Boils

A boil is a pus filled infection of the skin which begins as a small, red, painful lump under the skin. It usually starts as an infection in a hair follicle or oil gland in the skin. The common sites for boils are the face, neck, armpits, buttocks, and thighs. They usually occur in teenagers and young adults. Most boils come to a head and burst, releasing pus, after which the skin heals. Some boils gradually subside without bursting. Boils is caused due to bacteria, toxic condition in the blood stream, which is due to a faulty diet and a frenetic pace of living. Boils generally appear when a person is in a run-down and devitalized condition. Antibiotics may be prescribed, particularly if there is recurrent infection.

Boil Symptoms

• A red, painful bump with a hard core that starts out about the size of a pea.
• Increase in the size of the bump over a few days as it fills with pus .
• Red, swollen skin around the affected area .
• Enlarged lymph glands.
• A fever may develop.
• Development of a yellow-white tip that eventually ruptures and allows the pus to drain out.

Home Remedies for Boil

• Fasting: A three day juice fast will help eliminate impurities, reduce inflammation and provide you with the nutrients to boost the immunity. Take a juice of green vegetables, carrots, celery and cucumbers.
• Turmeric: Take half teaspoon of turmeric in a glass of warm water twice a day until the boil has healed. Turmeric acts as anti-inflammatory and a blood purifier. It is best to take turmeric internally at the earliest sign of a boil. Also, apply the paste of turmeric mixed with coconut oil to the affected area and bandage loosely to avoid staining. It helps to drain and also acts as pain reliever.
• Tea tree oil: Apply the tea tree oil as a cream or in diluted form two to three times a day. Tea tree oil is an effective antibacterial agent.
• Marigold: Steep marigold flowers in hot water, let the liquid cool slightly. Soak a clean cloth or gauze in the liquid and apply it to the affected area. Repeat this 3 to 4 times a day. It has an anti-inflammatory, astringent and anti fungal properties. OR Apply cold cream containing calendula to the affected area.
• Flaxseed: Make a thick paste of 1-2 tablespoon of flaxseed powder by adding boiling water. Apply it as a poultice. It decreases the inflammation and draw out the infection.
• Garlic: Apply juice of garlic or onion externally on boils to help ripen them, break them, and evacuate the pus.
• Cabbage: Apply a hot cabbage leaf poultice, which helps to draw out infection.
• Bitter gourd: Take a cupful of fresh bitter gourd juice mixed with a one teaspoon of lime juice, sip by sip, on an empty stomach daily for a few months.
• Peppermint essential oil: Gently massage a few drops of the peppermint essential oil to the boil. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects.

Do’s for Boil

• Eat light, fresh foods such as celery, spinach, bamboo shoots, pears and watermelon.
• Eat plenty of multicolored vegetables to strengthen the immune system.
• Add spices and herbs while cooking to enhance the immune system and have antiseptic properties such as garlic and ginger.
• Drink plenty of water to flush out the toxins from your system. Water also helps guard against constipation and headaches, as well as support healthy skin.
• Take vitamin C with bioflavanoids to support the immune system and reduce skin inflammation.
• Wash the area thoroughly every day and dry it well.
• Keep towels and washcloths separate to avoid spreading the infection to other people.
• If the boil has burst, cover the area with a gauze dressing. Wash the area thoroughly and change the dressing regularly until the skin is healed.

Don’ts for Boil

• Don’t squeeze the boil or try to burst it with a needle because this may spread infection; let it burst or subside by itself.
• Avoid constipation.
• Avoid tea, coffee, starchy and sugary foods, especially cakes, pastries,sweets, chocolates, white sugar which aggravate boils.  Also avoid all condiments, pickles, and sauces. Basically avoid all the foods that depress the immune system, such as junk foods containing hydrogenated oils and trans-fatty acids, simple carbohydrates, and sugars.
• Eliminate foods which you are allergic or intolerant such as wheat, corn or any dairy products.

See Doctor

• Have diabetes.
• It becomes very painful or enlarges or getting recurrent boils.
• Develop a fever and feel generally ill.

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