A boil, or furuncle as it is more properly called, is an infection of a hair follicle and the surrounding skin, according to Medline Plus of the National Institutes of Health. Boils can be quite painful, especially when the pressure of the infection is building. Once the boil ripens and opens and the infection begins to drain away, pain is usually lessened. Most home remedies for boils focus on ripening the boil or killing bacteria to prevent reinfection. See your doctor if a boil returns, if it lasts more than 14 days, if it is on your face or spine, or if you have a fever or other symptoms of serious infection.
Barks
Janet L. Allured, assistant professor of history at McNeese State University and author of the article “Women’s Healing Art: Domestic Medicine in the Turn-of-the-Century Ozarks,” reports that two different types of bark have been used as traditional remedies for skin boils: slippery elm and elder. Bark from either of these trees was used to make a poultice and applied to the skin to ripen the boil so it would open and begin to drain.
Herbs
Herbs may be taken internally to treat boils by stimulating the body’s natural immune system, or applied topically. Echinacea and goldenseal are often used in combination to stimulate the immune system according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Berberine, a compound in goldenseal, has been shown to kill bacteria in laboratory studies. The herb Devil’s Claw has been used historically in Africa as a topical treatment for skin boils, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The HomeRemedies website also recommends using a poultice of parsley, or a paste made of turmeric.
Vegetables
Onions and garlic are two of the most effective old-time remedies for skin boils, according to the HomeRemedies website. You can apply slices of these vegetables to your skin or just use the juice. Either vegetable will help the boil ripen and drain.
Salt Water
A hot moist compress applied several times daily will not only help the boil ripen and drain, it will also help relieve the pain. You can also use a compress of salt water made with Epsom salt, or soak in an Epsom salt bath according to the HomeRemedies website. Salt creates an environment that makes it hard for bacteria to thrive.
