progresses beyond just a minor (but hard to cure) thing on the skin no matter what you try, you'll have a doctor who is monitoring you and can get you admitted to a hospital for more invasive and intensive care - such as if the infection enters your bloodstream and spreads around inside your body.
Turmeric, Magnesium, Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nicole (somewhere, New York) on 11/10/2008
★★★★★
I started using Turmeric for my painfull boils in my bikini line after reading the posts on this website. After a day or so, I was able to maintain my daily activities in life...SUCH AS WALKING ...HELLO! The Tumeric actually made my boils shrink, and helped me to not get HUGE boils- but they were still there, I didn't care because the pain I had before was nothing to what I had experienced before. I then started reading more on this website and decided to add magnesium with the Turmeric. In just one day my boil, my boil that would get as large as a grape, shruck down to just a small hard mass. No drainage just a hard, flat, little mass with a little swelling. Day two with adding the magnesium, it's gone! I also started using Dial anti bacterial soap and use a lofa scrub if I decide to shave in that delicate area. I had these results by taking two capsules 2 times a day of Turmeric and 2 capsules of magnesium. I have also thought about adding a little ACV into my diet.
Just want to share, and thank the creators of this website. Also since I have taken these supplements I have lost weight. This website has changed my life, any one that has suffered these type of boils anywhere on their body I am sure can relate to the pain and embarrasement it brings on to your social and private life. I am so happy to walk and feel comfortable with my body again. God is great, and I know he gave me the wisdom to find this site. I encourage anyone to talk to their PCP to ask how they may be able to implement supplements in to their life in a safe and healthy way.
Polysporin
Posted by Joe (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 09/12/2008
★★★★★
I have found that if you rub Polysporin on the boil 3 times a day, it will go away. It also kills some of the pain. Put it on any acne/boil at the first sign and it will not grow very large. You must apply it several times a day (at least 3x) in either case. Good Luck.
