How to Use Turmeric Powder to Treat Boils
Turmeric, a root that has been grown in India for centuries and treasured for its medicinal purposes, can be used to treat boils, which are abscesses created by infected hair follicles. By carefully preparing the turmeric powder and using it as a poultice, you can use it to heal a boil successfully in just a few days.
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Things You'll Need
- Turmeric root
- Oven
- Distilled water
- Cloth for poultice and for cleaning wounds
- Bandages
- Antiseptic or antibacterial cream
Instructions
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Treat Your Boil With Turmeric Powder
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1
Determine whether or not the affected area is indeed a boil. Boils start off as red bump, and then evolve into a sore characterized by a hard "head" or covering and a pus-filled center. Since these sores are the result of an infected hair follicle, boils can easily be created by shaving, especially with a razor blade that is dull.
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2
Treat your boil by preparing the turmeric powder. While dried turmeric powder, which is easily found at most markets, can be used, the best results will be achieved by using fresh turmeric root. The fresh variety contains more of the antiseptic agents needed to treat a boil properly.
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3
Roast the turmeric root in an oven until it turns to ashes. Remove the root from the oven and allow it to cool to room temperature.
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4
Dissolve the ashes in a cup of distilled water and stir thoroughly.
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5
Apply the turmeric powder solution directly to the boil. You can either soak the boil directly in the turmeric powder, or use a small, clean cloth to create a poultice that can be secured directly on the boil.
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6
Cover the boil with a loose bandage and let it soften overnight.
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7
Remove the bandage in the morning and see if the head of the boil has softened to the point where it can be easily removed with a washcloth. Wipe the boil clean with another washcloth, using warm water, and apply a little antiseptic or anti-bacterial cream if you wish to accelerate the healing process. If the head of the boil is still too hard to remove, repeat the process and use a less-diluted amount of turmeric powder in the solution.
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Tips & Warnings
Boils can be created by not washing areas of your body properly with soap and water. Boils often occur in nooks and crannies, or where skin can fold against itself, such as armpits, buttocks and on the insides of the thighs.
Seek medical assistance if the boil does not completely heal in 10 days, or if the infection becomes worse.
