Hidradenitis Suppurativa Support Group

Hidradenitis suppurativa (hi-drad-uh-NIE-tis sup-yoo-ruh-TIE-vuh) is rare, long-term skin condition that features small, painful lumps under the skin. The disease manifests as clusters of chronic abscesses or boils, sometimes as large as baseballs, that are extremely painful to the touch and may persist for years with occasional to frequent periods of inflammation,...

1,904 Members
4,903 Posts
0 Online
Skin & Hair
/ Hidradenitis Suppurativa Support Group

Found a treatment that works! - Turmeric

deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi, I'm new to this support group. I came here to tell everyone that I used to suffer from HS, including all the "treatments" that didn't work. Antibiotics, draining, surgery, etc. About a year ago I stumbled across a natural food website that said the spice Turmeric cures boils. Well, I consider my HS sores boils so I tried it.

I couldn't believe it. I freaking works. I cyst that I had near my bikini line for over TWO YEARS started draining within four hours. It was totally gone within two weeks.

I still take one turmeric capsule a day to keep the HS under control. If I stop, it comes back. So...this is not a cure, but it is a VERY effective treatment that doesn't require doctors or medications.

Please, please do yourself a favor and just try it! You have nothing to lose - turmeric capsules are sold at Wal-Mart, I think. If not, you can definitely buy them at a health food store. Or, if you still can't find them just bite the bullet and take the powder mixed in water.

I started with two turmeric capsules with breakfast, and two with dinner. You can always just buy the powder, but I found it bitter.

I love turmeric!!!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
The input provided by so many people has really been very encouraging! Just a quick question..what is the proper name of the zinc pill?
Thanks
deleted_user
deleted_user
Ok I am new to site and found this site actually by this post when searching home remedies for HS. I went to store bought the capsules and the powder. I made a paste with the powder and put it directly on my current boil. I wrapped it in gauze and kept it on for about 4 hours. I just removed gauze and washed area with warm wash cloth. I noticed the boil was ready to drain...not to get too much detail but after a lil wiggling around it popped!!! It went everywhere. It feels a lot better but I can still feel there is more in there. Is it OK to drain at home like I did? Will this make things worse or is this what is suppose to happen? I re-wrapped it in just gauze and was going to let it be tonight.....any comments or thoughts,advice, reassurance what I did is OK...would be a huge help
deleted_user
deleted_user
tb712.. just plain old Zinc that you can get at any store. May also be labeled as Zinc Gluconate .


Looking4,
Nope sounds like a pretty typical response. Some of what you may still be feeling could be just swollen tissue from the inflammation. Keep a close eye on it and watch for signs of infection.
deleted_user
deleted_user
i dont get it, is it a pill? or a powder...
Can you take a bath in it?? I find baths help me...
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hidden,
Zinc is a supplement and it is in pill and capsule form. (50mg)

Turmeric is actually a food spice. It is in pill,capsule (500mg) and ground (powder). We discovered about three or four years ago that Turmeric is a very powerful anti-inflammatory. By taking the combination of Zinc and Turmeric many of us saw some very good results. Over the years, others have added Turmeric to their regime. Some have had fantastic results, others have not had as good a result.
You can take the pill/capsules if you like. You can add ground turmeric to foods. I add it to things like Chili con Carne (red chilie), soups and sandwiches. I also talk 50mg. Zinc and 500mg. Turmeric three times a week now. That seem to be the amount that helps me keep my HS under control. You can make a Turmeric paste and apply the paste directly to a lesion or cyst .... this seems to either bring it to a head and drain, or others report that it has dissolved the the cyst.

Hope that helps

Rick H.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Off to walgreens -- thanks :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have been using ground turmeric for the past two weeks. For the first week I used it in water. For the past five days or so, I have been using it in milk (1tsp turmeric in about 1/2 cup 2% milk). There has definitely been a HUGE improvement. The boils are draining and subsequently, becoming smaller. The taste of the turmeric in milk is not too bad either.

Just thought I would come in and share some experiences. Hope this may help someone out there :)
solshine
solshine
Hi!

Are people still having great success with the turmeric?
deleted_user
deleted_user
Tumeric, hm? I think we're going to Walmart today - no Walgreens here, sadly :( - but I'll look and see what I can find :D Thanks for the tip and I'll write back in to let you know if it worked for me!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I've had HS for about 25 years now. I really just had mild outbreaks on my back and along my waistband for many years. Last January, I was Stage III under the arms, Stage I on back and waistband. I had surgery under the arms. There were some complications which I will not go into detail here right now; however, just know I advocate antibiotics prior to surgery. I have not had any recurring outbreaks under the arms.
This past Thursday I noticed a tenderness to the left of my right nipple. By Friday it was a lump, swolen, red and tender. Marble-sized, I'd say. Fearing breast cancer (ok, so, men get it too,) especially since my sister died of breast cancer 10 years ago, and she had HS too, I went to see my doctor this morning. He prescribed Keflex 3X a day for 10 days and a visit to a (different) surgeon.
I am so glad that I logged on here today and learned about tumeric and zinc. I will start the T&Z treatment tomorrow, with Ricky4811hs's dosage suggestion. I will keep you "abreast." (Sorry, couldn't resist! I'm so glad it's not cancer! Isn't that funny??! I'm glad it is HS.)
deleted_user
deleted_user
Shouldn't I be seeing a dermatologist rather than a surgeon at this point?
deleted_user
deleted_user
i agree that tumeric works..but i also think that it depends on the severity of the hs..for example i have a sinus track on my neck that runs from ear to ear..i one in my groin that runs from the top of my pubic region to the the area where my butt and leg meet..also i have them on my underbelly and all along my waistband..also both armpits..have had stage 3 for about 12yrs..when i took the tumeric my dr who is indian was very excited and let me tell you on the excitment meter he is 3 points shy of a tree stump...he had me go to indian stores and be concentrated pastes and also take tumeric capsules, yes it did bring my legions to a head and began draining ..but it also had me in bed for a week with a fever from all the infections coming out at once..i do advocate its use..i just feel that my situation is beyond tumeric...however i know that it does work from experience..
good luck
solshine
solshine
I had a terrible outbreak on Thursday, by Friday I could hardly walk. Desperate, I searched the web which is how I found this thread. Saturday I started the tumeric, zinc and tea tree oil. By today, Tuesday, it's down remarkably and the few others I felt coming up are gone.

I do have a new one under my arm, but I'm hoping it, too, will go away before full flare status. :-)

Would it be the same situation whether I'd done this or not? I don't know, but I will continue the Tumeric / Zinc / Tea Tree Oil treatment for a while in hopes that it IS really helping.
deleted_user
deleted_user
How soon after eating do you take it? I must not have taken it soon enough because I took mine at about 9 or so last night then at 2 AM this morning I didn't know when or if I'd stop throwing up :s I'm assuming if taken on an empty or semi-empty stomach this is what occurs? If so, I'll definitely be more careful!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I found out about Tumeric on this website
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/hidradenitis_suppurativa.html
Lots of great info and feedback from peaple that have tried things that worked and didnt. Also a great blog with a brave young lady
http://aenigma20.blogspot.com/?zx=37327a99bad1e574
I truly agree about laser hair removal! It has worked for me. There is a great at home laser hair remover that I bought 2 mos ago called Tria and have been using agressivly and low and behold I'm hair free and working on scar removal now with natural cocoa butter oil that has not aggravated the area in my groin but makes the little black head aliens pop right out! Hopefully with the Tumeric and being hair free I will enjoy this summer in a bathing suit!