An abscess is a term that is used to reference a tender mass in the body or on the skin that is usually full of pus and quite painful to touch. An abscess typically develops as a result of invasion by different bacterial species. It can also develop just about anywhere on the body, and consequently, the symptoms of the same will vary accordingly. This article focuses on the natural treatment available for skin abscess as well as the directions available for the use of the remedies.
To understand the different options available for the treatment of skin abscess, it becomes important to know some of the accompanying symptoms. The affected part of the skin will usually be tender to touch. The middle point of the abscess is often a lump filled with pus. Pus is formed when bacteria find their way to below the surface of the skin and trigger an immune response that sends white blood cells to the specific part of the body.
Surrounding tissue is degraded which then creates a pocket for pus. Other symptoms include chills even in hot weather, a fever as well as general bodily fatigue. Below are some of the home remedies that you can use to treat abscess naturally. If the abscess does not reduce in size after a couple of days and proceed to heal, you may need to seek the services of a professional medical doctor to rule out any grave underlying conditions.
1. Warm Compress:
Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: A clean piece of cloth and warm water .Salt (optional).
Difficulty: Easy
A warm compress has proven to be an effective home remedy for the treatment of abscess. the heat that is applied on the affected skin enhances the action of the bacteria-fighting immune cells while improving the circulation of blood to the surrounding tissue. With the latter, an increase in the number of immune cells mounts a better response. All these benefits speed up the healing process of the abscess, making the condition far more manageable. Salt is added for its antiseptic properties that allow the destruction of bacteria-causing infection around the abscess.
Directions:
- Soak the clean piece of cloth in the hot water for 5 minutes. You may add a tablespoon of the salt at this point.
- Wring the soaked cloth to get rid of the excess water before using it to apply this heat on the affected part of the skin.
- Allow the warm compress to stay atop the abscess for up to 15 minutes.
- For quick relief, make sure you use the warm compress at least three times daily until the abscess is eliminated.
2. Turmeric:
Time Required: 25 Min
What You Need: A teaspoon of turmeric and a glass of warm milk. Alternatively, use a teaspoon of turmeric powder and enough water to create a paste. Warm compress (optional).
Difficulty: Easy
Turmeric is loved for its excellent anti-inflammatory properties, a factor which contributes to reducing the pain and inflammation at the site of the abscess. In addition to its use in pain management, turmeric is considered a natural blood cleanser, and certainly goes a long way in the elimination of toxins created within the abscess. There are two ways in which you can use turmeric: either by preparing milk which you will drink as normal or by making turmeric paste which you will apply topically on the abscess as well as on the surrounding skin. Follow the directions below to get the most of this simple but effective home remedy.
Directions:
For the Turmeric Milk:
- Boil a glass of milk to prepare the herbal drink.
- Stir in the teaspoon of turmeric powder in the milk and drink this herbal remedy thrice daily until the abscess clears.
For the preparation of the Turmeric Paste to be used topically:
- Place the teaspoon of turmeric powder in a shallow container.
- Add a few drops of water in order to create a paste.
- Use just enough water to create a paste that is neither too clumpy nor one that is too runny as both extremes make the process of application a tad bit harder.
- Scoop some of the paste onto your hands and apply on the abscess. At this point, you may incorporate the use of a warm compress to speed up the healing process.
- Let the paste remain on the skin for about 20 minutes.
- Use warm water to rinse the paste once the time elapses.
- Apply this remedy at least thrice daily until the abscess clears out on its own.
3. Tea Tree Oil:
Time Required: 15 Min
What You Need: Tea tree oil and cotton wool. Choice carrier oil (Olive oil).
Difficulty: Easy
Tea tree oil is best known for its healing properties thanks to its antiseptic nature. It is these properties that make it perfect for the treatment of abscess. The oil contains compounds that are hostile to the infection-causing bacteria. Through topical application of the oil, you should be able to eliminate the infection and therefore hasten the healing process.
Note that if you have sensitive skin, you may need to carry out a patch test. This test basically involves the application of the oil on a discreet part of the body and monitoring the reaction. If your skin is sensitive, it is advisable to mix the tea tree oil with a suitable carrier oil such as olive oil.
Directions:
- If you have sensitive skin, mix equal portions of the tea tree oil and carrier oil.
- Cut some cotton wool and dip it in the oil mixture.
- Once soaked enough, dab the moist cotton wool on the abscess for about 10 minutes to allow absorption of the oil’s antiseptic compounds.
- Use this remedy at least thrice daily.
NOTE: Tea tree oil MUST NEVER be used internally as it can easily cause toxicity. Use this remedy only for external application.
4. Onion Juice:
Time Required: 40 Min
What You Need: Fresh onion, pestle and mortar, clean piece of cloth, cotton wool and a clean piece of cloth. Warm compress (optional).
Difficulty: Easy
Onions possess great antimicrobial properties, thus making onion juice an ideal natural remedy for the home treatment of abscess. The onion’s antiseptic properties also go a long way in cleaning the skin around the abscess while helping eliminate the bacteria responsible for the infection. Applying onion juice regularly also helps drain the abscess of pus after a couple of days. The next time you get an abscess, the answer may just lie in your pantry.
Directions:
- Peel the onions so that you remain with the succulent layers of the intact onion.
- You will then clean the onion before chopping it into pieces.
- Crush the chopped onion slices using a pestle and mortar to ease the extraction of the onion juice.
- Place the crushed onion slices in a piece of cloth and tie the ends of the cloth to enable you squeeze to get the juice.
- Squeeze the opposite ends of the cloth and collect the juice in a shallow bowl.
- Dip the cotton wool in the onion juice and apply on the abscess.
- Wrap a warm compress on top of the cotton wool. This allows the heat to enhance absorption of the onion’s antimicrobial properties.
- Let the warm compress remain on the skin for about half an hour.
- Use this remedy at least thrice daily to ensure that the abscess heals faster.
5. Corn Meal Paste:
Time Required: 30 Min
What You Need: Quarter cup of corn meal, half a cup of warm water and a clean piece of cloth
Difficulty: Easy
Corn meal is an effective home remedy for the treatment of abscess. As a natural absorbent, the corn meal helps get rid of toxins from the affected part of the skin. The elimination of these toxins helps reduce the pain at the site of the abscess, and overall promotes speedy healing. Since corn meal is rather easy to get, you could easily make this your go-to remedy whenever you suspect that an abscess is about to form.
Directions:
- Boil the water and place aside to cool.
- Add the corn meal in portions as you stir until you get the desired consistency of your paste.
- Once the paste is well formed, scoop some of it and apply directly on the abscess and the surrounding skin.
- Wrap the paste over the abscess using a clean piece of cloth for about 25 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
- Repeat this process thrice daily until the pus drains from the abscess to ensure complete healing.
6. Bread Poultice:
Time Required: 30 Min
What You Need: A slice of bread and half a glass of warm milk.
Difficulty: Easy
Bread is one of the most common foods available home, which makes it a convenient home remedy for the treatment of abscess. Just like corn meal, bread has the capacity to draw out toxins from the abscess, in effect promoting the healing of the abscess. Milk on the other hand provides a medium for soaking the bread. In addition to this, milk also has healing properties that make it the perfect accompaniment for this home remedy.
Directions:
- Place the slice of bread in a plate and pour over it the warm milk.
- Allow the bread to soak for a couple of minutes before taking the soaked bread and placing it over the abscess.
- Let the soaked bread remain on for some 20 minutes before rinsing with water.
- Use this remedy twice daily until the abscess drains.
7. Garlic:
Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: 1 Garlic clove and a pestle and mortar.
Difficulty: Easy
Garlic contains a sulfur compound known as allicin, and it is this compound that ensures the treatment of the abscess. Garlic’s rich antimicrobial properties also help deal with the bacteria present in the abscess. This simple remedy requires only the use of a single ingredient, the garlic cloves.
Directions:
- Peel the garlic clove and chop to create small pieces of garlic.
- Using a pestle and mortar, crush the garlic pieces to get a paste-like substance.
- Apply this paste on the abscess and let it remain there for 15 minutes.
- Repeat this procedure severally daily until the abscess heals.
8. Herbal Tea Bag:
Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: Used tea bag (preferably refrigerated).
Difficulty: Easy
Tea is rich in tannins, one of the most common home remedies for conditions which require astringency. These tannins help absorb excessive toxins from the abscess, thus helping get rid of pus. When refrigerated, the cold tea bag helps to relieve pain and reduce the inflammation at the site of the abscess.
Directions:
- Refrigerate the tea bag for about 5 minutes.
- Place the cold tea bag on the abscess and let it remain there for 15 minutes.
- Rinse the abscessed area with cold water.
- Repeat this remedy thrice daily until the abscess heals.
9.Potato:
Time Required: 30 Min
What You Need: Raw potato and gauze.
Difficulty: Easy
Raw potatoes are an excellent way to cure abscess on the skin. This is because when used on the skin, they help draw out the toxins located within the swollen lump. In addition to this, the raw potato helps soothe the abscess and gives you relief from the pain. Incorporate this simple remedy whenever you note an abscess forming.
Directions:
- Peel the potato and clean well before cutting it into sizable pieces (about an inch thick).
- Place the potato pieces on the abscess and wrap the gauze over covered abscess.
- Let the gauze stay in place for some 20 minutes.
- Rinse with warm water and repeat the use of this remedy thrice daily.
Other home remedies that you can use for the treatment of abscess on the skin include clove oil and olive oil, both of which speed up the process of healing. In addition to these home remedies, it is also important that you take preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of abscess.
Some of these measures include regular washing of hands using water and soap to get rid of germs, regular skin exfoliation to prevent blockage of skin pores as well as keeping items of personal nature as clean as possible. It also helps to steer clear of fat-rich foods as this worsen the formation of abscess. Overall, it is important to avoid squeezing the abscess as the pus drained could easily cause the spread of infection.