Chicken pox, a condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is a common childhood disease. PubMed Health reports that itchy blisters are the most common symptom associated with this condition. In most cases, chicken pox occurs in children under the age of 10, and the severity of this condition is usually mild. Serious complications may occur in some cases, though. Nutritional supplements may help treat your chicken pox, although you should avoid taking supplements without first consulting your family physician.
Chicken Pox Info
Chicken pox spreads quickly and easily between children. Some of the most common symptoms associated with chicken pox include an intense, itchy rash, headache and fever. The chicken pox-related rash usually develops on the trunk, scalp and face, and symptoms may last approximately five to 10 days. If you have eczema, you may develop more pox due to your increased skin vulnerability and a weakened immune system. Most pox will not cause scarring, unless they are scratched and develop bacterial infections.
Nutritional Supplements
Both herbal and non-herbal dietary supplements have been used for many years to help treat chicken pox. According to certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," commonly used herbal supplements for this condition include catnip, burdock root, reishi, echinacea, ginger, goldenseal, pau d'arco and St. John's wort. Helpful non-herbal dietary supplements for chicken pox include carotenoid complex, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and zinc. Further studies may be necessary to prove these supplements' purported health benefits. The goals of herbal and nutritional treatments for chicken pox are to heal your tissues, stimulate your immune system and help combat the virus that causes this condition.
Supplement in Focus
Reishi mushroom extract is an herbal supplement that may be beneficial in treating your chicken pox. Reishi mushroom extracts possess both immune-stimulating and antiviral properties. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, extracts from the reishi mushroom have historically been used in treating viral infections, low immune function, fatigue, elevated cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, inflammation and poor strength and stamina. This supplement may cause a dry throat and nose and gastrointestinal upset in certain individuals. Meet with your doctor before using reishi mushroom extract to help treat your chicken pox.
Warning
Chicken pox, though occasionally severe, usually self-resolves over time, although certain health complications -- pneumonia, encephalitis, bacterial infections -- may manifest in some cases. If you develop chicken pox, meet with your health-care provider to discuss healthy and appropriate treatment strategies for your condition. If your physician prescribes dietary supplements to help keep your symptoms in check, always follow her instructions about how best to use the supplement in treating your condition.
References
- PubMed Health: Chickenpox
- MedlinePlus: Chickenpox
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Reishi Mushroom
