Simple steps to independence…Professional health care is important to a long healthy life. What we need to learn (or relearn) is that there is a lot that we can do to take care of ourselves. There is no need to run to the doctor’s office for a throat culture every time you sniffle. Neither should you ignore chest pains and assume it is just heart burn. I think personal education is one of the cornerstones of not over using professional medical services for most people. The more you know about treating your own problems the better you will be about making correct decisions when there is a problem.
Which brings us to a problem. A boil can be a very painful experience. Even the simple brush of clothing against it can cause a lot of pain. A boil can also be a serious issue should the infection release into the bloodstream or spread. Any boil that progresses to include a fever requires professional medical care. However, most single small boils can be handled at home and a few homeopathic or natural aids will help minimize the painful intrusion this affliction causes.
One of the first things to try to do is recognize the onset of a boil if possible. Typically a boil will be preluded by a small hardened tender area. If this detect this try a tincture of calendula under a warm compress. A warm compress applied 4 times a day will increase blood circulation and help the body to fight the infection itself. Some people have reported that a compress of garlic juice or onion juice is helpful in keeping the boil from progressing, but this should not be used if on advanced boils if there is a chance of the boil opening and the juice contaminating an open sore.
If a boil has opened, it should be drained and the area kept clean. If the boil itself has not formed a soft head or opened there is little to gain by forcing it to open. The hard tissue under the skin will not drain significantly to relieve any pain. In much simpler terms…Don’t pick at it! Again, keep the area clean. Apply a topical anti-biotic like neosporin. Apply a fresh bandage and keep the bandage changed. If any sign of a pronounced infection is present seek professional medical care.
