Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash that typically appears as a band of blisters that wrap around from the middle of the back around to one side of the chest to the breast bone. It’s caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. It affects nearly 850,000 people each year.

The symptoms of shingles include the following:

• Achiness
• Fever and chills
• Pain, numbness or tingling
• Fluid filled blisters
• Itching
• A red rash that appears a few days after the pain

For some people the first symptom of shingles is the pain. Some people confuse pain from shingles with heart, lung or kidney issues.

There are some simple things you can do at home if you get shingles. To help with sores and healing apply vitamin E oil. You can also purchase licorice gel (you may have to get this through an herbal practitioner) and it apply it up to three times a day.

Because many people get shingles because of a weakened immune system it’s important to eat a balanced diet, especially during the time you’re ill. Take vitamin C supplements at least once a day and increase the amount of B vitamins you take. Also try taking vitamin E. Vitamin E may lower the amount of time you have shingles.

To help numb the pain make a paste with ground nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and a small amount of water. Apply the paste directly to your blisters.

If you think you may have shingles you should see a doctor. Even though shingles aren’t life threatening they can be extremely painful. If the pain or rash occurs next to your eyes see a doctor immediately. This could cause infection in your eye and lead to eye damage. Also see if a doctor if you have a weakened immune system due to cancer, medications or illness or if your rash is widespread and the pain is too unbearable or uncomfortable.

Herbal Remdies for Shingles is a post from: Sassafras Station

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