Let's face it- shingles are painful. Stimulated by a strain of herpes virus called varicella Zoster, shingles are small pox-like lesions that erupt on the skin over the affected nerves. One million Americans a year suffer a shingles outbreak according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many alternative treatments exist that will decrease the pain, severity and frequency of a shingles outbreak.
Nutrition and Supplements
Many diets are devoid of the vitamins and minerals needed to assist your body in warding off viruses. The shingles virus attacks at a cellular level; alternative treatments that work from the inside out use dietary supplements known to protect your body against this invasion. Vitamins B-12, C, and E boost the immune system and are widely available over the counter. Zinc, echinacea, and Omega-3 fatty acids such as fish oil will protect and repair the cellular damage that occurs with a shingles outbreak. Amino acids such as L-lysine and plant extracts like aloe vera juice have been shown to decrease the duration and inflammation of an active shingles outbreak.
Aromatherapy and Oils
When you suffer stress your immune system becomes compromised, allowing for opportunistic infections, such as shingles, to attack. Adding lavender oil to a warm bath, burning lavender scented candles, or adding 10 drops of essential oil to steaming water and inhaling will calm the nerves and silence your mind. You can also use essential oil compresses to reduce the pain from shingles. Holistic-online.com suggests using a dilution of tea tree oil and warm water compresses applied two to three times daily for its' antimicrobial and astringent properties.
Hydrotherapy
Prior to a shingles outbreak you may feel a burning pain across the skin where the lesion outbreak will soon occur. Ice packs applied prior to an outbreak will assist in decreasing the inflammatory response at the site. Ice should not be applied directly to the skin; wrap ice in a towel or facecloth and apply for no longer than 15 minutes at a time, then remove for at least five more minutes. This cycle should be repeated for the first few days of an outbreak to control the pain and swelling of shingles at the outbreak site. Body-temperature soaks daily in a bath will sooth the nerves and promote healing of the lesions. Avoid very warm or hot water as this can increase the pruritic, or itching of the lesions.
Relaxation Therapies
Anytime you are angered, in pain, or under stress your body's ability to fight off disease is limited. A time tested alternative therapy for shingles includes adding a relaxation regiment to your daily exercise routine. Yoga, Tai-Chi, or Pranic breathing therapy are all methods to relax your mind-body connection and boost your immune response.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Shingles Disease-Questions and Answers.
- Healing With Nutrition: Shingles-The Herpes Virus Strikes Again.
- Holistic-online.com: Hydrotherapy for Shingles.
- Holistic-online.com: Vitamin and Mineral Therapy for Shingles.
- Holistic-online.com: Aromatherapy for Shingles.
