Boils
Natural Remedies

Heal Boils Naturally: Effective Home Remedies

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.
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!!


Copper Penny Water
Posted by Elna (Cape Town, RSA) on 02/11/2009
★★★★★

As a child I had recurring boils. My mom got the advice to take an old copper penny, heat in to red hot on a stove plate, and then drop it into a glass of water. Then I had to drink the water. No more boils, ever. You have to use a copper penny that hasn't been heated before.

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.


Boil Outbreak Theories
Posted by John (Anderson, SC USA) on 02/05/2009

Ted would Borax work to kill them?


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.


Multiple Remedies
Posted by Linda (Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA) on 01/03/2009
★★★★★

I started getting boils repeatedly in the last couple of years on different parts of my body, but I stopped the cycle successfully through natural remedies. If I ever get another one, I'll definitely try the Turmeric, but for now, I wanted to share what worked for me.

I always try to find the cause of my health problems so that I can cure it permanently versus just treating the symptoms, and this method has always worked great for me. I noticed my boils started after I had been taking a high potency multi-vitamin for awhile, and after that, whenever I ate chocolate and peanuts. I also believe I might have gotten some type of fungal infection in my blood that was causing them. For immediate relief of pain and inflammation, I used ice packs (hot water made mine worse). To kill the infection on the surface, I put a few drops of Tea Tree Oil (natural anti-bacterial) on a cotton ball pre-moistened with hydrogen peroxide and applied it several times throughout the day (sometimes this alone cured them). If I ever got a boil on an area of skin that was touching another area of skin, I would make sure to apply the Tea Tree oil on all skin that was touching the boil. For a stubborn boil I had on my abdomen once, I mixed a very small amount of Goldenseal powder (natural anti-bacterial) with a teaspoon of Castor Oil, put them on a gauze pad over the boil, secured it with Bandaids and then covered it gently with a heating pad for about 20 minutes 3 times a day. Both of these natural ingredients are drawing agents, and they worked wonders to start pulling the infection right out of the skin within hours. By the next day, the infection was completely out and the boil was gone. Once the wound closed a little, I applied Aloe Vera gel to it regularly to prevent any scarring.

To stop the cycle of recurring boils, I did two things: I learned that a boil happens when the body has a toxin that it cannot get out fast enough through the normal channels. Since I generally eat a healthy, whole foods diet, I figured the only other thing it could be was my multi-vitamin supplement, so I stopped taking it. Soon after that, the number and severity of my boils went way down. To finish off any other toxins, I decided to try a medicinal herb that is very effective at killing bacteria, fungus and viruses: Pau d'Arco. I drank 1 cup of Pau d'Arco tea daily for 2 months, and I've not had another boil since, even after eating too much chocolate and nuts during the holidays. These safe, natural methods were extremely effective for me, and I love the idea that they also taught me how to prevent any future recurrances.


Boil Outbreak Theories
Posted by Ted (Exmore, VA) on 01/02/2009

Boils are caused by a small (very small) parasitic microbe called Collembola ...You cannot see them without 10x magnification ... They enter the skin through the hair pores and cause boils ...

Prevention is simple ...
1) Cleanliness ... soap and water ...
2)Natural skin care creams containing sulfur ...
3) Turmeric and cayenne internally ... (sources of sulfur)
4) Cover the boil with something (Bandaid, tape or cream) so they do not reinfect the area ...
5) also antiseptic oils like tea tree and peppermint help to keep the area clean and repels those critters ...

Boils are very difficult to cure, because these bugs re-infest the area over and over again ... stop the bugs from returning and the boils will then be able to heal ... otherwise they can take months or more...

Ted


Turmeric, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Kelly (Pekin, IL) on 12/25/2008
★★★★★

Thank you for the info. This is my story on Turmeric and Tea Tree Oil

12-14-08: Day 1

I had one huge boil in my armpit well I had to take antibiotics for 10 days and since it only went down half way they put me on another 10 days finally it was gone. Than about a week later I got 1 in the armpit again just in a little different spot, I finally got it down by lancing it myself and cleaning it but now I have 7 small boils in my armpit and I can not take this anymore so I went searching for some kind of cure. I came across this site and began reading a lot of the post more good post than bad so I thought I would try this Turmeric, well let me tell you folks hope you read what they say really good before trying it, I messed up I thought it read 1 to 2 TBS in warm water so I heaped up those TBS and mixed it up and oh my goosh I thought I was going to puke it was one of the most disguising taste that I think I have ever tasted. At that moment I thought I can not do this I am getting the pill form, but to find out it says 1 to 2 teaspoons and it don't say how much water use more than 4 oz like I did made it even worse and hard to swallow. I am still going to get it in pill form I do not think I could drink that mixture at all ever again.

I made a paste of Turmeric, Neosporin, Baking Soda, Lemon extract & Apple Cider Vinegar and tried to go to sleep ya right it wasn't working the pain was so unbearable.

Day 2

I woke up and washed my underarm to see and feel those things where still there and nothing had changed with them in there appearance or soreness. So this time since I am allergic to tape and I know I am but I had no way of keeping the paste on. I now have caused redness even more so around those things and some raw skin because when I tried to take the tape off it took my skin with it. I am in so much pain it has given me a headache. So now I think what am I going to do, I didn't have a clue, I decided to put some calamine lotion on all of it.

I seen that the roads where horrible out and I thought to my self oh no I am not going to be able to go to Wal-Mart to get those pills, so I decided to try 1tsp of the turmeric on orange juice it does not dissolve in orange juice, it was gross to say the least, maybe if I heated up the orange juice it would have dissolved but that is horrible hot OJ not for me.

Tonight I drank some more with warm water still disgusting as ever and this time I feel like I could absolutely puke, it has upset my stomach so much I will not do the powder thing again, it will have to wait until I can get it into pill form. Still no relief I keep taking 2 - Tylenol 650mg ever 4 to 6 hours, I have tried so many things the last couple of days I am about ready to give up and call the doctor.

Day 3

I slept with the heating pad under my arm on and off all night long it was the only thing that gave me any relief. I decided it was time no matter what the weather was like to go to the store and get some Turmeric (500mg) in pill form. I step outside and it is snowing and a blowing I was like oh my goosh, I didn't care I was going to get some of those pills. I knew I would not be able to drink another drop of that powder mixture. While I was there at Wal-Mart, I noticed they had some Tea Tree Oil and I remembered reading something about it but couldn't remember what I didn't care I bought some anyway, I was here and it was getting nastier out and I knew I would be stuck inside for a few days. I didn't see the Turmeric pills at first and I started to panic it was like dang gone it I drove out in this crap you all better have some, so I searched and searched and on the very bottom kind of slide back there they where. I dabbed me a bottle of them and by the way it was the only bottle left most becoming very popular around here. I came home took 2 right away and took the Tea Tree Oil and rubbed it on my boils and man does that stuff stink, thank god I am not out in public people would be telling me I need a bath. I had a couple of them break open but hardly anything came out of them.

Time for bed I took 2 more of the Turmeric Pills and I went and washed them again with antibiotic soap and doest the boils with the Tea Tree Oil and than put the heating pad on them.

Day 4 -9 did Turmeric and Tea Tree Oil regiment and used Heating pad at night
Day 10

They are all completely gone I am a firm believer in this now and Love the pills ;o)


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.

Vick's Vapor Rub
Posted by Tony (Duncan, OK) on 12/09/2008
★★★★★

VICK'S VAPOR RUB cured my MRSA
by Tony Walker

July- Duncan, OK. - I got chigger bites that got infected on the lower front of my leg.

Aug.- The infection spread showing up in new spots on the front of my lower leg. The new spots looked like oversized Zits with a white puss head 1/8 and a hardness under it of 1/4 across.

Sept.- The spots on the front of my leg cleared up as new spots showed up on the back of my lower leg.
Mid Sept. - I went to clinic and the doctor gave me a ten-day supply of Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim. ($100) The sores cleared up and no new sores appeared until--

Nov.10th Duncan, OK. New sores with a different appearance appear on back of lower leg. These sores start as little red bumps and become red and scabby with a clear discharge.

Nov.28th 2007- These new sores have moved to the front of my lower leg and the old Zit type sores have reappeared

I returned to the clinic and the doctor re prescribed The same prescription ($140) but this time it had no effect. I have tried a number of things to dry out the sores to no avail they only got worse. Then I tried rubbing Vix vapor rub on the sores and saw improvement overnight. I rubbed Vix? vapor rub on it twice a day morning and night.Then I draped a piece of sheet around it which I pinned to my shorts and tucked into my sock to keep the Vix off other stuff. The sores cleared up and were gone in about a week or so.

Dec.8 2008 about every 3 to 4 months a rash starts to reappeared and I just applied a little more vapor rub on it and it goes away again. This vapor rub need not be of the "Vix" name brand Walmart --equate-- works just as good.

See also under mustard.


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.

Silica
Posted by Amy (Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA) on 12/03/2008
★★★★★

Homeopathic Silica/Silicea for Boils

I wrote to you a few days ago about a yeast infection after half a dose of turmeric. I'm writing you now to tell you what finally worked for me.

After treating the yeast infection, I tried turmeric capsules with a probiotic for two days. The yeast did not come back, but the boils didn't get any better -- in fact, one got worse. I've had two below the waist for quite some time that weren't very painful. My doctor told me I had "a little hidradenitis suppurativa" and if I didn't want to take antibiotics there wasn't really anything she could do for me; just continue the hot compresses and hope for the best.

Last week during the yeast infection treatment I got another boil that was much more painful. It just kept getting bigger and more painful until I could barely sit down or walk. I've tried everything; the turmeric internally, along with, topically: aloe vera, calendula salve, Neosporin, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, hot compresses, hot Epsom salt compresses, baking soda with honey, and this one just kept getting bigger and sorer and more distended.

Since I've responded well to homeopathy in the past, today I googled "homeopathy boils" and found several sites that listed a number of remedies that help with this problem. I chose Silica/Silicea (it's spelled both ways) as the description sounded most like what I was suffering. I went to the health food store and got the remedy (30C) and took a dose right away. Two hours later, I felt quite sleepy and chilled and went to bed. I woke up 40 minutes later to find that the two largest boils closest to the surface of the skin were draining bloody fluid. I had chills really bad all afternoon but I've continued to take the 30C dose every 3-4 hours as recommended and the wounds have kept draining all afternoon and evening. The smaller boils that I had are already starting to get smaller from the inside. The largest, most painful one is much smaller and less painful and as long as I can keep it clean I imagine it will eventually heal fine. I'm so relieved that the pain is going away and hopeful that the problem will resolve in a few days or weeks.


The Bottle Method
Posted by Vanessa (Missoula, Montana, USA) on 12/01/2008
★★★★★

Hello - This method did not leave scars for me, but I was also left scar free after lancing! I might just have tough skin... Take Care - Vanessa


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.


Boil Prevention Tips
Posted by Samantha (Lebanon, PA) on 09/30/2008
★★★★★

I "grew" a horrible boil 2 days ago and was trying many different tricks to rid myself of the absess. I eventually broke down and went to the Dr because of a MRSA outbreak in my office. Fortunately, I don't have MRSA but I do have a very helpful tip from my doc.... When you bathe wash your face last or with a completely separate wash cloth. He stated that the bacteria in your nose causes outbreaks of skin absesses. Dry the same way, face last or separate. He said the amount of Bacteria in your nostrils is a main cause to many issues. Make sure you wash your hands before and after you use the restroom as well. I hope this helps anyone prevent painful boils.

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.


Schuessler Tissue Salts, Fresh Onion
Posted by Jo (Sydney, Australia) on 09/03/2008
★★★★★

Hi there, I have been plagued (!) by chronic furunculosis for a number of years now and was searching for cures when I came across your site. I am rushing out now to buy some tumeric. I also find Scheussler tissue salts help - I take all the blood cleanser ones as well as the hayfever since that addresses allergies generally. Rubbing a fresh cut onion as often as you like on the boils also helps enormously, and use antiseptic cream and phisohex wash. Hope this helps others.


Baking Soda
Posted by Jake (Asheville, NC) on 08/27/2008
★★★★★

I also tried the boil baking soda method, by putting some BS on a rag, dripping some water on it, then placing it on the boil for an hour or two. It drew the infection out and it drained with very little effort. Thanks so much for this advice.


Turmeric and Homemade Salve
Posted by Sally (small town near New Orleans, Louisiana) on 08/14/2008
★★★★★

I learned about turmeric and baking soda for the treatment of boils while searching the web for a natural cure two years ago when I came across Earth Clinic's website. My son had been getting boils for nearly 10 years. I was panicking because the boil that he had at this time was on his face just under his nose. It was huge. Our doctor gave him antibiotics which only seemed to make it worse. His face was so swollen and his upper and lower lips looked as though he was given an over dose of collagen injections. Really scary to say the least as well as painful.

Because I happened to have a bottle of turmeric capsules in my cupboard as well as baking soda, I decided to try it. Well, let me tell you, after suffering for nearly four days, in less than one day the boil started to shrink and the pain was gone. In two days, it was completely gone! I made a paste with turmeric powder and coconut oil as well as some other antifungals that I had, such as garlic oil, olive leaf extract, capsaicin and grapefruit seed extract and tea tree oil. I mixed them all together and applied them to the boil and put a band aid over it. I changed it three times a day. I also mixed about two teaspoons of baking soda in two ounces of water and had my son drink this morning and night. What a relief, to say the least! After two days my son's boil was nonexistent. Truly amasing! I hate to think what the outcome may have been if I had not discovered Earth Clinic. Oh, yeah, my son also took a couple of turmeric capsules orally as well as olive extract, capsaicin and garlic oil for a few days. These are all natural antifungal, antibiotic and antiviral. I also read an article online by a doctor who has cured MRSA using olive leaf extract as well as bentonite clay used topically. If my son should get another boil, I won't be so worried because I have found a remedy that works and it is not pharaceutical antibiotics that don't work! Thank you so much Earth Clinic, I love your website and I tell everyone I know about it. My son especially thanks you!

Sally from Louisiana



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