How to Use Parsley to Treat Boils
While most people think of parsley as a superfluous garnish, it possesses many important medicinal qualities. For example, an application of crushed parsley can effectively treat a boil, which is an abscess created by an infected hair follicle.
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Things You'll Need
- Fresh parsley
- Cloth to use as a compress or poultice
- Distilled water
- Bandages
- Antiseptic or antibacterial cream
- Rolling pin or mortar and pestle
Instructions
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1
Determine if the skin lesion is a boil, as opposed to another type of wound or infection. Boils are characterized by a hard, crusty head, which is actually created from dead skin cells. The head covers a pus-filled abscess that is typically yellowish.
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Buy fresh parsley from your local supermarket, as opposed to dried parsley flakes, which do not contain the same antiseptic properties.
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3
Crush the parsley, using a rolling pin or a mortar and pestle. You can add a small amount of distilled water for consistency and to bring out the juices.
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4
Apply a handful of the crushed parsley directly to the boil. Press the parsley into the affected area without causing too much pain. Wrap a cloth around the affected area to hold the parsley in place.
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5
Keep the parsley compress on the boil for 15 minutes. Check to see if the head of the boil has softened to the point where it can be safely removed. If the head is still too hard and cannot be removed without a significant amount of pain, apply the compress at 15-minute intervals until it softens.
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Use a clean dry washcloth and plenty of warm water to remove the head of the boil and to clean out the abscess. Apply some antiseptic ointment or anti-bacterial cream to speed the healing.
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Keep the boil covered with a bandage until it has completely healed. Change the dressing at least twice a day.
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Consult a physician if the boil does not completely heal with 10 days, or if the boil worsens or spreads. Chronic boils can be symptomatic of a serious medical condition, such as diabetes, immune system disorders or a severe vitamin A and E deficiency.
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Tips & Warnings
The juice from lemons, onions and garlic can also be mixed with the crushed parsley to make a more effective poultice for boils.
