According to Tibb, Chishti in "The Traditional Healers Handbook" said, "When there are toxic matters in the body, … the body tries to expel them as quickly as possible ... the normal systems are sometimes already congested … the body then tries to send the toxins out through … the pores of the skin. Since the skin is not designed to eliminate this type of matter, the pores themselves become clogged, and a boil is formed.” He then advises on different types of boils appearing on different parts of the body.
In TCM many skin problems are seen as “heat and toxins in the blood” so the aim is to use herb formulae to increase sweating, coolness and defecation. These herbs may include Jin Yin Hua (honeysuckle), pictured.