Home

More Holistic
Health Articles

Alternative Health
Discussion Forums

Practitioners
Directory

 

Note: Information posted on this site is not necessarily endorsed by us. Our purpose in providing this library is to give readers access to a wide variety of alternative health articles. We make no claim to having researched every therapy discussed on this site. We suggest thoroughly researching all of your options, including western medicine treatments for any particular ailment. A healthy body is a great thing!

Ned a website?
Check out
Organic Digital
specialing in web sites
for the holistic community.

 

 

Health off the Grid
Health Insurance for those who love alternative medicine

Shingles Natural Treatment

Copyright 2005 Wayne McDonald

In the past ten years recent studies and research with
alternative treatments for shingles has shown it is
possible to recover in less than one week and to reduce
outbreaks of lesions and pain in three days.

Shingles is a serious health condition and it is important
to follow your doctor’s recommendations. Traditionally,
most doctors prescribe painkillers for the temporary
symptomatic relief of the pain and an antiviral drug to
suppress the virus. This form of treatment with drugs
reduces the severity and frequency of outbreaks but does
not eliminate it from the body. This course of treatment
can take six weeks or more and does very little for the
patient. The pain associated with shingles can continue
long after the initial outbreak.

Some doctors prescribe steroids or itch-relieving creams
that contain steroids. Recent studies question the
effectiveness of steroids in relieving shingles and suggest
avoiding any treatment with steroids. Monitoring by your
doctor is recommended, if steroids have been prescribed. It
is best to find alternative treatments with your doctor and
to seek out natural remedies.

The virus herpes zoster causes shingles and is the same
virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles is an infection of
the central nervous system and may affect the elderly,
those with a compromised immune system, anyone under severe
stress or those who have been exposed to the chickenpox
virus again. Symptoms may include burning, itching, or pain
in one part of the body. A few days later, blisters and a
rash appear. The infection may run along a nerve path and
look like a branch of a tree. Shingles usually appear on
the trunk area and the chest but can also be found on the
face. Shingles can cause blindness if it affects the eyes.
If an outbreak occurs on the face the patient should get
immediate medical care.

Natural Remedies For Shingles

A good starting point for treating shingles is a diet full
of fresh fruits and vegetables. A good diet and reducing
daily stress will help boost your immune system

A simple remedy for lesions is to apply a cool or cold wet
washcloth or towel to the affected area. A wet towel can be
put into the freezer for a while after wetting it to make
it colder.

Eliminate sugar from your diet and add these important
nutrients to your daily diet - vitamin E, vitamin B12 and
vitamin C.

* Vitamin C is suggested with an initial diagnosis of
shingles. You may start with 1,000 mg. (+)

* Vitamin E taken daily before meals may reduce the pain of
shingles (Study published in the Archives of Dermatology)
(+)

* Vitamin B12 injections may reduce the pain of shingles
(Study published in the Journal Geriatrics) (+)

(+) It is recommended that you consult with your doctor
before starting any vitamin program.

* E capsules can be squeezed directly onto lesions.

* Avoid heat as well as tight clothes and itchy fabrics
like wool.

* Calamine lotion may relieve the pain and help dry the
lesions.

Shingles is a serious illness and before starting any
treatment program you should consult with your doctor.
Shingles is the same virus as chicken pox. You cannot catch
shingles from someone else unless you've never had chicken
pox. If you have shingles you should use caution being
around pregnant women who have not had chicken pox - you
could infect both the woman and her unborn baby.


Wayne McDonald is a health care professional and public
speaker for safe natural treatments of annoying and
burdensome health challenges. Learn more at
http://www.OurFamilysHealth.com/shinglestreatment.html