How to Treat a Boil with Herbal Remedies

This is not a skin affliction that you hear about very often, thank goodness, as boils are not only painful and unpleasant, but they can cause a generalized infection if not treated properly. A boil is an acute, circumscribed, deep inflammation of the subcutaneous layers of the skin, hair follicle, or gland that has a dead, suppurating (pus-filled) inner core, generally resulting from staphylococcus bacteria that enter the skin through the hair follicle. The core is ultimately expelled or reabsorbed into the skin, depending on the severity of inflammation and health of the individual.

Boils most frequently form on the buttocks, breasts, face, and neck, and they are particularly painful on the nose, fingers, or ears. For some individuals, boils are a recurrent malady, and occasionally “boil epidemics” have occurred among teens and young adults who live in crowded quarters and have poor hygiene.

Treatment of Boils
Never squeeze a boil in an attempt to purge the infection — you will only encourage the spread of bacteria into surrounding areas, and very possibly you will injure skin tissue. Instead, keep the area scrupulously clean to prevent new lesions from forming nearby and follow these steps:
• Gently wash the boil with soap and water, pat dry, then swab with a strong, skin-safe disinfectant such as Oregon Grape Root and Echinacea Root Liniment.
• Apply 2 drops of Anti-Infection Compound Oil to the lesion(s) followed by a hot, moist compress made with very salty water and applied for 10 to 15 minutes. Be careful not to use overly hot water, as you can burn your skin.
• Pat the area dry and apply 2 more drops of Anti-Infection Compound Oil.
• Repeat the entire procedure two or three times a day to help bring the infection to a head and draw out the pus. Take care to avoid injury or trauma to the affected areas.
• Once the pus has been expelled, apply 1 or more drops (depending on the size of the boil) of Anti-Infection Compound Oil to each boil twice daily. Cover with a bandage, if desired.

If there is no improvement in 4 or 5 days or if the lesion persists, spreads, or becomes larger, contact your health care provider. An antibiotic or even surgical excision may be necessary. Boils, particularly in the nose, can lead to a staph infection in the brain if not treated. Most doctors will prescribe an oral antibiotic to prevent this from happening.

OREGON GRAPE ROOT AND ECHINACEA ROOT LINIMENT

This makes a very strong antibacterial herbal medicine — your ally in the war on painful, infected boils. It deeply cleanses and dries oozing pus and blood, tightens tissue, promotes skin cell regeneration, cools heat and inflammation, and helps destroy infectious bacteria. Be aware that it will sting raw skin.

½ cup dried or 1 cup freshly wilted echinacea root
½ cup dried or 1 cup freshly wilted Oregon grape root
1–2 cups unflavored vodka

EQUIPMENT: 1-pint canning jar, plastic wrap, fine-mesh strainer, fine filter, funnel, glass or plastic bottle
PREP TIME: 10 minutes, plus 8 weeks for extraction
YIELD: 1 to 1¼ cups
STORAGE: Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 2 years

APPLICATION:
3 times per day If you’re using freshly wilted roots, coarsely chop or grate them to expose more surface area during extraction. Place the echinacea and Oregon grape roots in a 1-pint canning jar and pour the vodka over them, so that it comes to within ½ inch of the top of the jar. The herbs should be completely covered. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the mouth of the jar (to prevent the metal lid from coming into contact with the jar’s contents), then screw on the lid. Shake the mixture for about 30 seconds. After 24 hours, top up with more vodka if necessary. Store the jar in a cool, dark place for 8 weeks so that the vodka can extract the valuable chemical components from the herbs. Shake the jar for 15 to 30 seconds each day. At the end of the 8 weeks, strain the herbs through a fine-mesh strainer lined with a fine filter such as muslin or, preferably, a paper coffee filter, then strain again if necessary to remove all herb debris. Press or squeeze the herbs to release all the valuable herbal extract. Discard the marc. Pour the liquid into a storage container, then cap, label, and store in a dark cabinet.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Follow the directions in Treatment of Boils, using this formula as a disinfectant. Follow with Anti-Infection Compound Oil .

Bonus Use this powerful yet safe liniment to cleanse and promote healing on any skin infection, from minor to major.

ANTI-INFECTION COMPOUND OIL

Potent yet gentle, this easy-to-make oil aids in the fight against infectious staphylococcus bacteria, reduces painful inflammation, helps heal tissue, and conditions skin to keep scarring at bay. It also helps eliminate potential odor emanating from infected boils.

Note: This is an aromatherapeutically concentrated formula, so use only by the drop as directed. 10 drops tea tree essential oil 6 drops thyme (chemotype linalool) essential oil 5 drops German chamomile essential oil 2 drops myrrh essential oil 2 tablespoons calophyllum base oil

EQUIPMENT: Dropper, dark glass bottle with dropper top or screw cap
PREP TIME: 15 minutes, plus 24 hours to synergize
YIELD: Approximately 2 tablespoons
STORAGE: Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year

APPLICATION:
3 times per day Add the tea tree, thyme, German chamomile, and myrrh essential oils drop by drop directly into a storage bottle. Add the calophyllum base oil. Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously for 2 minutes to blend. Label the bottle and place in a dark location that’s between 60° and 80°F for 24 hours so that the oils can synergize.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Shake well before each use. Use by the drop, following the directions in Treatment of Boils.

Bonus
Use these aromatic drops on cuts, scrapes, bug bites, infected ingrown hairs, blisters, bedsores or skin ulcers, rashes, minor burns, or any other minor to moderate skin infection.