Boils are painful and localized inflammations on the skin, caused due to the infection of Staphylococcus bacteria. They appear as red nodules and swellings of varying sizes, filled with pus accompanied by pain. The hair follicles of the skin get infected, which results in the localized inflammation. People of all age groups are affected by this condition. Boils can affect a single hair follicle or many depending upon the extent of infection. After the boils mature they rupture discharging pus and blood. They should be treated carefully at this stage to prevent any secondary infection. Boils can appear in any part of the body including the head and genitals.
Symptoms
Boils are accompanied by the following symptoms
1. Appearance of hard or tender outgrowths on the skin followed by pain.
2. These outgrowths mature and rupture releasing blood and pus.
3. Feeling of irritation and itching on the skin.
4. Mild fever.
5. Outgrowths can appear in a single hair follicle or may affect a number of hair follicles.
Causes
Staphylococcus bacteria are mainly responsible for boils. Other underlying factors responsible for this infection are
1. Toxicity in blood
2. Faulty heating habits and life style.
3. Low immunity system of the body.
4. Stressed life
Home Remedies for Boils
Boils generally do not require any extra medical intervention unless the infection is serious. The symptoms can be combated through proven home remedies.
1. Onion and garlic juice are widely used for the treatment of boils. Equal proportions of the juices are applied on the boil to ripen it, so that it ruptures and drains out the pus.
2. Bitter gourd acts as a blood purifier and is very effective in treating boils. A mixture of one cup of bitter juice and one teaspoonful of lime juice taken slowly in empty stomach produces beneficial results. This process should be continued for few days.
3. Application of hot compresses on the tender boils helps in ripening and provides relief from the pain.
4. Hot Epsom salt baths are also very beneficial in treating boils and these baths should be taken weekly twice or thrice till the boils persist.
5. Switch over to a healthy diet and reduce the intake of tea, coffee, processed foods and carbohydrates.
6. Apply a poultice of Margosa leaves on the boils. A decoction of margosa leaves can be prepared by boiling 15 grams of leaves in 100 ml of water. This should be taken two times a day.
7. Turmeric powder aids in the healing of boils. Application of the roasted dry turmeric roots on the boils at the primary stage helps in treating the boils.