Cure for boils

In order to find a cure for boils we need to understand what they are. A boil is a disease of the skin and is most commonly caused by a an ingrown hair follicle or foreign body in the skin such as a splinter. Boils can also be caused by acne where sweat glands have become blocked and infected. The result is an infection deep under the skin which is highly localized that becomes hard and very tender with reddening and swelling at the surface of the skin. This can often be painful and uncomfortable as well as having an unsightly appearance.

If a string of boils occur they are known as carbuncles; these are caused by a bacterium like Staphylococcus aureus and may be accompanied with a fever or a chill.

There are a number of groups that are vulnerable to boils: people with poor hygiene; such as those that are bedridden; others with poor immunity perhaps through having a sickness; or people with diabetes. Diabetics are prone to developing boils as they have problems healing after an injury or illness.

Specific cure for boils

First off there are things that should not be done however tempting: do not squeeze or lance a boil. Doing so will result in more damage to the skin and will not relieve the pain. Your physician can offer antibiotics or surgical draining for severe boils. However, there are some simpler home cures you can try.

Milk cream is thought to be an effective home cure for boils; as well as applying the juice from an onion or garlic. Any of these can help in the natural draining of the pus from the boil and so relieve the tenderness. There are some variations on these cures that can work well, such as: adding half a teaspoon of vinegar and some turmeric powder to a teaspoon of milk cream and applying this mixture to the boil.

Fenugreek seeds that have been crushed and cooked in water by boiling for ten minutes can be made into a poultice that should be applied to the skin to effect a cure for boils.

If the boil contains blood a different approach is needed. The a cup of freshly extracted bitter gourd juice mixed with a teaspoon of lime juice can be drunk daily on an empty stomach each morning until the boil disappears, this may take several months to clear up.