An abscess is a collection of pus, white blood cells, dead skin cells and bacteria that collects in a closed space as the result of localized infection. The inflammation and swelling can cause discomfort and pain in the area. An abscess can occur anywhere on the body. It is most often caused by bacteria but can be caused by a foreign object or parasite. Most sizable abscesses will need to be surgically drained by your physician in order to heal. However, ask your doctor about also taking an herbal remedy to help clear the infection.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an essential oil obtained from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia tree, native to parts of Australia. Tea tree oil has strong antimicrobial properties and can be used topically to treat infections, including an abscess. According to "Prescription for Herbal Healing," it is effective in eradicating strains of E. coli and S. aureus present in skin infections. Tea tree oil should never be ingested, as it is toxic when taken internally. It can be applied as a poultice and used as an adjunct treatment, along with antibiotics, to help heal an abscess.
Goldenseal
Goldenseal is a hugely popular, mostly cultivated plant whose gnarled, yellow-brown root is collected for use as an herbal remedy. Goldenseal contains the active compound berberine, which is effective in killing many different strains of bacteria, yeasts and parasites. It also appears to stimulate production of white blood cells, which are crucial in fighting an infection. Goldenseal was a staple of Native American herbology, being used as an anti-infective agent for hundreds of years. For treatment of an abscess, goldenseal should be used in conjunction with conventional treatments.
Slippery Elm
Slippery elm, also known as moose elm and sweet elm, is a tree native to parts of North America. Its rough, dark brown bark and the mucilaginous, or slippery, inner bark is harvested for medicinal use. The inner bark, or bast, contains a wealth of active substances, including flavonoids, tannins and vitamin E. Slippery elm has strong anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Mixed with water, you can use slippery elm as a poultice that when applied to an abscess can calm inflammation and help draw the infection out.
Garlic
Garlic is probably best known as a food flavoring, but it also contains some medicinal properties. Garlic contains allicin, the active ingredient that gives garlic its distinctive aroma and is responsible for it's use as a natural medicine. "Prescription for Herbal Healing" states that garlic appears to work by stimulating the production of macrophages, which act to isolate and remove infective agents, such as bacteria, from the body. Garlic is not considered to have strong antibiotic activity on its own but can be used effectively along with antibiotics or other antibacterial herbs to hasten the clearing of an infection.
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