Shingles is a painful, contagious skin rash. Blisters that usually present in a single wide stripe on one side of the face or body. Fever, headache, pin-pricking nerve pain and tiredness accompany this. If someone in your family contracts it, you’ll find out, sharp-like.
Homeopathy offers a long-lasting solution with no side effects.
Learn more about what causes it and side-effects of the conventional approach below.
In the meantime, here are top homeopathic remedies to address, reduce and eliminate shingles.
Right-sided pain. Intense itching and smarting/burning as if pricked by hot needles. A blistering skin rash that is calmed by hot (yes, hot) water. Asthma is sometimes present. Chest pains. Nerve pains. The remedy is Rhus tox (see Arsenicum)
Kalmia is another right-sided pain remedy for Shingles. Tearing pains shoot downward and the area around eruptions.
Blisters with scabs that are often crusty and white. Pus is acrid and gluey. Intense itching worse for warmth with a feeling that bugs re crawling on the skin. Sometime the itchy areas feel cold. The remedy is Mezereum. This is perhaps the top remedy for shingle pains around the face. When there is nerve pain over the left eye think of this remedy. The choice of Mezereum is confirmed when pain shoots downward. Discomfort is intense, often around the teeth and painful especially in the ear at night. It is intermittent and the area often becomes numb.
Shooting pains and burning intensity that effect nerves are hallmarks of Hypericum.
Blue blisters filled with pus. Severe itching and burning, much worse if touched, worse on the left side. Often focused above the eye or in the intercostal nerves between the ribs. The remedy is Ranunculus Bulbosus.
Another remedy that alleviates face pain is Arsenicum. Needle-like pains that burn and oddly, feel better for hot applications. (see Rhus tox)
Shingles on the face that sting and turn into clusters of pustules that weep are addressed by Croton tig. They itch and burn.
Armpit shingles which sometimes spread to back? Eruptions are crusty and moist worse and night, better from warm applications. These are worse before menses. Look at Dolichos.
Shingles that erupt after exposure to cold wet weather are reduced and often eliminated with Dulcamara.
Watery bumps that leave crusty dry flakes in the crooks of elbows and knees are effectively treated with Nat mur.
What causes it?
Also called Herpes Zoster, Shingles is caused by the Varicella-zoster virus through direct contact with an infected person. It can be exacerbated by stress, increased age, a weakened immune system.
Side-effects of conventional meds:
Conventional medicines can’t cure this painful condition. They shorten episodes and reduce intensity of symptoms. They also come with unwanted effects:
Anti-viral side effects include dizziness, nausea, stomach pain, joint pain and a sore throat. They don’t help with nerve pain.
Painkillers can spur anxiety.
Corticosteroids lessen neuralgia but can lead to immune-suppression.
Sometimes nerve pain continues after the blisters have gone, especially in the mouth. Complications include facial paralysis, hearing problems, balance issues, loss of vision.
Shingles or other Skin problems? Let us know. We can recommend remedies that provide natural holistic help. And no after effects.