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.
Raw Potato, H2O2
Posted by Bebe (Elkhart, In) on 02/08/2016
★★★★★
Raw potato diced up or shredded up, raw only, will pull out the infection, then use hydrogen peroxide to finish pulling out any leftover infection for that week, you will heal, my grandsons boil on his butt was very big and sore I put on the raw shredded up potato into a gauze and taped around the edges so the gauze would breathe, overnight the shredded potato pulled out the core, he felt it hurt at that point, then I checked it the next day and the potato was blackened afterwards, I then proceeded with hydrogen peroxide to keep it cleaned and it healed.
Then my husband had 4 toes on his foot that would not heal, so I did the raw shredded potato again with a big gauze to cover them overnight, then the next day the shredded potatoes in the gauze was black, so I took it off and cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, he healed in two weeks, just keep putting the peroxide on it til it healed up well, the first day I did this the potatoes had pulled out puss and it looked awful, I just cleaned it with the hydrogen peroxide and it healed, every day for two weeks was sufficient.
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.
Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Kitty (North Carolina) on 03/28/2016
★★★★★
You're right. The cotton ball soaked in alcohol and bandaged has worked for me several times also.
Drawing Salve
Posted by Eaglez (Waldwick, Nj) on 09/09/2012
★★★★★
Here is a home-made remedy that I have used for many years to draw out foreign objects from a body including the spores from poison ivy, metal and glass shards, splinters of all kinds and even infectionous erruptions on the skin. It works. Its simple to make and easy to apply without a mess.
Get yourself a bar of 'brown soap' from Walmart, Walgreens or your supermarket. I have two brands that I have stocked up on: Octagen and Felsnappa. Either will work just fine. Now, place a small plastic bag flat and un-opened on a table. Place the bar of soap on the plastic. Take a butter knife and begin to shave off thin slices of the soap onto the plastic. If the bar of soap you are using has been around for awhile it may be a little dry and will slice off harder than a freshly unwrapped bar of soap. Either will work just fine. Okay, when you have an amount that will cover the intended area of concern remove the bar of soap and then, using your fingers, mush the scrapped pieces of soap together making something that resembles an upside cone or pyramid. Now get some household white sugar and, using a spoon, make a pile of sugar next to the shaved soap. Add enough white sugar so that it is about the same size as the soap. When done simply mush together the soap and the sugar with your fingers. Now you need to add water, a drop or two at a time to make a paste that is not runny or too think and lumpy. Be careful not to add too much water as it will render the paste to a watery mass and become difficult to work with when applying it. When the paste is tacky to the touch, or close to it, apply it to the area(s) of your concern. I use the plastic bag that I mixed the soap and sugar on as a cover to which I also apply some thin padding such as a piece of inexpensize gauze. If you are out in the woods or away from civilization use your best guess as to what to use that would cover the mixture and hold it in place for about twelve hours. About twelve hours after applying this mixture you can take it off and make another application if needed. I've used this to draw out pieces of rust from a terribly corroded nail, pieces of glass, snips of wire and gravel (sliding on a road surface after a fall from a bike). It works well. Someimes a second or even a third application will be needed to do the job - it definitely works. Hope this helps someone.
Calcium Bentonite Clay
Posted by Cs (Waco, Tx) on 03/25/2012
★★★★★
Try CALCIUM BENTONITE CLAY. I recently got a boil in my armpit. I had never had one and didn't know what it was. I assumed it was an ingrown hair so I continued to shave. That caused them to spread so that I had 4 boils under one arm and 5 under the other. I tried ichthammol with no help and a smell that literally gave me headaches and Prid didn't help either. I then tried turmeric internally and externally. There was some relief but after over a week I decided to do more research and found info about calcium bentonite clay. Be sure it is calcium and not sodium bentonite. I happened to have a clay exfoliating mask from Solay that was made of calcium bentonite clay, so I applied it to the boils and covered with band aids. Amazing results. Some of the "newer" bumps subsided altogether in just a day. Then, the others started bursting and healing basically each time I reapplied it. Solay is a product that also contains sea salt so I would imagine that helped as well. Also, be careful applying tape to the tender skin around the armpit... I have definitely damaged the area because of the number of bandage changes over the past couple of weeks. Try to make the tape less sticky before sticking it to this delicate skin.
Calcium Bentonite Clay
Posted by Indigophoto (Shuttleisland, Florida) on 10/27/2012
★★★★★
This clay has worked wonders for me, my son, and my pets!! I discovered it researching holistic cures for ring worm when the cat I adopted broke out in it a week after coming to my house. He was a carrier of it and ring worm takes 7-10 days after a stressful event(moving to a new home) to present itself... Lucky us... I went to my local health food store and purchased the bentonite clay in the powder form and started applying it to his spots and adding it to the animals' drinking water. To my relief, I saw results within the evening and noticed that my pets actually prefer drinking the clay water to regular, filtered tap water. In addition to the clay, I started treating him with organic apple cider vinegar by wiping his entire coat with his brush saturated with a 50/50 mix ACV and water. I tried putting it in their water and on their food but they won't go anywhere near it. So, I am continuing the wiping while making sure that I get it down to his skin so it will absorb into his body that way. Not only have the ACV and clay gotten rid of the ring worm, they have done wonders for their coats and even turned the kitty's green eyes back to his natural blue eyed color.
I've used a green mask for years and always marveled at how amazing my skin would look and feel after using it... On a whim, after researching the bentonite clay, I checked the ingredients of my favorite mask and the clay was the primary ingredient! It all makes sense to me now. :O)
Look up bentonite clay here on EC and you will see how many amazing things it can do! For me, it relieves the pain of my psoriasis and clears the skin of the scaling and redness almost immediately. It helps alleviate the pain of my arthritis when I drink it... It gets rid of boils and acne over night when I sleep with a paste of it on affected area... And it works so well that my 5 year old thanked me numerous times for applying it to a rash he got this week. He even asked me if I could put more on it when he came back to my house after a 3 day visit with his dad. I'd given some to his dad to use but he accidentally misplaced it and couldn't do the treatment. If he had, the rash would have been gone by day two. This stuff is incredible and I highly recommend it... And it's 5 YEAR OLD APPROVED! How many meds do you know of that a 5yo doesn't mind? :O)
Colloidal Silver
Posted by Enchanting123 (Los Lunas, Nm) on 10/15/2011
★★★★★
First I have to say I love earthclinic website. So many natural cures to look up.
My husband had another boil on his behind. After one week he finally told me, he had put on rubbing alcohol. I immediately looked at the website to see what can be done. I had colloidal siver and I put it on a little cotton cloth and covered it with a bandage. Overnight it drew out the head and looked a lot better, redness and a lot of the swelling was gone. Put on some more and covered it. Thank you earthclinic and all the wonderful people who share their natural remedies.
Homeopathics
Posted by Rob (Manhattan, Ny) on 09/02/2011
as others have posted here many times... take turmeric and olive leaf extract internally in addition to your other remedies..
Flaxseed Poultice
Posted by Cj (Elk Grove, Ca, Usa) on 05/25/2011
★★★★★
Another remedy for boils if bacon does not work is to make a poultice out of ground flaxseed. Add enough hot water (as hot as you can stand it) to make a slightly soupy paste. Apply to skin and cover with a clean cloth. Allow to dry and then soak it off. The flaxseed causes it to come to a head. We used this when I was a child and suffered from carbuncle outbreaks.
Figs
Posted by William (Fort Lauderdale) on 11/18/2021
Hello Catherine,
You are correct about this, from the true story of King Hezekiah.I have not tried to use figs, however I can only imagine the pain he must have been in, to think he was at death's door. I just had one pop up on my lower back and you do start to feel a little drained, it starts to wear you out. The last time I used warm cloths and it opened the boil up. This time I may give the figs a try since it's on my back.
Thanks for the post.
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Carly (Seattle , Wa - Usa) on 01/09/2011
Well said Lisa... Well said. While I totally agree with you, I will say that if anyone does have a very large (and hot to the touch) type of a boil, and feels generally very ill -then they should probably seek mainstream medical attention to be sure that they are not dealing with a serious sepsis / blood infection. (MO)
BUT - for people with average to large boils, who get them all of the time...
Taking tumeric (internally) daily at 1/2 tsp twice a day will stop them in their tracks within a week. Just read the turmeric section on here. It is TRUE - I am sold on turmeric for it's MANY healthy attributes.
To clarify - If you are in a crisis situation, err on the side of caution and go to the doctor...if not.... Take TURMERIC. Is it amazing stuff!
(Had to try out the now BOLD font! Love it! )
Best to you all. :-)
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Joeym (Minneapolis , Mn) on 11/24/2010
★★★★★
I have successfully drained two painful boils/large pimples (one was a MRSA staph boil) by mixing homemade colloidal silver with bentonite clay powder and making a poultice of it between layers of medical gauze. I covered it with breathable medical tape overnight and when I woke up, the boil/pimple had drained to near completion. I also continued the poultice throughout the day, and by evening, it had drained completely. The pus was gone and new skin was showing where the drainage was previously coming out. Between dressings I used hydrogen peroxide to clean the boil and the area surrounding it. In my opinion, this is the best way to drain a boil/large pimple as it doesn't require any pressure or squeezing, which often causes scarring.
The MRSA boil was on my face and was the size of a silver dollar. My doctor told me that I would likely have a large pock-mark or scar on my face. It has been a little over a month, and you can't even see where the boil was. I'm thankful for the internet, as this is how I discovered the Colloidal Silver/Bentonite Clay treatment. I'm just passing along my experience for others. Blessings to you all!
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Ma (Co, Usa) on 06/04/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Please anyone that has recurring boils, go to your health professional and get checked out. I have had recurring boils and just found out I have MRSA. MRSA seems to be more and more common these days and can be harmful if left untreated.
The turmeric was an awesome temporary remedy for my boils, but when I began to have shortness of breath and chest pains, I knew I had to get checked out.
Listen to your bodies.
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Elle (Cc, Florida) on 12/20/2011
Recurrance of boils may be an indication of MRSA colonization on the skin and in the nostrils. It is urgent to treat so that it does not spread internally and systemically. The decolonization procedure often recommended includes both of the following measures:
Apply 2% mupirocin ointment generously throughout the inside of both nostrils with a cotton swab twice daily for 10 days and
Bathe with liquid chlorhexidene soap, washing all skin surfaces daily for five days. Daily bathing or showering using an antibacterial agent such as chlorhexidine gluconate is recommended during mupirocin treatment to improve chances of eradication. Alternative treatment with tea tree oil body lotion and shampoo have been shown effective in achieving decolonization, and have the benefit of being less harsh on the skin.
If you do not have medical insurace, go to your county public health service center and tell the doctor or nurse what you want. 2% mupirocin ointment for nasal application. The soaps should be available over the counter without a prescription. Or you can use hydrogen peroxide rinsing all over your body while you are in the shower and your skin is already wet. Do small areas at a time so that the mild burning doesn't overwhelm you. Leave it on a few minutes then rinse, go to next area. Remember ears, feet too, wash your scalp with the tea tree oil skin wash. The MRSA infection is on the skin so don't scratch little scabs that make an open entrance into the body. These are not spider bites like a lot of people think, it is part of the MRSA infection. Put hydrogen peroxide on the little scabs. There may be itching also as a sympton. Use hydrogen peroxide to clean surface areas also, sinks, counters, door knobs. Take copper dietary supplements.
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Realjb (Kihei) on 12/26/2016
I have used the grapefruit seed "gse" brand disinfection lotion and found the best results for what could be MRSA. Although the problem still lingers. The comment is very informative and I agree.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Ron (Emporia, Kansas) on 05/04/2010
★★★★★
5-04-10, Ben, down at the health food store, was in pain last Tuesday at work and had difficulty walking...he had developed a large boil on the top of his big toe (about the diameter of a mans thumb)...he asked me what I would do...I suggested soaking in H2O2 might help...use the cheap 3% HP...I saw him today and he said he had gotten the 3% HP and soaked his toe in it full strength for about 5 minutes in the evening about 10pm...the next morning he was at work and felt wetness in his shoe...the boil was draining...his pain was relieved and he said now it was all gone (about 4 days later)...so, the HP appears to have caused drainage in about 12 hours...he said he hadn't squeezed the boil or anything at all because he didn't want to aggravate it...the only thing he had done was the HP....I was surprised it worked so well...I know that HP will kill Staph if enough HP is used...the study I saw was a ratio of 500 HP to 1 Staph...I reasoned the only way HP might help him was if he soaked the boil in the HP so enough HP might be absorbed into the boil to have an effect...don't know if it would work for others, but sure did for him...he was very pleased...he now has an internet connection, so I suggested he study up on Turmeric at Earth Clinic so he could keep the staph under control, because, although the HP worked on his toe, he might get boils in areas of the body where it would be difficult to soak the boil for 5 minutes or so (like in an armpit or on the face)...but, topical application might work in those areas by putting on a thick gauze soaked in HP on it and covering with plastic to keep it wet overnight...don't know for sure...might be worth a try.
Activated Charcoal
Posted by Michiko B (Florida) on 10/07/2016
Quick note about charcoal: if charcoal is used on open skin, it will be effective, HOWEVER, it will also leave a permanent mark wherever it touches open skin. It's just like a tattoo and it is NOT removable unless you see a doctor. There are no bad side effects that I know of, it just leaves a black mark. It would be wise to check the area carefully for broken skin in areas where you don't want permanent marks.
Boil Cores
Posted by Jaqueda P (Joliet, Illinois) on 01/27/2010
How do I know when the core is out of the boil? What does the core look like?
Goldenseal
Posted by Twila (Alexandria, Virginia Usa) on 09/29/2009
★★★★★
My father had boils, i.e., cysts, appear on his arms for years. I found that Goldenseal Root is a GREAT herb with 'drawing' powers. I convinced him to try my paste, let it dry, then wash it off. Not only did the cyst go away fast, but has not returned! I have used Goldenseal Root to 'draw' infection out of cuts, sores, etc., and even cure athletes foot. You only need a small amount of the powder and a tiny amount of water. Stir into a paste quickly and spread it on the affected area. Let it dry. Rinse off. You have to be quick as it begins to work as soon as water hits it. Be careful, a tiny amount of water goes a long way! My mom had a rash on the back of her hand - all the prescription creams made it go away but as soon as she stopped using, the rash would reappear. Used the Goldenseal Root past method on the rash. It went away in 2 days and never returned.
Boil Triggers: Almonds
Posted by Danielle (Atlanta, GA) on 06/10/2009
Last week I noticed that I had a strange skin infection on my cheek. After researching my symptoms on Earth Clinic, I think I have had a reaction to almonds! They are a favorite snack, and I keep a jar in my car for busy days, when I don't have time for lunch. Instead of eating just a few, I ate a large handful and noticed my symptoms the next day. I started on Turmeric, a teaspoon in a glass of water. I took my first dose on Thursday night, and took a second dose Friday morning. By Friday evening, my skin had completely cleared up! I am thrilled and amazed by this simple, natural cure!
Vick's Vapor Rub
Posted by Nicole (Laurel, Ms) on 03/31/2009
★★★★★
I have been suffering from boils for over 15 years. Normally I would go to the doctor, get them lanced, and they wouldn't come back for months. But recently the boils come on a regular basis. I mean they come two to three at a time and just about every week. Yesterday I tried the ____ brand vapor rub, and after three applications the boil came to a head, and I bust it. Oh my Lord Thank You for leading me to this website.
Raw Potato
Posted by cynthia (fayetteville, AR) on 03/24/2009
★★★★★
I was just browsing through this site, I spend a lot of time doing that, and read the remedy posted about boils. As a child I frequently had boils. While at a family gathering an uncle took me into the kitchen to "fix me up" with a home remedy. He got a raw potato and a potato scraper. (as if to make hashbrowns) He then washed and scraped the entire potato into a clean, sterile bandage and taped it to my arm. I wore it all that day and through the night. Bt the next morning the boil had come to a head, and my mother drained and cleaned it. I had been plagued with boils many times prior to that and they were always painful and lasted several days before coming to a head. This one was over quickly and what a blessing! After that we used a raw potato any time one came up. I no longer have this problem. I seem to have grown out of it. I have given this remedy to friends and family members since then and it has been a success with them also. Hope it helps!
Copper Penny Water
Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 12/24/2017
I have recently been using Tea Tree (Leaf) Oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia) for a little bit of toe nail fungus and also, what I assume to be a boil of some sort on my forearm.
I cannot find a picture of this "boil" on the internet but it looked like a very small, brown, wrinkled sponge (above skin level) approximately 7 mm in diameter.
Although not eliminated completely, the fungus is diminishing slowly and the boil has 50% improved within a week and sunk back down to skin level by using just one drop of neat TTO am and pm.
The brand is an Australian company whose name includes a day of the week!
Cheers and Happy Christmas
Michael
Vick's Vapor Rub
Posted by Catarsha (Memphis, TN) on 01/07/2009
★★★★★
I used Vick's Vaopor Rub for a huge boil which finally drained itself after 3 days. I cleaned the area 3 times per day and applied a generous amount of VVR. It was not painful at all.
