What is Shingles?
An acute and painful inflammatory virus disease, affecting the skin overlying one or more sensory nerve trunks, also the nerve trunks themselves, and characterized by groups of small blisters on inflamed bases.
The skin eruption breaks out in crops,...The groups of blisters, each with a red base, dry and form crusts after a week of two....The blisters sometimes become pustules....The pain, neuralgic in character, may develop before the blisters appear;.....
Nerves on both sides of the body, or more than one nerve on the same side, may be affected, with corresponding widespread eruption. Occasionally nerves that supply the skin of the neck, the arms, the abdomen, or the thighs are attacked......Shingles is usually less severe in young persons than in those who are older.
What causes this development of the disease?
Overwork, general debility, damp and chilly weather, or the absorption of certain drugs....but a specific cause of the disease is a virus which affects the nerves and skin.
The New Modern Medical Counselor, by Hubert O. Swartout, MD, DNB, DrPH
[page 468] @1951
What should you do if you have Shingles?
- In severe cases, complete rest
- If constipated take a laxative
- Eat a simple easily digested diet
- Drink an abundance of fluids
- A heating pad or heat/light lamp to the painful area and will relieve some of the distress of Shingles
- Apply 1% phenol (used to disinfect skin/relieve itching) in Calamine lotion to help dry the blisters
- Daub a cotton ball of White Willow or Apple Cider Vinegar for pain
- For itching you can also use Aloe Vera, Lemon juice and Eucalyptus oil
- Positive for Shingles take 3 x day 10 mg of vitamin B1 (also known as Thiamine)
- If your pain has become very severe with no relief from Home remedies consult a physician
The New Modern Medical Counselor, by Hubert O. Swartout,MD, DNB, DrPh [page 467]
The How To Herb Book, by Velma J. Keith & Monteen Gordon [page 226] @1984
What about drugs from Conventional Medicine?
- VALTREX (Valacyclovir,generic name): Antiviral drug to slow growth and spread of the virus --- Side effects: discouragement, sad feeling, lack of appetite, loss of pleasure, tiredness, troubled sleep and concentration--may not apply to Valtrex
- ACYCLOVIR: No cure for symptoms of lesions, but used to treat infections --- Side effects: pain, swellings, redness, abdomen pain, decrease in frequency of urination and thirst, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, and weakness.
Antibiotics (for influenza and virus)
3. RELENZA (Zanamivir, generic name): Treatment for influenza A/B used as a preventive --- Side effects: convulsions, joint pain, skin rash, dizziness, fainting, increase sensitive to sunlight, itching/red swell eyes, short of breath and slow heartbeat
4. TAMIFLU (Oseltamivir-phosphate, generic name): Antiviral medication-blocks actions of influenza virus A/B --- Side effects: abdominal cramps, arm/back/saw pain, increase thirst, weight loss, chest pain, facial swelling, fast heartbeat, hoarseness, pain and short of breath
5. RAPIVAB (Peramivir): Prevents an enzyme in the body from releasing virus from infected cells. Used to treat influenza in adults who have flu symptoms --- Side effects: blistering skin, chills, cough, diarrhea, fever, itching, joint pain, red eyes, and sore throat
An important key to staying healthy ---- IMMUNITY
"Our Immune System is the body's legacy......
It is a multi-part, many-tiered, incredibly sophisticated system by which our bodies are able to naturally resist disease and infection---to fight off the invading bacteria, in our potentially hostile environment" page 3
"....Together, mind, diet, and physical movement will unify our forces of immunity." page 71
Maximum Immunity by Michael A. Weiner, PhD @1986
