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...
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 water over coffee, tea or alcohol.
First Aid Treatment
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.
McDowells Products
St Johns Wort Oil
Use Hypericum (St Johns Wort) Oil and add a couple of drops of the Bach Flower essences Holly and Rescue Remedy. The oil may be smoothed over the areas that give trouble two or three times daily sparingly and should quite quickly offer relief. The two Bach flower essences should also be added to drinking water as well. Just two drops of each to each glass of water during the day.
References
1. Herpes zoster
David W Wareham, senior clinical lecturer (honorary consultant) in medical microbiology and Judith Breuer, professor of virology (honorary consultant)
2. Yarnell E, Abascal K. Herbs for treating herpes zoster infections Altern Complement Ther. 2005:131-134.
