Boils—infected hair follicles or oil glands—can be a nuisance and pesky to get rid of. In addition to applying a hot compress to help open a boil and drain it, a number of natural, topical treatments can be used to help heal boils and curb the infection. What follows is five of these recommended natural treatments, with treatment instructions included.
Vitamins A and E. As Vitamin A is good for the immune system and Vitamin E is healthy for the skin, both can help treat a boil. They can be taken as supplements, applied topically as oils or found in a variety of healthy foods. Leafy greens, such as kale, spinach, Swiss chard and cooked collards, are good sources of Vitamin A. Winter squash, sweet potatoes and pumpkin are other excellent plant-based sources for Vitamin A, along with carrots, bell peppers, cantaloupes, grapefruit and apricots. Good foods to eat for Vitamin E include nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts and pine nuts. Vitamin E can also be found in fish, including Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout and abalone. Other plant-based sources are kale, spinach, broccoli, avocados and olives.
