Natural remedies for shingles in conjunction with guidance from the Shingles Health Center at Web MD, can offer great ways to improve the condition. Education and collaboration with a doctor can make recovering from the uncomfortable condition much easier. Background information and natural treatments are ideal places to start.
What are Shingles?
What are shingles? Shingles is a “creeping” virus called herpes zoster. Shingles and chickenpox are viral infections that come from the varicella-zoster virus. The condition is similar to herpes simplex type 1 and 2 in that it can lay dormant in the nerve tissues for considerable time. Triggers can cause the virus to be activated years later.
People at risk for shingles typically have weak immune systems. The elderly are particularly at risk for shingles. A person may have the virus for many years without realizing it until the symptoms of shingles begin to emerge.
Symptoms of Shingles
The symptoms of shingles are very troublesome and uncomfortable. In some cases, the virus outbreak can turn into postherpetic neuralgia. This condition consists of sharp stabbing pains that are present without the presence of a rash or discoloration on the skin. Postherpetic neuralgia can last for years or for a few months.
The symptoms of shingles are:
• Feverish with chills
• Headachy
• Unexplained pain on skin
• Itchiness
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Blisters that contain fluid
• Red rash
In shingles, the physical sensations typically occur before the rash or blisters appear. A person may experience the pain, itching, numbness and tingling for a week before any signs of rash or blisters are present. The rash usually appears on the left or right side of the chest. Sometimes it appears on one side of the neck or face.
Natural Remedies for Shingles
Shingles should never go untreated by a physician but there are some natural remedies for the virus that can help to alleviate the symptoms. Discussing the condition with a doctor is the best way to ensure that the virus has a shorter duration and it can help to prevent complications that may occur as a result. Some serious problems that can occur include:
• Postherpetic neuralgia
• Temporary loss of eyesight
• Permanent loss of eyesight
Natural treatments for shingles include:
• Cold compresses on rash and blisters
• Sleep
• Acupuncture
• Cleaning the area regularly
• Geranium oil
• Peppermint oil
These traditional remedies have no real clinical backing but some of the following natural remedies for shingles do have some scientific backing:
• Proteolytic enzymes found in papaya and pineapple can help. The enzyme supplements offer similar relief as acyclovir, a standard antiviral prescription. However, those who take the medication can expect to have less redness as those who use enzyme supplements exclusively.
• Capsaicin cream contains the active ingredient capsaicin found in chili peppers. This topical treatment has been proven to reduce pain significantly in patients suffering from shingles in clinical studies.
• Tai Chi is believe to promote immune system function, particularly in older populations that have the zoster virus.
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