Top 7 Natural Homeopathic Remedies for Pilonidal Cyst

Pilonidal Cyst refers to the formation of a cyst at the cleft of the buttocks near the tailbone. Pilonidal term means ‘nest of the hair’. The pilonidal cyst contains hair and skin debris. It develops when hair penetrates the skin due to friction, and the body, considering it to be a foreign substance, forms a cyst around it. The cyst can get infected, get filled with pus, and form an abscess. A pilonidal sinus is formed when a tract begins from the infected cyst, and opens on the surface of the skin.

Homeopathy provides wonderful treatment for pilonidal cyst/sinus cases. Homeopathic medicines help manage its symptoms like pain, swelling, itching and aids absorption of the pus discharge from the pilonidal sinus. It follows a curative approach to treat Pilonidal Cyst, rather than just provide initial relief from the symptoms. They help in dissolving the cyst. Homeopathy offers help for recent, long term as well as recurrent cases of pilonidal cyst. Under the conventional mode of treatment, a surgical incision of the Pilonidal Cyst is advised (which is painful, and temporary, and the cyst can recur even after surgery). Here homeopathy is a safe and efficient alternative treatment option. These cases respond exceedingly well to natural homeopathic treatment that treats it in a very safe, gentle manner and prevents the need for surgical procedures.

Individualized treatment

There are numerous medicines in homeopathy to treat Pilonidal Cyst cases, but the medicine prescription varies from person to person. The medicine selection is based on characteristics presenting signs and symptoms in every individual case. Such individualized treatment proves very effective and gives excellent results.

Homeopathy promotes self-healing

Our body has an inbuilt self-healing mechanism that can heal health issues naturally. homeopathic medicines boost the body’s self-healing powers to fight the infection.

Safe and natural medicines

Homeopathy uses natural medicines in treating Pilonidal Cyst cases which is its biggest advantage as it has zero side effects. Homeopathic medicines do not contain any harmful chemicals, so no immediate or long-term side effects occur from the use of homeopathic medicines.

Top 7 Homeopathic Medicines for Pilonidal Cyst / Sinus

Among a long therapeutic list for treating Pilonidal Cysts, the top-rated homeopathic medicines are Silicea, Myristica, Hepar Sulph, Calcarea Sulph, Calendula, Merc Sol and Phosphorus.

1. Silicea – Top Remedy For Pilonidal Cyst

Silicea is the most recommended medicine for Pilonidal Cyst. It is usually the physician’s first choice of medicine to deal with these cases.  This medicine is helpful when a cyst is present in the buttock cleft, and also in the case of the pilonidal sinus with pus discharge. The pus discharge may be very offensive and fetid. The pus can be scanty or copious. The pus can be thin, watery, or thick, jelly, and sticky. Hardness, and swelling at the cleft of the buttock are also present. Itching also appears mostly in the daytime. Silicea helps reduce the swelling and aids in the expulsion of hair and pus from the cyst.

When to use Silicea?

Silicea can be prescribed in cases of pilonidal cyst / sinus with passage of pus discharge whether scanty or copious that may be foul smelling.

How to use Silicea?

Its use is mostly preferred in 6X potency that can be repeated up to four times a day.

2. Myristica Sebifera – For Pilonidal Sinus With Pus Discharge

‘Myristica Sebifera’ is of unquestionable value when it comes to treating pilonidal sinus with pus discharge. The most important action of this medicine is to hasten the process of suppuration (pus formation) and aid in complete recovery. Myristica speeds up pus discharge from the sinus and shortens the time of complete recovery. Its use prevents surgical intervention in most cases of pilonidal sinus. Apart from Pilonidal Cysts, Myristica works wonders in treating suppurative diseases like boils, abscesses, carbuncles, and anal fistula.

When to use Myristica Sebifera?

This medicine is highly suggested in cases of pilonidal sinus to hasten pus discharge from sinus and cut the recovery period short.

How to use Myristica Sebifera?

The potency of this medicine differs from case to case from low to high. Low potencies like 30C can be taken two to three times a day. The use of high potency like 200C should be limited to once a day.

3. Hepar Sulph – For Pilonidal Cyst With Pain And Pus Formation

Hepar Sulph is recommended when there is pain in the cyst along with the formation of pus due to an infection. However, the pus isn’t in the stage of oozing yet. The pain is throbbing, beating, stinging, or pricking in nature. Hepar Sulph will aid the drainage of pus from the cyst. Once pus begins to come out there is relief from pain. The pus discharge is mostly watery and blood-stained. It has an offensive odour and appears like old cheese coming out from the pus. The skin above the cyst is highly inflamed, and hot. It is also very sensitive and sore to touch. In the majority of cases, the pain gets worse at night. Exposure to cold air also worsens the pain in some cases.

When to use Hepar Sulph?

It is highly recommended to use this medicine for managing throbbing, stinging, pricking, beating type of pains in the pilonidal cyst and also when there is watery blood-stained pus discharge from the pilonidal sinus.

How to use Hepar Sulph?

This medicine can be taken in 30C potency one to three times a day.

4. Calcarea Sulph – For Pilonidal Cyst With Yellow Pus

Calcarea Sulph is effective for Pilonidal Cyst when pus discharge has started oozing from the opening. The pus is yellow. The discharge is thick, and lumpy and may be bloody in some cases. Calcarea Sulph helps to hasten pus discharge and aid the effective healing of the cyst.

When to use Calcarea Sulph?

Calcarea Sulph is a highly effective medicine for managing thick, yellow lumpy sometimes blood-stained pus discharge from pilonidal sinus.

How to use Calcarea Sulph?

Usually its biochemic form in 6X potency is used in most of the cases. Calcarea Sulph 6X can be used two to three times a day.

5. Calendula – For Sore, Painful Pilonidal Cyst And Pus Discharge

Calendula is a natural herbal homeopathic medicine that can be administered when the infected area over the buttock cleft is sore, and painful with pus discharge. One feels pain as if the affected area has suffered a beating. The area surrounding the pus discharge point is red. There may be fever with stinging pain in the cyst. Complaints become worse at night. It is a great healing agent that heals skin infections with marked brilliance.

When to use Calendula?

One can consider its use for cases of sore, painful pilonidal cyst with pus discharge with redness around the point of pus discharge.

How to use Calendula?

It can be used in both low and high potencies among which the most commonly used is 30C potency once to thrice a day, depending on the severity of the symptoms.

6. Merc Sol – For Pus Discharge With Burning, Stinging Pain

Merc Sol is recommended when pus releases from the cyst, accompanied by burning and stinging pains. The pus discharge is profuse, green-colored, and may be blood-stained and sticky. The affected area is sore, and painful to touch. Itching may also be present. An increased amount of offensive sweat on the body is present. The symptoms worsen at night, and warmth tends to aggravate all these symptoms.

When to use Merc Sol?

It is the best choice of medicine to manage pilonidal sinus cases with pus discharge attended by burning, stinging pains. Pus is greenish, sticky and blood stained.

How to use Merc Sol?

It gives remarkable results in 30C potency that can be administered once or twice a day.

7. Phosphorus – For Pilonidal Cyst with Bloody Discharge

Phosphorus is recommended when there is a bloody discharge from the cyst. The blood is thin and profuse. Burning in the surrounding skin may also appear. Phosphorus is an excellent anti-hemorrhagic remedy. It helps in controlling the bloody discharge and also contributes towards healing the Pilonidal Sinus. It is also useful in cases where healing has taken place in the past, and the problem has arisen again with a bloody discharge.

When to use Phosphorus?

It is advised to use this medicine for managing Pilonidal Cyst with bloody discharge.

How to use Phosphorus?

Phosphorus 30C can be used one to two times in a day.

Signs and Symptoms of Pilonidal Cyst / Sinus

Sometimes Pilonidal Cysts do not give out any signs/symptoms. However, if it gets infected following signs and symptoms may appear:

1. A dimple or swelling, and pain in the cleft of the buttocks. The size of the cyst may be small or large. However, the cleft of the buttocks is the major location where ‘Pilonidal Cyst’ forms, rarely it may form in some other areas as well like the armpit, between fingers, navel, cheek, or genital area.

2. When this dimple gets infected a cyst is formed (a fluid-filled sac) that may turn into an abscess (pus-filled lump)

3. Redness, itching, and tenderness in the swollen area

4. Discomfort while sitting also arises from this cyst

5. Formation of sinus tract/holes in the skin. The sinus tract is a channel that starts from the source of infection and opens on the surface of the skin. Drainage of pus or blood from the ‘Pilonidal Sinus.’ The pus may be white or yellow or may have an offensive odour

6. Hair protruding from the affected area may be seen

7. Nausea, tiredness, and low-grade fever may also appear along with the above features in some cases.

Pilonidal Cyst And Its Causes

The exact cause of the Pilonidal Cyst is not clear. But a theory states that initially, loose hair penetrates the skin of the cleft between the buttocks. Friction (as from riding a bicycle) or rubbing makes the hair go deep into the skin. The body, considering this hair to be a foreign article, forms a cyst around it to push it out from the skin. If left untreated this cyst may lead to an abscess (pus-filled lump) or it may break open, and form a tract that emerges on the surface of the skin (which is called a Pilonidal Sinus). However, as per another theory, the trauma to the area between the buttocks is what may create this cyst.

Risk factors

Though anyone can get a Pilonidal Cyst but there are certain factors that increase the risk of a Pilonidal Cyst as follows:

1. Excessive body hair (especially thick and stiff) on the back

2. Inactive lifestyle, excessive sitting (as office workers, drivers) that puts pressure on the coccyx area

3. Obesity

4. The age group most prone to developing a Pilonidal Cyst is between 20 – 35 years

5. Pilonidal Sinus is more common in men compared to women. Men are three to four times more likely to get Pilonidal Cyst than women.

6. Having a family history of Pilonidal Cyst (if thick, rough body hair runs in family)

7. Having congenital Pilonidal dimple

8. Excessive sweating