Home Remedies for Boils
WARNING: This home remedies site is intended to be archival in nature. The natural remedies here are submitted by numerous people from around the world, and we have no way to test or verify every remedy. As such these home remedies should be used for academic purposes only. Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.
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Boils Home Remedies:
Submitted by Lucki at 2010-06-12 13:20:00
As a child I had boils almost as quickly as one would pop another would start. An elderly lady in our church told my mother that if she would feed me raisins daily, even if it is just a teaspoon full I would never have boils again.
Since I loved raisins she let me have as much as I wanted, I am now 62 and have never had another boil, and I only eat raisins occasionally now.
rating: 7 (19 votes)
Submitted by Denise at 2007-03-06 11:12:57
Hey everybody
what im about to tell you people is priceless.. your gonna feel like you've struck gold and its so inexpensive you wont believe it.
for the past year i have been breaking out with boils like you wouldnt belive i had alot of big ones that just wouldnt go away.. they were so painful and nomatter what i did it wouldnt go away otherwise they would just shrink and then come right back .. and we are not talkin a boil here and there im talkin about boils in my private area! ouch! so i went to the doctor he gave me anti biotics and told me about this stuff to buy and told me if it didnt go away with in the week i have to go to the hospital to get it lanced eww. needless to say i was very scared and upset and never thought it would work always fearing the worst. so i went to the pharmacy i didnt need a perscription and it cost me less then 5 Bucks! and it works great almost over night although you might have to apply it about a week or so dependending how big it is and how much puss it has, the stuff is called.. now make a note write it down youll thank me for this the stuff is called Ichthammol ointment. its a black drawing sab that you apply on the boil .. first clean it with anti bacterial soap apply it on the boil real thick and then put a bandaid to cover it so when it pops it wont spread if your lucky this stuff just may pop the whole thing over night!! i love it .. i keep a supply of it in my bathroom at all times cus you never know .. trust me this stuff really works. and im glad to be able to come here an tell you about this product!!
rating: 7 (174 votes)
Submitted by I feel your pain at 2012-01-07 14:22:23
Boils are my worst enemies, yet; they're always visiting me! These past couple days I've been suffering from one of the worst boils I've ever gotten.
Last night I couldn't take the pain anymore and I didn't want to go to the hospital to get it drained. So I took pain killers and antibiotics... Amoxicillin to be exact with ibuprofen to help ease the pain. I filled the tub with hot water and sat in it for 30 minutes, filled a pot of hot water and for into bed. I grabbed a rag and dipped it in the water and pressed it on the boil, I repeated 5 Times then left the rag on it and fell asleep.
I then woke up a few hours later and repeated the bath and compress and fell asleep again. Woke up this morning and It finally opened and started to drain and Woow how when it drains how the pain instantly goes away.
Btw I tried most of the remedies here and nothing helped, not the banana peel, toothpaste or onion and garlic. Maybe everyone is different. My boil was on my groin.
Goodluck everyone.
rating: 7 (5 votes)
Submitted by Sharon at 2012-01-24 04:02:24
Hi I have suffered with boils for many years as last 1 month ago so fed up I had 3 boils one in my groin 1 on my stomach 1 under my breast, last attempt look on internet found that Black seed oil herbal tablets that have healing power might help.
so I gave it ago only cost about 8 pounds from website www.whytt.co.uk including delivery
and since the day I have taken these tablets I have not had a single boil and the ones I did have cleared up and no longer feel them under skin
I hope this helps many people suffering with boils
rating: 7 (4 votes)
Submitted at 2006-09-30 12:26:50
I have been getting boils since I was 13 years old. I mostly get them on my bikini line area which is extremely painful and very embarrassing! I went from having 1-3 boils every now and then to having 5-10 all the time. After many visits to doctors and many crazy medications tried with no avail my obgyn suggested using an antibacterial soap. I got the dial antibacterial with moisture body wash. Since I started using it about 6 months ago, I have only had one mild short lasting boil (which is great considering some last for 6 months+). Also have used the generic Target brand and it has worked as well. If you get frequent boils give this a try. It takes a while to clear up the old ones, but this has been a lifesaver for me. Suffering with these all my adult life has been awful, it just seems doctors know nothing about it, and I feel so alone. Good luck to you.
rating: 6 (40 votes)
Submitted by Violet at 2012-01-06 23:58:53
I seriously don't think anyone sufferers from boils as much as I do. Nothing nothing hurts more than a boil and everytime I get one I coke to this page. Today I'm taking someone's advice and taped the inside of a banana peel to the boil and the pain has eased so much. I read that if you keep it over night it will drain the infection, so hopefully this works and I'll keep you all posted with the results.
It's crazy how they haven't found a cure for such a painful uncomfortable thing.
rating: 6 (3 votes)
Submitted by Lori at 2008-04-18 07:31:15
This is one of the best tips Ive ever got. Use Campho-Phenique Gel only on them. You will be surprised at how fast it rupture. Then go to the doctor and get Bactrim medication. Since Ive done this I havent had not a one. Yay
rating: 6 (37 votes)
Submitted by farmers wife at 2009-08-18 10:27:19
My husband gets boils on his back quite frequently and we have always used a home remedy I recieved from my grandmother. Crack open an egg and remove the contents. Then you remove the thin membrane that lines the inside of the egg shell. Place this on the boil and cover with a bandaid. Do this at night and by morning the core should be in the bandage. Sometimes it takes two or three nights of treatment. I am usually successful with the first nights treatment.
rating: 6 (27 votes)
Submitted by Stefanie at 2012-01-16 00:00:20
I have been suffering from the agonizing pain of boils for the past 2 years. I found that using strong scented liquid soap makes them (boils) pip up with in 24 hours.the doctors would put me on medication to clear it up and they would just come back. One day while shopping for soap I seen a brand that caught my eye called yardleys with almond and oatmeal. I thought 'what the heck, I'll try it and see what happens'after using the soap one time I found my boil felt better. After using it daily the boils seemed to disappear. I experimented a little and used lever 2000 and a few hours after using it I felt the pain of a boil arising...I switched back to yardleys and BAM! The boil felt better and started to go away. This is now the soap I use daily but only the almond and oatmeal...I think maybe the oatmeal may be what is helping since it is naturally good for the skin. Out costs about $1.00 per bar and can be found at Walmart and some dollar generals just started selling it. If you suffer from boils like I did try this soap, it may work well for you like it does me!
rating: 6 (7 votes)
Submitted by BoileyGurl at 2007-12-02 04:30:28
I suffer with boils on my right thigh right below my right buttocks. A CVS Pharmacy clerk recommended I try
Ichthammol Ointment 20%. It's a black
ointment that smells like some kind of
burnt meat, but it worked to ease the pain of my boil and eventually cause
my boil to drain after one application!
It cost under $5(USD) and is made by
Goldline.
rating: 6 (51 votes)
Submitted by 'Debbie D.' at 2011-09-10 16:47:38
I'm afraid what many of you are describing is not an everyday boil but what I've been dealing with for 22 years (but it took a good dermatologist to diagnose it about 18 years ago). It's a disease called HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA. That's what the professionals call it; I call it 'my nasty little disease.' If you get boil-like lesions in your armpits and/or in the groin area, you may very well be dealing with this malady. In my experience, most regular doctors know little to nothing about it. The only prescription that comes close to helping me is Cipro (yes, the anti-anthrax pill), and even it doesn't work 100% of the time. I am searching this website today because I have a lesion that appeared about 3 MONTHS ago that won't drain - it's about the size of the tip of my thumb, so it's not 'small potatoes.' I'm going to try some of the most-often successful treatments recommended here and will let y'all know if anything worked for me. In the meantime, do an internet search for Hidradenitis suppurativa and see if that's what you've got (pray to God you don't, but you want to know something about H.I.D.E. if you indeed have it). Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but knowledge is power, they say.
rating: 6 (30 votes)
Submitted by Liz at 2011-12-03 02:58:44
I have a boil under my breast. Ive had them for years in different places including my vaginal area. The one under my breast started small and began to grow . Because my boobs hang a bit, after the boil grew in about 2 days, it was hurting even more. It is not a visible boil, but you can feel it when you touch and you can feel where there is pus. This morning I took onion and garlic & chopped it up. Added a bit of water and let it marinade. Take a cup, add tomato paste, menthol, bengay, oregano, turmeric powder, neosporin, a crushed aspirin and a crushed antibotic. If you have another pain killer, itll do. And if you have any type of antibiotic at home throw some in there as well. a little noxzema, and any other ingredient that has healing properties. now add the juice from the onion and garlic and mix all those together to make a paste. I applied it this morning(when the boil was no where near ready to burst) I showered completely, cleaned the area well and then applied the paste to a gauze and/or directly to the boil. I taped the gauze onto it and let it sit there the whole day. Its been a couple of hours and when I went to check on the progress, you can see the skin cracking and a head forming. Because of my previous experience with boils everywhere since I was a kid, I can tell this will burst by tomorrow. Leave the gauze on. The menthol and bengay will give you a cool feeling and the neosporin will help with the pain. Another advice, take pain killers. A boil is extremely painful. Dont try holding the pain. Apply a hot cloth to the boil or take a shower/bath. (When I showered I let the hot water hit me directly on the boil for about 15min.)Itll also help it burst and will help with the pain. I have also noticed that when I start eating healthy and exercising on the regular, I never get a boil. As soon as I stop my healthy habits, they re-appear. So im sure it has so much to do with the types of foods eaten and the toxins in ur body., Another thing that I do when I get them, I take one garlic and thinly slice it and take the slices like a pill. with water. an entire garlic. Usually, when I have a boil, and I take an entire garlic and drink it, they burst the same day. So remember, Do the paste, Take a nice hot shower and apply it, take a garlic thinly sliced, & if you have vitamin c at home take a pill of that. Take a motrin/advil/tylenol PM for the pain, and so that you can sleep well. Im almost going to bed and im making myself a green tea before going to bed. The antioxidants are good to clean your body. which is the main reason for the boils. I hope to have helped anyone going through this situation. Its such an uncomfortable, painful and embarrassing condition. I also got a boil in my vaginal area which up to date has been THE WORST THING that has happened to me. and I got rid of it. If you want to know how, let me know. Hope to have helped. Let me know how it goes.
rating: 6 (12 votes)
Submitted by cynthia at 2011-11-08 00:42:57
I suffered from boils in the armpits, groin, and rear end for years and years, painful constant bouts of lancing etc. I finally started taking a zinc supplement, just 15 to 20 mgs. a day of a good quality zinc (not zinc oxide!) and they went away. Whenever I stop taking zinc for a few days I get another boil, which will resolve as soon as I resume the zinc. It will go away without bursting, just get softer and shrink away.
rating: 6 (10 votes)
Submitted by Rachel at 2011-08-21 23:03:07
Well I get boils during the summer time.
Here are some of my remedies. During the early stages of my boil i put toothpaste on it before i go to bed and in the morning it will be half way gone . My othe remedy is putting alcohol or peroxide on a cotton ball or tissue and taping it on the boil overnight in the also will be half way gone in the morning.
rating: 6 (27 votes)
Submitted at 2011-12-27 23:57:01
This site is amazing! I had my first boil this past month. I still don't really know why I got it, but i think its from an ingrown hair or maybe an infection from cutting myself while shaving. My boil appeared on the upper part of my armpit just one day after shaving. I truely thought it was just razor burn or shaving bumps at first. It started getting bigger and bigger, and then the pain became unbarable. After one week the boil was the size of a golfball, was undescribably painful, and in such an awkward place that I had to keep my arm a good distance from my body at all times. After a week and a half I was fed up. I decided to figure out what it was and what to do about it. Everyone just told me go to the doctor. Well, I am terrified of doctors and will do anything to avoid them. So I came across this website last night and decided to try a few of the remedies today. I used the hot washcloth first. I could immediatly tell a difference. The head, which had only formed this morning was larger as soon as I removed the washcloth after 15 minutes. Then I bought some Prid and used that. I put it dirrectly on the boil and on the bandaid. One hour later, the boil had popped and the pain was gone. I'm so thankful for this site. I avoided the doctor and successfully took of the golfball growing out of my arm. If I ever get another boil, I know I will grab the Prid!
rating: 6 (8 votes)
Submitted at 2011-05-13 02:36:14
I get boils at least 2 times a year and it's usually doing the summer. It's because of infected sweat glands. The way that I ease my pain is I boil some salt water then put a rag in the water and apply it onto the boil. Let the rag cool down to a temp. that is acceptable for you to handle and keep it on there until the rag is cold and keep repeating. It's eases the pain. This will also helps your boil to develop a head. It does so by drying up the boil and hardening it. If you've had a boil, you know there are stages in it. The first stage is where the boil starts to develop and you think it's just a bump and its soft and painful. The second stage is where it gets harder and bigger and unbearable. The third stage is the final stage, that's when the boil develops its head(will be soft and usually pink). Once it reaches the third stage, it's ready to be drained. It'll drain by itself, do not squeeze it! It may take a while for it all to be gone, but squeezing it will just cause a scar, loose skin where the boil was and later, another boil will pop up at the same spot. So use the hot saltwater technique to ease pain and speed up the boil's stages.
rating: 6 (42 votes)
Submitted by Gillian at 2006-02-25 01:21:41
Boils can also be used, via hot compress, with the help of Epsom Salt.. It may be best to stir in witch hazel, as well. You can also rub honey on top, to help with the infection. Honey has antibiotic properties.
I had one on my darned butt when I was a little girl.. It went away, somewhat, but I had to get that one removed with surgery and stitches. My mom didnt use the epsom salt, or witch hazel, though.. just the compresses. Otherwise, I had several in a few months on my hip, and used this method that worked for alot less money, and much faster and more comfortably.
rating: 6 (25 votes)
Submitted by xyz at 2009-01-22 03:40:32
My first boil in years. Was angry and painful. I was worried sick that it'd never heal. Scoured the internet and found this tumeric treatment. It worked on me fine and the boil drained all by itself on the fourth day of my predicament. I was so elated that now i want to share this 'formula'. Hope it works for everybody.
In a mug full of hot water add 1 tsp tumeric powder. Apply warm water heat to the boil using a cloth.Do it 2-3 times a day and watch the boil drain without warning!
rating: 6 (7 votes)
Submitted by What a Relief at 2011-11-09 12:10:48
After having the pain of this nasty boil on my butt, could not walk without crying, I kept looking for any home remedy to get rid of this, and after reading all these posts. My wonderful husband went to the local drug store CVS and bought 2 things CVS Brand Ichthammol Ointment is also called 'Draw Out Salve' and CVS Boil Relief cream/ointment. And first put the Boil Relief on first to get rid of the pain, and less than 6 hours later it popped and puss and blood all came out. It was instant relief, then after showering I put the Draw Out Salve to finish bringing it all up to the surface and out, and within 1 day I was so much better. try it, works great and less than $20
rating: 6 (32 votes)
Submitted by C. Harris at 2011-08-14 01:23:42
Put a strip of raw bacon on the boil over night. It will pull the pus out in two nights max. I had a boil on my knee and it worked the first night. it feel funny but it works.
rating: 6 (22 votes)
Submitted by Heidi at 2011-05-12 23:47:12
Three days after having sex with my boyfriend, who was recovering from boil surgery at the time,I got a boil on the spot that had touched where his not-so-well-covered healing boil scar was. His surgeon had told him that it was extremely rare for boils to be contagious, so we weren't worried. Surprise! :( I soon developed two other boils on my bottom and thigh and all of them grew to the point of being full-blown and very painful. I didn't know what to do about it, and my bf's experience with surgery was that it was worse than the boil itself and plus it left scars, so I didn't want to go that route. Eventually, those boils healed over, but within the next 9 months I had four more outbreaks of varying degrees. I took an antibiotic my gyn prescribed for a different condition on one occurance, and that seemed to stop the boils too. I was good for 4 months after that, but then the boils returned. I was at my wit's end. I read on this site about turmeric and decided to try it. I was desperate!
I took homemade turmeric capsules, as they are way cheaper to make than to buy ready. 4 capsules= 1 tsp, and I did that 3 times a day as I recall. Then I put turmeric on a cotton ball with Campho-phenique on each boil and secured them with band-aids. To my relief, the boils that had already started to develop didn't develop further, especially if I caught them really early on. Put the turmeric on right away! However, the ones that were already in development phase seemed to stall out and not heal quickly, though they didn't develop as they would have if I had left them alone, as per my previous experiences with boils. None of my earlier boils just stopped growing like that. They all went full-blown. However, the strange thing with this outbreak was that I got MORE boils than I ever did before-about 10, whereas before I had never had more than 4 at a time. Only two of these got full-blown though, while in the past they all did. I don't know if the turmeric altered the pattern or not, but the trouble is, the two that did develop were the worst ones I ever had. I continued with the turmeric, but I decided to go to the doctor since I was in so much pain.
She offered to lance the worst one which annoyed me because it was already starting to drain and that would have left me with a nasty scar. Once it starts to drain, the worst is over, so I didn't see the point. My goal at that point was to get them to stop coming back!
She gave me an oral antibiotic and a gel to coat the entire affected area with that she said worked well at decolonizing the skin of the staph that causes boils. I did everything she said and continued with the turmeric. I didn't get any more boils after that, and have been boil-free for 9 months. I did also have a friend send me reiki energy.
Since then I have been careful to never wear exercise shorts twice, shower daily atleast, and especially after exercise or sweating. For the first few months I used Hibiclens to wash the affected area every day. I read about it here and the dermatologist also recommended it to keep the staph under control. I'm not sure what to make of using turmeric, but hopefully it will give some food for thought for someone suffering from boils. Good luck!
rating: 6 (29 votes)
Submitted at 2009-10-18 03:26:56
Try applying a piece of fatback (salt pork) held in place by a bandage. Kind of disgusting but it will draw the boil to a head and rupture.
If it is an area applicable, and you can stay home, a hot tub bath (as hot as you can stand it) will bring the boil to a head quickly, but it can make it throb more before it ruptures. Often on smaller boils and ingrown hairs the bath will cause the boil to rupture quickly.
If you have a big, throbbing boil and a fever, better find a doctor; you may have sepsis (blood infection) that is life threatening. Nobody wants to die from a boil.
rating: 6 (12 votes)
Submitted by Donna at 2009-11-17 17:22:09
Okay here lately I have been having trouble with boils. Well before I was trying to pop them myself.ummmm that don't work. All my life I have heard of putting Fat Back on it. Never tried though. Well my boyfriend suggested it to me. The boil is on my butt right at the place where you butt meets your leg soooo PAINFUL can't sit move use the rest room. So anyway we tried the Fat Back. I fell asleep for like 4 hours woke up and there was a head. I am doing it again after a nice hot hot bath
rating: 5 (30 votes)
Submitted by DJ Williamson at 2011-04-01 16:44:26
I have been getting boils since my brother came home from jail with one on his face. I have at least three a month, and I have cleaned up my diet, scrubbed my skin with Hibiclens soap (which might I add is NOT cheap), and tried the Campho-Phenique and BoilEze. Nothing works, so I discovered the Icthammol ointment, or what the old-timers call 'black tar ointment.' This will bring the boils to a head quicker, but I usually have to go have them lanced open. I have scars ALL over my body,from my face to my ankles, where I have had boils. The only thing that has helped me with the pain is to soak in a hot tub, or, if on an extremity, place a hot compress directly on the boil and keep repeating this until the pain subsides. It won't go all the way away, but it WILL subside somewhat. I have even had the IV antibiotic Vancomycin, and the pill antibiotic Xyvox, and these made them go away for about 2 or 3 months, but they always come back. The doctor said that the Staph infection has set up in my bloodstream, and there is really nothing that can be done to decrease the number of boils I will get, but what I have described is the best course of action. And ALWAYS remember, NEVER SQUEEZE OR TRY TO POP A BOIL...IT WILL ONLY MAKE IT WORSE!!!
rating: 5 (18 votes)
Submitted by B. Harvey at 2006-08-31 10:11:54
Use Hunt's Tomato Paste. Use it like an ointment and spread it on the boil or abcess. Then, bandage as usual with gause and tape. Do this at night and the next morning, it is usually draining. It will pull the core out of a boil.
rating: 5 (42 votes)
Submitted at 2011-05-08 19:14:59
I got a boil december of 2009 (recieved it from other employees at McDonalds). I didn't do anything about it until I ended up in the hospital because I couldn't stand the pain anymore. The doctor told me that it needed to soften up because it had harded before he could fix the problem. So two days later I went back and he lanced it open. It went away but not even three months later it came back. Same spot and everything. The doctor lanced it open. Its safe to say I have had at least 7 since 2009 and each time it has been on my tailbone. At one point I couldn't walk for a week because they hit a nerve. Now I have another, same spot and everything. To me it feels like they are coming back more quicker than the last. So I pushed a safety pin right in the middle, added some cleaning solution, and gauzed it and now I am setting on a heating pad...so pretty much if any body has and idea on how to help me keep from getting these or maybe helping me make this one go away I would so appreciate that.
rating: 5 (23 votes)
Submitted by Georgia at 2011-11-17 21:51:35
OXY cream or any other extra strength acne cream will work!!! I suffered from boils a few months ago and every now and then. Cover the area generously with the acne cream a few times a day and you'll be amazed how it brings relief to boils. Please try this if nothing else has worked for you.
rating: 5 (16 votes)
Submitted at 2010-12-09 01:33:14
Boils: come to a head in a day or 2 by putting a bit of Noxima cream on it.
rating: 5 (25 votes)
Submitted at 2009-06-04 15:39:18
I had a boil recently, the pain was unbelievable...i read some of these remedies so at first i tried campho phenique, its a cold sore gel, it worked a little but it wasnt really curing it, so then i called up a few CVS's to see if they carried the ichthannol ointment from goldline (black drawing out salve) finally on my third try i found a cvs that carried it. I put it on twice a day and cleaned it twice a day and used warm compresses, it took a few days but im so happy to say that it worked wonders!! definitely go out and get this ointment, it works, it smells horrible and will stain your clothes so cover with a big bandaid, but i swear this ointment works im so happy, thank you all for your help
rating: 5 (12 votes)
Submitted by BoilNoMore!! at 2011-04-11 23:52:42
If you made it this far please take the time to do this remedy. I actually had a boil bout three hours ago and it was killing me. The location of my disturbing friend was right where the back ends and the crack of the butt starts- yea tell me bout it. I had to go through a gruesome 8 hours of work sitting down before I couldnt take it anymore and had to do something bout it. The pain was so disturbing that I could barely drive home, but once I got there I had to lay down and it took me almost 10 minutes to lay on my stomach. So first I started off with a cup of oatmeal prepared THICK and put in a sandwich bag. I let this cool down to the tempertaure that I can withstand. I would roll the oatmeal in the bag like it was a rolling pin. Once at the desired temp. I put the 'roll' of oatmeal right in the crack of my butt. Left it there until it got cool. Then reheated it again (bout 10 seconds in the microwave) and repeated this process for bout an hour. Technically this is known as the hot compress that is supposed to bring the boil to a head. After the hour, the pain went from pain to throbbing pain not only that I then gathered a scorching fever. I immediately took 2 pain relief and fever reduce gel cap Tylenol pills. I waited for bout 20 mins (without the compression) and allowed plenty time for the pills to kick in. After the 20 minutes I then took a Tampon (trust me it works) and coated it with Hibclens anitbacterial soap (bought in Walgreens). I then basked the entire area to include the swollen area with the coated Tampon. Once it was completely basked I then cleansed the soap off with a clean towel. Next I used another Tampon (sorry these were the closest I had to gauze) and drained it will Campho-Phenique and applied it to the same area as the anti bacterial soap. ALL AROUND. Once applied I then waited bout 10 minutes and got immediately out of my bed. NO PAIN. I was actually able to sit down. So after sitting down for a good 15 minutes I then felt this disgusting ooozzzeeee comming from my rear end. And guess what- the boil began draining. I have tried several different at home remedies and most never worked for me. So I decided to try some of the remedies ALL TOGETHER and low and behold its a miracle. Hope this works for you. All togethere I spent a total of 12 bucks.
rating: 5 (21 votes)
Submitted by adampitt587 at 2010-11-25 01:35:00
# Garlic and onion have been in use since the olden times. You may topically apply the juice of garlic or onion in order to speed up the ripening process of the boil so as to allow the pus to flow out and initiate rapid drying up of the boil. You may also apply a mixture containing equal quantities of onion and garlic on the boil surface. You may also include 2 or 3 pieces of garlic in your diet to ensure healing of the boil.
# Milk cream is another very effective ingredient in treating your boil. The cream of the milk when applied on the boil top will help to soften the skin surface of the boil. Milk will also help to form head of the boil so that pus can flow out. You may also put soaked bread in boiled milk on the top of the boil.
# Parsley leaves are also very effective in treating boils. Boil the parsley leaves until they become very soft. Then apply it as a poultice covering with a white clean cloth. This will help to open the mouth of the boil so that the pus can be released.
# Betel or margosa leaves are also very useful in healing the boil. You should at first heal the betel leaves till it becomes soft. Then smear the leaves with castor oil and apply them on the boil surface. Another very useful home remedy for boils is boiling of 15 to 20 neem leaves in half liter of water and continue boiling the mixture until the volume reduces to one of third of the original volume. Then allow the mixture to cool down and then gently apply the solution on the boil head.
# Bitter gourd extract is a very good home remedy for boils. The bitter gourd extract kills the germ of the boils and reduce the intensity of infection. In case you find difficulty in applying it on the top of the boil, you may have it in empty stomach in the very early morning along with lemon juice.
# Turmeric is especially famous for its antiseptic properties. Make a paste of 4 to 5 spoons of roasted turmeric with water and apply in on the boil surface.
# You may also try out with the paste of cumin seeds. Grind the cumin seeds and form a paste with water. This will lower down the intensity of the boil infection.
rating: 5 (24 votes)
Submitted by jen from Mt..Pleasant at 2009-10-28 22:28:34
this is a guarantee.i myself and my huband have had multiple amounts of boils.but needless to say i have never had to POP one.all you do is take a potato it doesent matter what kind you use,cut the end piece off,tape it to your boil,when you wake up the infection will be in that end of the potato.you might wan to tape another piece the next night just to make sure you got it all.it doesnt have to be big.lust a small piece will work fine.very innexpencive and guaranteed to work,i promise or your $ back.oh i forgot it dosent cost anything haha
rating: 5 (38 votes)
Submitted by lee at 2011-06-30 22:27:36
I've had boils all my life..The cores have been surgically removed all over my body. the antibiotic bactrim works for me until the dosage is done then it re-occurs a few months later....'draw out salve' by Rite Aid (black tar ointment) works best for me for easing the pain and bringing it to a head quickly.....if you cant afford 10 dollars for that..bacon and fat back will do the trick too
rating: 5 (29 votes)
Submitted by Stacy at 2008-11-06 21:31:34
You can take an egg and crack it, and apply the yolk to your boil. The next day the boil should come to a head, if not try it again. Also, you can slice a fresh onion and apply it to the boil and tape it, let it stay there for about 1 day, you will smell like a hamburger, but it works.
rating: 5 (11 votes)
Submitted at 2008-11-14 07:42:25
Boils can be brought to a head using a folded wad of paper or paper towel soaked in vinegar which is then placed on the boil and covered. It will stay damp even overnite, but repeat with fresh compress every few hours. It took me a little longer than a day to raise the head to bursting. Not only did the vinegar work, it was painless and soothing which is awesome because the boil itself hurt something awful. When the boil comes to a head and/or bursts, pull the skin away from the head to ooze out the pus. DO NOT squeeze since that often squeezes the infectious pus INTO the skin deeper. Keeping the area clean is vital! Boils are often caused by bacteria and washing gently with warm soapy water before and after is vital. Carefully dispose of any bandaids and compresses to reduce risk of spreading the infection. The smell is unpleasant, but the remedy WORKS!
rating: 5 (32 votes)
Submitted by Shannon at 2009-04-28 01:11:29
All of the advice on here has been so great; I would like to thank all of you. I kind of read through and came up with a game plan. I have chronic boils in the private area. One got so bad it burst in my blood stream and caused Sepsis; I barely survived that one so these 'Boils' are no game. They are painful, they are embarrassing and I can not seem to ever just get rid of them. I am like a few of you that posted here; I always had at least one on me. Every doctor I have been too gives me expensive creams that insurance does not cover, so ... Here is what I decided to do with all of your advice and it has worked. I no longer suffer from boils and if I do get one I get rid of it quick!
Here is what you do...
FIRST AND FORMOST ... DO NOT SQUEEZE, let it rupture on its own, you do not want it going into your bloodstream.
1st - Daily - I bought them at CVS ($4) they were in the soap section, CVS brand antibacterial wipes. Not the ones in the cleaning section that are for counter tops, lol, they actually have some in the soap section used for hands and body. I use these twice a day; once in the morning and once at night. It was easier for me having it in a wipe; I keep them on the bathroom counter. Cleanse all around to about mid thigh, this alone has minimized my boils, so if anyone has the miracle of getting rid of them to where they never come back … PLEASE let me in on the secret.
2nd - Should you have a flare up, and its small and not painful you can get quick results by using the Ichthemol Ointment, you have to actually ask the pharmacist for it, but you do not have to have a prescription and it is about $3. It is truly the MIRACLE CREAM!! It stinks, but it works. Apply generously and cover. If its stubborn and did not pop on its own over night, apply your warm compresses of hot water and Epson salt for a good hour and then reapply the ointment, cover and go to bed.
This has been a true success for me, I swear I lived with these daily and now may deal with one about every 6 months. I still don't know why we get them though. Is it in our blood? Someone mentioned Detox-7 to help purify your blood of toxins that cause boils but I have had no success in finding this, so if anyone knows it would be greatly appreciated to us all I am sure to know what we can do to prevent the darn things from coming in the first place. Now I have only scars remaining. Thank you ALL!!
rating: 5 (14 votes)
Submitted by Robin at 2011-09-01 13:24:19
My husband has suffered with a boil for 2 weeks. A friend from Africa told me to take blackeyed peas, crush them up and make a paste. I soaked them in a little bit of warm water and vinegar. We coated the boil and applied a bandage and the next day, tada, it was ready to start draining! Awesome!
rating: 5 (18 votes)
Submitted by Donna at 2008-07-17 15:58:46
I just had my first boil. It's the most painful thing I think I've ever experienced. Last night I dipped a washcloth in hot water with epsom salt to relieve some of the pain. I did this multiple times for 15 minutes or so. Then, based on recommendations of people on these types of sites, I applied a generous amount of an ointment called Campho Phenique directly to the boil before covering the boil with a large, waterproof bandaid. The boil felt instantly better after applying the Campho Phenique. I left the bandaid on overnight. I woke up this morning, and, sure enough, the boil had drained, just like many people said it would. Thank goodness! Now I am just continuously cleaning the skin around the boil with Dial antibacterial soap and reapplying bandages. But the pain is now minor compared to how it was. I don't know if the boil was just ready to come to a head...but I truly think the Campho Phenique helped tremendously. If you go to a drugstore to find Campho Phenique, look in the cold sore section. And thank you to everyone who recommended this treatment! You were right on!
rating: 5 (22 votes)
Submitted by Mindy at 2011-11-23 10:03:40
Last year I had my first boil on my groin near my panty line and mistaken it for an oversized pimple; a head refused to form so I looked up home remedies for pimples and tried putting toothpaste on it over night. The next morning I woke up to a nasty mess of puss and blood. But the pain was gone and that was when I found out from my doctor what it actually was. I just got a second one two weeks ago that refused to from a head and unable to stand it I just put toothpaste on it last night and woke up to the exact same results. Do not use the gel kind but for me toothpaste works but it does stink a little bit.
rating: 5 (20 votes)
Submitted by migdalia chevere at 2011-10-10 16:16:53
My daugther have a boil in her thigh and for about 2 days and last night I gave her a treatment witn ictiol(ichthammol 10%) and a tomato leave, it burst overnight,I put ictiol in a leave give a warm in the stove and apply. It really work. In my family everyone gets boils and this remedy is a bless.
rating: 5 (16 votes)
Submitted at 2011-10-04 06:34:25
FYI, Ichthammol Ointment is also called 'Draw Out Salve'. I bought it to help with a splinter. Tonight I'll try it on a boil on my thigh that's driving me crazy.
rating: 5 (7 votes)
Submitted by James at 2006-05-22 04:48:26
For boils, cut a brown paper sack and fold into a patch large enough to cover the affected area.Soak the paper in vinegar, tape over boil, allow to dry. By the time it dries the boil will be to a head and ready to pop, or it will pop by itself.
rating: 5 (59 votes)
Submitted by Trevar at 2011-11-03 01:04:51
i had a boil on my butt, Hot Shower, or bath as hot as you can take it, 2-3 times a day, apply neosporin,bacitracin on the boil every 20 minutes or so, and the boil should be gone in 3-5 days
P.S URGENT!!!! if you have a boil on your butt DO NOT PUT BACON OR ANY SALTED MEAT ON IT THESE MEATS CONTAIN BACTERIA AND CAN BRING INFECTION TO THE BOIL AND MAKE IT WORSE
rating: 5 (21 votes)
Submitted at 2011-02-10 19:53:12
Hi everyone, Thanks for all the posted advice here.
I had a large and very painful boil on my forehead last summer--- thinking it was just an unusually large pimple, I tried to pop it long before it was ready and it was the BIGGEST mistake ever... It made it so much worse, more painful and i think the infection was driven deeper. Eventually it went away after the doctor lanced it, and then it oozed for about 3 more weeks before it finally was done-- left a scar too.
So, now i have another one on my cheek (GREAT!). Anyhow, this time, I had a feeling it was a boil. So, I looked on here and got some good advice... here's what seems to be working for me:
-I've been very gentle with it, keeping it clean with Tersaseptic cleanser a few times a day and keeping my hands clean/not touching my face/changing towels, etc.
-During the day, I've applied a strong polysporin and/or tea tree oil using a clean Q-tip, then covered it with a breathable bandaid (this helps me to not touch it either and makes me somewhat presentable :-). I change this dressing and rewash/reapply at least once during the day too.
-Before bed, I've taken hot Epsom Salts bath, tried to relax completely, and soaked the boil with hot compresses.
-For sleep, I've been trying a big blob of Ichthammol, then covered with gauze.
I've also applied campho-phenique during the day, but that doesn't seem to do anything special that i can tell.
After a few days of this, the boil is way better, still not great, but it looks like it's almost been dried out or something (nothing has come out of it, even though it had a white head yesterday, but woke up this morning and that was gone- it now just feels like a 'water balloon'effect).
Also, I have been eating really 'clean' for the last week, taking echinechia, vitamin C, cleansing teas, turmeric drinks, etc. I feel that it's often stress-related, so try to relax yourself.
So, it seems like this combo of treatment has worked somewhat, although not the magical immediate results others have gotten. I almost feel like I've 'derailed' the boil from being a full-blown boil. It's been exactly 1 week since the boil first reared its head and it now seems like its at least in the healing stages (much better than the month-long saga of Boil #1).
My main piece of advice though is DON'T TOUCH OR PICK OR TRY TO SQUEEZE THE BOIL on your own--- check with your doctor, or just let it come to a draining point on its own using some of the techniques advised on this site.
In conclusion, I'm not quite sure what's been the 'magic' cream or treatment with my boil --- maybe it's just a combo of keeping it clean, not aggravating it, boosting immunity/health/relaxation, using some creams/ointments, and a bit of patience!
Good luck--- this is no picnic!
Note: I live in Ontario and I could not find Campo-Phenique or Ichthammol here at any of the drugstores/walmarts, etc. Had to go across the border to get it at walgreens.
rating: 5 (27 votes)
Submitted at 2011-12-05 01:05:20
I got my first boil on the back of my neck 6 from days ago.Thinking it was a zit I suffered some increasing pain until 2 laters when I asked my husband to look at it. He said OMG baby. People thought I had an ingrown hair some people thought I had gotten bit by a spider. My father in law said it looked like a boil. Today I could not tolerate the pain any longer. I had a boil on the inside of my nose that would drain a little but fill right back up and now had a cluster of boils (carbuncle) on my neck. The pain radiated in a sharp cross shape across my shoulder blades and my spine. I don't have insurance but went to the urgent care center. I had boils due to staphylococcus and was put on an oral antibiotic and a topical antibiotic. I had been placing heat wraps on it but the doctor said hot moist washclothes are better. TRUTH! I took a long hot shower (in baths the boils can drain letting the infection spread -gross) then after apply hot wet washclothes to my nose and neck these are finally draining!!!! I strongly STRONGLY suggest treating them early and aggressively. Hot moist washclothes, campo phenq., and keep in mind these things will spread and are contagious. Dont push on them, the only sink further into the skin. Good luck!!!
rating: 5 (19 votes)
Submitted at 2010-09-25 00:06:47
To get rid of boils, apply alcohol on a cotton ball for 2-3 minutes, then apply Neosporin once the alcohol is dry. Do this at least 3 times a day and it will be gone by the 4th day. You can use Oragel or any topical tooth pain medication to numb the boil if it is painful.
rating: 5 (18 votes)
Submitted by gladifoundit at 2011-09-05 17:29:02
I had a boil come up on my left butt cheek. I tried to catch it before it got too bad by covering w/ egg membrane at night, but it didn't work it only got worst. I read that some ppl use ripened banana peels so I put the peel on top of where it was the most painful which was the opening and left it there overnight. I woke up to it throbbing so I ran to the bathroom to remove the peel and as I did the boil had burst and blood/pus was oozing everywhere. LONG story short...the banana peel worked for me.
rating: 5 (24 votes)
Submitted by Julie at 2010-11-08 23:33:03
To bring the boil to a head quickly, white bread soaked in hot milk. place bread on a folded papertowel and apply to boil while watching tv or reading. repeat. This is a great drawing salve! we saw results in 1 hour!
rating: 5 (22 votes)
Submitted by c.bishop illinois at 2011-07-23 01:52:15
THE BEST THNG 4 AN ABCESS IS N A LIL ORANGE JAR CALLED PRID. IT LOOKS LIKE TAR N DOES HAVE A FUNKY SMELL BUT PUT SUM OF THAT ON AND COVER WTH BANDAGE 4 A DAY R 2. IT WIL EITHR BUST ON ITS OWN OR COME 2 A HEAD AND U BEAR DOWN AND SQUEEZ THE JUNK OUT. HURTS LIKE HEK BUT OVER N FEW SECONDS AND WORTH EVRY BIT.
rating: 5 (26 votes)
Submitted at 2010-10-31 23:23:00
My staph infection started as impetigo then spawned boils all over my body.
All I can say is Turmeric, turmeric, turmeric. It is the best thing for infection. And I tried everything from antibiotics to colloidal silver.
I drank a teaspoon of the powder in water 3 times a day (not pleasant but it works)
and applied it topically to boils..
and eventually they kind of dried out and healed. Anytime I start getting a hint of bad skin or anything these days its straight to the turmeric.
rating: 5 (30 votes)
Submitted by nikki at 2010-07-20 08:26:38
i get boils once in awhile but this time i got one on my face! ugh! desperate to get rid of it quickly i started reaserching online. i decided to try a remedy suggested of CAMPHO-PHENIQUE. which you can get over the counter for less than 5.00 and is usually used for insect bites? skeptial i decied to try it because i was desperate. i put a tiny dab on the pad of a band aid....it took the pain away IMMEDIATLY and after just a few hours puss was running down my cheek and the core (which i have been struggeling with for days) was brought to the surface! just wanted to get the word out, this worked wonders for me! only draw back is that the campho is REALLY stinky. but small price to pay for instant pain relief and the results after just a few hours.
rating: 5 (38 votes)
Submitted by boil free at 2007-03-03 10:35:52
Go to Wal-Mart and purchase detox-7. This product contains herbs that will purify your blood of toxins that cause boils. Mainly Burdock and Dandelion. Also use and antibactirial soap daily in the areas that are prone to boils.
rating: 5 (13 votes)
Submitted at 2012-01-09 01:13:44
I've had issues with a boil on my butt. It got infected so I went to the doctors and he had to lance it twice. It felt better for a few months but it came right back and was so painful I could barely walk, let alone stand. A friend suggested I take a piece of raw back and put some regular table salt on it. Then put the salt side directly on the boil and cover it with steril gauze. I did this and I was amazed at all the naty stuff that came out. Again, the boil subsided (but was still there) for a few years but came back not too long ago. My girlfriend did an internet search for remidies and found an ointment called Ichthammol. It's black and smells like tar. I put this stuff on the boil and covered it and by morning it had drained BIG TIME! It was pretty gross! It had soaked through my underwear, shorts and even to the sheets but I got to tell you ... the pain was relieved by 95%! After a few more days of use this ointment the pain has completely disappeard and I haven't had any problems since. Hope this helps someone who is suffering from these horrible things. I truly feel your pain!
rating: 5 (9 votes)
Submitted by Briana at 2012-01-13 00:42:58
I am 19 and have been getting boils in my groin area and my arm pits since i was 13. I can usually make them pop and go away with a warm wash cloth to them every 5 minutes. I have a really big one ( i can fit it in my hand, but its not big in width its big in length) right now on my groin area and can not get it to pop or even get to the stage of popping. The pain is unbearable and it makes it difficult for me to move. If anyone has a remedy or any advice please i am all ears, or in this case eyes, to what you have to say.
rating: 5 (5 votes)
Submitted by Kay at 2010-05-15 00:22:28
I have ben getting boils 4 awhile (not knowing what they were and y they were reoccuring) and i kept popping them only to have them spread more! Ugh! So i tried Boil Ease- but dont waste your money..it doesnt even bring it 2 a healing point. So i kept reading on here about Ichthammol and Campho and i went and bought both of them 2day.(bcuz im just that desperate 2 get these things away). I cleaned the area and applied Icthammol 1st 4 a few hrs and then recleaned the area and applied the Campho Phenique. I got both from Walgreens 4 $20 altogether. Its been 2 hours since ive applied the Campho and im noticing the boil is turning white. Im going 2 reapply it b4 going to bed- but what does the head look like that everybdy is talking about? How do it remove it 2 decrease it reoccuring?
rating: 5 (26 votes)
Submitted at 2011-03-20 14:30:47
I have had 5 or 6 boils over time. My first one I got when I was pregnant with my third child and I had no idea what to do about it. I tried everything and nothing worked but it finally opened and went away on its own.
The next one I got I decided I was going to try a drawing salve that some people use to get splinters and other things out. The stuff is called Smiles Pride all natural drawing salve it come in a small orange container. I get mine from Walmart. I apply it and a bandage before I go to bed at night and when I get up the next morning it has opened and drained. Then I clean the area good and use triple antibotic ointment with a bandage.
This last one I have now is more difficult though it did not work with the drawing salve. It had been open and draining for 2 days when I went into the hospital and they did not lance it cause it was already draining but they did give me 2 anitbotics to take.Other then the blisters that I have from the bandages it is gone.
rating: 5 (17 votes)
Submitted by Long Beach, Ca at 2011-07-03 11:24:46
Wash area with warm/slightly hot water and antibacterial soap.
Than apply Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus using a paper towel. Press the paper towel with oil on the boil for 5 to 15 minutes at night and in the morning.
Works Great!
rating: 5 (18 votes)
Submitted by Kelley at 2011-07-01 23:34:04
If you suspect you have a boil on your tailbone, I recommend you educate yourself about pilonidal cysts to determine if it is truly a boil. You may want to seek the opinion of a doctor who has experienced pilonidal cysts and is familiar with the treatment of them. I say this out of sympathy for I finally have relief after many years of discomfort, insufficient treatment, and misdiagnosis of the true culprit. If the procedure's done right, the healing process nay be challenging with bouts of 'pilonidal paranoia' which is likely just an effect of the scarring in the delicate area. As a side note, I don't believe it to be a contagious ailment at all and feel it shouldn't be blamed on anyone other than your own family for giving you your genes and predisposition. I recently found out my father and grandfather both had the same condition.
rating: 5 (21 votes)
Submitted at 2006-02-02 16:28:01
I sometimes get painful boils on the inner thigh. Just get a wash cloth and soak it in the hottest tap water you can stand, then place it on the boil for about 20 min at a time, always resoak the towel when it starts cooling down. I also add a lil Witch Hazel on the towel as Im doing this
rating: 5 (11 votes)
Submitted by Ruth Ingram at 2006-10-17 00:09:22
Teatree oil works on hard stubborn boils that just won't soften or bust. I used it for three weeks once a night. Just rub it on the boil and I guarantee this works.No need to lance it or go to the doctor.
rating: 5 (22 votes)
Submitted by aa at 2011-05-26 02:49:17
At the very painful swollen point of a boil, try taping the pulp side of a banana peel to the boil overnight. It will drain through the night.
rating: 5 (29 votes)
Submitted at 2009-01-10 00:48:02
This cream was created by pediatricians from our state university to cure severe diaper rash, but it can pull the head from a boil in less than an hour. It also works for severe acne and cysts.
Mix the following:
1/2 tube of desitin
1/2 tube of A & D ointment
1/2 tube of bactracin
1/2 tube of lotrimin
Maalox (not too much to make it runny)
I have seen it heal open sores overnight. I have used it for boils and infected sores also. It pulls the infection out quickly and removes the head from boils in less than an hour.
rating: 5 (15 votes)
Submitted at 2010-03-11 08:54:32
Okay, may I just say that I am a HUGE skeptic when it comes to most home remedies. However, that has recently changed quite a bit. I had an extremely large and painful boil on my groin, that would not come to a head. I found this site, and noticed alot of posts about using Campho-phenique on it. I thought that sounded rediculous, so I didn't try it. That was until later that night. The boil had become so painful that I couldn't walk, or roll over in bed. I got up, washed the boil and surrounding skin, then applied a generous amout of Campho-Phenique to a guaze and pressed it lightly over the boil. It burned like nothing else, but I held it there for about 5 minutes, and the burning started to go away. That is when I pulled the gauze away and noticed that it had already came to a head and started draining. No kidding, 5 minutes, and it was working. I again washed the area, applied a clean gauze, and went to bed. I got up this morning, and the boil is almost completely gone, and the best part, no more pain! So, next time you have a boil, try Campho-Phenique, it works :)
rating: 5 (47 votes)
Submitted by MaryAnn at 2008-10-28 13:14:29
I was just wondering on who of you drink Pepsi or even dark pop/soda because my brother use to get boils all the time and sense he changed to drinking clear pop/soda he hardly gets them now.
rating: 5 (18 votes)
Submitted by JT at 2011-09-04 15:03:03
Every summer for the last 4 years the boils would show up in my armpits. Many large boils, painful and deep! I tried a few high $ products with no relief:( I looked at this website, tried a few of the remedies. The one that 100% works for me is............ WET ONES antibacterial wipes!!! Could not believe that was all I needed. I wipe the effected area 2-3 times a day, that is it. No more boils.
rating: 5 (18 votes)
Submitted by Moses at 2008-12-06 14:05:15
Go to Wal-Mart and get some Turmeric capsules, 500mg, it's cheap and works amazingly well for boils and inflammations. It's a spice and can also be found in the spice ailse, but the capsules are much easier to control the dosage.
rating: 5 (13 votes)
Submitted at 2009-02-15 18:53:00
CAMPHO PHENQUE (i know its not spelled right but you know what im saying)
I had a golf ball size boil i cried over for 3 days--- one night i gulled up and bought this CHEAP dollar general campho + 'something'. it looks like an ambasol tube--- white--- little-- for a buck fifty! i used one hole tube on a knee size bandade-- slapped it on before bed- woke up and it already started to drain. Has been draining all day--
I tried the Tumeric (injusted and paste) nothing.. i did a heating pad on it for 3 days-- nothing.. that Campho worked in less than 12 hours bringing it to a head--- and in the process of draining..
I will NEVER EVER USE anything else again!
rating: 5 (12 votes)
Submitted by Alana at 2011-07-27 04:50:46
Manuka honey. Works instantly. Natural. Find it in the natural health food stores. Sucks out all the infection.
rating: 5 (7 votes)
Submitted by NoOneSpecial at 2011-10-02 20:04:27
I've had several boils. The best remedy I have found is campho-phenique. You can by the liquid but I recommend the gel they make for cold sores. Coat the boil liberally before bed and the next morning you should see improvent in the boil, if not drainage. It generally worked for me the next morning, the boil would be draining and I could just go ahead and squeeze the gunk out but it may take 2-4 days. In the mean time the analgesic in the cold sore gel seems to help the pain. Good Luck!
rating: 5 (14 votes)
Submitted by Krista at 2011-10-04 07:12:44
For the past few years I have been getting boils in two spots; one one my shoulder and one on my back. When they get infected I start by adding tea tree oil to a cotton ball and apply to my skin liberally. Tea tree oil can also be purchased in gel form. Once the boil becomes engorged I start using a paste of baking soda, covered with a warm wash cloth three times a day for an hour. To make the paste I add baking soda and a few drops of water, stir until it gets a paste like consistency. Baking soda is cheap and a natural way to pull the infection to the surface and allow the boil to drain. The paste will harden and can be removed by adding water or simply pulling it off the boil. Once the boil begins draining I use Walgreen's Apothecary Iodine Tincture 2% three times a day to kill bacteria and prevent the infection from spreading. I do this along with using the paste three times a day. Two to three drops of iodine should be applied to the boil. Once applied it should be bandaged. I use medical gauze and tape, works well on my sensitive skin and prevents any drainage from leaking and spreading. After three - five days the boil has drained and the infection is gone.
rating: 5 (11 votes)
Submitted by khoward at 2011-12-25 10:57:46
ok gang i took aquafresh toothpaste,anti-itch cream and crushed antibiotic pills,2 drop of water mix.Before applying this home made topical cream wash the infected area with antibacterial soap then acne daily face scrub then place the topical cream put a clean piece of paper towel and tape it down do this for 2-3 days.the toothpaste leave tingling sensation and smells minty! the boil will get hard fast but let it drain on its own.
rating: 5 (8 votes)
Submitted by Rita at 2012-01-28 11:56:49
I have had a problem with boils since Aug of 2011 and this has been so painful for me. I have them on my scalp, I have been back and forward to the doctor and the er. Nothing has work til I found ichtammol this is really good. So this is just my second day but I c the change.
rating: 5 (2 votes)
Submitted by tinker at 2010-08-24 18:49:49
Vicks vapor rub works on boils. I had a boil that kept coming back my daughter put vicks rub on it. The next day it was smaller and less painful. Still waiting on it to go away. Its been two days
rating: 4 (17 votes)
Submitted at 2008-02-16 11:54:03
cover the boil with Hunt's Tomato paste as a compress.The acids from the tomatoes will soothe the pain and help bring the boil to a head.
rating: 4 (15 votes)
Submitted at 2010-07-19 01:32:38
Take a hot bath wit baking soda. Then mix baking soda wit hot water until it becomes a paste. Rub cotton ball into paste. Make sure there is enough to paste to cover the whole boil then put bandaid over the cotton boil. Leave over night this should bring the boil to a head. By the next day boil should pop and drain it self. DO NOT SQUEEZE BOIL
rating: 4 (30 votes)
Submitted by punn3302 at 2009-06-25 01:08:28
I got a boil on my head and didn't have a clue what to do....I went ahead and tried using the Ichthammol that is widely talked about on the internet even though I was skeptical.
I bought it from Wal-Greens...they keep it behind the counter at the pharmacy, but you do not need a prescription. Just ask for it and they will grab you a tube....I belive it's made by 'Goldline'.
I applied the blank ichthammol and was surprised at how quickly it work.
I applied the ichthammol and placed a band-aid tightly over it. You don't want the ichthammol getting on your clothes or pillows,etc. It will leave a stain almost like motor oil.
Within a day, the boil was getting better. I didn't know what it ws or how to treat it, so it got pretty bad. But soon it just kind of 'popped'....not like a 'pop', but it broke open slowly.
The band-aid absorbed the substances left over....
When this happens make sure you wash the area....I used anti-bacterial soap....actually it was dish soap, but it was anti-bacterial.
You don't want the stuff in the boil spreading.
I also tried using this tumeric stuff. It's a spice or herb you can buy at the grocery and used a lot in Indian food.
It smells and tastes bad, but it's supposed to help, some people even suggest making a paste of it with water and putting it on the boil.
I would just stick to ichthammol.
Here's the weird thing....
I also had a subaceous cyst on my head that had previously been removed by a doctor twive but just kept growing back in the same exact spot.
This cyst was toward the back of my head, and the boil was toward the front on the same side.
As the boil went down, the cyst began to flare up and it felt like I had another boil growing 'on top' of the cyst. I can't be 100% sure of this, but the cyst always grew very slowly, and now it was growing rapidly and was very painful, just like the boil was.
I used the ichthammol on the cyst thinking it would get rid of the boil and I'd still have the cyst.....
Nope...the ichthammol worked so well it eliminated the boil and the subaceous cyst!
I was pumped as the cyst was getting big and I didn't have health insurance to get it removed this time, even though the first 2 times I did.
It's been about 8 months now and the cyst has not grown back. It's nice not having that bump on my head....it was never really painful, but it was annoying when I would cut my hair short and if I happened to bump it accidentally...it would hurt.
I've continued to use the ichthammol every time I get anything that even resembles a boil.
I seem to get them on my head, I guess it is from wearing hats all the time....I also got one on my waist area where my waistband is on my pants....a little ichthammol and a band-aid for a day or two and it was gone.
I'm pretty sure some of the time I've used the ichthammol on my head has just been on big zits....even though they are nowhere near as painful as the boils or annoying as the cysts, they are still a nuisance at times and the ichthammol clears them up quickly, so it may be able to help some with acne issues.
If you are dealing with boils or even subaceous cysts, would say give the ichthammol a try. Just apply it and put a tight bandaid on it. Wash the area after you take the band-aid off, and keep it clean. use anti-bacterial soap of some kind.
The stuff costs no more than $5 for a tube that will last you awhile. The stuff is thick and a little dab can go a long way.
The name brand I use is GoldLine, I get it at Wal-greens.
rating: 4 (21 votes)
Submitted by HisWifey16 at 2009-06-19 13:42:05
Campho Phenique: Works Wonders. I had a boil on my inner thigh right on the panty line. Put Campho Phenique Gel directly on top, put a generous amount on a guaze square and covered it, went to bed and a few hours later it completely drained. Thank you to everyone who recommended this. You are truly Angels.I get frequent boils and kknow the pain. This eliminated all of that. My boil was bigger than a egg and you could see a very visible bulde, thanks to campho phenique that is all gone now!
rating: 4 (15 votes)
Submitted by Vivian Smith at 2011-08-29 00:07:57
Black salve or 'Ichthammol ointment' mixed up with non-coated crushed very fine Aspirin{if your not allergic to to aspirin} use generous amount of ointment - mix in two finely crushed aspirin apply and cover well!
rating: 4 (15 votes)
Submitted by John at 2010-07-03 12:28:08
I decided to post my own remedy here because of my own experiences with boils, and I know how painful and irritating they can be. Let me start by saying there is a great wealth of information on boils, why we get them, how to prevent them, and then the comparing/contrasting of the effectiveness of home remedies versus antiobiotics. I suffered with them and would be more than happy to share my story via email. This all might seem excessive and expensive but you're investing in your HEALTH. In a 7 month span of time i've had 10 boils. The antibiotics work but as soon as I come off, with a couple of weeks I get a new boil.
What i've posted here is slightly more than just a 'home remedy'. It's a holistic approach with several remedies combined together, without the use of antibiotics to bring the body to a healthier state.
For starters, your diet needs to be cleaned up. No greasy foods, and try to cook your own meals. Boils are the result of WEAKENED IMMUNITY!
The Goal: Our bodies become very toxic and acidic, and need to be restored to a more alkaline state in order to prevent them. Put the right ingredients inside of us (internally), and use some of the same ingredients plus others externally, with proper rest and nutrition, your boil(s) will be healed.
Incorporate the following supplements into your diet:
-a GOOD MultiVitamin (I go with LifeEssence brand)
-50mg of Zinc
-Astragalus Root (Very very good with boosting immunity)
Make a drink with the following ingredients, twice a day (AM/PM):
1 Glass of water
1 Tsp. of Turmeric
1/2 Tsp. of Cumin
4 Drops of Oregano OIL
1 tablespoon of unrefined Coconut Oil
Make a thick Paste to cover the boil with the following ingredients:
1/2 tsp of Baking Soda
1/4 tsp of Epsom Salt
2 Drops of Oregano Oil
2 Drops of Tea Tree Oil
2 Drops of Thyme Oil
10 Drops of Water
1/2 pill of Aspirin (crushed into fine powder)
rating: 4 (27 votes)
Submitted by M at 2011-05-08 18:55:25
This is not a home remedy but it is the only stuff that cleared up boils that I had been getting for years.
This was what a GP gave me (after seeing many others). Keflex 500mg (antibiotic tablets) and Bactroban nasal ointment.
Nobody ever told me that the boil bacteria actually live up inside your nose! apply the ointment a few times a day and bam! Gone forever!
rating: 4 (25 votes)
Submitted by eagleman at 2010-04-11 22:50:05
Beta 1,3/1,6 -D-Glucan. Manufactured from NOW foods. Can be found at your local helath food store. It is a supplement. Best treatment for boils or any other bacterial infection of the skin.
rating: 4 (8 votes)
Submitted by Renee at 2005-11-06 18:04:05
Use only when the pimple and/or boil is ready for expulsion before doing this!
See my remedy for styes except GENTLY prick the very center of the pimple and/or boil with an absolutely clean needle after a good soaking warm/hot water (can use epsom salts with it just do not allow it go get into the eyes (put vaseline under the boil and/or painful pimple (it will keep the solution to pass over the vaseline and help keep it out of your eyes). The pus will readily drain and allow for your removal and immediately relieve the pain/itch. Use a light coating of Neosporin or other similar anti-infecting ointment.
rating: 4 (35 votes)
Submitted by NVMESXY at 2010-04-27 10:20:38
Hey everyone... I've been reading all your entries b/c I also have a boil on my pantie line (inner thigh) MOST PAINFUL THING I HAVE EVER HAD!!! I'm not sure if most the posties are from the states but I'm in Ontario, CANADA and some of the gels and ointments listed on the site pharmacist don't know anything about, so i went to see a doctor. He told me that it was a good thing I came in early and he prescribed me an antibiotic called 'Apo-Cephalex 500mg tab (APX)' 'Cephalexin tab 500mg', i also took my mothers advice and put 'antibiotic Polysporin complete' on a bandage/gauze and placed it over the boil over night and when i woke up there was FINALLY a head! needless to say i can walk again lol. now is the hard part keeping it clean and infection free, so I'm using a body soap/shampoo called ' TERSASEPTIC' which is an antibacterial soap. Good Luck and hope this helps :0)
rating: 4 (25 votes)
Submitted by Joann at 2010-03-07 14:35:32
For 2 weeks ..drink everyday a small glass of Lemonade with a small pinch of Cream of Tarter stirred in it. the Cream of Tarter is tart so you don't notice the taste at all..
rating: 3 (12 votes)
Submitted by kt at 2008-08-05 21:10:23
I've had a seriously painful boil at the top of my butt for about a week.I tried cream after to cream to try and soothe it but nothing had worked..until now. you take a bar of industrial soap (very hard, usually has a name that starts with sun..?) shave a small handful off with a grater. then take an equal part of sugar (i used raw) and add to the soap shavings in a cup. To that add some hot water, and mix vigorously. let stand for about 15 mins and you'll notice it becoming more of a paste. Take a compress and slather it in the mixture, then put compress on the boil and cover with some sort of bandage/gauze. keep switching it up every couple of hours. as far as i know this isn't a cure for the boil, but at least for me it made the pain of it very bearable- i'm actually able to sit down! hope this helps :)
rating: 3 (11 votes)
Submitted at 2012-01-23 00:12:10
Older lady told me to try a piece of fatback meat to the area for instant relief let sit and will start bring to head and hot rag compresses make sure to keep cleaning area works wonders.
rating: 2 (3 votes)
Submitted by Mcgiiver at 2012-01-18 18:01:11
Porter's Linament Salve is good for drawing boils to a head along with many hot compresses. Porter's is an old fashioned salve with many uses, might have to be ordered by your pharmacist, but it's available online also. I put a big blob on a gauze pad on the boil and leave it on overnight.
rating: 1 (1 votes)
Submitted at 2012-02-03 07:42:35
I was suffering from a boil Ín the crease of my leg next to my vagina. It had gotten so bad and swollen until I was crying the pressure was so bad. I have had five kids so I am use to pain but this is worse than labor. I read to get the ichmatammol and put on the boil after placing hot wash clothes on the boil let sit. And in a couple of hours it was digusting puss was every where. This is the best remedy because it brings the boil to a bursting point naturally. Its a mess to clean up but boy is it worth it. I read not to burst with pins or with hand because the puss may spread and bring further infection. Hope this helps someone it surely helped me. :)
rating: 0 (0 votes)
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