Treating Shingles Naturally

Shingles is an extremely painful disease caused by the herpes zoster virus (which is also the chickenpox virus). Following an attack of chickenpox the virus remains dormant in the body. Many years later a drop in the efficiency of the immune system may cause reactivation of the virus, this time in the form of shingles, causing acute inf lammation in the ganglia near the spinal cord.

• Occurs most often in people over the age of 50 and may be activated through surgery or X-ray therapy.
• In younger people, it is often associated with a weakening of the immune system.
• The pain, which can be disabling, may continue for a few months after the blisters heal.
• Shingles strikes 850,000 Americans each year.

CAUTION
Shingles of the face may affect the eyes and should receive appropriate specialist medical attention.

Symptoms
• the first sign of shingles is sensitivity in the area to be affected, then pain
• fever; sickness
• a rash of small blisters develops on the fourth or fifth day; these turn yellow within a few days, form scabs, then drop off, sometimes leaving scars
• in some cases there may be persistent pain for months

TREATMENT

For treating the spots which develop, apply allspice paste. Grind cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg in a pestle and mortar. Add water to make a thick paste. Apply to spots to numb the pain. (You can also buy allspice as a pre-ground powder.)

Herbalism 
Make an infusion of the following nervine herbs and drink three times daily: oats, skullcap, St. John’s wort, and vervain. Diluted tinctures or cold infusion of marigold, plantain, and St. John’s wort can be used to bathe the affected area. Aromatheraphy Essential oils can combine analgesics with antiviral properties, and can be applied as a compress, added to the bath, or massaged into the skin. Try combining two or more of bergamot, chamomile, geranium, eucalyptus, melissa, lavender, and tea tree. Dab the sores with lemon or geranium oil diluted in a little water.

Chinese Herbalism 
Treatment would address gall bladder heat and damp. Useful herbs include gentian and Oriental wormwood.

Traditional Home and Folk Remedies 
Grind allspice and make a paste, then apply to the spots to relieve pain. Celery juice or celery tea can alleviate the pain and help to tone up the nervous system. Apply bruised juniper berries to the spots for effective pain relief. Fresh lemon can be cut and applied to the affected areas to relieve the pain.

Homeopathy
The following remedies can be taken every two hours for up to ten doses:
• Arsenicum, for burning pains which are worse between midnight and 2a.m., accompanied by skin eruptions and feeling restless, chilly, and anxious.
• Lachesis, when the left side of the body is affected by swelling.
• Rhus tox., for red, blistered, and itching skin which is improved with movement and warmth.
• Fanunculus, for nerve pains and itching which are made worse by movement and eating.
• Sponge the blisters with a blend of Hypericum and Calendula tinctures, added to a little hot water.

Vitamins and Minerals 
Eat plenty of foods that are rich in the B-complex vitamins, to aid nervous health. Increase your intake of vitamin C, and take a supplement of 1g. up to four times daily. Supplementation with vitamin E is now known to reduce the long-term symptoms associated with shingles. Take up to 1mg. daily, broken into three doses, with food. Vitamin E oil, applied directly to the sores, will encourage healing. Shingles is a sign of debility. Treatments suggested for stress will help to tone up the system.