Unfortunately, there is no way to completely cure shingles, but a medical doctor may recommend antiviral medications to help you heal more quickly and keep complications at bay. Acyclovir, , and are all prescription medications intended to keep the shingles virus from continuing their development.
However, there are some natural options for attempting the same shingles treatment through at-home methods. According to some sources, colloidal silver taken orally is detrimental to viruses, claiming it essentially invades the virus and prevents it from continued replication. Other sources report that colloidal silver may be unsafe to take orally and suggest a topical cream instead. However, it’s important to note that the FDA advises against the use of colloidal silver.
Vitamin C is another natural method for fending off the shingles virus. Much like taking vitamin C supplements during a cold or flu, it may provide a boost to the immune system. A vitamin A deficiency may also wreak havoc on the immune system, although the science is still unsure as to whether or not supplementing intake can actually help fight off viruses. Always use caution when undertaking untested alternatives to combat illness.
Baths
Although it might seem like a nice, hot bath would help with nerve pain, in the case of shingles, your best bet is a cool soak in the tub. It’s not only soothing to the blisters but also offers a prime chance to keep the rash clean, which will encourage better healing. While most topical products for shingles have a restriction on the number of uses per day, baths are an unlimited tool for remedying itchy, painful skin caused by shingles. Taking a cool bath with starch in it will also help dry out the blisters, sooth your skin, and relieve itching. Epsom salt is another soothing ingredient for bath time.
An oatmeal bath is a soothing, drying option as well. There are several packaged options for oatmeal baths, or you can make your own. Do not use pre-flavored oatmeal, as the sugar and flavoring will likely irritate your skin further. Opt for a large package of plain rolled oats, and grind them down to a powder. Combine the powder with warm water to create a smooth, milk-colored bath. As a bonus, any leftover dust can be used to sprinkle over shingles blisters to help keep them dry and prevent them from sticking to clothes or bed sheets.
Lifestyle Changes
A few simple changes to your lifestyle can help shingles heal more quickly, be less uncomfortable, or even help prevent their appearance altogether in those prone to shingles outbreaks.
Most importantly, keep the infected area clean to prevent secondary bacterial infections and promote healing. Expose the open blisters to the air as much as possible, keeping them uncovered by clothing and bandages. If you simply can’t keep your clothes or sheets from sticking to the sores, a light wrap with a sports bandage or similar item may be better than peeling off an ooze-covered cloth. Wash your hands, clothes, bedding, and towels frequently to control spreading or re-contracting the virus as much as possible.
To keep your immune system healthy, get plenty of rest, especially in the midst of a shingles outbreak, so your body can focus on fighting the virus, rather than funneling what energy it has into basic functioning. Keeping stress under control, particularly while blisters and pain are evident, will also help keep both body and mind healthier to fight off infection.
Make sure to eat a healthy diet. Some sources recommend supplementing your diet with plenty of garlic, suggesting the herb might have some healing capabilities concerning shingles. Other natural remedy sources recommend slight adjustments in diet during outbreaks, reporting that the family of viruses of which Varicella-zoster is a member are sensitive to the ratio of lysine and arginine in your system. Eat plenty of foods with lysine and a minimal amount of those high in arginine. Lysine is found in dairy products, most meats, and several fruits and vegetables—particularly apples, pears, pineapples, green beans, and avocados. Foods to cut out in order to avoid excessive arginine intake include nuts and seeds, tomatoes, berries, chocolate and other sugars, as well as wheat germ and brussel sprouts.
Unfortunately, no matter what you do there is no way to magically cure your case of shingles. It is a virus, which means the best you can do is try to heal a little faster and stay a little more comfortable while you’re dealing with the symptoms. Some patients have found a lot of success by visiting a chiropractor during shingles outbreaks, rather than a family doctor. However, although there may not be much your doctor can do, in the end, it may be better to schedule an appointment—especially if symptoms persist, worsen, or continually recur.
Cold Compresses
If you don’t have a bathtub or simply don’t have the time to soak, you can make a cold compress that’s easier to apply throughout the day. There are several different methods for creating compresses that shingles patients often find helpful. The easiest is to simply soak a towel in cold water and lay it on the affected area. The coolness should provide some relief. An ice pack is another good, simple option for shingles relief as well—and may actually numb the area a little bit. Make sure to wash towels between uses to prevent spreading the virus. Black tea bags can be placed directly on the site; the tannins contained in tea leaves have antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Leave them on the infected area for about five minutes. This may be an effective preventative measure, too, if you are prone to shingles outbreaks.
Other types of compresses can be made from a variety of simple ingredients. A towel or washcloth soaked in a 1:4 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water may also help alleviate shingles. Baking soda and water can be mixed to create a compress of sorts. Boil two tablespoons of turmeric powder with three cups of water, and apply the resulting paste—it may stain clothes so use caution. Aluminum solutions (like Domeboro) can be found over the counter; this too can dry out shingles wounds and help prevent oozing, itching, and discomfort. Again, try any new ingredient on a small area of your skin to check the reaction before applying on a large area.
Topical Products
Several different types of creams, lotions, and ointments may help alleviate the itchiness and discomfort caused by a shingles rash—and some of them may even help the nerve pain. For example, capsaicin (the ingredient in peppers that makes them spicy) is used in some lotions to treat nerve pain; it can be prescribed or found over-the-counter. It can cause some discomfort on its own, though, so as with any sort of topical solution, try it on a small area of skin to make sure there is no adverse reaction before using it regularly. Some types of lotion are also made specifically to bring a soothing sensation; calamine lotion, in particular, may be helpful for shingles. Make sure any lotion you try out is unscented, as scents can irritate the skin, too.
Although lidocaine is only available through a prescription, a topical benzocaine solution (commonly found in oral products, like Orajel for mouth pain) can be found over-the-counter. Other topical treatment options for shingles that may help include hydrocortisone cream, pascalite clay, aloe vera, calendula, or slippery elm syrup. Additionally, using a topical antibiotic cream (like triple antibiotic ointment, or Neosporin) on shingles blisters may not only provide a little bit of pain relief but also can help keep infection out of the open wounds. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly following application; although there is usually only a very slight chance of spreading the shingles virus, it can happen.
Over-the-Counter Medications
The shingles virus moves through the nerves to cause a breakout on the skin. However, it can also cause severe pain in the nerves—and not just at the site of the rash. This pain can continue long after the outbreak, in a condition known as postherpetic neuralgia. The pain associated with shingles is often one of the most difficult aspects of the virus. While your doctor may suggest a range of prescription medications intended to control shingles pain, it may be best to attempt to control it through over-the-counter options before turning to more extreme methods.
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) can be found at any drug or grocery store. They work by blocking the specific enzymes that cause pain and inflammation—which means they can help with the nerve pain and the swollen, painful rash that shows up with shingles, as well as the fever and headache that can occur. Naloxone, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen are all common NSAIDs that can safely be used to help manage shingles from home. However, it is important to note that extended use of NSAIDs may cause ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, skin reactions, and may increase the risk of a stroke or heart attack.
The exception to the cardiovascular risk of NSAIDs is aspirin, which is actually used to help combat some heart issues. However, aspirin should not be taken during a shingles outbreak. The combination can result in a rare disorder known as Reye’s Syndrome, particularly in children. Reye’s syndrome causes liver and brain swelling that can result in a variety of symptoms, from diarrhea to seizures to other cognitive dysfunction.
Natural Antivirals
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely cure shingles, but a medical doctor may recommend antiviral medications to help you heal more quickly and keep complications at bay. Acyclovir, , and are all prescription medications intended to keep the shingles virus from continuing their development.
However, there are some natural options for attempting the same shingles treatment through at-home methods. According to some sources, colloidal silver taken orally is detrimental to viruses, claiming it essentially invades the virus and prevents it from continued replication. Other sources report that colloidal silver may be unsafe to take orally and suggest a topical cream instead. However, it’s important to note that the FDA advises against the use of colloidal silver.
Vitamin C is another natural method for fending off the shingles virus. Much like taking vitamin C supplements during a cold or flu, it may provide a boost to the immune system. A vitamin A deficiency may also wreak havoc on the immune system, although the science is still unsure as to whether or not supplementing intake can actually help fight off viruses. Always use caution when undertaking untested alternatives to combat illness.
Featured Image: DepositPhotos/ arztsamui
Posted on May 5, 2023