Shingles

Shingles also known as Herpes zoster is characterized by skin rash caused by the virus Varicella zoster virus (VZV). It is also the virus that causes chickenpox.

The VZV lingers in the nervous system and is never fully eradicated from the body. For some reason like emotional stress, immune deficiency, and cancer the virus reactivates causing shingles.

Any individual who had chickenpox is at risk in development of shingles. Shingles affects mostly in people over the age of 60.

The virus that causes shingles and chickenpox is different from the herpes virus that causes genital herpes and mouth sores.

Shingles can be spread from an affected person to anyone whether children or adults who have not had chickenpox. When infected instead of developing shingles, these people develop chickenpox.

Symptoms

• Fever
• Chills
• Itching
• Headache
• Sensitive skin
• Tingling Sensation
• Burning and severe pain
• Red blisters that eventually pop and ooze

Causes

• Stress
• Fatigue
• Cancer
• Skin Injury
• Radiation treatments
• Weak immune system
• Chickenpox during the childhood years

Home Remedies / Treatment

Ice pack:
Applying cold compress to the blister affected area can reduced the pain

Papaya:
Eat raw ripe papaya; it has the substance called papain that helps in generating Proteolytic enzymes which combats pain caused by shingles

Pineapple:
Eat raw ripe pineapple, its has substance called bromelain that helps in generating Proteolytic enzymes which combats pain caused by shingles

Capsaicin/Capsicum cream:
It is an OTC cream that helps in combating the pain caused by shingles

Starch Bath:
Put a handful of starch into your bathwater and soak around 20 minutes. This is ideal before going to sleep to lessen the pain caused by blisters.

Aspirin mixed paste:
Mash two aspirin tablets (not aspirin substitutes) into a powder. Add 2 tablespoons of chloroform and mix. Apply the in the affected area with a clean cotton ball. Apply the paste several times a day

Prevention

Vaccinate during childhood years against the chickenpox (varicella) and the shingles (varicella-zoster)

Avoid physical contact with chickenpox-infected person

Take vitamin C and vitamin B-complex, 200 milligrams of vitamin C five or six times a day to build immune power and a vitamin B-complex supplement to regenerate and rebuild nerve cells.

Take vitamins with zinc content
Take lysine supplements