So, back in the day it was prescribed as a "drawing salve" and it was mostly used for boils and topical cysts. I'm only just now reading about folks using it for skin cancer and shit. That's crazy to me. But I know, from watching family members use it, that its great for boils. My brother and aunt are allergic to deodorant ingredients and would get boils in their pits before they figured it out. That black salve was the onky thing that helped.