Home Remedies for Shingles


"Let food be your medicine and your medicine be your food. Each one of the substances in a person's diet, acts upon the body and changes it in some unique way, and upon these changes the whole life depends, whether in health, in sickness or convalescent."  

Hippocrates 2 000 years ago.

We at Home Remedies for Shingles are going to start off by detailing the causes of Shingles and then will carry on by itemizing a list of the symptoms of shingles, before getting to the nuts and bolts of the home remedies for shingles you are probably desperately looking for.

What Causes Shingles

  • The culprit here is the varicella-zoster virus.
  • This virus is the same one that gave you chicken pox all those years ago. It "chilled" in the spinal cord and nerve ganglia until conditions were right to attack you again and this time with Shingles.
  • So, if you are suffering from any form of physical or emotional stress, have a weakened immune system, due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, the use of steroidal drugs or an HIV infection then you need to check out the symptoms listed below to see if what you suspect is shingles or not.
  • And then start addressing the simple home remedies for shingles listed below.

Symptoms of Shingles

  • Appearance of tiny fluid-filled blisters surrounded by a red rim.
  • Fatigue.
  • Depression.
  • Tingling.
  • Fever.
  • Headache.
  • Extreme sensitivity and a burning sensation in the area of skin about to be infected.

  • This sensitivity will be displayed in areas commonly affected by shingles i.e. around the shoulders and waist area, one side of the face and one eye.

  • An attack of shingles is often preceded by a few days of the chills, fever and achy feelings.

  • There can also be pain in the affected area.

  • Shooting pains and swollen painful lymph nodes.

Oatmeal Bath 

  • Take your oatmeal and grind it into a fine powder, or else buy colloidal oatmeal if your budget allows.

  • Add this to your bath and enjoy a long soak.

  • This will help to relieve the itchiness caused by the blisters.

  • It won't last forever but is very soothing while it does.
need to up the zinc in your menu, Oats for breakfast will help

Chilli Pepper Ointment

  • Do not attempt this before getting the approval of your Doctor or Health Professional.

  • Mix some red pepper powder into a tub of plain white unscented body lotion until it turns pink.

  • Do a skin test to make sure your skin is not irritated by this chilli lotion.

  • Dab onto the affected spots.

  • The active ingredient is capsaicin and when applied to the skin it will block pain signals from nerves located just under the surface of the skin.



Bulbinella

Bulbinella, indigenous to South Africa, used for mosquitoe bites and all sorts of skin ailments
  • Do not try this before checking with your Doctor or Health Professional.
  • The juice of the bulbinella is very effective in the treatment of eczema.

    Squeeze the juice from the leaves onto burns, blisters, rashes, insect bites, ITCHY PATCHES, cracked lips, fever blisters, cold stores, pimples, mouth ulcers, cracked skin, bee and wasp stings as well as sores and rashes on animals.

  • Remember, for shingles do NOT pop the blisters, this will only expose them to a chance of infection.

After Shingles - The Things you Should be doing and the Things you should NOT be doing

  • Studies have shown that there is an increased risk of shingles for those with a decreased intake of Vitamin C.
  • The FDA recommends 60 milligrams of vitamin C daily.
  • And remember not to overdo this as it can lead to diarrhea and upset tummies.
  1. Avocado Pears
  2. Asparagus 
  3. Brocolli
  4. Brussel sprouts
  1. Citrus Fruit
  2. Apricots
  3. Cherries
  4. Tomatoes

Stay away from Foods High in Arginine.

dark chocolate
  • Ladies & Gentlemen..... sorry, but chocolate is high in arginine.
  • Arginine is an amino acid which is believed can aggravate symptoms in people with Herpes.

Boost your Immune System

  • To boost your immune system reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeine.
  • Most definitely cut down on your smoking, or better still, try giving it up.
  • Avoid stress as much as possible.
stressed womanStress
alcoholic-beverages.jpgAlcohol
tinnutis and coffeeSmoking

Postherpetic Neuralgia - Natural Remedies

Unfortunately, after getting over a bout of shingles, some people might land up with Postherpetic Neuralgia a condition that occurs after having had shingles.  It is characterized by persistent nerve pain in the area where the shingles rash was.

Aloe Vera

aloe-vera.jpgBenefits of Aloe Vera
  • Aloe Vera is known for its soothing and healing properties, which can be beneficial for individuals experiencing postherpetic neuralgia.
  • Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation associated with this condition.
  • Aloe Vera has a cooling effect that can provide relief to the affect area.
  • It's important that that while aloe vera and the other natural remedies mentioned on this page may offer some relief, it should be discussed with your healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment options.

Capsaicin

  • Capsaicin, which is derived from chili pepper has been found to be effective in relieving this type of pain.  It works by desensitizing the nerves and reducing the intensity of pain signals.
  • You can try using capsaicin creams or patches which are available in health stores or online. 
  • Follow their instructions. 
acne-and-cayenne-pepper
  • Capsaicin has been attracting attention for its ability to relieve pain for persons suffering postherpetic neuralgia.  It is not a product of chemical engineering, but a compound found in plants of the same family as red peppers.
  • "Clinical studies suggest that capsaicin directly reduces the amount of Substance P, a neurotransmitter responsible for the transmission of pain.  If there is a deficiency of substance P the nerves are unable to transmit sensations of pain
  • Capsaicin is easy to use - you simply apply it topically to the affected areas  three or four times a day.
  • In addition Capsaicin does not interact with any other drugs or medication which makes it especially for good for elderly people who are often taken one or more drugs on a regular basis.
  • Capsaicin is available over the counter".

Topical Creams

herbal-uses-for-st-johns-wortSt John's Wort
  • Try using some creams or ointments containing ingredients like St John's Wort, Arnica or Calendula.
  • These herbs have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can help reduce pain and inflammation.

Essential Oils

  • Essential oils, such as lavender, peppermint and chamomile, have soothing and pain relieving properties.
  • Dilute a a few drops of these oils in a carrier oil, like coconut or jojoba oil, and applying the mixture to the affected area.
an-infusion-of-chammomileChammomile
lavender-oilLavender
  • Lemon Balm
  • Marjoram
  • Geranium
  • Lavender
  • St John's Wort
  • Bergamot with tea tree oil

Vitamin B12

  • Some studies have shown that Vitamin B12 supplementation can help alleviate nerve pain.
  • So, try incorporating foods rich in Vitamin B12, such as fish, eggs, and dairy products, into the diet or considering a B12 supplement.

Stress Management

stress

Stress can exacerbate nerve pain, so it's important to manage stress levels.  We all have different loves so try these techniques that will fit into your love and lifestyle:

  • Meditation
  • Deep breathing exercises
  • Engaging in activities that promote relaxation such as yoga or tai chai


IMPORTANT NOTICE

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