| When a hair follicle becomes infected by bacteria, pus | | | | the local pub to numb the pain and discomfort. A local |
| forms, resulting in a boil - an inflamed lump with a | | | | farm-worker spotted the dressing on my neck and |
| white center. Boils are usually a trivial condition which | | | | being told I had boils told me to apply dock leaves. |
| resolve once they burst after which the skin heals. | | | | Upon returning to camp I found two large dock |
| Young men, in particular, seem to be particularly | | | | leaves and applied them to the affected area, |
| prone to multiple, painful boils, especially on their neck. | | | | covered with a bandage. The following morning, I |
| The main value of home remedy for boils is to 'ripen' | | | | removed the bandage and there on the dock leaves |
| the boil by bringing it to a head by cupping or | | | | were four boils completely drawn out (the fifth was |
| applying a poultice. | | | | a 'blind' boil which was subsequently lanced).' In |
| Hot compresses: Hot compresses are the most | | | | my opinion, dock leave is the best home remedy for |
| reliable method of bringing a boil to a head. The | | | | boils. |
| simplest technique being to apply cotton wool which | | | | Saliva: The anti-infective properties of saliva may |
| has been dipped in hot water to which salt has been | | | | prevent a boil developing according to Mr Bryan |
| added. | | | | Evers from West Middlesex. 'Whenever I have an |
| Dock leaves: Mr Alan Grant from Devon | | | | incipient boil - one knows from the feel of it after |
| describes his experience with dock leaves. | | | | experiencing one whether it is a boil or just a spot - I |
| 'Whilst serving with the RAF I contracted four boils | | | | apply saliva and in a couple of days it has gone. |
| on the back of my neck. I was working in the | | | | Several friends have cured their boils in the same |
| medical section at the time but conventional | | | | way - very simple too. |
| treatments were not working so in despair I went to | | | | |