Shingles is a viral infection that causes a skin rash similar to chicken pox. The disease is caused by the virus that causes chicken pox although the condition is not as serious as a case of chicken pox in adults. It has been established that the possibility of a shingles attack for a person who was infected by chicken pox at a young age is high, even at the age of sixty. The virus lives in the nervous system and can be triggered by ailments such as cancer, AIDS or stress where it emerges in various areas of the body causing a rash.

It is hard to notice the symptoms of this disease as the rashes do not appear at once, but a burning sensation and skin sensitivity are felt prior to the rash. The burning and skin sensitivity are felt for few weeks after which small rashes start to appear. The rashes grow bigger day by day until they become blisters which signal the peak of this disease. Shingles can be passed from one person to another but under certain conditions. First and foremost shingles is passed on to a person who has never had chicken pox at a young age. Shingles can also affect a person at a later age if the person was diagnosed with chicken pox at a young age.

It is also wise for pregnant women to keep away from people infected with shingles as it can cause harm to them as well as their babies. The rashes of a person suffering from shingles can be differentiated from other forms of rashes. First and foremost, the rashes on the skin as a result of this disease are mostly seen on one side of the body where the nerves infected with this virus are located. The common areas where the rashes appear include the chest, abdomen and face. It is therefore necessary to take precautions if one’s immunity to ailments is low as the probability of being infected with shingles is high. However there are several substances which act as a cure for this condition among them being home remedies for shingles that have proven to be very effective.

1. Home Remedies
2. Other Remedies
3. Diet

Home Remedies for Shingles

Aloe Vera as a Natural Remedy for Shingles

Properties: When choosing natural remedies for shingles, aloe vera should be the first to come to mind as it is among the most effective and least expensive herbs used as a treatment for this condition. The gel in the leaves of the aloe vera plant helps to cool off the body when experiencing the burning sensation caused by the rashes. The gel also speeds the healing process as it prevents inflammation of the skin.

Use of Aloe Vera as a Treatment for Shingles:

Pick a few leaves of the aloe vera herb and chop them into pieces. Then extract all the sap from the leaves and mix it with a few milliliters of raw honey. When the mixture is ready apply it onto the affected skin areas at least twice a day where the results can be experienced within a few days of use.

Lemon Balm as a Natural Remedy for Shingles

Properties: Lemon balm is said to have some properties that act as an anti-herpes agent. Herpes is the name of the virus that causes both chicken pox and shingles. The virus does not survive in a body cell which contains lemon balm. Many medical practitioners have approved the use of lemon balm as a cure for shingles.

Use of Lemon Balm as a Treatment for Shingles:

Use of lemon balm tea is recommended for shingles and is an effective way to treat this condition. Add at least two to four teaspoons of lemon balm to boiled water, allow it to cool and then apply the tea to the rashes on the body. It will help to fight off the blisters that may be on the skin. It is advisable to apply lemon balm tea at least three times a day. It is among the cheapest natural remedies for treating shingles.

Licorice as a Home Remedy for Shingles

Properties: Licorice is known to contain some antiviral properties. Viruses do not survive if they are exposed to any parts of the body that have traces of this herb. Licorice also helps to strengthen the immune system thus helping to curb an attack from this condition. A person who has never been attacked by chicken pox while young is advised to eat licorice as in the future the likelihood of a shingles attack is very high. Licorice is among the most effective and most easily made home remedies for shingles.

Use of Licorice as a Cure for Shingles:

Licorice can be used either by applying it on the affected areas or by drinking tea made from licorice. Make licorice tea from this herb and drink the tea twice a day. Another option is to make strong tea which can then be applied onto the skin affected by the rash at least three times a day. If used properly, licorice is one of the most effective home remedies for this condition.

Garlic as a Home Remedy for Shingles

Properties: Garlic is among the most useful and most quickly made natural remedies for shingles. Garlic contains antiviral properties and kills all viruses especially the one that causes this condition. Garlic also helps in soothing the pain and the burning sensation that are symptoms of shingles. It also helps to clear all inflammation from the skin.

Use of Garlic as a Treatment for Shingles:

Cut the garlic into two pieces and squeeze them well until the juice is extracted. This extraction should then be applied onto the skin where the rashes have appeared and left on the skin for few minutes before washing off. Garlic can also be eaten in raw form at least twice a day for one week. Garlic is also part of a good diet for treating shingles as it can be cooked together with meals. Use of garlic as a home remedy for shingles can provide positive results after a few days of use.

Baking Soda as a Natural Remedy for Shingles

Properties: Baking soda is another important natural remedy for treating shingles as it has some properties that help in relieving pain. It also relieves the allergic effect on the skin as well as reduces the inflammation of the rashes. It has also been advocated by many paramedics as a good treatment for this condition.

Use of Baking Soda as a Cure for Shingles:

Warm an adequate amount of bath water and put it in a bathtub. Add a few grams of baking soda to the lukewarm water and then bathe in it. The bath should take at least 15 minutes as the analgesic property of baking soda requires this amount of time to take effect. Allow the skin to dry naturally as toweling dry will irritate the rashes and blisters. Bathing for fifteen minutes also allows the patient to clean the rashes as inadequate cleaning may provide a breeding ground for other skin diseases.

Passionflower as a Natural Remedy for Shingles

Properties: Passionflower has properties that help to relieve pain as well as having a tranquilizing effect. This herb helps to cool the rashes on the skin which are very uncomfortable. Passionflower has been in use as a healing agent for a long time especially in semitropical regions where they propagate such as South America and North America. It is among the most effective and least expensive natural remedies for treating shingles.

Use of Passionflower as a Cure for Shingles:

It is not difficult to make this remedy. Simply dry passionflower under indirect sunlight and then grind the leaves into a fine powder. This should then be taken in a dosage of at least one to three teaspoons per day. It is, however, very important to adhere to the correct dosage as overdosing can lead to depression.

Baikal Skullcap as a Natural Remedy for Shingles

Properties: Baikal skullcap is known to contain anti-inflammatory properties. It also has properties that relieve the pain caused by the symptoms of shingles. The rashes that occur as a result of shingles can appear to be dry if this herb is used. Baikal skullcap is also known to contain some properties that are antiviral. They try to fight off any kind of virus found on the body. Baikal skullcap offers the best option as a cure for the skin rashes caused by this ailment.

Use of Baikal Skullcap as a Treatment for Shingles:

The recommended most effective part of the Baikal skullcap herb for treating shingles are the roots. Wash the roots thoroughly with plenty of water before crushing the roots and mixing with water to make a paste. The recommendation is to use at least 3 grams of the crushed root in an equal proportion of water. Then apply the paste to the rashes at least one to three times daily until the rashes disappear. However Baikal skullcap should not be used by nursing mothers and pregnant women as it interferes with their health.

Chinese Angelica as a Natural Remedy for Shingles

Properties: It is among the oldest natural remedies for treating shingles as the Chinese used this herb to treat chicken pox in the past. Chinese angelica is known to help in blood circulation and inflammation. The herb has some anti-allergic properties that help people who have itchy rashes on their skin.

Use of Chinese Angelica as a Cure for Shingles:

The roots are the most effective part of the Chinese angelica herb to use to treat this condition. Wash the roots well and grind them into powder. The powder can be used either as a tea or a tincture. Consume one glass of Chinese angelica tea daily for two to four days until the rashes disappear. This remedy should not be used by expectant mothers or any person suffering from an ailment that is causing diarrhea without consulting a physician.

Olive Leaf as a Home Remedy for Shingles

Properties: Olive leaf is best known for its pain relieving properties for the rashes of a person suffering from shingles. This herb also helps to strengthen the immune system and the body in general. The herb can be used by any person who has not had chicken pox to prepare for the onslaught of shingles which is almost inevitable. Furthermore, olive leaf is known to contain some antiviral properties that help to curb the spread of the virus to other parts of the body. Olive leaf is one of the major natural remedies for curbing the spread of shingles.

Use of Olive Leaf as a Treatment for Shingles:

This particular remedy does not have a formula since all that is necessary is to prepare tea from olive leaves. Boil the tea until it changes color. The correct dosage for the tea is 500 grams at least three times a day, probably in the morning, at noon and in the evening. It is also advisable to take this remedy immediately after a meal to curb nausea.

Other Natural Remedies for Shingles

There are many effective home remedies for treating shingles. Among them is Jamaican dogwood which is known to contain some of the properties that provide pain relief. It also acts as an anti-allergic agent for patients who have itchy rashes on the skin. However the herb should not be taken by expectant women or children due to its effects and the risk of respiratory paralysis.

Oats are another important and cheap home remedy for a person suffering from shingles. They help in curbing the spread of the rashes in the body and also relieve pain. They also help to curb the itching of the rashes. Oats are among the most important home remedies for this condition as they help to relieve stress by fortifying the nervous system.

Alternatively, in order to relieve the pain of shingles, one can opt to use cool packs on the rashes. It is one of the simplest home remedies for this condition as it does not involve much processing. Simply place a cold cloth on the blisters and wrap them for twenty minutes. This will ease the pain caused by the rashes on the skin. This process should be done repeatedly until the pain disappears.

Last but not least, valerian is also a common home remedy for treating this condition. It does not cure this condition directly but acts as a natural sedative to help to eradicate the pain. It is also helpful for relieving the anxiety and stress felt by the patient as a result of this condition.

Diet for Prevention of Shingles

To have good immunity against shingles, it is advisable to eat the appropriate diet for curbing attacks from this ailment. Ingesting Vitamin B12 and B1 are the best examples of following a good diet for prevention of shingles. These vitamins are found in seafood such as fish and oysters as well as eggs. Foods that are rich in magnesium and calcium are also part of a good diet for treating this condition. They support the growth of the nerve endings which is the breeding place for the virus that causes shingles. Sources of such minerals include all leafy green vegetables such as cabbage, kale and spinach.

It is also wise to pay attention to the diet for prevention of this condition as foods rich in sugar are not recommended and should be avoided. Sugar is known to support the growth of the herpes virus growth in the nervous system which is known to cause shingles. Increase intake of foods rich in vitamins A and C which are beneficial to a person suffering from shingles. Carrots and all forms of citrus fruit are examples of foods with these vitamins which should be included in the diet.

Foods rich in vitamin E should be part of the diet for a person recovering from shingles as they help in the growth of the skin. Sources of such food include avocados, mangoes and tomatoes which are very cheap and easily found at the market.