Various treatments for shingles
Shingle is a viral disease caused by the varicella virus, the same virus that causes the chicken pox. Because of the contagious nature of this disease, it is necessary for people infected to seek immediate treatment as soon as early symptoms surface. If you begin to treat shingles at an early stage, then chances of fast recovery are higher.
However, keep in mind that even at the time of recovery; people who underwent treatments for shingles need to continuously apply cures since shingles is a disease that has a very high recurring capability.
What are the treatments?
Treatments for shingles are basically divided into two major methods.
These are the natural and prescription methods. If asked which the better cure is, nobody can argue that for early stages of shingles using natural remedies is the most effective treatment for shingles. This is because the natural method helps to remove the root of the virus that leads to eliminating the early signs of a breakout as well.
Below are the top 3 shingles treatments that guarantee immediate relief from the pain.
- Cayenne pepper: This natural remedy helps in minimizing the pain that is the usual complaint of people infected with shingles. This is the first among the top 3 shingles treatments and can be applied by directly rubbing the most affected area.
Cayenne pepper is known for its cooling components that are sure to provide immediate relief from the itchiness in the shingles lesions among the patients.
Oatmeal : This staple food for breakfast is known for reducing skin irritation caused by shingles . Oatmeal is one of the top 3 shingles treatments that works by combining with water and applying directly to the areas with lesions. The pasty solution is said to reduce the burning sensation felt by the patients. With the texture of pasty oatmeal, a shingles patient does not feel inclined to scratch the lesions which lead to reduce risks of skin infection.
Strong immune system : The last among the top 3 shingles treatments is the preventive measure of boosting your immune system. This is one of the most important treatments, not only applicable to shingles but also for all other diseases. Contacting shingles could easily be avoided if you have a very stable immune system. What is the best way to have a healthy immune system? It’s by consciously practicing a healthy lifestyle. While it is well-known to do this, most people still find it difficult to maintain a healthy diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep. But nothing is more important.
Resorting to prescription medicine is not a bad thing especially in the late stages of shingles. But keep in mind that going all natural is better since it will not harm your body with artificial components.
Few others simple remedies that could help you decrease the singles pain are as follows:
- Healing bath: Cleaning the blisters every day reduces the risk of spreading the infection. Take a cool bath or shower to soothe the skin. The coolness of the water helps to ease the pain and calm itchiness. If possible add one or two cups of colloidal oatmeal or cornstarch in lukewarm water and soak the body with this for 15-20 minutes. It helps considerably. Do not use hot water. Your towels should be washed every day to avoid spreading of infection.
- Cold compress : To relieve pain and itchiness from the shingles rash apply a cold compress. This can be done several times throughout the day as and when required. A cloth soaked in cold water, wrung and then placed on the rashes and blisters, reduces pain considerably. Application of cold Ice packs on the rash is not advisable as it may increase the skin sensitivity and worsen the pain.
- Baking soda and cornstarch: Paste made of cornstarch and baking soda mixed with water relieves itching caused by shingles naturally. Apply the mixture on the rash and rinse it off after 10-15 minutes. This can be done several times in a day as needed.
- Soothing lotions and creams : These do not speed up the healing process but gives you comfort by decreasing the itchiness. Scented and perfumed lotions should be avoided as they can cause the irritation. Calamine lotion applied after bath soothes the skin and helps blisters to dry.
- Homeopathic remedies – Apart from the normal shingles treatment and natural therapies we can also look for help with homeopathic remedies. These are alternative medicines that heal the body which may result in decreasing your pain and itchiness. For the medicines to be taken consultation with a Holistic medicine practitioner or doctor is a must.
- Dietary remedies : Some changes in the diet to strengthen the immune system may prevent shingles from spreading to other parts of the body. A person suffering from shingles should add the following foods to the diet for a faster healing process. Vitamin A, B12, C, E, and amino acids are a must.
These can be found in the following foods:
- Orange and yellow foods
- Green leafy vegetables
- Red meat
- Chicken
- Wild caught fish
- Dairy
- Whole grains
- Legumes
- Beans
- Tomato
- Spinach
Foods that should be strictly avoided are:
- Food and juices with high sugar levels
- Arginine rich foods including chocolate gelatin and nuts
- Refined carbohydrates
- Food high in saturated fats
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