- Make It Yourself Lavender Heart-Shaped Bath Bombs!
- 20 Things You Never Knew About “Down There”
- 12 Best Foods For Those Suffering From Arthritis Pain
- 12 Personal Hygiene Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes (Mom Never Told You About #4!)
- 15 Medicinal Plants And Herbs From The Cherokee People
- 12 Mind-Blowing Benefits Of Drinking Coconut Water During Pregnancy
- 12 Outstanding Winter Foods That Won’t Fatten You Up Like A Christmas Turkey
Top 10 Ways to Naturally Heal Shingles
Photo credit: bigstock.com
If you or someone you know has had an outbreak of shingles (herpes zoster) then you know how terribly painful those blisters can be. Shingles is a secondary outbreak of the chicken pox virus. Although it can occur in those who received the vaccine, most people who get shingles had chickenpox as a child. For some unknown reason, in some people, this virus lies dormant and returns to make a very unwanted second appearance known as shingles. If you never received the vaccine and you never had chickenpox, you can become infected and develop chickenpox if you are exposed to someone with shingles. This is why it is important for those who have not been vaccinated or have never had the chickenpox to avoid anyone with shingles. Adults who become infected with the chickenpox virus can become sterile, especially men, and can develop lung problems such as pneumonia.
Shingles generally occurs decades after the original infection. These raised blisters are very painful and itch like mad. This rash can occur anywhere on the body but it is most commonly found on the torso. Although the exact reason why this virus makes a second appearance is not fully understood, but scientists believe that it can be triggered by extreme stress, a severe illness, or a weakening of your immune system.
Many doctors will prescribe antiviral medications. These can help to shorten the duration of the rash and sometimes reduce symptoms but for many people these drugs are ineffective. Your doctor will most likely offer you these antiviral drugs and then suggest more natural means of easing the painful symptoms. If you choose, you can use the following 10 natural means of healing and easing the pain of shingles instead of, or in combination with, your doctor’s prescription medication.
1. Colloidal Silver
Many people believe that colloidal silver can help to relieve the symptoms of shingles as well as reduce the duration of the rash. Since bacteria and viruses cannot survive in the presence of silver, this makes sense, but since there are no actual studies regarding this, it’s an as of yet undiscovered area. If you or someone you love has shingles, you can try colloidal silver. It won’t hurt but it might help substantially and many people swear by it.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
In order to stimulate recovery as well as reduce pain and stop the itching, you can soak a wash rag in apple cider vinegar and place it over the affected area four or more times per day. This can help to dry up the blisters as well. Never pick at the scabs or pop the blisters, as this can spread the virus further. Although it would be difficult to catch this virus from the wash rag, it is possible. Always wash any clothing, bedding, rags, towels, or anything that touches the open sores in hot water to avoid spreading the virus.
Continue to Page 2
