SHINGLES

"Herpes Zoster"

     Have you heard of it?  Had it?  Saw an outbreak of someone going through it?  Yesterday, I got a request from someone if I knew any natural remedies to help treat the painful virus infection.  Everyone knows I'm a natural remedy person at heart where I don't like taking drugs.  I always try my best to look at alternative routes to help heal the body naturally.  As a reminder if seeking natural remedies and taking supplements as always let your doctor know what you are doing and keep a journal of how the remedies are working for you.  Please be aware not all doctors like alternative methods.  Natural remedies can work quick or it can take time to work.  Do not be discourage.

What is Shingles?

Shingles is a viral infection that causes rashes, blisters, and pain on one side of the body.  It is an acute central nervous system infection caused by Herpes Zoster Virus - like the chicken pox. 

Who is affected?

Shingles normally attacks ages 50+ but it can attack younger people with a weakened immune system caused by stress, diseases, who had the chicken pox, or certain drugs.  Symptoms can last for months or even years.  Pain ranges from moderate to severe.  You can experience stabbing, shooting, burning, and throbbing of pain.  As you get older an increase risk for long term nerve pain may increase. 

Building up the immune system is the key to prevention.

How do we begin in treating it the natural way?

• Cayenne Pepper:  Can help relieve itchiness, pain, and discomfort.  Creating it as an ointment - mix a little pepper in a no chemical fragrance free lotion.   Apply 4-6 hrs.
• Oatmeal:  It soothes burning and itching irritations.  Creating a paste and apply it to the blisters or red spot areas.  Mix uncooked (raw) oatmeal with water to make a paste (do not use a lot of water when mixing it).  You can soak in a oatmeal bath - adding oatmeal to your bath water.  Helps you to relax and alleviate the irritation.
• Apple Cider Vinegar:  With a 100% cotton ball dab it in the vinegar and apply it to the affected area.  Relieves the irritation and itching.
• Vitamin B complex supplements:  Relieves stress and maintains a healthy immune and nervous system.
• Acidophilus Probiotics:  Take daily.  Look for a non-dairy.  Keep it in the fridge to preserve freshness.
• Vitamin C:  1000mg Take daily.  Builds up the immune system.
• Vitamin E:  Apply the oil on the affected areas.  Heals the skin and scars.  Make sure it is 100%   vitamin E - no added ingredients.
• Mediation & Yoga:  Reduces stress, helps circulation, and breathing.
• Acupuncture:  Insertion of needles to various key points of the body to bring circulation throughout the body and strengthen the organs to balance the yin and yang.  When seeking for an Acupuncturist - make sure the person is Certified Licensed, does not reuse the same needles, and make sure he or she wipes the body down with alcohol before starting inserting the needles.  Look for an Acupuncturist who is well experienced in the area.
• Daily Teas:  Drinking several cups of tea daily can help soothe, heal, and prevent shingles.

1. Licorice
2. Echinacea
3. Ginseng
4. Nettle
5. Red clover
6. St. John's Wort
7. Lemon Balm
8. Green Tea 
9. Turmeric (see posting on Pain Killer Tea)
10. Clove
11. Cinnamon

•  Aloe Vera:  "Miracle Plant", "Silent Healer", "Plant Immortality" Applying the gel of the aloe vera to the affected areas will heal the shingles.  Can be mix with herbs to create an ointment or a tea wash.

Making a Tea Wash

Lemon Balm, Oregano, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Calendula, Echinacea, Hyssop, or Golden Seal - Boil in distilled water.  Once cool down make a mixture of the herbal tea and mix in vitamin E oil and fresh Aloe Vera gel.  Apply with a cotton ball to the affected areas at least 3x a day.

• Amino Acid Lysine:  Eat foods that contain lysine, such as, watercress, legumes, carob, spinach, fish (wild), shrimp (wild), parmesan, gouda, or gruyere cheese, eggs, soybeans (NO GMOs), seaweed (spirulina, kelp etc.), tomatoes, carrots, orange juice, apples, mangos, bananas, apricots, pears, pumpkin, peas, beets, cauliflower, celery, cashew nuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, figs, and sprouts.
• Flax Seed Oil:  Essential fatty acid supports a healthy nervous system and skin. Take 1 tablespoon a day
• Selenium:  100mg a day.
• Vitamin D3:  Take 1000iu or 2000iu daily.
• Tea Tree oil and Lavender Oil:  Mix equal parts of oils and apply on the affected areas.  Lavender helps the skin heal and relaxes the body (nerves).  Tea tree is antiviral -  kills bacteria, soothes the skin, and reduces inflammation. * other oils can be combined as well - Eucalyptus, Chamomile, Geranium, and Bergamot.
• Zinc:  25mg Take daily.  Builds immune system.
• Vitamin B12:  Studies have shown by getting an injection of B12 works quicker than supplement pill form.  It helps with pain relief and drying out the rash.  If you can't get to a doctor for a shot than try taking liquid form but make sure there isn't no preservatives, soy, additives, corn, or artificial colorings in it.
• Ice pack or cool cloth:  Will have numb the pain.
• Turmeric and fresh mint:  Mix turmeric powder with mint juice (juice up some mint leaves) or use aloe vera gel and apply to the affected areas.  
• Water:  Drink lots of purified water to flush out the toxins. 
• Dandelion root and Burdock root:  Helps detox the liver.

• Celery juice or Celery tea:  Can alleviate the pain and help tone up the nervous system.
• Lemon:  Can be rubbed on the affected area to relieve pain.
• Allspice paste:  Grind cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg with a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder.  Add purified water.  Apply to the affected areas. (You can buy the spices ground)

 Hopefully these natural remedies can help those who are suffering with Shingles.


                                                                                                             Namaste