Boils
Natural Remedies

Heal Boils Naturally: Effective Home Remedies

Drawing Salve

7 User Reviews
5 star (6) 
  86%
(1) 
  14%

Posted by Drea (San Antonio, Usa) on 05/02/2011
★★★★★

Didnt read through all the listed stuff, but I really wanted to add in something, sorry if someone else may have mentioned it, but both my father and I have suffered from reoccuring boils/staph infections.

As soon as one would form, both of us would use something called Ichthammol. The one we used was a thick black ointment, not sure on the clear ones cause we didnt use it. It smells a bit like roofing tar but the smell isnt so bad to where you cant stand it, and believe me this stuff works miracles. We would apply it, and put a thick cloth over it cause it can stain clothing, and would tape the area with medical tape for the skin. By the next day the head would form, we would them clean our hands, take tissue and wrap it around both pointer fingers, and pop the head. You want to push out as much of the infection as possible till nothing but blood is coming out, then you would wipe the area good, apply more of the Ichthammol with new wrapping and repeat the process the next day of removing whatever pus was there.

To best describe what it seems to do, is make it easy for the puss to be drawn out do that draining it is easier, and the pain or the infection doesnt last for days or weeks. I use to go to the Hospital for mine and they would numb the area with shots which was extremely painful because the skin was already tender to the max, and then they would slit the skin with a blade, and remove what they could, they I would have to stuff it with guaze over and over for about a week, everyday and it would leave a nasty scar that at times either would heal over 6months to a yr, and some have not seemed to heal at all.

With the Ichthammol, and all the easy removal of the fluid, there isnt as much pain compared to having to stuff the open sore wound with guaze, and it seems to heal more rapidly with no scars left after.

Also I make sure to apply something called Hibiclens over my skin when I take a shower. But I only do this about once a month. It helps to clean the skin and kill bacteria, now it doesnt get rid of the boils coming back permanantly but it does help bring down the reoccurance of them, cause I use to get them every 2-4months, and I made sure to wash/bleach my sheets and clothes, also went around the house with bleach and hot water, wiping down things that are touched often but forgotten about like light switches and door knobs. Now I might get a boil/staff infection once every 6-8 months.

Hope this helps anyone dealing with these horrible things, I wouldnt wish these on anyone and hope everyone has found some kind of remedy that works.

>
Replied by Marie
(Conr9e)
08/21/2015
★★★★★

I am amazed how many people get these horrific boils! I'm diabetic and 4 months ago I had actual an surgery because the antibiotics were not working. They put me in the hospital and gave me antibiotics through it, was the size 6 center meters. After 4 days they decided to perform surgery in the operating room. It was horrible. It was 4 inches wide and long.

Well, I just got another one @its been 4 months. Now I have a huge boil in the panty line horrible unrelenting pain. i started using ichtoma,l bad smell, but it's been three day and it's forming a head. I also have been putting warm compresses on it.

i wish they found a cure but ichtomal does work

>
Replied by Robert Henry
(Ten Mile , Tn)
08/22/2015

HI U MARIE, , , , , , , , , Lordy you must be as old as me to know about Ichthmmol. These young whipper snappers have no clue what this ointment can do.

In my day every household had a tube because as you say, boils were common, as were splinters. A few years ago a grandson got a splinter under his toe nail from our lake dock. He's a crybaby and was going nuts. We took him to a doctor which charged us $400 to remove it. Are you sheeting me?

Anyways, you probably know that in addition this ointment brings boils to a head, this ointment will form a pus pocket around a splinter and within a few days it almost comes out on it's own.

A few years ago our 40 year old tube played out and I went to Walmart to buy another tube. They had no clue and had to look it up and make a special order. Yep, Big Pharma and the medical folks had rather you spend $400 than a few bucks for a tube of Ichthammol.

Last Wed. I had a heart spell. It felt like someone had put a sack of concrete on my chest. I moved from my easy chair to the couch. No help and I was getting nervous. Took my blood pressure and it was good , the problem was that my pulse rate was at 170. My heart was in Fibrillation, I went to the internet to Mayo, etc and their advice was to call 911 and go to the emergency room. I then went to EC and read what others had done in this situation. Here's what I did:

Drank a glass of Power Ade

Drank 2 Tbsp of ACV

Drank water containing 5 drops of Iodine

Took 3 capsules of Magnesium

Sprayed my body down with MgCl

Soon my pulse rate went back to normal.

What I have learned is that if you in deep sheet then go to EC instead of Mayo's. That statement should get EC in trouble for certain. I have been to Mayo's twice for my company's physical and I was not impressed. They talk the walk.

To cut to the chase, listen to what Marie has told you because, undoubtably, she has been down a lot of dusty trails.

YO BUDDY ========ORH===========

>
Replied by Susan
(Ct, Usa)
08/22/2015

Dear Marie,

I am so sorry you are going through this. If I were you, I would immediately begin taking a teaspoon of turmeric powder in water twice a day. Boils in the groin area and armpits are usually called hidradenitis suppurativa, so please look up that condition for more tips. Certain foods can trigger HS boils. Hope this helps! Let us know how you are doing.


Drawing Salve
Posted by L (USA) on 01/04/2008

Hi Ted- I've been reading on earth clinic about the boils and I took the survey. Here's the deal- about three weeks ago I took my board exam for nursing- i was really stressed and it rained the same day. About a week later I got 2 bumps on my forehead that took turns going up and down, but remained there. Then last week i got 3 more, 2 about an inch below my eyes on each side of my nose, one on my chin. I avoid sugar and anything white, I immediately started turmeric,mag and zinc. I went to my acupuncturist. She gave me herbs for my liver. The boils started growing and got soo painful and hideous. So i put the black drawing salve on them on the 31st. I kept them covered until last night. My head was pounding and i began to have flu-like symptoms-fever,bodyaches, extreme headache. I could feel it drawing up all the toxins. But now it looks like i have thes big craters on my face. Did it eat away alll of my skin. The skin doesnt feel raw, its covered with a brownish grayish crust. The instructions say to put rubbing alcohol on the spots till the crust comes out.. but then i got worried about scarring so i just applied some rosehip seed oil. but i notice the edges around the crater are a little pink so now im concerned with infection. should i cont with alcohol or tea tree or what? i am scared now. Thank you soo much Ted. sincerely L."

>
Replied by Ted
(Bangkok, Thailand)
392 posts

The big problem about black salve is it causes scars, while it removes the toxins. There a mixture of aloe vera oil and some tea tree helps with the healing or regeneration of skin cells.

The other issue is the body was not properly alkalized enough to stop the boils so the boils will recur even if all the other supplements were taken. Hence 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, in 1/2 glass of water, taken twice a day should prevent recurring boils. Also proper alkalization helps the healing.

Ted

>
Replied by Peggy
(Independence, MO)
04/06/2009

Can you tell me what happened when you used the bloodroot paste?. my sister is dealing with this also and has scarring and some lumps that won't go away.

>
Replied by Rosy
(Orlando, Fl)
04/06/2009

Try H2O2 for your crusty spots. That is what I use on my face and it only leaves a red mark after wards, which will go away soon. If the H202 burns then there is still a slight infection, you may want to try one more application of the paste.

>
Replied by Joyce
(Joelton, Tn)
04/07/2009
490 posts

Question for L who writes Ted about boils on face:

Hello L, I have a question after reading your request for help. This "black drawing salve" you used, was it blood root black salve or was it ichthymol, a totally unrelated ointment? Blood root black salve is not usually indicated for boils.

>
Replied by Vanessa
(London, Uk)
09/14/2009

The Distinction Between Black Salve and Black Drawing Salve:

Before purchasing black drawing salve, it is important not to confuse it with another herbal product with a very similar name: black salve. Black salve contains a powerful herb called bloodroot (Sanguinaria candensis). Bloodroot can burn skin tags and tumors off the surface of the skin, and has only limited value in treating topical skin disorders.
If used improperly, black salve can burn healthy tissue along with the affected tissue.

Many websites make a common mistake and use the two names interchangeably. To be certain that you're buying the topical ointment form used to treat splinters, look for the active ingredient, ichthammol or ichthyol, in the ointment.

I found this info on herbs.lovetoknow.com

>
Replied by Cb
(Shelter Island Heights, Ny)
03/03/2010

L, what you describe sounds like something my mother had. It turned out to be a shingles outbreak on her face... it even took traditional doctors a while to diagnose since shingles usually appears on the torso.


Drawing Salve
Posted by Jennifer (Raleigh, NC) on 12/21/2006
★★★★★

The drawing salve was hard to find, but the pharmacist pointed me to it. Just put some on a gauze pad & tape it on the boil. It is pretty messy stuff, so don't wear anything light or use sheets that you love. Of course use new towels every time you wash, make sure you wash your hands after you change your dressings. Also dabbing some camphophenqiue was not only soothing but helped it drain as well. Hot compresses or a heating pad are most important. I also took a hot bath with Dead Sea Salts & Epsom salts (this last bout I had was pretty horrendous, hence all my remedies).


Drawing Salve
Posted by Tanya (New Mexico) on 07/21/2006
★★★★★

Baking soda, parsley and ichalomol cures boils. i was in such pain and desperate tried all three mixed together and it is almost completely gone within 24 hours. all i did was make a paste of the three ingredients and poof.

>
Replied by Gladyola
(Toronto, On)
05/31/2011

what is itchimol, another name that we can find it in canada?

>
Replied by Jamie
(Lake Worth, Fl)
05/31/2011

Itchthammol is also know as black drawing slave. I asked my pharmacist for it, it was behind the counter. Itchthammol is the name of the product. I do not think it is a product commonly used anymore, by traditional medicine. It is an old fashioned remedy.

Try an online search if you have no luck finding it.

The address of the company is as follows

Po Box 8250

Ft Lauderdale Fl

33340-8250

>
Replied by Watergirl
(Destin, Fl)
02/18/2012

"PRID" is a great, cheap homeopathic "drawing salve" I found in the USA at Walmart, Drug and Health Stores for @$3.50 (it contains Itchthammmol, Arnica, Calendula, Echinacea, Sulfur, etc); works great to draw out boils in 2-5 days or so.

It comes in a small, round, flat, dark orange tin (the size of a half dollar coin) with tiny instructions on the back (clean area well, smear ointment on boil/bandage; change bandage and reapply 2-3 times a day until boil is drained; continue for a few days afterwards to suck up any remnant germs). The ointment is dark brown and stains dark yellow, so use a bandaid somewhat larger than the application.

BEWARE: Boils should never be squeezed; doing so breaks the protective encasement which causes the infection to spread locally, and worse, into the bloodstream (and across the brain barrier if on/near the head/face)! The body encases boils in 'sacs' because they are so poisionous, so take great care not to damage the sac!

If you cannot wait to treat/drain a boil, it's best to insert a sterile needle down into the center of the boil, remove the needle, then gently PULL the surrounding skin OUTWARDS, while gently pressing DOWN on the surrounding area (the exact opposite of squeezing! ). The downward/outward pressure will push the infection up and out through the drainage hole! If it does not drain (too hard or pus is thick), clean the area and use a drawing salve. Lancing should only be done by doctors/nurses!


Drawing Salve
Posted by Renee (Pepperell Ma) on 05/05/2006
★★★★★

Treat boils right away (don't let the sun set on a boil) The longer you wait, the longer it takes.
2. Wash boil, dry, apply a drawing salve ointment
3. Cover with a cloth band-aid
4. do this twice daily. Drawing Salves are also good for splinters with pus. What it does is thin the skin above the boil and let the boil naturally drain. It is mildly antiseptic too.

>
Replied by Ashley Rae
(Kansas City, Missouri)
01/09/2010

Did the ointment leave a scar? I have heard that drawing salves can cause scarring?


Eliminate Nightshade Vegetables

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Mississippi (Hernando, Mississippi) on 01/18/2013
★★★★★

My husband had boils for over a year-along with very severe psoriasis-we treated the boils with all of the remedies we read on this site with some relief-some of the remedies would help the boils open up and drain but he kept getting boils and some were very large and painful. While treating his psoriasis-we found a book by John Pegano called Healing Psoriasis-one of Pegano's recommendations was to stop eating nightshade vegetables-my husband stopped the nightshades hoping to help his psoriasis-which it did-but an added bonus-the boils healed completely-and right away-and he has not had any since stopping these vegetables. Also, his psoriasis dried up besides two patches on the insides of both legs near his ankles and we believe with a little more time on his new diet that he will be psoriasis free-he is boil free for over 6 months now. Nightshades include-potatoes-tomatoes-spicey peppers-tobacco.


Epsom Salt

3 User Reviews
5 star (3) 
  100%

Posted by Ace (Vancouver, Bc, Canada) on 06/27/2013
★★★★★

Epsom salts have proved to be very useful for me in healing boils/follicle infections:

Can do while you shower:

1. Get a handfull of epsom salts - and dissolve in a bit of water so that it gets wet (but not so much water so that it doesn't dissolve into being too thin/watery either).... and scrub it into effected areas - and scrub really good.

2. Keep it on for at least 5 minutes without washing it, and then you can wash it off after 5 minutes.

It expedites the healing process of boils/severe acne - has worked wonders for me!!

You can buy epsom salts from a local pharmacy, ex- shoppers drug mart


Epsom Salt
Posted by Teddy Spence (Exmore, Virginia) on 05/10/2008
★★★★★

Epsom salts help to pull toxins out of the sore ... It saved my dad's hand back in 1960 when he got bit by a crab ... He nearly lost his arm but this "old fashioned" West Va mountain MD told him to soak it in Epsom salts ... and it healed .. nicely ... We don't have dr like that today .... PS- My first comment on this great site.


Epsom Salt
Posted by Tammi (Montgomery, Alabama) on 07/12/2007
★★★★★

I am on my third boil within the past 7 days. Seems like as soon as I drain one another one comes in that place. This is the most painful and uncomfortable illness I have ever experienced. I am 36 years old and my labor pains from my two children didn't last this long. I do believe mine were staph infections. I soaked in hot hot water. I applied on my hand towel hot water and epsom salt and apllied it directly on the boil for about 15 minutes. The next morning most of the soreness and swelling disappeared. I am on day ten now and the boil has not drained yet!! I have been on antibiotics for 5 days so far. Boils are definitely a delicate and serious situation!!!

>
Replied by Alib
(Swansea, Wales, Uk)
12/04/2010

A boil can also be the body's way of trying to get toxins out. Changing the diet to remove much of the sugars and processed foods and drinks can also help to prevent the boils forming in the first place. There are lots of people who have posted on here that removing the junk, sugars and refined carbs has made a big difference.

>
Replied by Merryanne
(Orange City, Florida, Usa)
12/06/2010
113 posts

I do agree with the advice of clearing out the junk form Your diet. All refined processed food with and without any SOY in them, soy is a VERY major health problem, worse than sugar I think. But not consuming processed food is extremely important if you already have boils on your body. If they are there you may need to do an immediate diet change for your health. To eliminate chemicals and preservatives you must cook all food fresh, and try to eat grass fed beef and free range eggs, that is a beginning.


Essential Oils

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Jenni (Cedar City, Utah) on 03/21/2009
★★★★★

My father-in-law cam home from Samoa with several large, infected boils. He was visiting us and I immediately put some essential oils on him. I used 5-10 drops of a mix containing melaleuca (tee tree), oregano, rosemary, and clove on each boil. Then my daughter contracted a boil, and I repeated the same treatment. The boils are tenacious, but they are drying up over a period of a week.


External Application of Turmeric

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Neil (Edinburgh, Scotland) on 01/08/2008
★★★★★

Having recently had my second Boil eruption in two weeks, after spending the first 46 years of my life being boil free, I knew that something wasn't quite right. I thankfully discovered this site and have used the powers of turmeric to successfully treat this second boil on my neck. The boil was red and angry when I started taking 1/2 tsp of turmeric 4 times a day. What I also did was make a paste that I applied topically. The paste was made with a Cetrimide ointment (branded as Savlon here in the UK) and turmeric powder. This paste was covered with a sticking plaster and changed twice a day. The results have been amazing. After three days the boil has completely drained and the skin has almost healed. What remains is what looks like the remnants of a love bite, but this is more due to some staining of the skin by the spice than any skin reaction. I don't know if it would have healed as well without the paste - but what I do know is that attacking the boil from within and from the outside has cleared the problem faster than I would ever have thought possible. Thank goodness for the internet!!


External Application of Turmeric
Posted by Kraig (Omaha, Nebraska) on 05/17/2007
★★★★★

...equal parts yogurt and turmeric powder.. just enough to cover the boil. heat it up in the microwave till warm.. then use a piece of bread to soak it up and apply to boil for at least half an hour. boil should come to head. at night: leave on honey and turmeric over boil. wash off in morning.


Fatback

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Dallas (Hayesville, NC) on 04/24/2008
★★★★★

Back in the late 70s, my family and I were living in middle Georgia and my daughter and I had somehow developed boils. Mine was on my armpit and my daughters was on her leg. I remember that year was a bad year for mites on our property and I wondered if we may have gotten bitten and infected by these critters. Anyway, I had heard that if you put "fatback" on the boil for 15 to 20 minutes that it would draw the boil to a head. It worked. I was able to squeeze the boil out and then saturate with peroxide. These things hurt really bad. Just know that it is really gross to squeeze these bad boys out but the relief is worth it.

EC: "Fatback is the layer of fat along the back of a pig, used as a cut of meat. It is often used to make lard. Fatback is a traditional part of southern U.S. cuisine and soul food, where it is used for cracklings or cracklins, and to flavor stewed vegetables such as greens and black-eyed peas. Many people enjoy eating strips of heavily salted and fried fatback, often referred to as streaked meat or streak-o-lean. Fatback was extremely popular in the South during the Great Depression because it is an inexpensive piece of meat. This dish is also widely eaten in Ukraine, where it is called salo."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatback


Figs

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Catherine (Rome, Usa) on 02/06/2011
★★★★★

I know that a lot of folks may think this is kind of crazy, but after reading all of the treatments that people posted for boils, one treatment that stood out was from the Bible. A fig poltice for boils (Hezikiah - 2Kings: 20:7)

I was desperate. I had what looked at first like a small pimple start next to my anal area that, after a few days, grew into a roaring, angry, large hard boil. This wasn't the first time I had been thru this. I had one in my armpit that had to be lanced when I was 17 years old, and one in the same general area as this one 2 years after my last daughter was born (that was 17 years ago - she is 19 now and in college).

Embarrased? OMG - You bet! Nothing worse than having to go to your doctor to have a boil lanced in the most embarrassing place you can imagine! I did NOT want to have to go thru that again! I scoured the Internet looking for remedies. Earth Clinic is a Godsend!

Someone had posted that in Biblical times they had suffered with boils and that God had instructed that figs be used for 3 days.

I'm here to say - it works!

Never in my wildest dreams did I EVER think I would place a slice of a raw fig over my boil. But I was desperate and can honestly tell you it works! It did take more than 3 days because I could only use the fig at night time. But today - the boil is just a small raised dot that causes me no pain and if it wasn't for the fact that I am OCD about keeping it covered and clean - I wouldn't even know it was there!

I'm posting because I prayed that God would bless me as he did Hezikiah, and that if He did, I would share my experience with others.

So please, if you are at your wits end - have tried it all and nothing is helping - give Gods remedy a try. I know it sounds crazy - but I am living proof that it works!

>
Replied by Jo
(New York)
02/11/2015

Hi, did you mix anything in the fig? How long did it take?

>
Replied by William
(Fort Lauderdale)
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.


Figs
Posted by Sheryl (Newton, KS) on 01/24/2007
★★★★★

I recently have battled with boils. My mother told me about boils mentioned in the bible and how God told someone to treat boils with Fig. I have been eating Fig and taking the seeds out and putting the skin of the Fig under a bandaid. It seemed to work for me so far. They aren't totally gone, but they don't seem to be so bad. I also wipe the area with Wet Wipes. Have been taking Echinacea, Zinc, Vitamin C.with Ester. The highest dose possible. And also putting Hibiclense on and letting it stay on my skin for 15 min. before taking a shower. I am allergic to some of the antibiotics given to me and the others didn't work. Like I said so far this works better than anything else I've tried. Hope this helps. Going to try turmeric along with everything else. SS

>
Replied by Teresa
(Asheboro, NC)
06/06/2009

I just read this account in the Bible. If you want to read about it look under I or II Kings and read about King Hezekiah. The story goes that Hezekiah was almost "sick unto death." (I know the feeling when I get a boil). You don't know what he is sick from, but if you keep reading, it will say that he had a boil and the priests placed a fig on it and he was cured.

The acoount is found in II Kings 20:1-7 and you can also find references to this in some Western Civilization books in the chapters about early civilization of Mesopotamia and Egupt.

I am going to try this the next time I feel one of these things. I get them on my face and ear lobes and I am getting scars from the condition. It is very painful, embarassing, fatiguing, and I am chunking makeup in the trash right and left to prevent it from spreading. I have had to resort to buying very cheap makeup like Wet and Wild, since I am having to throw all my makeup out so frequently. However I have found that Neutrogena liquid makeup in a pump with Retinol combined with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide face wash and topical treatment is keeping my skin clear for the moment. However with summer approaching and humidity, I am starting to have some small ones forming.

I am going back to the doctor next week, and ask him to change my blood pressure medication back to Aldactone. Aldactone will clear up acne, which is usually a precursor to boils forming in the first place.

>
Replied by Joyce
(Joelton, Tn)
06/07/2009
490 posts

Hello Teresa,

Have you ever entertained the possibility that all that make-up you are tossing away may be triggering the acne and boils you are troubled with? The best way to find out is to stop using all cosmetics, probably should leave off all soaps, cleansers, lotions and creams also for a couple of weeks. Good old ACV would be a good cleanser and maybe you might want to try a homemade facial mask or scrub like oatmeal,egg & honey or any similar one you can find on line.

>
Replied by Alib
(Swansea, Wales, Uk)
12/04/2010

I agree with this. The boils and acne are the body's way of trying to get rid of stuff it doesn't want. Coconut oil will help to keep your skin soft and supple and you can wash your hair with a solution of baking soda (half to one teaspoonful in an egg cup or so amount of hot water, stirred) then after rinsing it off, give a final rinse with a dribble of ACV in some warm water. The vinegar makes it soft and shiny. The smell will go off pretty quickly, but I usually give another quick rinse after the vinegar with plain water, and my hair is still soft.

>
Replied by Ryan
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
04/18/2012

My Boyfriend, like you, have a reaction to medication (hives). He started taking zinc, turmeric, and wash with Hibiclens and alot of PRAYERS. He has been to many dr but it was useless..



NEXT 
Advertisement