Six Natural Remedies for Boils

Boils are large, hardened pimples that have soft, pus-filled centers. They look as bad as they sound and become painful and tender-to-the-touch. Boils are caused by a bacteria known as Staphylococcus aureus. Factors that may contribute to this uncomfortable skin ailment are poor hygiene habits, sensitivity to harsh chemicals, friction from tight clothing health conditions, such as diabetes. Boils typically occur on the face, scalp, underarms and buttocks and can become red, swollen, itchy and painful. It is best to deal with them right away, since they are contagious and you certainly don't want to spread them to anybody else.

While there are over-the-counter treatments for boils, you do have other options available. Consider the possibility of using natural remedies to help heal your boils, They are simple, safe and easily accessible.

The following are some of them that may help provide you with some rapid relief:

- Mix together turmeric, ginger powder and warm water and make a paste out of it. Rub this where boils have broken out and cover them with a soft cloth or gauze for 45 minutes, then remove. Repeated applications of this mixture will aid in clearing up your boils.

- Try soaking some bread in warm milk and putting it on your boils for easy relief. Other natural compresses from your kitchen that you can apply to your boils are cabbage leaves and onions.

- Use vitamins and minerals that can help speed up healing. your regimen should include 15 milligrams of zinc, and 10,000 international units of vitamin A until the boil heals.

- Consider using homeopathic remedies, such as Hepar sulphuris, Belladonna. Calendula, Arsenicum album, Silica and Mercurius solubilis. The remedy you use depends upon your individual symptoms and one may work better for you than the others. Check with a homeopath about proper strengths and dosages.

- Take a hot bath and add some Epsom salts to help relieve discomfort. You ought to always keep a carton of Epson salts at home, as it helps a multitude of skin and health problems.

- Following your bath, dab one drop of tea tree oil on the boil. Apply each day until it heals. Tea tree oil possesses antiseptic properties and can help destroy boils in a small period of time, although the smell takes a bit of getting used to. The scent is pretty strong, so you will probably want to apply it when you don't plan to go out anywhere.