Herpes Zoster is the shingles condition which is an extension of the Chicken Pox virus. This type effects the Spine and Central nervous tissues radiating out and around the sides, often from one side only. Herpes Zoster can severely affect the elderly in a chronic situation...
Herpes zoster, or shingles, is the painful eruption of a rash, usually unilateral, caused by the varicella zoster virus. The shingles rash is accompanied by severe pain, which, in some people, does not subside after healing but persists for months or years. It comes about through the nervous system and can be a reaction to stress or frustration or anger.
Home remedies for first aid relief
There's some simple home remedies you can do to alleviate the pain and inflammation;
- Ensure you get plenty of rest
- Avoid and manage stress
- Drink plenty of water or herbal teas
- Avoid coffee or alcohol.
- Bath in Hypericum (St Johns Wort) Oil
Baking soda bath
Adding baking soda to the bathtub has been known to be helpful for relieving pain. Add it to a lukewarm bath and bathe the body in it for at least 15 minutes. The body should be dried off without using a towel, as a towel can irritate the rash and blisters.
Yogurt
Apply a mixture of yogurt and zinc oxide along the particular path of the nerve. If it is applied before the outbreak it would help to control the eruption of blisters.
Dietary changes
General Dietary changes that need to be permanent (excluding those with very specific allergies to any foods suggested). A clean anti-inflammatory diet that also supplements the necessary omega 3,6 and 9 and lignin’s can have incredible effects to your overall wellbeing.
Eliminate these foods;
- Packet, prepared or convenience foods
- Soda/soft drinks
- Sugar - replace with honey or maple syrup
- Corn oil/corn Products
- Wheat-based products like pasta, bread, crackers
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- No margarine but butter is ok
The best oils to consume are;
- Avocado oil - for cooking
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil - low heating only
- Flax oil - do not heat
Supplements
- Herbs - as directed by your herbailst
- Spirulina - 6 per day.
- Flax Seed Oil - 10mls per day.
- Magnesium supplement
- Slippery Elm Powder
- Rosehips, chamomile, peppermint and or hinger herbal teas
- L-Lycine and bee pollen
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 in particular can be helpful. Vitamin B12 or Inositol is the master vitamin and is essential for cell replication and rejuvenation. It is found in Brewers Yeast, kelp, mushrooms, offal meats and elecampane. Elecampane can be used as a cream or tea and applied locally to the area.
McDowells Products
Shingles formula
Our shingles mix contains Maritime Pine Bark, Hypericum, Blue Flag, Cleavers, Valerian, Scullcap, Rosehip and Liquorice as well as the Bach Flowers Mimulus, Chestnut Bud, Crab Apple, Vervain and Wild Rose.
St Johns Wort Oil
St John's Wort Oil is made by infusing wild-crafted hypericum flowers into organic olive oil. St Johns Wort Oil will penetrate deep into the epidermis to help relieve nerve pain. This oil is easy to use across larger areas of skin. Massage the area gently with the oil four to five times a day.
Maritime Pine Bark Extract
For the lower end of the immunity you can do no better than taking a daily supplement of Maritime Pine Extract which is a wonderful antioxidant many times more powerful than Vitamin C.
Rosehip tea
Rosehip tea is one of the simplest steps to boost physical immunity is to regularly drink (2 cups daily) of Rosehips tea to assist with the upper end of the immunity.
Synergy Spirulina
Nature’s richest source of protein (65% of its weight), 300% more than fish, meat or poultry (but with zero cholesterol). 58x richer in iron than spinach - A non-toxic organic source. A rich wholefood source of antioxidants (25 times richer in betacarotene than carrots). 2x richer in chlorophyll than alfalfa, barley grass or wheatgrass. A highly concentrated source of essential fatty acids (EFA’s). Spirulina assists weight control by curbing the appetite naturally while still supplying a full range of nutrients needed for a balanced diet. As an unrefined whole food, spirulina is absorbed up to 16x more effectively than synthetic multivitamin supplements.
Skin Irritant cream
Externally the Skin Irritant Cream is appropriate as it contains comfrey. This herbal extracts in this preparation have been traditionally used to treat the nervous system problems underlying extra sensitive skin.
Magnesium Mineral Drink
Magnesium is an important element that is required to maintain many of the body's metabolic processes including muscle contraction, nerve function and energy metabolism. It is also involved in calcium deposition in the bones.
Floradix Magnesium has the added benefits of promoting heart health, supports a healthy circulatory system, and can help relax the arteries and muscles. It can also help improve sleep, reduce anxiety and the effects of stress. Magnesium has also been shown to reduce the symptoms associated with PMS including cramps.
