subject: Home Remedies for Shingles, Natural Cures and Treatment [print this page] Home Remedies for Shingles, Natural Cures and Treatment
Shingles is a very painful and often debilitating situation caused by the herpes zoster virus, which is too responsible for chickenpox. After an episode of chickenpox the virus lies dormant, sometimes for years, and then reactivates itself causing first sensitivity and then ache in the area served by the nerve. A rash appears within about five days, first as small red spots then blisters. Within about two days the blisters become yellow and crusted, dropping off within about two weeks but infrequently leaving scarring. The pain may persevere for months or even years.
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Causes
Shingles are a reappearance of the varicella-zoster virus, better known as chickenpox. When you had chickenpox the virus never left your body but took up residence in your nerves. It can reappear years later because of a weakening of the immune system due to stress, drugs, surgery, old age or deprived health. About 50% of shingles cases happen in people over 60 years old. Also, the older you get the longer the shingles may last.
What are the signs and Symptoms of Shingles?
You may get headaches, fever or malaise, or even exhibit no symptoms. The symptoms may be followed by feelings of burning ache, itching, oversensitivity, a sensation of pins and needles, or numbness in certain areas of your skin. The ache can become extreme and rashes can spread out over the face, torso, eyes, or other parts. The rashes may look like hives in the beginning but soon turn out to be small blisters filled with blood. Once these blisters dry they form scab like crusts. The pain still lingers even after the rash disappears and is called post-herpetic pain.
Shingles can affect many parts of the body depending upon the involvement of the nerves.
1. Extreme sensitivity or ache is one of the major symptoms of shingles. Different types of sensation can be experienced by a person like burning, shooting, headache, fever, chills, itching etc. One should get immediate medical help if these symptoms appear on the face especially near the eyes.
2. After one or two days the rashes with red bumps and blisters erupts on the skin with full ache. First they are filled with pus and after they form scabs by 10-12 days.
3. After two three weeks as the scabs fall off, the rash disappears but result into the scarring.
4. In several patients postherpetic neuralgia is developed in which still after the rash disappears the pain remains for a long time.
Some of the natural cures of shingles are also available -
1. Apple cider vinegar is extremely effective for shingles. Make use of apple cider vinegar, it will reduce the pain caused by shingles. Even apple cider vinegar can be applied directly on the affected area by dabbing it with a soft cloth and let it dry. Repeat this process as often as needed by you. It will assist the blisters to heal more rapidly.
2. As vitamin C assist to boost our immune system. So make a habit to intake vitamin C in large quantity that is in between 2000 to 4000 mg.
3. You can also get relief from ache by the intake of MSM. So take 1000 mg at least two times a day.
4. Make a paste by addition a small quantity of cayenne pepper and aloe vera gel. Relate it to the affected area. You will get immediate relief from the ache of shingles.