Natural Cures and Remedies for Boils

A boil is described as a pink to red bump that is very painful and smelly. It is filled with a greenish yellow to brown puss and it looks like a giant zit. It begins as a little red bump but becomes a very big bump that becomes very painful. In time it will burst and the puss will drain out. According to medical advice, you should let this process happen naturally and not pop it or open it up with a lance.

Usually, if you go to your doctor, the boil will be lanced and drained. You might also be prescribed an antibiotic. The use of antibiotics to cure boils is one of the practices that has caused the Staphylococcus aureous or MRSA to be immune to antibiotics. It is probably a better idea to use natural methods to cure your boils before seeing your doctor.

There are some symptoms that will let you know if you need to seek help:

• When the boil is very painful and continues to grow and worsen at a very fast rate.
• If you still have the boil after two weeks.
• If you suffer from HIV, diabetes, cancer or any other immune suppressing disease.
• If a fever develops.
• If the boil becomes infected and the infection is going into the bloodstream. You will see red lines forming.
• If the boils keep coming back.
  
  

What Are Some Types of Boils?

Boils can happen almost anywhere on your body but are most likely to form on the buttocks, thighs, face, neck, arm pits and genital area. They also may appear in areas where there is a lot of hair or where your clothes might rub against your skin, causing irritation, or areas where you sweat a lot.

Here are some different types of boils:

Furuncle or carbuncle -- This is an abscess in the skin that is caused by an infection of Staphylococcus aureus. It may cause you to have a fever or chills. This type is deeper and more intense and is more likely to cause a cluster of boils. It usually occurs on the face, neck, armpit, buttocks, and thighs in the hair follicles. These heal slower and usually create a scar. This type occurs more often in older men.

Pilonidal cyst -- This is an abscess that is most often found in the buttocks crease. It usually happens to people who sit for long periods of time, such as a truck driver.

Cystic acne -- This is an abscess caused by congested or infected oil ducts. It is most likely to occur on the face and effects teenagers more often than adults. This type is ongoing and can last a very long time. It is sometimes called a severe acne instead of a boil.

Hidradenitis suppurativa -- This type involves the sweat glands and appears most often in the arm pits and groin area. There are usually multiple boils with this kind.

Some Things That May Cause Boils?

Most everyone will have a boil or boils at sometime in their life, the information below points to some situations that are most likely to cause boils.

• The number one cause is due to blocked sweat glands and hair follicles that then get infected. Scratches or breaks in the skin can also get infected. Something as simple as an ingrown hair can cause a boil.
• You are more likely to have boils if you have a poor functioning immune system. People with diabetes are one example.
• Taking immune suppressing drugs can inhibit the immune system -- some examples are cortisone, prednisolone, prednisone and drugs used for patients with cancer. This can increase the possibility of having boils.
• Not taking care of yourself and creating poor health, which makes you more vulnerable.
• Wearing tight clothes that irritate your skin.
• Conditions like dermatitis or acne increase the possibility.
• Poor nutrition and poor hygiene are major causes.
  
  

Here Are Some Natural Cures For Boils

Tea Tree Oil -- This is an antiseptic and is used to heal all sorts of skin conditions. Tea tree oil has a strong smell and not everyone can tolerate it. Just put the oil on the boil just after bathing each day until it is healed.

Turmeric -- Take at least 450 mg of turmeric each day. It is able to help cure your boils because of its anti-inflammatory and blood purifying properties. It can also be used externally by making it into a paste. You can put it directly on the boil and then cover with some gauze or Band-Aids. Turmeric will stain your skin but it will go away in a few days. It can also stain your clothes and it is not easy to get out, so be careful.

Castor Oil -- This oil is a purgative and draws out the impurities. Put the Castor oil on a cotton ball or pad and put it directly on the boil. Use a Band-Aid to hold it in place. This particular remedy worked real well for me and I was healed in just three days.

Epsom Salts -- Take an epsom salts bath. It pulls the toxins or bacteria out through the skin. How much you should use is on the container it comes in. Don't stay in the bath for longer than 15 to 20 minutes.

Iodine -- Apply the iodine directly on the boil. If you buy povidine-iodine, it will not stain. Iodine soaks into the skin and kills the bacteria. This is another remedy I used myself and with good results.

Honey -- This is a good home remedy. Apply warm honey onto the boil using a piece of gauze or a cotton pad and attach it using a Band-Aid or tape. Honey also pulls the bacteria out through the skin. Manuka honey is said to be the best honey to use in treating boils.

Resources

Below is an article with some old fashioned remedies and information and treating boils:

Treating Boils Naturally

Below is a Web site where quite a few people tell what has worked for them. I like this Web site because you get to find out from the people themselves what works and what doesn't.

Cure Boil

Your Favorite Cures or Remedies:

From Natalie --
I have used crocodile oil for various ailments. Dry skin being #1, acne, insect bites, boils, sore joints, thrush, wrinkles and to relieve rashing. Warm oil slightly and rub it on! Or just rub it in....or add an essential oil and give it an extra boost......very soothing.

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