Ailments & Conditions

Natural Remedies for Shingles

Overview

Shingles (herpes varicella zoster) is caused by the varicella zoster virus. The same virus causes chickenpox in children. Shingles occurs in adults who have had the virus in them, perhaps since childhood. When the virus is reactivated, it springs back into action and causes troubling symptoms. Shingles manifest with painful and itchy rashes or blisters around the torso or face. Fatigue and sensitivity to light may also be experienced. These symptoms persist, usually between two and six weeks before they go away. Shingles isn’t life-threatening, although it may cause a lot of discomforts. Some people may have an extended battle with the symptoms due to nerve damage following the infection. This is called post-herpetic neuralgia.

The Center for Disease Control avers that about 30 percent of American people develop shingles at one point in their lives. What’s more, a whopping million people suffer from shingles yearly in the U.S. The infection has eluded scientific cure for ages now. Recently, the FDA approved a vaccine named Shingrix for the prevention of shingles. People above the age of 50 should take the vaccine to keep away from shingles. Medical treatment so far consists of prescribing an antiviral till the symptoms subside. However, aside from these, there are natural ways to treat shingles. You probably have heard of some of them but aren’t sure if they work. But I’ll show you how.