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Page 32
| Shingles |
| Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a hot, inflamed condition. The word shingles is derived from the Latin word for girdle as it can spread up the body. Shingles is a virus that can cause pain along the nerves, eruptions and crust formation in the skin. Attacks have been known to last from a week in younger folks to two months in older people. |
| The pain of shingles is due to the swelling of the blisters; however, pain may persist even after the blisters heal since the nerves have been irritated. |
| Drink plenty of beet juice and eat beets. Herbs to use internally include echinacea, licorice, lomatium, Saint John's wort and yellow dock. |
| Use acidophilus to help the growth of friendly microorganisms. |
| Salves used topically that are helpful for herpes will often help shingles, which is a related virus. Chicken pox is also a related virus, and those exposed to chicken pox sometimes develop shingles. A beneficial salve for shingles will often contain herbs such as lysine, calendula, tea tree and St. John's wort. Peppermint essential oil can be applied topically to numb the pain. Black walnut tincture can be taken orally. Lobelia tincture in small doses can be used internally and topically. Take 1/3 of a dropperful in a bit of water 3 times daily. A folk remedy is to apply apple cider vinegar or aloe vera juice or try a paste of baking soda and apple cider vinegar, a charcoal compress or a paste of Epsom salts and water. Oatmeal baths can also relieve pain. |
| Drink two cups of diluted celery juice daily (unless pregnant). Use vitamins A and C to help fight infection and a B-complex to help with stress. |
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