When you were younger, you may have experienced chicken pox. What you probably don’t know is, although you’ve recovered from it, the virus (Herpes Zoster) remained dormant in the body. Basically, it stays dormant in the nerves of some parts of your body. In later years, the virus becomes active again – the cause for this is not yet known.  During this time, you can pass the virus to anybody who may or may not have experienced chickenpox during their childhood. Shingles may occur in different ages – for some, they may experience it in their late 30’s and some in their 60’s. People who are prone to Shingles are those who have weak immune system or those possibly weakened by a disease or condition or due to certain medications taken during the course of an illness.

Herpes Zoster is a self limiting virus which will disappear within 3-5 weeks. The most crucial time that Shingles become contagious is before the blisters begin to desiccate and form a crust. But when the blisters have finally dried and crusted, you don’t need to be alarmed anymore. Blisters form along the trail of your nerves which is found anywhere in your body – it could be possibly in the neck, at your back or torso, face or even in your hands and forearms.

Complications

Since shingles can cause damage to the nerves in your body, pain from Shingles may last from months to years. Complications that may occur due to Shingles are:

• Another Shingles outbreak
• Deafness
• Sepsis
• Bacterial infections on the skin

Natural Remedies for Shingles

While the virus may be self-limiting, it is important that you have ways and means to stay comfortable throughout the uncomfortable period of illness. What are some of the natural remedies that could help you recover and deal with the itch? Here are 7 natural treatment remedies to help you or your loved one get through Shingles.

• Cool Wet Compresses

  Applying cool, wet compresses will help lessen your pain and itch. This will help you find relief from the symptom of pain. You apply this when necessary or whenever you feel like you cannot anymore tolerate the pain and itch. This will also help clean your body which is very important when you have shingles, so as to prevent the blisters in your body from being infected.

• Oatmeal or starch baths

  Oatmeal and starch baths can also relieve you from the discomfort of the pain brought about by the ulcers and itchiness on your body. Colloidal Oatmeal bath is also good for other itchy conditions such as eczema, sunburn and even dry skin. Not only does this help relieve the symptom of itchiness, it will also leave your skin feeling smooth, soft and moisturized.

• Capsaicin Lotion

  Capsaicin Lotion contains the main component of cayenne pepper, an element which makes cayenne pepper hot. This is applied to the blisters and will help soothe you from the itchiness and also with the discomfort.

• Apple Cider Vinegar

  Apple Cider Vinegar is not only good for cooking and for salads but is also good as a natural remedy for certain ailments and skin conditions such as shingles. Applying it on your skin over the blister will also relieve you from the itchiness, the pain and the discomfort. This can also help your blisters heal fast.

• Aloe Vera Juice

  If you have aloe vera planted in your garden, you may use the plant to manage shingles. Fresh aloe vera juice is good for your sun burnt skin since it hydrates your skin and it has a naturally cooling effect on your body – and this is true when it comes to shingles. If you apply an ample amount onto your skin with blisters, this becomes one of your quick fix remedy. As a result, this alleviates you from the pain and itch that you feel. Not only is this a natural remedy but this is also a cheap alternative if you can’t afford to buy topical pain relievers. Not only did you save money but you also saved yourself from the pain and discomfort.

• Vitamin B12

  Taking Vitamin B-complex or Vitamin B12 is good for your health especially for your nerves. Like the ones mentioned above, this will help you from the pain and it will also help with the drying of the crusts as this promotes healing of the rash associated with shingles. Vitamin B has been known to help strengthen the function of the immune system thereby and promote cell growth.  It has also been implicated in healthy, glowing skin.

• Vitamin C

  When you are sick, it is but natural for you to ingest foods that will help you get through and help you boost your immune system. Vitamin C is the most popular among all the other Vitamins in terms of boosting the immune system. It also helps with the absorption of other elements such as iron. There are vitamin C supplements in the market, but this particular type of vitamin can be found in the foods that we eat.  Examples of foods that are abundant in vitamin C include sweet potatoes, berries, peppers, Brussels sprouts, orange, cauliflower, and honeydew.

Other Tips to Keep in Mind

These natural remedies will help alleviate pain and itchiness that one experiences from shingles.  But keep in mind that these cannot solely cure you of the condition. As much as topical treatments are needed, here are a few more tips to keep in mind when dealing with shingles:

• Staying well hydrated and doing frequent exercise are also important.
• People who suffer from shingles have problems with digesting foods and absorbing nutrients. And that is the reason why proper planning of one’s meal is also crucial. It is important to consume foods that are high in protein in order to help the body health.
• Eat a well-balanced diet.
• Like any other disease condition, people who experience this must rest in order to regain back their health rapidly and also to achieve optimum level of recuperation.

Sources
all4naturalhealth.com
natural-homeremedies.org
healthiertalk.com
home-remedies-for-you.com