If you are like most people you probably like to solve a problem and get rid of it, not just keep making it go away for a while only to have it return. That is one reason many people wonder why natural remedies only treat the symptoms of shingles. As you may know, shingles are caused by a virus that also causes chicken pox, an illness that usually only affects children. Shingles, on the other hand, is caused by the same virus, but usually occurs in older people.
Who may have shingles? Almost anyone can have an outbreak of shingles especially if you have lived in parts of the world with a temperate climate and you are over 15 years of age. If you fit into that wide category, you've probably been exposed to the virus. Typically, however, only about 1-3 people out of 1,000 in the general population will experience an outbreak of shingles.
Even if it has been years since you had chicken pox, you may still have an outbreak of this painful and aggravating illness because the virus often lies dormant for years, then traveling through the blood, finds its way to the ganglion, nerve endings that serve the skin. It then moves into the dermal layers and manifests s itching, rash, pain. While most commonly found on the torso, it may move to the face and even affect the eyes. So it is a rash and condition that must be taken seriously.
It can cause moderate to severe pain and that is why we treat the symptoms. It is a virus and therefore there is no cure for it, though natural remedies have traditionally been used in Chinese medicine and Western holistic care. One of the more popular natural remedies is tea made from Burdock Root. There are also ointments and salves that contain St. John's Wort, an anti-inflammatory, which may relieve pain; violet leaf, which may relieve itching, calendula, burdock, & yarrow which may reduce redness and be soothing to the skin.
It would be nice if there was an actual cure for shingles and chicken pox but as of the writing of this article, there isn't a cure. The best we can do is to try to make those who suffer from shingles comfortable and to offer support. It is said in medicine, "First do no harm." That is a good motto and the best way to start to treat any ailment, in my opinion, is to start with natural ingredients. Of course, you should always consult a health care professional before undertaking any treatment.
Your doctor may prescribe medicines for your shingles outbreak, but you may also want to use traditional treatments such as those mentioned above, to treat the symptoms.
Debi Swift, the owner of Endless Herbs Natural Foods, has developed the formula for Shingles Soother http://endlessherbs.com/products/shingles-soother-kit/. A natural and safe herbal remedy for Shingles relief and treatment. Endless Herbs is a small company run by women and we use our own experience to develop our products and yes, we use them ourselves. We chose each ingredient through our own experiences and we are proud of the results and our repeat customers. Visit our store in Newport, Me or online at Endless Herbs Natural Foods