Boils

A boil results from septic infection of a hair follicle or one of the other numerous pits in the skin. The intense reaction in this limited space produces a conical swelling which at first itches and then becomes extremely painful owing to the great tension within the swelling. There is no greater mistake than to squeeze a boil. Such treatment is not only painful but tends to spread the infection to the surrounding tissues.
A boil must be covered, for protection, either by a plain clean dressing of lint or gauze or by a small compress wrung almost dry out of HYPERICUM lotion (ten drops of tincture to the half pint of water) and left alone. Nature will deal with the situation and in due course produce a core of dead tissue in the centre of the boil with a little fluid pus. This will come away in the dressing when the boil has softened. At this stage a fresh dressing may be applied and the surrounding skin cleansed with HYPERICUM lotion or with surgical spirit.
Homoeopathic remedies are of the greatest value in assisting the healing process. The remedies referred to above under 'Abscess' will apply in some cases, but two remedies are of special significance in relation to the treatment of boils. With very acute inflammation, severe pain, burning, stinging and throbbing TARANTULA CUBENSIS (30 for a few doses, or 6 for a few days) is indicated. Another remedy of great value in similar cases, especially if there is blueness or blistering and an exceedingly angry appearance of the inflamed area, with a black centre is ANTHRACINUM 30.
Chronic or frequently recurring boils will present a problem for the homoeopathic physician to deal with.