Shingles is an infectious disease that causes a virus that affects not only the skin, but also the nervous system. In an inactive state, it is located in neurons located in the horns of the spinal cord, ganglia of the nervous system and cranial nerves. This virus in childhood causes chickenpox. It is necessary to begin treatment of shingles in a person with the first manifestations of an ailment.
What triggers the virus and what may be the consequences
Being in the body, the causative agent of the disease may not give signals about its existence for decades. You can provoke infection with chemotherapy, trauma, infection, hypothermia, stress. In this case, the disease can cause undesirable consequences.
- With a severe form of the disease, immobilization of damaged parts of the body may occur, caused by damage to the motor nerves.
- Often, disorders occur on the part of some internal organs. It can be various diseases of the duodenum and urogenital system, pneumonia.
- If the virus affects the eyes, then complications such as optic neuritis can occur . As a result, visual acuity can deteriorate sharply.
- If a bactericidal infection joins the disease, then purulent processes begin, which aggravate the patient's condition. Recovery may be delayed for more than one month.
Treatment of the effects of shingles should be carried out in accordance with the symptoms. In this case, only a narrow specialist can prescribe therapy. It is worth considering that with severe forms of the disease, the prognosis is favorable. Serious and recurrent effects of shingles are extremely rare. People with weakened immune systems after the inflammatory process may have exacerbations.
How to deal with skin rashes
Treatment of shingles with alternative methods allows you to speed up the healing process. However, first you need to know how to deal with skin rashes. Take a bath is not worth it. Better to wash in the shower. It is forbidden to use various salts and essential oils. During bathing, it is better not to touch the affected areas at all.
To the must where the shingles are located, it is better to apply a cold heating pad with ice. With severe itching, you can make lotions with menthol or calamine.
Affected areas should not come in contact with clothing. Better to leave them open. Also, do not apply ointments intended for the treatment of radiculitis. The use of the cream in this case is ineffective. Often, the disease requires hospitalization. If the doctor suggests taking a course of therapy in a hospital, then you should not refuse. Indeed, the treatment of complications of shingles can drag on for many months.
Folk remedies to combat the disease
Alternative treatment of herpes zoster is built mainly on the intake of various decoctions and infusions inside. Often viruses manifest themselves with a decrease in immunity. Therefore, most of the drugs of alternative medicine are aimed at solving this problem.
To strengthen immunity during the disease, you can take willow infusion. To prepare this tool, you should take a spoon (tablespoon) of the bark and brew it with boiling water. One glass is enough. Infuse the drug for an hour. Such treatment of shingles at home can be carried out regularly. You need to take the medicine three times a day for ¼ cup before meals.
During the period of the disease, experts recommend using tincture of echinacea.
Compresses against rashes
Treatment of shingles with alternative methods is based not only on the use of drugs inside, but also on the use of various compresses. To dry and reduce rashes, you can use fried onions. The vegetable must be peeled and held over the fire, pricked on a fork. The onion should be slightly fried. You can also gently chop the vegetable into pieces and put in a hot pan. The product should turn golden. After the product needs to be cooled, and then applied to the rash on the skin.
To reduce itching and pain, you can take a towel and moisten it in cold water. Squeeze well and then cover with a rash.
To treat shingles in the elderly much faster, you can use the infusion of immortelle grass. To prepare it, you need to take a tablespoon of raw materials and brew a glass of hot water. The container with the product must be wrapped up and allowed to stand for about an hour. Having moistened a bandage or cotton wool in the infusion of the immortelle, the affected skin should be lubricated. This must be done daily and preferably several times throughout the day. It is better to carry out the procedure in the evening and in the morning.
Apple cider vinegar against ailment
Treatment of shingles at home can be done with apple cider vinegar. However, certain rules must be followed. Otherwise, therapy will not give positive results.
Treatment of shingles with apple cider vinegar is a fairly simple and effective method. For the treatment of affected areas, the tool can not be bred. It is enough to lubricate the rash three times a day. After the procedure, all the unpleasant sensations, including itching, weaken. After several days of such therapy, the disease may completely disappear. Before using apple cider vinegar, you should make sure that the patient has no contraindications, for example, intolerance to the product.
Infusion of calendula and meadowsweet
A compress from meadowsweet and calendula is considered an excellent remedy. To prepare the drug, you need to take several teaspoons of meadowsweet flowers, pre-ground, as well as 100 grams of calendula flowers. All components must be filled with ½ liters of alcohol. Insist on the drug for 30 days. In the finished tincture, you need to moisten a piece of gauze, folded several times, and attach to the sore spot for 10 minutes.
Also, tincture can be used for oral administration. To do this, take half a glass of water, preferably boiled, dilute a teaspoon of the finished product in it. You need to take the drug three times a day. Such treatment of shingles at home can not only remove the rash, but also reduce pain.
Melissa infusion for oral administration
The most effective is considered to be an infusion prepared on the basis of lemon balm. For cooking, pour a few tablespoons of hot water a tablespoon of the ground part of the plant. The drug should be infused. This will take several hours. You need to take it four times a day, 100 ml. It is advisable to drink the drug before meals.
How to Prevent Shingles
It is not always the treatment of shingles at home gives a positive effect. Therefore, doctors recommend that you carefully consider your health and regularly take drugs that can increase the body's resistance to various infections and viruses.
Bee products help get rid of many problems. To strengthen the immune system and prevent infection by viruses, you can use propolis tincture. It is enough to take 11-15 drops of the drug daily, previously diluted in water or juice. This remedy is effective during illness and for prevention.
Milk thistle tincture also helps to prevent the disease. To prepare it, you need to take 50 grams of the powder obtained from this plant, and pour it with vodka. For such an amount of raw materials, only half a liter is required. Insist the drug should be in a dark place for two weeks. The finished tincture should be taken four times a day, 20 drops, previously diluted in a small amount of water, preferably before meals.
Another remedy that helps prevent the disease and strengthen the immune system is a tincture made from ginger roots. To prepare this product, you need to pour 150 grams of prepared raw materials into 800 milliliters of vodka. The container with the drug must be tightly closed and put in a dark place. The remedy is infused for about 2 weeks. In this case, the container must be shaken periodically. Take the finished product several times a day before meals, diluting in water from 10 to 15 drops. It is worth remembering that tincture based on ginger is contraindicated for those who suffer from allergies and have problems with the intestines, stomach and liver.
Finally
Many experts recommend not treating shingles with alternative methods on their own. It is better to do this with the permission of the attending physician, since improper therapy can lead to complications. To obtain a positive result, specialists usually prescribe compresses with the use of alternative medicine, as well as antiviral agents. After all, it is necessary to suppress the disease from within. It is worth remembering that the result of therapy depends on the severity of the course of the disease.