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.
Lifestyle Changes
Posted by Nikita (Singapore) on 01/12/2015
★★★★★
Hi friends,
I used to get boils almost every other month on thighs, buttocks etc. since couple of years and had to take antibiotics to cure the same. Now, I have not got any boils since more than a year after making certain lifestyle changes so would like to share about the same. I hope it helps.
Cause: Though I am not sure about exact reasons for getting boils, however following could have been the contributing factors in my case:
- Constipation
- Anemia
- Poor immunity level
- Poor nutrition, Consuming junk, greasy and sugary foods on frequent basis
- Drinking tap water
- Stress due to long working hours at work
- Lack of physical exercise
- Poor hygiene
- Tight fitting clothes
Steps which I followed to stop re-occurrence of boils ?
- Visited a Dermatologist who gave me a nasal ointment to be applied in nostrils. I continued this for a month.
- Dermatologist also gave me an antimicrobial/ antibacterial solution to bathe for underarms, thighs and buttocks. I continued this for 4 months and later started using antibacterial soaps for bathing, which are available at any local shops.
- Started drinking filtered water instead of tap water (Bought a water filter).
- Began practicing good personal hygiene by taking bath everyday, gently scrubbing using a loofah while showering once a week, cleaning clothes, undergarments, bedsheets, bathrooms and toilet seats on regular basis, etc.
- Included 30 to 45 mins of exercise in my daily routine, mainly yoga and deep-breathing exercises.
- Stopped wearing very tight fitting clothes and undergarments.
Diet changes:
- I was anemic, so cured that by taking supplements, and by having carrot-beetroot juice, dates and raisins on daily basis.
- I also had frequent constipation so included high-fiber foods such as oats, carrots, fruits, whole wheat, etc. to cure that. Stopped having junk, fried, greasy and sugary foods as much as possible.
- Followed detox diet for three weeks.
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Beth0210 (Trumbull, Connecticut, USA) on 12/22/2014
Raw turmeric really does stain! My grandma's hands were yellow-orange for days after handling the root. Do you know any reliable brand for turmeric powder? Or any ideas on how to properly turn turmeric root into powder so I can tell my grandma? Thanks!
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Om (Hope, Bc Canada) on 12/10/2014
Beth0210 --- yes, according to Ayurveda statements, they both work. But they work in different ways. Here in the West, the dry form is mostly easier to procure. If you juice the root, your juicer could be orange forever. In India, people even hang the root from the neck for protection. Turmeric has special subtle powers which I have experienced myself. So it is not superstition.
After an illness, spray your body with a solution of water and turmeric to cleanse the subtle body of residues of unhealthy energies. This is widely used in India for that purpose. That is when I had an experience indicating it does work on subtle levels.
Namaste, Om
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Beth0210 (Trumbull, CT) on 12/10/2014
Just want to know if raw turmeric is as effective as the powder form. My Filipino grandma grew them in her yard for cooking and herbal remedies.
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.
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Cathy (Georgia, US) on 08/17/2014
★★★★★
Walmart has lysol concentrate in cleaning supplies.
Castor Oil
Posted by Karen (Alberta, Canada) on 08/15/2014
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I just wanted to add something that I've never seen on here before - and that is when you start to feel a boil forming, start rubbing castor oil into the area as often as you can. I find that it prevents them from getting any bigger and then they go away. It is also amazing on boils after they've been drained. Take care now.
Turmeric, Garlic, Olive Leaf
Posted by Jsdell (San Deigo,ca) on 06/15/2014
★★★★★
I had a boil on the back of my neck last year and after reading on this site and a few others, many many posts, I realized that I also had MRSA. Originally I tried a few ideas like garlic and turmeric and olive leaf, separately, but none of them worked alone. After reading a good deal more, I put together the new treatment plan about 3 weeks after the boil surfaced, as what I had been doing was not working (I'd been doing each of the treatments below, but individually, not together. After reading a lot, I realized I needed something stronger. So I took 2 Turmeric Curcumin caps a day and 3xs a day opened a capsule and put it on a bandage damped with garlic water and put that on my boil (I crushed 1 1000mg tablet of garlic in a few drops of boiled water & used this water to dampen the bandage. I changed this water 2xs a day). I used 3 bandages to be sure the boil was completely covered as the turmeric would easily stain my clothing even if I was really careful and the stain would not come out now matter what I tried (I tried for weeks, but nothing worked, so wear old cloths) I also took 1000 mg of garlic 2xs a day. Also 2xs a day I took 500 mg Olive Leave Extract.
Within 2 weeks of starting this the boil was totally gone, but if I started this treatment plan sooner, it would have been gone sooner, I leaned when the boil came back in the same spot just a month ago, mind you it has been gone well over 6 moths and I'd not had any other reoccurrence). So last month I immediately did the combination treatment plan and the boil never surfaced and was gone within a few days. I leaned on this site, you have to take the garlic internally and put garlic water on the outside of the boil it's self, because just taking garlic will not work. I did not try Charcoal, but I have used Charcoal for other things and I believe that might have worked, had I known about it, but at the time, I was only trying things I was reading that had worked. So don't be afraid to mix treatments.
So be bold and if your boil is not going away fast, try mixing some treatments. Sometimes that's the only thing that will work.
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.
L-Lysine
Posted by Shirley (Virginia) on 02/07/2014
Herpes most people think is sexual, but herpes is also shingles. I use a slice of raw onion on the boil I had one last yr. Cut a slice of raw onion and apply it to the boil and bandage it tight so it will come in contact with the boil, leave it on overnight and and it will draw out the infection onto the onion. Now you will have to get the core out or it will keep coming back. Do not squeeze the boil, that will drive the core down and infection. So instead stretch the skin out on both side and it will bring the core up, keep doing this until the core pops out. Make sure you clean the area two or three times a day and use the iodine to help keep it clean.
Baking Soda
Posted by Angela (Ohio) on 01/21/2014
★★★★★
I have a boil in a very tender spot and I came here to see what I could do on my own and thank God I did. All I had was baking soda on hand. I was in tears trying to make the paste and I had put a "drawing" salve on the boil and kept it on there for two days. It got sooooooo much worse. When I made the paste and applied it, I felt my skin crawl. There was pain, but nowhere near as bad. It took about ten minutes to start working and the pain is soooooo much better and it started draining almost immediately. I hope this works and I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone. Good luck!
Copper, ACV, Sea Salt
Posted by Sanjoo (Ahmedabad) on 01/12/2014 7 posts
★★★★★
Copper for Boils:
Recently had a boil on my left elbow. eventually pus started oozing out. I started by putting 1 tsp ACV in a small copper dish, added some salt & a little baking soda, little charcoal, then some oil, (mostly sunflower / sesame oil), or sometimes just aloe vera gel in place of oil to avoid feeling oily, and applied this on the boil (used a gauge pad & bandage).
Two days later, the boil had started drying up, & no longer required bandaging. I continued to apply the above mix, without charcoal, but with a little mg oil, for the next few days, on the skin around the boil, till it completely healed.
It would also make sense to keep some water stored (12 hours or more) in a copper jar with about 1/4th cup ACV & 1 tsp sea salt added, ready for use for cleaning boils. Copper, Apple Cider Vinegar & sea salt all act like antibiotic. I generally transfer this solution to a spray bottle before use. This avoids spread of infection around the boil to other areas of skin.
During the healing phase, it often starts to itch around the boil, & you need to scratch. I used the edge of a copper spoon, with the above mix applied on skin, to scratch, & the itching stops almost instantaneously.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Gavin (Northland, New Zealand) on 10/05/2013
★★★★★
I've been having a problem with boils this last year, they have lasted for months before they come to a head and finally drain. I had one nasty one on the right side of the groin, which finally went away, then last week I could feel one starting up on the left in the same place. From the moment I noticed the swelling I thought I'd try Extra Virgin coconut oil. So I kept it smothered, on the forth day it at the appearance of a pimple which I just popped. Nothing like the tedious month long problems with the other three. I'm sure this is the way to go, as the coconut oil must get into the core of the boil and aid the healing. I would like some feed back to acertain if this is a really valid method of dealing with the problem.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Mike (Vancouver, Canada) on 10/05/2013
★★★★★
After trying all the recommended remedies I had the mother of all boils calm down and become dormant after a month of tumeric, garlic, olive tree tea oil, epsom salt, honey, ACV, baking soda, itchatamol pulling oil... Ingesting it, applying it on topically every day and eventually she started getting smaller and smaller and almost non existent. Weird how a golf size boil that was so angry just sort of slowly shrank without coming to a head. I can still feel a raised bump with abnormal texture when rubbed but no pain or inflammation. I will continue with the tumeric and healthy lifestyle. I believe a poor diet and stress at the job while sitting on my bottom for 12 hours a day was the major contributions to the boils on my behind. Thank you so much for I have learned so much.
Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Michelle (New York, NY) on 07/16/2013
★★★★★
As soon as you feel a boil developing, it helps to swab the area with rubbing alcohol. Once it is already basically formed, soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and tape it to the boil using a bandaid. Do this until the boil is dried out. Also make sure to change the cotton ball at least twice a day. This has helped me several times. Good luck!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Catherine (Auckland) on 07/01/2013
★★★★★
I have been struggling with a staph outbreak for years and years the only thing that cured my outbreaks (usually once a year) was going on rifampicin. I really didn't want to continue taking antibiotics and wanted to see if I could cure myself naturally. So far nothing worked for me well enough to rid me from the infection but I could have cried with relief at the success from magnesium! Magnesium, vitamin c as mag ascorbate and lots of alkalising. Thank you thank you thank you! You all must try it. I will now use milk of magnesia as a deodorant too best natural deo I've found!
Tomato
Posted by Anon (Nc) on 06/28/2013
★★★★★
Tomato paste does work for boils! My pain was horrible and even on antibiotics it felt like the boil was too deep in my skin for it to come up I got desperate and as my husband laughed at me I put the tomato paste over it and then covered with a bandage. Slept with the heating pad on my leg and the next morning it opened. So relieved from the pain. I will do this immediately if I get another one.
Epsom Salt
Posted by Ace (Vancouver, Bc, Canada) on 06/27/2013
★★★★★
Epsom salts have proved to be very useful for me in healing boils/follicle infections:
Can do while you shower:
1. Get a handfull of epsom salts - and dissolve in a bit of water so that it gets wet (but not so much water so that it doesn't dissolve into being too thin/watery either).... and scrub it into effected areas - and scrub really good.
2. Keep it on for at least 5 minutes without washing it, and then you can wash it off after 5 minutes.
It expedites the healing process of boils/severe acne - has worked wonders for me!!
You can buy epsom salts from a local pharmacy, ex- shoppers drug mart
Castor Oil
Posted by Hef (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 05/03/2013
★★★★★
My nephew has a boil/acne mix on top of his nose with blood and pus coming from it for a month and was not getting better. When I visited him, I recommended applying castor oil dipped cotton gauze and then putting on band aid on top of it overnight daily.
On my next visit in a week his problem was healed completely. He was a very happy kid.
Misdiagnosis Alert!
Posted by Chris (Cincinnati, Oh) on 03/06/2013
I know this was written a few years ago but I wanted to point out the fact that intestinal issues and skin issues such as flakiness that involve a history of the person taking multiple and strong antibiotics given over a long period of time, such as you decribed are a direct result of an imbalance of the good/bad bacteria in the intestinal tract. The more antibiotic that is taken, the weaker the good bacteria becomes. This imbalance can lead to other complications such as Crohn's, Celiac, Candida, etc. I would suggest giving your daughter a bentonite or montmorillonite powder to help draw out the impurities in her intestines and to line the walls of the intestines. Also to take a strong probiotic to rebuild the intestinal flora. If you can feed her raw milk, that would be the absolute best way for her to balance her system. Start with a tablespoon and work up to a full glass.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Angsu (Lima, Peru) on 02/02/2013
★★★★★
After suffering from boils for about 8 months, and trying a huge number of combinations... My conclusion as follows:
Staph is very adept at mutating to survive. Therefore one remedy you use, may prove useless in several months time. Changing body chemistry and hitting it where it cannot defend itself is the only way to destroy it completely. Therefore PH and Magensium really works (as Ted advises).
Interior:
- Lemon juice / Bicarb twice daily
- Vitamin C as Magnesium Ascorbate (not Sodium Ascorbate) once daily 1000 - 2000mg is enough.
Exterior (on the boils themselves):
- Magnesium (i used as Mag chloride) powder, mixed with a little water (stings), on a cotton wool pad, taped to the boil.
Also, to dry them out:
- Bicarbonate of soda, mixed with Sange de Grado (Dragons blood) pure.
For overnight, to reduce inflammation and draw out pus:
- Coconut oil, mixed with fresh or powdered turmeric (as a paste), and fresh liquidised cilantro, coriander (to activate it) and some black pepper.
MMS in solution mixed with DMSO does get rid of folliculitis in about 24 hours, but the issue is maintaining a body where the bacteria cannot grow. Therefore lots of water, lots of alkalysing and magnesium internally and externally. For external applications use tape to affix a cotton wool pad with the remedy, for daily and overnight applications. Overnight has great results!!!
Detox
Posted by Jacob (Upper Marlboro, Md) on 01/24/2013
★★★★★
I have experienced boils for years and I realized for me... The reason I get boils is because of the toxicity levels in my blood, due to smoking and/or drinking. Tumeric is the best solution for boils but it doesn't cure it, if your immune system is unique, reducing those levels can reduce outbreaks significantly. I haven't had a boil or any signs of one since I started reducing toxins within myself.
Eliminate Nightshade Vegetables
Posted by Mississippi (Hernando, Mississippi) on 01/18/2013
★★★★★
My husband had boils for over a year-along with very severe psoriasis-we treated the boils with all of the remedies we read on this site with some relief-some of the remedies would help the boils open up and drain but he kept getting boils and some were very large and painful. While treating his psoriasis-we found a book by John Pegano called Healing Psoriasis-one of Pegano's recommendations was to stop eating nightshade vegetables-my husband stopped the nightshades hoping to help his psoriasis-which it did-but an added bonus-the boils healed completely-and right away-and he has not had any since stopping these vegetables. Also, his psoriasis dried up besides two patches on the insides of both legs near his ankles and we believe with a little more time on his new diet that he will be psoriasis free-he is boil free for over 6 months now. Nightshades include-potatoes-tomatoes-spicey peppers-tobacco.
Staph- Related
Posted by Francesca (New York, Ny) on 12/27/2012
Have the inside of your nose tested for staph!!! I suffered from staph infections on my legs and butt for years in the form of boils and abscesses. I went to numerous doctors, western, acupuncturists, and naturopaths. I tried every recommendation I heard, I even only ate alkaline food, cut out sugar, wheat, meat, and dairy. Last month I saw a dermatologist and he asked if my nose had ever been tested. In none of my countless doctors visits and online forums did I hear/read anything about this. But he tested my nose, found staph, and then gave me bactroban cream to put in my nose every night before bed for two weeks. After the two weeks of putting the cream in my nose, I was retested and I no longer have staph!! I used to get abscesses when I didn't get enough sleep or was stressed out. I just completed my third, and most stressful, semester of graduate school and am fine! I cannot stress this enough, the dermatologist changed my life!
High Fructose Corn Syrup Related
Posted by Nancy (Mission, Tx) on 11/22/2012
I am grateful for your info on boils as I didn't know what caused them - I thought it was stress! I've gotten them for years and didn't know what to do about them. Now that I know, I will change my diet. Thanks so much
