Stopping Shingles

Assuming you have already had chicken pox in your life, would it surprise you to know that you still have it? Even after the initial illness appears to fade, it hides away in your nerve cells for years. Occasionally later in life the virus reappears, due to this aggressive reactivation the virus is renamed the Zoster virus, or shingles.

It is not fully understood what causes the sudden reactivation of the virus, some experts have suggested it is due to the immune system of the sufferer failing or becoming weaker. The development of shingles begins with a series of tingling pains across the skin, which is soon followed by a series of red rashes and blisters. These blisters can last from anything between five days to several months before crusting over and fading.

This however, is only the onset of Shingles, from that point it develops into post-herpetic neuralgia, which takes the form of sharp shooting pains in the same area the blisters developed and faded. This pain can last for years and is difficult to reduce, making it an incredibly dehabilitating illness to try and live with.

If you are suffering from shingles or are looking for a way to minimize the pain a friend or loved one is receiving from the illness, you’ll find a few ways to do just that using naught but natural means.

Capsaicin is a naturally produced pain killer, produced in an ointment form as a product called Zostrix. This ointment, when applied to an area of rash reduces the pain levels by blocking off pain signals from nerves just under the skin.

Cat’s-claw is renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antiviral actions, both highly desirable to anyone suffering Shingles; it is most advised to take 1000 milligrams three times a day to keep the pain levels reduced and minimize the chances of the rash spreading.

Lemon Balm or Melissa, is rich in anti-herpes producing compounds known as polyphenols, since Shingles are a form of herpes, this is a great way to treat the pain from shingles. Use topical applications of lemon-balm tea, which you can make by steeping 2 to 4 teaspoons of herb per cup of boiling water. Apply the tea to the blisters with a cotton ball four times a day. This home remedy will also reduce redness, as a small addition.

Turmeric when mixed into a paste can help to relieve pain and accelerate the healing process to any area the paste is applied to.

However, there are plenty of other ways to combat the symptoms of shingles starting with the simplicity of altering your diet to acupuncture.

The Anti-Shingles Diet:
By incorporating foods that are rich in lysine (such as; sardines, eggs, cheese and meats) you can prevent further attacks from herpes and minimize the chances of the onset of shingles in the first place. The addition of foods rich in Vitamin B12 and Vitamin E will help to build up resistance to the virus, which will help slow, or even stop the spreading of the virus.
Zinc sources such as red meats, oysters, legumes, beans, chicken and whole grains are great for fighting off infections, this makes it great for fighting the onset of shingles as well as many other infections. Zinc rich foods are an integral part of any diet regardless of whether or not you are fighting off the Shingles virus.

Acupuncture:
This treatment method originated in China and is attributed as the most effective method to combat Shingles in the same country. Although no true scientific study has proven the effectiveness of acupuncture, many who have used this method to combat the symptoms of shingles have claimed the effectiveness the treatment.
If you choose to try acupuncture I do not recommend using it in place of medical treatment as it has not been proven to have truly positive effects.

Burrows Solution:
This solution is great for cleaning shingles sores as well as reducing the pain from the sores. By soaking an area of skin infected with shingles with this solution you will find that the skin becomes soothed and less painful. In addition it will wash away the scabs and blisters created by the virus, as well as clearing up the oozing residue these scabs create.

Neem Leaves:
A simple way to soothe the pain from Shingles is to bathe in a warm bath with Neem leaves mixed into it. The natural properties of Neem leaves soothe the blisters and clean any open wounds that may have been caused by shingles.

So there you have a few methods to combat the symptoms of shingles, but these methods should be used in conjunction with proper medical treatment, not in place of it. So be sure to take your doctors advice as with the correct treatment you alleviate the symptoms of Shingles quickly and easily.