Natural Remedies for a Skin Infection

Chamomile

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Marinette (Cleveland, U.S.A) on 07/05/2007
★★★★★

One of the best remedies for infections is strong chamomile tea. Our family has used this for many years. An elderly woman we knew years ago, fell down the stairs which resulted in an ugly infection in her hand. She was diabetic and the doctors could not heal her. My mom made a pan of strong chamomile tea and the woman soaked her hand in it for 15 minutes. Immediately you could see a difference. She continued doing this for a few days and was completely healed. It is best to make the tea fresh each time. Thank you for this excellent website!


Charcoal

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Mama to Many (Tennessee) on 06/22/2014
★★★★★

My 84 year old father was visiting and had an infected finger, sort of like an infected hangnail. The finger was red and a little swollen and it looked like it had some puss. I put a charcoal/flax poultice on his finger for the day. By evening, when I checked there was A LOT of puss. (The charcoal draws the infection to the surface.) I sterilized a needle and gently poked a hole in the skin, which was soft from wearing the poultice all day. I got out a lot of thick, opaque, puss. It was pretty gross! I put a new poultice on it over night. It looked pretty good in the morning but I went ahead and dressed it again and send him with some poultices "to go" since he was returning home that day.

A few months ago my father had scraped his arm and it wasn't healing well and was inflamed looking. I put charcoal poultices on it day and night for several days and it improved so much and finally did heal nicely.

~Mama to Many~


Charcoal Flaxseed Poultice

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Jan (Cheshire, Ma, Usa) on 07/07/2012
★★★★★

When my oldest son was a young boy, he contracted a serious infection in the palm of his hand. He got up one morning with red streaks running up his arm past his elbow. I knew the seriousness of that, called the pediatrician, but the earlist they could get him in would have been 4 that afternoon, and I knew that would be too late. The only other alternative was take him to the ER. With two additional children under the age of 5 and no car, ER wasn't an option. I had read somewhere how to make a charcoal/flaxseed poultice for infections, and decided to give it a try.

It worked SO WELL! I applied warmed poultices to the palm of my son's hand every 10-15 minutes (starting at about 10 that morning) and could physically see the red streak being pulled down his arm by the poultice after just a few applications. By about 2 that afternoon, there was no redness in the arm at all, and he was touching the area around the wound in his palm saying, "Gee, it doesn't even hurt any more. "

The toughest part was actually calling and cancelling the appointment I'd made with the pediatrician. I was excitedly sharing the good news with the nurse when she interrupted me, told me that what I was telling her wasn't possible, that I would be "irresponsible" if I didn't bring my son in to see the doctor, because I'd described a serious, life-threatening condition to her. Even when I told her again that the poultice had worked amazingly well, she seemed not to hear me, and when she began to call me a negligent parent I told her she was simply being a very rude nurse, ended our relationship with that office, and hung up the phone.

Here's the recipe for a charcoal flaxseed poultice:

Grind 1-3 TBSP flaxseed in a blender. Mix with 1-3 TBSP activated charcoal powder.
Mix with 1/3 to 1 cup of water. Let set for about 10 minutes OR heat till bubbly and remove from heat, allowing mixture to gel. (For smaller amount, the ratio is 1TBSP/1TBSP/1/3 cup water; larger amount, 3TBSP/3TBSP/1 cup. )

Cut a rectangle of paper toweling twice the size of the finished "square" that you need--fold the rectangle in half to make your square, then open out again. Spread about 1/4 inch of the poultice mixture over half the paper toweling; fold the remaining half over to make a square "sandwich" with the poultice as the "filling. " Cut a piece of plastic wrap (a plastic sandwich bag also works nicely) about ½ inch larger (all around) than your poultice. Place the poultice on the area to be covered, lay the plastic wrap over that, and then tape in place with cloth tape, or in a pinch, use bandaids.

These types of poultices work very well when left in place overnight. Infections are often gone by morning. If using overnight, or for a long period throughout the day, after securing plastic wrap with tape, wrap area with an ace bandage to hold all securely in place. (Obviously, that's not possible on every area of the body; if you can't ace-bandage leaving the area securely covered with just the plastic will work just fine.

If doing an emergency, intensive care poulticing, the way I did with my son, don't use an ace bandage; keep the area heated constantly by soaking a washcloth or other absorbent material in very hot water, and hold it in place over the plastic- covered poultice until the cloth cools off, (10 minutes) then re-soak in hot water, and keep re-applying for as long as necessary to see some improvement. Depending on severity of infection, the poultice itself can be changed/renewed if necessary after several applications of heated washcloth have been applied.

Happy Poulticing!

Replied by Louise
(Clarkston, Mi)
08/01/2012

Thank you for including complete details. So often on this site these are not included. I will try this tonight. I have had a large infection behind my ear for a week now and started making a paste with activated charcoal, about 5 drops of cayenne tincture, and 5 drops of Goldenseal and enough water to make a paste. Last night I left it on all night and woke the most comfortable I've been. The infection area has reduced significantly. The "center" of it is still swollen but pain is gone and I just feel healthy again and clear thinking. I'll try the flaxseed and expect it will finish it off tonight.

Replied by Holli
(Roscoe, IL)
09/16/2023
★★★★★

My husband has been battling weeping eczema in different areas (arm, calf, bottom of foot) over the course of a few years. Not constant, but I've recognized some triggers. Anyways, he is battling it on the arch of his foot this time. This past week it had gotten bad, very painful and weeping. He was developing chills from the infection. At first I though, I'll do a garlic poultice. Then I decided to jump on earth clinic and came across this post about the charcoal and ground flaxseed poultice. I said, okay, first we will soak his feet in warm water with coloidal silver(this night, after previous night's soaking in ACV and another with Epsom salt)and then try the poultice. The infection was almost gone after one night. It wept very little the next day. We did another poultice last night and he said it seems to be a lot better. It's still healing, but I think the infection is about gone. Thank you!


Charcoal Poultice

Posted by Randy (N. Baltimore, Oh, Usa) on 07/14/2012

Can I use a charcoal poultice on an infected area while taking the antibiotic Cipro?

Replied by Lisa
(Jacksonville, Fl)
07/15/2012

Yes, my daughter and I both used topical applications while taking an antibiotic. It should speed healing. I used turmeric, silver cream, file and iodine also.

Replied by Matt
(Somerville, Alabama / USA)
07/15/2012

Don't take the Cipro. It is a member of the flouroquinolones class of antibiotics. These antibiotics cause significant damage to many systems in your body for a significant percentage of people who take them. The percentage of people harmed is much higher than the few percent reported on the black box warnings. The effects are commonly seen weeks or months later and may require more than one round of treatment before they are seen. My daughter spent nearly 2 years suffering horribly from this drug. There are other much safer more effective antibiotics.

Replied by Jenn
(Coborra, Australia)
01/03/2015

Cipro: I looked up to see if this was the same antibiotic that I am taking and it is Ciprofloxin. I was taking Cleocin for 4 months and it killed off my bug ..initially they all work but then I have a swab done and I have a new pathogen. My latest is the one that causes Gangrene.( pathogen Aeruginosa).and all they can offer me now are daily injections of the following : ceftazadine, timentin, tobramycine or gentamycine.

I hate needles and have in my mind somewhere that colloidal silver kills this pathogen..If this is so, can someone tell me where in Australia I could obtain this without going into bankruptcy ?

Our local health food shops charge over the top premium prices to buy anything and I thought awhile back you could make it yourself ? Can it be done and how ? Thanks.

Replied by Dave
(Fountain Inn, Sc)
01/03/2015

Jenn;

You do need colloidal silver as you surmise. And you will need a lot. See my Video on top of Earth Clinic home page and how to make it is simple. A devise costs less than 100 dollars. Also I wrote an article on CS under the Remedies section here on EC.


Diaper Rash Cream

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Susie (Florida) on 08/24/2018
★★★★★

For years I suffered from skin fold infections which actually led to cellulitis and landed me in the hospital several times for weeks and on antibiotics, which lead yeast to infections and trying all kinds of medications and ointments with no relief from of any kind. It was a roller coaster. Then finally one day I was reading and came across an article on skin fold infections that recommend ed diaper rash ointment and I thought I tried everything else so might as well try this too.

So I did and wow it worked I finally found relief. I would just gently clean the area not to cause weeping to the area. I take a tiny amount of Destin and apply it gently rubbing it into the skin fold The ointment kept it from sweating and after a few days, it was looking good. I continue to rub some in the fold daily to keep it from starting again. I hope it helps someone. God bless.


Epsom Salt and Baking Soda Soak

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Chris (Western Australia) on 12/18/2020
★★★★★

In reply to Pam's post from 2010 on the Boron page:

Replied by Pam
Marlborough, Ct, Usa
10/22/2010

Last Nov. Just before Thanksgiving, I stepped on a screw and it went into my foot, just under my big toe. I went to the doctor, and they gave me antibiotics. Well to make a long story short my foot got infected and I was on antibiotics on and off until January, they couldn't get rid of the infection, said it was resistent bacteria. I finally didn't go back because my foot was somewhat better, My toe next to my big toe became infected, and I had to go back and was on more antibiotics until April. At that point they were making me feel sick. So when my toe was good enough I just stopped taking anything as I couldn't stomach it anymore. The reason I am bringing this up is my hands started giving me problems in January. I asked the doctor if this could be related to my foot, and they said probably not. Well thats why I thought I would bring this up and maybe you or someone out there would know if too many antibiotics or an infection could have caused this. Thanks for any help Pam

Best thing to deal with the bacteria is a foot soak of 1/2 cup of epsom salts and 1/2 cup of bicarb soda...hot hot water ...at least twice a day (don't re-use the water).

Let the water dry on the feet (might as well do both feet)! Then spray colloidal silver on sore/injury.


Flaxseed Poultice

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Betheljoy (Beacon NY USA) on 01/31/2024
★★★★★

Flaxseed for infection, boils, etc

Grind flaxseeds to a powder in a coffee grinder. Make a paste by adding warm water. Make a pouch out or linen or cotton cloth and put paste inside, the size of the pouch depending on the area you want to cover. Replace with new wet paste as the original starts to dry. It's important to keep flaxseed wet or it won't work. Place on infected area and watch how it will draw the pus. Usually you will know it has completed the job because there will be a hole where the infection was. Keep it clean and the body will heal the opening.


French Green Clay

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 04/07/2016
★★★★★

My daughter had an infected big toe. It was swollen and very painful to the touch. I mixed equal parts of French green clay and water into a small mug. When the clay was the consistency of mud, I spread some on her toe. I covered that with a piece of paper towel and covered that with plastic. I used cohesive tape to keep it all secure. I used this protocol over night a few nights and for a while during the day for a couple of days. After a few days there was no more pain, heat, or swelling!

French green clay is one of my favorite remedies now! (Thanks Mmsg! )

I love inexpensive, easy, safe and simple remedies!

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
04/08/2016

Yes, MtM, I love to experiment with all these wonderful ideas on EC, but if nothing works for a particular ailment, I tend to go back to the Clay. I've seen it work too many times to ignore for long!


Garlic and Onion Poultice

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Yanny (El Paso, Tx) on 01/20/2012
★★★★★

Father had infected blister on ear lobe. Gramother -Native American/Mexican's recipe to clear boils and skin infection as follows. This is a homemade antifungal antibacterial application. Gram said no one ran to a drug store.

Take 1 TBSP of macerated-mashed/crushed whole fresh garlic, combine with 1 Tablespoon for finely mashed onion. Combine along with 1/2 apple cider vinegar, mix together with pinch of neosporin cream to combine. Apply over boil or skin infection-Cover overnight with absorbent pad. Repeat every other night. By Third application- Infection will be drawn out and skin will lift- producing new skin underneath. Carefully use antiseptically clean tweezer-dipped in Alcohol to remove dead skin and Q-tips to remove infected material that will ooze and surface on to material used to cover. Once removed, Combine, neosporin with Orangic Olvera gel to refresh and moisturize area. Dad's dermo was shocked and in disbelief when he saw my dad's new skin on his ear and ear lobe. Manuka honey can also be used to moisturize area after infection has cleared.

Replied by Hol
(Eleuthera, Bahamas)
03/22/2012

Got Uti... Drink Onion juice.. it works!!! Even overnight, I couldn't believe how strong onion juice could be but a friend told me to try it and it works amazingly well! She also told me Garlic is even stronger for fighting infections, I just hate the scent, but I'm gonna try them both for 14 days-a month.

Replied by Jenn
(Cobbora, Australia)
01/05/2015

Hi! ....the cure of your dad's earlobe sounds wonderful but just need to ask...in your remedy it states 1/2 Apple Cider, but in what quantity ? 1/2 tablespoon or 1/2 cup? Thanks in advance!!


Hydrogen Peroxide

4 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  50%
4 star (1) 
  25%
1 star (1) 
  25%

Posted by Geneaum (San Diego, Ca) on 06/20/2020
★★★★★

I'm surprised H2O2 doesn't get more attention on EC. Used in conjunction with DMSO (which gets the peroxide into the skin) will quickly nuke a skin infection.

I let the dmso/peroxide stay on the skin for a while. After the bubbling stops I mix colloidal silver gel with calendula gel (remarkable stuff! ) and apply. Cover with a large gauze to keep clothing from rubbing on the area. Has worked many times.


Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Michelle (New York, NY) on 09/04/2013

For skin infections and folliculitis: Hydrogen peroxide is very helpful for diminishing the size of skin infections. I also believe it speeds recovery time. It is also a gentler (but not less effective) alternative to rubbing alcohol for those with sensitive skin. Hope this helps!

Replied by Lou
(Tyler, Tx)
09/27/2015
★☆☆☆☆

My son once scraped his temple area on a picnic table (he fell). I put hydrogen peroxide on it. It got way worse! The ER doctor told me to never use it on the face area.

Darlingrosepink
(Canada)
06/05/2023
★★★★☆

I have used h2O2 on my face many times with no problems. I use it for cold sores mostly. Try to put it only on the affected areas and maybe dilute it by half. Be careful around the eyes of course. I usually apply with a cotton ball to prevent any possible splashing.


Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Khalisa (Memphis, Tennessee) on 10/04/2007
★★★★★

After using Nair hair remover on my bikini area, I developed a HUGE disgusting "razor" bump in a very embarrassing place. I immediately went online to find out how to get rid of it and all sites said "leave it alone" That the ingrown hair will eventually force it's way out. So I did. And 2 days later it was even bigger and I could see that it was infected (was like big puss bubble. Yes - GROSS). So since I use Peroxide on everything else that ails me i said why not. I soaked a cotton ball in H2O2 and used a band aid to secure it in that spot overnight. By morning, that bump had shrunk to at least 3/4 of its original size and all that infection was out of it. Now all I have to do is fish the hair out, but the peroxide worked GREAT. I LOVE H2O2. I have also used it as a mouthwash for years. About 10 yrs ago my dentist prescibed an expensive mouth wash for me (Periodox) and seeing that H202 was the main ingredient, I started rinsing with Wal-Mart grade and saved myself $38.02 a month. My mouth is in excellent health and my dentist STILL doesn't know I dumped his expensive prescription years ago.

Replied by Carlos
(Dallas, Tx)
07/30/2013

I had a pretty big pus ball as well. I used this hydrogen peroxide method and left it there with a bandaid overnight. I took a normal shower in the morning and with minimal poking the pus and blood came out on its own. It is still a bit swollen, and I still cannot see the hair. But I will continue using this method until, I can see the hair. Thanks so much for the help!


Oregano Oil

3 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  67%
1 star (1) 
  33%

Posted by Jeff (Oak Ridge, Tn - Tennessee) on 09/23/2011
★★★★★

I recently fell 30 feet off a ladder shattering both my feet and severely breaking my left ankle. After two surgeries to fix my left ankle, I started to get an infection in the hole my bone popped through. My doctor gave me some antibiotics to take for 5 days. Shortly after taking all the meds, the infection got worse and spread to the surgical incision. A friend recommended using oil of oregano to battle the infection. I started taking 3 drops 4 times a day under my tongue. Within 2 weeks my infection was gone and the wound itself was reduces by more than half. Needless to say this has won me over to natural remedies.

Replied by Joi
(Hastings, Mn)
08/20/2012
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Poster stated he put oil of oregano under his tongue. Do NOT EVER take it this way. Taking straight oregano oil without diluting will burn you and it is not necessary to take it subligual to achieve results. This is a very powerful herb.

Replied by Mesem
(Riez, France)
03/16/2013

So I thought I'd try oregano and increase garlic uptake. So what do you do with the oregano oil then, how is it best to take this? The guy who recommended taking it under his toungue seems to have done fine! I only took antibiotics for a week.

Replied by Mitch
(Comox, British Columbia)
03/19/2013

@Joi from MN, the best way to take Oil of Oregano is under the tongue, full strength. Although it is VERY strong, and yes it can "bite" you. There are many sites that state taking it under the tongue for maximum results. Extra strength & Ultra Strength Oil of Oregano should be diluted if you are using as a topical application (rubbing it into skin). But internally it doesn't have to be diluted.

Replied by Njboesman
(Westwood , Nj)
03/19/2013

I would have to disagree with the "full strength" comment when taking OO sublingually...I have tried this method and even 2 drops is beyond anyones tolerance. I found it best to dilute in Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVO) at a ratio of 5:1.

Sublingual adminstration is best as it bypasses the GI tract and is therefore better absorbed. OO is serious stuff and needs to be respected as such. My advice would be to experiment with a one drop mixed with 2 drops of EVO. Try it that way and you will see why it needs to be @ a 5:1 ratio. I made the mistake of 2 drops straight and I was in pain beyond belief, and I LOVE hot spicy food but this was unbearable. Start slowly and see what your tolerence is....

Replied by Joi
(Hastings)
05/28/2013

Under the tongue.... Dilute, dilute, dilute with olive oil or coconut oil. Just because you can't see the burn, you are burning. Ridiculous arguement as it works diluted also. Spare yourself the pain!

Replied by Oregano Capsule User
(Cabarrus County, Nc)
09/01/2013
★★★★★

Oregano capsules work well for me when I'm fighting bacterial or viral infections without the strong taste, burn, or smell! Available in health food stores near oregano oil.

Replied by Faith
(US)
09/28/2014

If you use "Oil of Oregano/Oreganol P 73" you do not have to dilute the oil because its proprietary blend is already diluted with extra virgin olive oil!!!

Replied by Killaxheart
(Usa)
03/26/2016

5 drops of Oregano Oil topped off with a carrier oil (I use EVOL or Coconut oil) in a vegetable capsule 3x a day will murder whatever nasty infection is creeping around in your body. I swear by it!! I can feel the change in my body after the first dose. Everyone needs it in their medicine cabinet, right next to the Tea Tree & Peppermint 👌🏻


Raw Potato

4 User Reviews
5 star (4) 
  100%

Posted by Cassidy (Livingston MT) on 06/19/2023
★★★★★

Swollen & infected with a deep sliver or something, the tip of my great toe was hurting. Leaving town the next day I thought I should go to see my nurse daughter. Looked up remedies here, had a small potato in the house & I carved a place for my big toe & wrapped it in gauze.

Next morning, the swelling was gone, redness way better and by the second day--any sign of infection was GONE!


Raw Potato
Posted by Beverly (Elkhart, In) on 03/10/2017
★★★★★

My grandson had a huge boil on his butt, I took a raw potato and grated it, put this into a big gauze and taped around the outside edges of the gauze with the potato to his skin, being sure I didn`t tape over the middle of the gauze because the gauze has to be able to breathe to let the air help pull the boil out, the raw potato was wrapped inside the gauze then taped to his skin, that nite he felt it hurt, then the next morning I took off the gauze with the raw potato off of his skin, the potato had turned black, which is what it was suppose to do, this meant it was working,

I cleaned the yucky mess from where the potato had pulled out the core with hydrogen peroxide, he healed up in one week completely, and if you feel you want to do another raw potato, this would be safe if only you feel it needs it again.I even did this to my husbands 4 toes on his one foot, he had infection on all 4 toes, he had something at work drop on his toes, I took a large gauze big enough to cover all 4 toes with the raw grated potatoes and lots of it, with tape and a sock to help hold it on, next morning his toes were pus looking and yucky from where the infection was pulled out, I cleaned his toes up with hydrogen peroxide every day and covered them in a plain gauze to keep them clean, no more potatoes though because the potatoes had pulled out the infection that one nite, he healed up within one week.

And then I myself had a splinter in the bottom of my foot from last summer for a whole year, it kept hurting and going deeper into my foot, I finally could not walk for the pain, I took a raw potato for 4 nites in a row, grated the potato and put this into a gauze just big enough of a little square to cover the tiny area, I split open my foot where I wanted the potato to pull out the splinter, just a very tiny slit to get the juice from the raw potato to get into under my skin, the potato turned black every nite after each time I did this and it would hurt but it would hurt less each time, finally I pulled off the potato gauze for the fourth day in the morning and found I tiny piece of dried up skin which had a very tiny piece of a wood splinter I had gotten from last summer, I took this off and I no longer hurt at all, I only had to do this at night, not during the day, I did this all because of a tiny piece of splinter you would think would not hurt anyone.

Replied by Lee Ann
(Utah)
03/29/2018

Thank you for this information. I had forgotten that my mom put raw potato on my skinned knees. Now I will try this behind my ear and see if it works. Thanks again.



NEXT 
1 2 3
Advertisement