Shingles Treatment and Diagnosis
ShinglesShingles is a very popular keyword because according to estimates as many as 20% of the population in the US suffers from the disease. And the fact that more of those who are on the wrong side of 50 are affected makes it a condition that needs to be treated fast, because as a person ages, the natural immunity of the body also goes down. Therefore shingles treatment is a priority though the disease normally does not cause too much of a medical hassle. However there are exceptions, particularly in all those cases where it becomes a bit more complicated and the person suffers from postherpetic neuralgia.
There is a lot in common between shingles and chicken pox and thus, the treatments also tend to be the same. And why not, after all both the diseases are caused by the same virus - the herpes zoster virus causes chicken pox when one is young, and comes back as shingles in the advanced years.
Approach To The Treatment Of Shingles
One very methodical and scientific approach to shingles treatment that has developed over the last few years starts with identifying the causes that invite an attack of the virus. But before going deeper, it needs to be mentioned here that only a person who has suffered from chicken pox can be infected with shingles. In other words, only that person who has the chicken pox virus (a virus can never be removed from the body) within the body can get the shingles disease when the virus reactivates due to some catalyst.
The approach is to identify these catalysts and stop them from bringing the virus back. It is assumed that the person can get a shingles attack if he is living a very stressful life, drinking too much alcohol, does not exercise and even an excess of junk food can be the invitation.
Treatment And Cure
This is the sad part about the disease. Just like chicken pox where there is no cure (but the symptoms can be removed though), in shingles too the case is much the same. With adequate treatment it can take a lesser time for the symptoms of the illness to be removed. Also the spread of the symptoms can be vastly controlled. And the complications can as well be avoided. Thus, though there is no permanent cure as the virus will remain within the body, but shingles treatment is still necessary.
Eastern And Western Treatment For Shingles
Shingles treatment tends to be different in the east and the west. While in the west they go for antiviral drugs, in the east the application of natural solutions are more such as the use of a Capsaicin based cream and red pepper solutions. There are a number of Chinese remedies that involve the use of costus root, ginseng, acomite, ginger and others.
In the west too they are now agreeing that these natural remedies might be more effective in the treatment of shingles.
Jen Carter is team member and writes regularily about shingles treatment, shingles articles and other common conditions for Amoils.com.