Every year, millions of people suffer from outbreaks of shingles, a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (the same virus that causes chickenpox).
Mainstream medical science tells us that there are no cures for shingles and that only mainstream drugs can effectively manage symptoms.
In actuality, there are a number of natural remedies, which can help manage and relieve shingles and possibly even eliminate the virus.
The medical term for shingles is “herpes zoster.” After having chickenpox, the virus becomes dormant in nerve tissue – but can be reactivated years later as shingles.
Most common in seniors with immune issues
Shingles are most common in adults between 60 and 80 years old and those with weakened immune systems.
Shingles spread through the skin as a rash or blister similar to chicken-pox.
It’s associated with grueling pain, itchiness, burning sensation and sometimes even numbness.
Once the blisters burst open they can often be healed within a week or two, leaving behind light scars which will soon disappear.
While shingles may not be a deadly disease, it can be dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, such as those suffering from HIV, those getting mainstream cancer treatments and those who have organ transplants.
When shingles rash appears on the cheek or near the eyes, it is important to get prompt medical attention, as shingles in the eyes can cause temporary or permanent loss of vision.
Avoiding a shingles outbreaks
There are three important steps to avoiding a shingles outrbeak…
- Build and maintain a strong natural immune system.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Avoid and manage stress.
Supplements can help too. One particularly good combination for getting rid of shingles is colloidal silver, proteolytic enzymes and olive leaf extract.
Colloidal silver:
An extremely effective pathogen destroyer which can be taken internally as well as applied topically.
Recent studies have found that:
1) Colloidal silver attaches itself to viruses and prevents them from replicating and
2) There are specific silver receptors on human nerve tissue – the location where the shingles virus “hides out”.
Proteolytic enzymes:
Produced naturally by the pancreas to help digest the protein and they are reported to be able to strip away the protective outer layers and heads of viruses.
These enzymes are found in certain foods, such as papaya and pineapple, and are also available in supplement form.
In a German study, 96 people with shingles took proteolytic enzymes for 14 days and another 96 people with shingles took acyclovir, a standard antiviral medication. Both groups experienced similar pain relief and skin improvement. The group taking proteolytic enzymes had significantly fewer side effects.
Olive leaf extract:
Avery effective anti-viral that has been reported to conquer viruses that mainstream medicine considers impossible to eliminate, such as Hepatitis-C.
One patient who had suffered from shingles for nine years reported experiencing complete relief within two days after beginning to use olive leaf extract.
Tips for relieving shingles symptoms
- Keep the blisters open and dry and the affected area clean.
- Do not burst the blisters by scratching.
- Apply wet, cool compresses to reduce pain
- Apply wet dressings to soothe the burning sensation.
- Avoid being in humid areas.
- Always keep yourself cool.
Other natural remedies for shingles:
- The martial art Tai Chi
- Capsaicin Cream
- Acupuncture.
- Dab infected blisters with colloidal silver or hydrogen peroxide.
- Mix 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar in 2 cups of water and use a cotton cloth to moisten the affected areas.
- Mix aloe vera gel, raw honey and leek juice and apply to the rash.
- Sponge the blisters and rash with vitamin E oil, apple cider vinegar, goldenseal, mugwort and/or peppermint tea.
- Baking soda and water solution can also be applied as a cold compress.
Tony Isaacs, is a natural health author, advocate and researcher who hosts The Best Years in Life website for those who wish to avoid prescription drugs and mainstream managed illness and live longer, healthier and happier lives naturally. Mr. Isaacs is the author of books and articles about natural health, longevity and beating cancer including "Cancer's Natural Enemy" and is working on a major book project due to be published later this year. He is also a contributing author for the worldwide advocacy group S.A N.E.Vax. Inc which endeavors to uncover the truth about HPV vaccine dangers.
Mr. Isaacs is currently residing in scenic East Texas and frequently commutes to the even more scenic Texas hill country near Austin and San Antonio to give lectures and health seminars. He also hosts the CureZone Ask Tony Isaacs - featuring Luella May forum as well as the Yahoo Health Group Oleander Soup and he serves as a consultant to the Utopia Silver Supplement Company.
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What about taking BHT capsules to prevent the Herpes altogether?
L-lysine approx 500mg per day in active cases along with sublingual B-12 plus spinal adjustments is very effective in many cases.
L-lysine 50mg per day as a preventative in those that may be susceptible.
I agree with the suggestions except my experience with hydrogen peroxide is that it feeds the virus. Better to use chlorhexidine glconate (Hibiclens)
I suggest you drag out Adele Davis’ book from 1965. My second oldest daughter had an attack of shingles in 1973 when she was eight years old. Using Davis’ topical application of Vitamins A and E and her fortified milk we had the girl back in school in three days. I think there were some other things involved but the book got destroyed in Katrina and I have not been able to replace it.
I have known a few people with shingles situations. Of the ones who were open to something other than the medical propaganda and would try something natural, the amino acid lysine proved very helpful but I never knew anyone to get much help, especially in any kind of quick time frame, using only 500 mg as is mentioned in one of the earlier entries.
On a related subject I had a cat develop a very extensive eye problem. We had never had this in any of our 7 cats over a 38 year period. The vet identified it as conjunctivitis. If you do a search for “feline conjunctivitis” or even just “cat eye problems or diseases” you will get many listings. There are several pictures. The last time I looked, which was when he had the problem, his was worse than the worst picture which was itself quite bad.
I decided against the extended veterinary approach, which would have been anywhere from $700 up with no real idea as to what the top cap was. One of the sites talked about how herpes is what is at work if it is NOT caused by a bacteria. I got the eye salve the vet wanted for the first attack on it. He said if it was bacteria it would respond to this salve in 4 days. Nothing happened which was when he wanted me to take the cat to a different facility, actually the vet medicine arm of a university.
Knowing Herpes was behind this eye thing if it was not bacteria, and knowing what lysine would do for Herpes in the shingles situation, I started the cat on it heavily. He had no appetite. I mixed the powdered lysine in water and got it as thick as I could and still have it be able to be picked up by a dropper. I gave him a dropper full several times a day. The first sign of change was in about 24 hours and steadily progressed to the eye being totally normal.
That cat went back to the vet sometime later because of managing to slice a foot rather badly (he goes in and out whenever he wants to). The vet was naturally curious about the eye and I told him what I had done. He went to another room and got a paper and brought it to me to read while we were working on the foot. He had just gone to a seminar where a vet from somewhere out east had developed a vaccine for conjunctivitis. One of its main components was lysine and the vaccine material being hooked to it some way.
Study benfotiamine for shingles
Vitamin B12 is a well known fortifier of nerves and the nervous system in general. The dormant – spinal chord resident virus attacks during a transient or permanent weakness of the nervous system. Then …of course 1mg (1000 units) B12 daily is a very effective prevention of shingles.
What about internal shingles? Aloes?
I’m sorry, I really found these comments disappointing as a person who has had shingles for several years although the rash went away after a month or so after the onset. This is not neuropathy per se as the nerve pain comes and goes; it’s not permanent damage . Perhaps, there is no medical cure for a continued case of shingles the nerve pain, but there must be some helpful suggestions. 9/25