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.
Oatmeal
Posted by Jessica (Eustis, FL) on 03/04/2006
★★★★★
When I was 17 I started having trouble with boils and my mother and I tried everything. When nothing seemed to work we called my grandma who told us to mix a paste of oatmeal, add salt and apply directly onto the boil wrap it to keep the poultice in place. When I woke the next morning the boil core was on the poultice not in my leg.
Oatmeal
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 06/29/2024
Oatmeal Poultice for Skin Boil
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp steel-cut oatmeal in a small bowl
- 1/8 tsp table salt
- Warm water
Instructions:
- Add the water to your bowl of oatmeal with salt and mix together until you have a thick paste.
- Apply the paste gently to the affected areas.
- Cover with gauze.
- Allow it to dry.
- Repeat til boil is gone.
Baking Soda
Posted by Terry Chism (Santa Paula, Ca) on 02/10/2011
Do you drink enough water because you may have mrsa boils caused from your body being to acidic from not drinking enough tap water. I used to only drink bottled water. Bad choice its acidic if you dont believe me just get some water tests strips like I did and you will see the link. Mrsa cant live in an alkaline enviroment. Get your body alkaline no more boils! Study this. Very interesting.
Lemons
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 05/09/2021
★★★★★
Lemon Peel (Pith) to Cure Armpit Boil
Remove the peel of a lemon, rub the inside of the peel on the boil. Repeat daily.
I was reading about a guy that uses lemon peel (the inside pith) to remove warts. So I tried it on an armpit boil I had developed. It worked in 2 days!
Here is what he said: "I attended a seminar put on by a master herbalist and someone in the audience asked what to do about seed warts. She said to take the inside of a lemon rind and rub them each night and in less than a week they'd be gone. I tried it on my left hand first and to my amazement, they started to fade with the first application. After five nights they were gone and skin was as normal as if I'd never hand them. Then, because I've read that sometimes they go away on their own, I tried the right hand, one finger at a time and the same thing happened. One by one, the warts went away as I did each finger, and they've never returned. And I lived with those ugly things for 30 years and lemon rind got rid of them in no time. I don't know if it works on any other type of wart."
Source: https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/warts20.html#lemon
Avoid Gold Jewelry
Posted by Valiegirl (Fl) on 03/06/2021
★★★★★
I had constant boils for 15 years in all the usual places - armpit, groin, bra line, etc. Got tested for allergic contact dermatitis because of another malady and found out I was allergic to gold. Took off my gold jewelry and never had another boil unless I accidently come into contact with gold again. I can't even touch gold paint. This includes white gold and rose gold also because it is a salt in the gold that I am allergic to. After some thought, I realized I never had a boil before I was gifted with diamond studs and pendant set in yellow gold from my husband, before that I was a sterling silver girl. And now I am again.
Tomato
Posted by Michelle (NY) on 09/04/2019
★★★★★
Omg Tomatoe paste saved me from my pain. I came on here to find what works as this is the first (and hopefully only) boil I ever had. I saw the tomatoe paste posts and decided to give it a try. I slathered it on, covered it with gauze and then put a heating pad on top. Two hours later it started to drain. I've had it for 4 days now and it was showing no signs of coming to a head and was only getting worse.
This remedy works!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Joe (Michigan) on 11/15/2015
★★★★★
Boils:
Try combining the apple cider vinegar cotton swap with a HOT compress.
I just brought a boil on my wrist to a head in about 45 minutes, which is amazing because it was NOWHERE near this before I started.
1. Clean area with alcohol
2. Dip cotton ball in Apple Cider Vinegar
3. Apply ACV cotton ball to boil
4. Hold in place with bandage
5. Apply a fairly tight wrap to secure everything and prevent ACV from staining clothes / compress
6. Microwave a compress for about 5 minutes. Apply it directly on top of the part of the wrap that is covering the boil
7. Watch TV for about 45 minutes to 1 hour
This worked for me in 1 treatment. I was completely blown away.
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!
Raisins
Posted by M (Victoria, Bc, Canada) on 11/04/2012
★★★★★
FWIW, I had recurrent boils for much of my life, rarely being entirely free of them. When I was in my forties, someone told me about raisins. I tried them (eating perhaps a couple of tablespoons full in muesli/granola, since I dislike the taste of raisins by themselves), and that prevented further boils almost entirely.
After my hysterectomy, the boils pretty much went away on their own, so there is apparently a hormonal component too. That is supported also by the fact that the boils were usually worse around the time of my period.
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)
Bacon
Posted by Melissa (East Liverpool, Oh) on 02/13/2012
★★★★★
I have to say that for me Bacon really worked! I had a boil in a very sensitive area from shaving, it hurt to even walk. I was debating on going to the emergency room but I knew that it would be painful to have it lanced. I found this site yesterday afternoon and saw the post about bacon, I was willing to try anything at this point! I placed the raw back over the boil and left it there all night. I woke up this morning and it was still sore so I took a bath in epsom salt. A couple hours later I went to the restroom and low and behold the pus pocket came out on its own! If I ever get another I know I will use bacon!
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. :-)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Vivian (Cedar Rapids, Ia) on 08/19/2010
★★★★★
I soak a cotton ball in ACV and apply it to the boil with a bandaid. I replace it with a new one 2-3 times a day. It always brings the boil to a head and drains within a couple of days. It is a lifesaver! No more antibiotics and lancing!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by R (Denver, Co) on 04/08/2011
Why can you not take ACV or turmeric? I am breastfeeding also and take both....
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.
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.
Salt Pork
Posted by Kathleen (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma , Usa) on 02/07/2010
★★★★★
For boils/staph, & I'm pretty sure it should work on spider bites, ect. PORK SALT!! Or bacon,which I have used personally on mild staph boils. Sliced & put against skin (boil)with bandage over it. Change out 3-4 times a day,& you should see an incredible improvement within 36 to 48hrs. The fat (or oils) sure seem to be the DRAWING ticket.The bandage thing was much easier for on the job working conditions, & on the kids, it's almost a must.
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Dmalali (Ac, Nj) on 01/11/2012
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Be careful with substance that are high in iron. MRSA lives off of the iron levels in ones blood. It attaches onto the red blood cells and feeds off their iron. Also, be careful with oil based topical treatments such as neosporin vaseline etc.. oil traps the infection inside the skin and creates a breeding ground for the infection to grow.
Boil Triggers: Almonds
Posted by Brygivrob (Escondido, Ca) on 09/19/2009
i have read that the FDA required almonds to be pasteurized about a year ago, and one of the methods is to use a chemical that is an ingredient in jet fuel (yes, really); so i would do some internet research on almonds if u eat them a lot because maybe that chemical is giving you a reaction
Boil Tips: Prick the Boil
Posted by Beverly (Sarasota, Fl) on 01/30/2011
Thanks for informing me of the bible cure for boils. I will now buy some figs. :)
Raw Potato
Posted by Ryan (Palm Springs, CA) on 06/15/2009
★★★★★
POTATO!!! After getting a tattoo on my chest, I developed a rather painful pimple about 3 inches above my left nipple (probably from razor burn from shaving, ingrown hair, etc). I attempted to 'pop' it which was a bad idea. Over a few days...this horrid wretch grew into a furious monster of an infection...
I used antibiotic ointment and bandaids for a few days which did nothing, and the pimple seemed to grow in size and pain. I then tried toothpaste and a bandaid, which got solid and hurt bad taking off...revealing some gnarly green pasty pus. I squeezed some pus out of it and again that evening and also drenched it with peroxide every chance I got. I then read about the baking soda/peroxide mix paste...in which I applied several times over the next day and drained it every now and then (painful stuff). I also took baking soda baths.
After seeming to get nowhere, I read about the potato method. I purchased a single potato, cut off a slice, cleaned the infected area with peroxide and taped the potato slice to it for the night. Upon removing the potato in the morning, I noticed a big chunk of pus on it and the wound (almost the size of a dime) kept draining itself. Having to work, I cleaned it and put a bandaid on for the day.
Upon getting home and removing the bandaid, the 'head' of this abomination was right at the top and came out with some effort and Qtips and peroxide....what relief! Instead of a white hole, it is now a bloody red hole and its draining itself! Will update in a few days on healing.... THANK YOU!
Antibiotics
Posted by Kd5rcx (Northeast, Ar, Usa) on 04/17/2012
Just a note of caution: After my wife was treated for Mono and had a bad reaction, a second doctor complained that 3/4 (probably opinion and not fact) of all people are allergic to sulfa drugs! He wondered why they were even still in use. Unrelated to thread: Recently I found that megadosing with Vitamin C can cure Mono in a couple of days. I was furious! It's bad when you feel safer filtering through sites like this one than speaking to most medical professionals in your area. Thanks to all of you.
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.
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Keisha (Atlanta, GA) on 06/26/2008
★★★★★
I cured my boils by avoiding all foods with high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup! That was practically my whole condiment section of my refrigerator, and my cereals (read all labels it's practically in everything!) but you can replace them with organic products=) Also I stopped eating peanuts and chocolate together as one reader suggested! So that's practically all the good candy! However these food changes should keep you boil free! In the meantime Tumeric capsules work great to heal existing boils I bought them in Walmart and took 2 a day and applied tea tree oil on them all day before I discovered the cause of the boils . However since changing my eating I have been boil free! Good luck!
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
Cream of Tartar
Posted by Healingmama (San Diego, Ca) on 06/10/2012
★★★★★
I had my first boil (CA-MRSA) in February of this year. Took doxycycline for 6 weeks. In May I developed another boil, this time in my nose... An undesirable location thanks to its close proximity to the brain. For another 6 weeks I used Bactroban (Mupirocin) cream 3x per day as per doctor's orders. No change in the boil. Finally in desparation I tried hot compresses in my nose combined with this cream of tartar remedy. I started with 1/2 tsp in a glass of warm water but that gave me a wicked headache for 24 hours on the second dose... So I backed off to 1/4 tsp 2x per day. Within 24 hours the boil suddenly came to a head and now, three days later, has opened on its own and is slowly draining away.
I am a true convert to the cream of tartar. I do believe it is at least in part responsible for the sudden and rapid healing from a boil that has plagued me for 6 weeks. Very impressed - plan to use cream of tartar in small doses from now on for maintenance and healing. Thank you!
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Joan (Gloucester, United States) on 04/12/2008
★★★★★
I have a problem with recurring boils also. Believe it or not, white vinegar, applied topically, helps them to go away. I read about it and tried it. I have noticed that my diet may affect getting boils. When I eat a clean diet, adding fruits and vegetables, not too much fat, a little olive oil OK. a LITTLE ... cut out the junk foods, high sugar treats, eat whole grains in moderation, flesh foods in a diminished capacity, and I am also drinking alkaline water, the ph issue is correct. It makes a world of difference. Since I have been trying to eat more high alkaline foods my boils, have disappeared without any topical treatment. Drink lots of water with ph drops to heal your body from the inside out. All fruits and veggies, some fish, especially fatty fish is good for you. Find online information about ph drops and you will open a world of information that will help you find out how to improve your alkaline levels. Most of the foods we enjoy cause us to overdo acids in our bodies causing acidosis, which causes disease. Fish need a proper ph to survive, we won't go into a pool before it is a proper ph because we know we could get sick. Our bodies also need to stay in a healthy ph range in order to stay health. Check it out. Be very blessed. Oh, and of course what you think and how you live causes health or disease. Exercise, of course, stimulates the blood, which is also necessary for health... and I also believe prayer helps everything! Joan
