Essential oils are amazing tools to treat boils. They work exceptionally well, in part because of their supercharged plant medicine.
They also work well because you can apply them directly to the boil itself.
If you’re looking for essential oils to heal a boil, you must know that they work fastest when you catch the boil early.
And please note that sometimes these abscesses require professional/medicinal intervention.
Ultimately, you are responsible for your own health and wellness and must determine when medical care is needed.
All of that being said, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties are the stars of the show for almost every single essential oil available.
Some stand out as particularly antibacterial and can help specifically with boils.
Most essential oils have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that make them an effective tool for healing boils.
These properties come from plants and are supercharged when they are extracted using distillation or pressing processes.
The result is powerful and highly concentrated plant essences that are powerfully enhanced versions of the plant’s healing properties.
The Best Essential Oils for Boils
Before we dive into the oils, please know that it’s critical to seek medical care if the boil gets larger, if the redness, heat, or pain increases, or if the area around the boil becomes painful.
Here are the best essential oils to help:
1. Myrrh essential oil
It is a powerful antibacterial and disinfectant. Myrrh comes from a tree resin, so it’s sticky and slow pouring.
This means it is easier to “stick” to areas of the skin where other oils may simply roll-off or evaporate.
You can warm it up in your hands first before use to improve the flow. The smell is quite pungent, so you may want to mix it with another oil listed here.
2. Bergamot
It is wonderful for boils. It works to stop bleeding and relieve pain no matter the source.
This same principle that makes Bergamot reduce bleeding helps to reduce inflammation.
3. Lavender essential oil
This classic EO acts as a mild sedative and has significant antiseptic properties.
It is also very soothing, which is great for infections like boils or overactive skin outbreaks like hives.
4. Tea Tree (Melaleuca) essential oil
This is my favorite and is the go-to EO when treating boils.
If you can only get your hands on a single oil -use this one. It is critical to use any time the skin’s surface is disrupted as it is a powerful antimicrobial agent and helps with swelling.
It helps with all kinds of skin disruptors, including skin tags and the treatment of bed sores.
Most Effective Recipes and Pairing Suggestions
As discussed, essential oils are super concentrated oils extracted from several different species of plants. They make awesome remedies for boils because they are so powerful.
Their strength and potency are important to their healing properties, but it also makes it vital for you to know a few points before beginning.
First of all, since these plant essences are so potent, you must use them properly and particularly dilute them properly.
Next, know that essential oils and water don’t mix. It is worth repeating. Essential oils don’t mix well with water.
So if you are using them on a boil in a sensitive area of the body and it begins to burn, adding water will make it worse.
Finally, know that although you can take some oils internally for infection, topical is best for skin infections such as boils.
How to Use Essential Oil Recipes for Boils
For the best results, we are going to use the topical method to apply essential oils. I will give you some specific ways to use essential oils to heal boils below. First, let’s look at a couple of combinations to help you recover fast.
To get started, you will want to select your oils. When using essential oils for boils, it is best to choose one from the list above. Almost all essential oils are antimicrobial and will help, but these are the strongest.
If you are only going to choose a single oil, choose Tea Tree oil. It is very beneficial when treating skin infections. In fact it will speed up healing time significantly. That should be music to your ears.
Here are a few suggested pairings to further maximize the results you will get from Tea Tree oil:
1. Lavender and Tea Tree
These two make an effective and soothing pair.
2. Tea Tree, Myrrh, and Lavender
Combining these three oils will provide swift relief from the pain, swelling, and infection.
3. Tea Tree and Bergamot
This will reduce blood flow and throbbing as well as fight infection in the skin.
Application Methods
Safety first! Make sure you dilute your essential oil and have a nice plant-based oil nearby if your skin starts to get warm or irritated.
Topical Compress
It can’t be said enough, safety first! Make sure you have a plant-based oil nearby in case of skin irritation.
Compresses can help relieve bleeding, pain, inflammation on their own. We are supercharging these effects and adding a layer of the medicine to stop the infection by adding essential oils. Here’s how:
1. Add one tablespoon of carrier oil to a glass bowl.
2. Add 2-4 drops of each oil you choose, for a total of 4-6 drops to the oil, and stir it around a bit.
3. Apply the oil to your gauze.
4. Use the oil-soaked gauze to apply pressure to the boil.
5. Use medical tape or a gauze wrap or band aid to hold the compress in place.
6. Replace the compress 2-3 times each day.
7. Be mindful of watching for the infection to spread with additional swelling, heat, or red streaks – these may be signs you need to seek medical attention.
Neat Application
It isn’t often that neat application is recommended, but boils tend to need more potent doses of essential oils than other issues.
The neat application method is simple and generally safe unless your boil is on an area of tender skin. If so, the topical compress above may be more suited for you.
1. Clean and dry the boil with soap and water.
2. Apply 1-3 drops of your chosen oil to the boil.
3. Repeat this process 2-3 times per day.
A topical method is the only suitable method to treat boils with essential oils. Remembering to re-apply multiple times per day is vital. Continue to apply oils until the redness and inflammation are entirely gone.
You want to continue until then to avoid a worse re-infection or flare. Make sure you monitor your boil daily for changes that may indicate you need to seek medical attention.
I wish you all the best in finding your relief through the above. Whether you’re battling canker sores or something like boils, these natural remedies are always something I believe in.