Home Remedies for Shingles

These home remedies for shingles or herpes zoster may help provide shingles pain relief. You may need to get medical attention for shingles treatment if the shingles rash or blisters appear close to or around the eyes. This is because the varicella zoster virus can damage the nerves around the eyes and lead to vision problems.

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella zoster virus which is also the virus that causes chicken pox. After a chicken pox infection, some of the virus may remain in the nerve cells. The virus may reappear and attack again. Those at risk and are prone to the herpes zoster virus are people who have had chicken pox, are over the age of 50, had a surgery, and are stressed and whose immune response have weakened.

A burning sensation, numbness, pain and tingling on one side of the body are some of the early shingles symptoms. Red rash will appear on that part of the body, followed by fluid-filled blisters which will cause itchiness, discomfort, pain and sleepless nights. It can take between five days to a few weeks.

If the shingles virus manages to cause damage to the nerve fibers, you will develop another condition called postherpetic neuralgia. Once this happens, you will experience piercing post shingles pain even after the blisters have healed.

These home remedies for shingles may help relieve the discomfort, itching, and pain.

Home remedies for shingles No. 1 - Apple cider vinegar

Many anecdotal claims point to organic and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar as one of the best natural home remedies for shingles. It isn't a cure for shingles but what it does is relive the itching and pain. It may work better if taken internally and applied on the skin when you notice the early shingles symptoms.

To take it orally, mix one or two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. You can add a teaspoon of honey for a better taste. Or instead of water, add it to a glass of apple juice. At the same time, soak a cotton ball or gauze pad in the apple cider vinegar and apply it on the affected area. Repeat this remedy several times a day.

Home remedies for shingles No. 2 - Cayenne pepper

Applying capsaicin which is the extract of cayenne pepper may help relieve the pain but it should be used only after the blisters have healed. Capsaicin has analgesic properties and is a natural pain killer.

One of the ways to use cayenne as a natural remedy for shingles is to mix a little bit of cayenne pepper powder to a tablespoon of aloe vera gel. Before you apply it on the affected area, dab it on the inside of your forearm to test if it will cause an irritation.

Be warned that it does cause some pain initially. Mixing it with aloe vera gel will enable you to tolerate it. As your skin gets used to it, the capsaicin will numb the shingles pain. You can also buy over the counter cream containing capsaicin which is normally used to relieve arthritis pain.

Home remedies for shingles No. 3 - Cold compress

One of the ways to relieve the pain caused by the blisters is to use a cold pack. Dip a wash cloth into ice water. Squeeze the water away and place the cold cloth on the blisters. You can also wrap a pack of frozen peas in a thin towel and use it as a cold pack. Leave the cold compress for 20 minutes or until you feel the effect wearing off and repeat the process if necessary.

Home remedies for shingles No. 4 - Herbal remedies for shingles

1. Olive leaf has antiviral and antioxidant properties. Taking olive leaf extract supplement or drinking olive leaf tea can enhance your immune system and may prevent shingles outbreak. Applying olive leaf extract topically on the rashes and blisters will also provide shingles pain relief.
   
   
   
2. St John's wort contains many active natural plant compounds with healing properties. Applying it on the affected area may soothe the pain. When taken internally, St John's wort has the ability to block the removal of serotonin from the brain and thus keep pain signals from reaching the brain. St John's wort is also known as a natural anti depressant herb and will assist in alleviating stress which is one of the possible causes of shingles or the result of having to endure the shingles disease.
   
   
   
3. Taking echinacea internally will assist the lymphocytes to release interferons which will then attack the herpes zoster virus and prevent it from multiplying.
   
   
   
4. When applied to the skin, the active compounds in tea tree oil will penetrated the skin, soothe the irritation or itchiness and prevent the blisters from weeping. You can also mix it with aloe vera gel as both herbs are known to speed up healing process.
   
   
   
5. Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin which has antiviral properties. Preliminary studies indicate that licorice may prevent the shingles virus from reproducing when taken internally. Another way to use licorice root extract as home remedies for shingles to make the powder into a paste and applying in to your rash or blisters.

Home remedies for shingles No. 5 - Natural pain killer or analgesic

If you want to fight the pain, take natural pain killers instead of over the counter analgesic. Black cohosh, peppermint, rosemary, valerian root and white willow bark are some of the herbs that produce analgesic effect and provide pain relief.

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