Health & Fitness

Drawing salve is a thick, adhesive balm used for the treatment of skin irritations. It has been around for generations–chances are your grandmother had some in her medicine cabinet. Drawing salve is most commonly used to treat boils and other types of skin infections.

A boil appears as a red, often painful bump on the skin. It is actually an infection of the hair follicle caused by staph bacteria. The body fights off the infection by sending white blood cells to the site, causing the boil to develop a whitish-yellow head filled with pus.

It is not recommended to squeeze the pus out yourself because the infection is contagious and can spread. You can place a warm, damp towel onto the boil, which helps attract pus to the surface. Afterwards, drawing salve can be used to draw out the boil for faster healing. Apply it directly to the boil, preferably with a cotton swab rather than your finger.

Drawing Salve: A Medicine Cabinet Staple
However, drawing salve is not limited to the treatment of boils. It can also be used to draw out slivers and is effective at alleviating the itch from poison ivy. Some people also find it helps with minor cuts and abrasions to relieve pain and promote faster healing. With the many uses of drawing salve, many people consider it an essential part of their first aid kits.