Boils Home Remedies

What are boils? Boils are skin infections which appear as red nodules. They are generally caused by Staphylococcus which is a bacterial infection. It forms at the base of a hair follicle, when it gets traumatized or blocked by lotions, sweat or oily ointments. They may occur singly or in clusters. People who are staphylococcus carriers are more prone to getting boils.

Boils usually start out as a red swelling on the skin, which rapidly becomes larger, more painful and forms a hard knot filled with pus. It may be accompanied by itching and irritation. The skin around the boil also becomes red and inflamed, and if the boil is very large or if there are many of them, the person may sometimes suffer from fever. When the boil comes to a head, it may start to ooze. Boils usually appear on the buttocks, groin, thigh, underarm, face, or scalp and last for 8 to 12 days.

Home remedies for boils: Although boils look unsightly, in most cases they are not a threat to an individual’s health and can be cured quickly with home remedies.

Onion and garlic are considered to be very effective boils home remedies. You might use the juice of either onion or garlic, or mix the two together. Apply the juice to the boil 2 or 3 times in the day. This will cause slight irritation to the skin around the boil which helps to ‘ripen’ the boil, causing it to burst open and release the pus. Bitter gourd has also been effectively used, especially for blood-filled boils. Make half a cup of juice of this vegetable, mix a teaspoon of lemon juice in it and drink this in the morning on an empty stomach. Do this for a few days, to clean your system of the bacteria causing the boils.

Parsley can be applied to boils as a poultice. Soak parsley leaves in boiled water for about an hour, until it becomes soft. Now, wrap these leaves in a clean cloth and apply them against the boils.

Turmeric also helps faster healing of boils. Roast some pieces of turmeric and grind to a powder. Mix this with water to form a paste and apply this on the boil. It will soon ‘ripen’ and burst. Cumin seeds ground to a paste are also effective when applied to boils. Similarly, a poultice made of milk cream with a pinch of turmeric powder and a few drops of vinegar is an effective home remedy for boils.

Diet for Boils

A healthy diet of fresh fruits and vegetables with lots of orange or lemon juice can help clear the digestive system of toxins and prevent boils or allows them to heal faster. Reduce your intake of starchy, spicy, and refined foods such as cakes, pastries, white breads, pickles, sauces or condiments.