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Mcgyver (Little Rock, Arkansas, Usa) on 07/23/2011
5 out of 5 stars

Onion pack is what I have always called this. The correct term is a poultice. This works well for boils, bites, infections and I even used this successfully one time cellulitis of the elbow.

Cut one whole onion into small pieces. With a mortar and pestle, mash the onion into skin and juice. Mash until all juice has been removed; however it is important the skin remain. (Perhaps a blender would work. However, this method is the way my grandmother taught me 50 years ago and I have never tried a blender.)

In a bowl, add the mashed onion. Then add flour, in very small increments, until a paste has been formed, about a medium texture. Not too dry... not too wet.

Cover the boil with a thick layer of the paste and surrounding the boil. It is not necessary to puncture the boil and recommended not to do this.

Cover the paste with a cotton (must breathe) rag, wash cloth, dish rag, gauze, etc. (depending where the boil is located) and secure with tape if necessary.

Allow the paste to completely dry. It usually takes a few hours. It will dry to a very semi hard or firm pack.

As the paste hardens, it will form suction on the boil, drawing out all of the puss. Depending on the size of the boil it may take 2 or 3 applications but usually you will see results on the first. The onion also acts as a natural antibiotic to prevent infection.

Be patient. And don't be too active or you will break the seal. Do not remove the pack prematurely. When you do, you will see the puss in a pocket on the underside of the pack. Where your boil was, there will be a small hole where the puss came through. Put antibiotic ointment over the skin and a band aide. That's it!

During this process you will feel the onion pack working. You may feel some discomfort when the skin breaks, but not for long. Again, I have used this onion pack over the years for boils, infections, bites and even cellulites of the elbow. It has never failed.

Side effects: It smells like onion and it might make you cry. :-)

REPLY   8      

Replied By Katzie (Cancun, Mexico ) on 03/09/2024

FYI: A blender does not work, not for one onion anyways. Most fell under the whirley-thingy. Not having a mortar & pestle on-hand I simply used a large spoon and mashed away! It took awhile but the job did get done.
REPLY   1      

Replied By Katzie (Cancun, Mexico ) on 03/11/2024

Here I am updating my own post to add my experience with an Onion Poultice. I had fallen when walking my rescues and it bled a little, but was mostly scrapes on my lower right leg (shin). When we returned I made the mistake of not cleaning it with hot soapy water that night and I did not wrap it either. I don't know what I was thinking as here in the hot climate infections can get out control quickly. It was the type where it was a little red and hard around it.After kicking myself for my stupid, I wanted to try something new and give a new cure a chance. I found this post and wanted to see if it would work. I also found that on my 2nd try at it, I used a Cheese Grater (or box grater) on the smallest holes and it worked great! I had a nice, juicy onion mash, and it took very little flour to make the paste. The poultice was pretty soothing! Left it on for approx 4hrs, wrapped in a gauze bandage. When I removed it there was a small pocket of green puss and the wound was doing better. I am glad I investigated this cure and gave it a chance. I never post on here without having tried something in my own body first. This poultice is worth your time. Be well every body!!
REPLY   7      

Replied By Emma (Bramalea, Ont) on 06/14/2025

I can say that this works! The cheese grater worked terrific and only used a pinch or two of the flour. The paste could hold its shape before I wrapped it with a bandage. Left it drying for 6 hrs. And oh boy, the sensation you feel as the 'seat of infection' is sucked out as you pull up the bandage, is simply awesome. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt as infection will be dead by then. This is my fave new cure. Thank you!!