Tag: herpes zoster virus

List Of Homeopathy Remedies For Shingles Herpes Zoster

Basic Natural Homeopathic Remedies For Shingles, also known as ‘Herpes Zoster’:  This post concentrates on the Homeopathic options available for the treating of Shingles.  More information on natural treatments for shingles may be gleaned from Merrilyn’s earlier post entitled: ‘Homeopathy For Shingles’.

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I believe that overuse of vaccinations and other medical drugs, plus the effect of toxic insecticides and herbicides and food additives, are the reason so many people get shingles at some stage of life.  It is usually under conditions of great stress that we succumb to shingles, but I think that the interference of vaccinations in our systems, and the other chemicals in our environment, are the things which set the stage for the return of the herpes zoster virus.

Dr John H. Clarke, M.D. in his Homeopathy book ‘The Prescriber’,  and W.A. Dewey in his ‘Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics’ each list several good remedies for treating skin diseases, including the shingles virus.  I have recently added Dr Iyer’s best recommendations to this list.

The virus which causes shingles is related to the chicken pox virus, and apparently, any of us can succumb to shingles later in life, after having had chicken pox as a child. So it might be a useful thing to learn of some homeopathic remedies for treating both chicken pox and shingles, just in case.

It is widely accepted amongst homeopathic practitioners, that Rhus. tox is one of the best remedies for shingles.  Rununculus is another recommended remedy.

A friend with long-standing symptoms of shingles, mainly on the shins,  found that homeopathic Rhus. tox taken three times a day for a week, reducing to twice a day for another week, and then a dose once a week, worked to cure the shingles.   She also applied colloidal silver to the affected skin, and used between 1000mg-2000mg calcium ascorbate vitamin c each day for around 2 weeks.

John H. Clarke states that Rhus tox 30 taken orally three times a day for three consecutive days will usually cure shingles when the disease has affected the scalp, and he also says that Rhus tox is useful for treating shingles in younger people.

John H. Clarke suggests that treatment for general Herpes Zoster – Shingles – begin with Variol. 6, 4h, which you would have to get a homeopathic chemist to make up for you.  He suggests that another remedy follow the Variol:  If you are a younger person below middle age, then you would use Rhus tox 3, 2h.   He recommends Mezerium 3, 2h. for older persons, and Arsen alb 3, 4h. for chronic cases.

When continual pain is experienced, you could try Homeopathic Pru. spi. 30, 3h, taken orally, which Dr Clarke recommends.  For external application over the afflicted area, Dr Clarke suggests a lotion of Cantharis 3x made up, 10 drops to the ounce.  This can be applied on clean linen.

An ointment of zinc oxide and castor oil can be useful, says Dr Clarke.  Zinc and castor oil ointments were commonly available until recently for the treatment of babies’ nappy rash. You might still be able to purchase this from a health shop.

Dr T.S. Iyer lists the following recommendations for either Herpes Zoster (shingles) or Herpes Circinatus (ringworm):

For ringworm, his champion remedy is  Sepia 200 given once a day at night, for three days.  Then leave off for four days, then repeat the sequence as necessary. This treatment can be followed by Rhus tox, given just once a day, three days apart (no dose for three days).  Repeat this sequence three times (over a period of twelve days altogether)  Then Sulphur could follow, if necessary, using the once a day dose, with no medicine taken for three days, then repeating until improvement is noted.

Use Nitric Acid or Graphites if there is extreme itchiness.

For Shingles, Iyer specifically recommends Aconite at the beginning of the condition appearing, marked by sore chest, fever, or headache.  When these symptoms have subsided, use Rhus tox, taken every four hours.

If nausea and vomiting are present, Iyer says to use Antimon tart, given every two hours as needed. Other remedies recommended by Dr Iyer for shingles, depending on the symptoms, are Arsen alb, Hepar sulph., Mercurius, Lycopodium, Sulphur or Sepia.

Dr Iyer uses several doses of Sulphur at the end of a treatment if symptoms have not entirely cleared up. He claims this almost always effects a cure.

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Natural Remedies For Treating Cancer

Intravenous Ascorbic Acid in the Treatment of Influenza: Lack of Evidence or Incontrovertible Ignorance? ‘Unfortunately, as long as IV/C has the potential to bankrupt hospitals, it doesn’t matter how well it works.’  (Professor Ian Brighthope, quote from http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9950)

Vitamin C is antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, and acts as an antihistamine.  It helps the body detoxify, which is why it is such a valuable remedy to use in alternative cancer treatments.

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Homeopathy For Shingles

The Herpes Zoster Virus:  Shingles is caused by the Herpes Zoster virus, which is the same virus which causes chicken pox.  The virus can remain dormant in the body for years, and then suddenly make an appearance when stressful conditions arise, such as a physical or emotional shock, or exposure to chemicals which weaken the immune system.  The Shingles condition causes terrible itching, similar to having chicken pox, with the characteristic little red specks over the skin.

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Having a vaccination for Chicken Pox does not prevent you from getting Shingles:   Shingles can occur in people who have been vaccinated.   I recommend Homeopathic treatment for Chicken Pox rather than vaccination, but you will need to see a professional homeopathic physician about this.

Homeopathic Ranunculus bulbosus is highly  recommended  for treating Shingles, the dose being 6C up to four times daily. This remedy is especially good if the Shingles rash is mainly on the trunk of the body.  Ranunculus bulbosus helps the pain of Shingles, and should bring relief in a couple of days.  If improvement is not noted, then you must see a health professional for his or her advice.

See Merrilyn’s January 2013 post entitled ‘List of Homeopathic Remedies For Shingles‘ for more information on the subject of shingles.

Stephen Messer, who is a practicing naturopathic physician in Oregon, gives Ranunculus bulbosus as being one of the best remedies for helping  Shingles.   He and his remedy are  mentioned in the book ‘New Choices In Natural Healing’, edited by Bill Gottlieb, the former editor of ‘Prevention’ magazine.

Yoga and Meditation are recommended for people with Shingles.  Quiet restful music is also very helpful, as is sitting quietly in a leafy glade where there might be heard the music of a waterfall and the birds singing.  Anything which soothes the nerves is helpful to the Shingles sufferer.  Music therapy, with gentle bird sounds, running water, joyful singing, and string quartets, are all good.

Blue Lighting for just 20 minutes before bed would be very good to quieten the nerves.  All you need for this is a blue light bulb. Blue light will help  to soothe the angry red of the skin as well as calm the nerves.   20 minutes of exposure to a blue light could be very helpful applied in the morning as well.

Breathe Vital Force Into The Solar Plexus while you are lying under the blue light.  This is a marvellous exercise for taking in ‘prana’ or life force, and distributing it through the body and brain.  It benefits the nervous system, and so is especially good for shingles sufferers. Here is the exercise, to be done twice a day, or three if you feel the need.

Breathing Exercise For Shingles To Calm Nerves and Improve the Vital Force: Simply close the eyes, and  put the fingertips on the solar plexus area at the centre of the stomach.  Press slightly.  Hold the fingers there while you breathe in very deeply with your eyes closed. As you breathe in slowly, count One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.  Don’t worry if you cannot make it to ten.  Just do what is comfortable.

Now, still with the eyes closed, place your fingertips gently on your forehead, at the eyebrow centre space  just above the nose.  Hold the fingers out while you breathe out slowly.  Count to yourself as you breathe out:  One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.  Then place the fingers back on the solar plexus to begin the round of breathing in again.

Repeat the Whole Exercise Ten Times, ten breaths in and ten breaths out.  At a snail’s pace, of course.

Yoga Nidra is also excellent to help Shingles nerves. I have a post on this which you might like to look at.

Cayenne Pepper For Pain:  Another home remedy for helping the pain of Shingles is Cayenne Pepper, according to Allan Magaziner.  He says that the pharmaceutical medicine commonly prescribed for Shingles pain is a preparation called ‘Zostrix’.  This  is derived from capsaicin, which comes from hot peppers.  In order for it to be efffective, a little Cayenne Pepper needs to be taken with each meal.

Vitamins B and Vitamin C are essential for helping Shingles sufferers.  If you are on medication, then you must ask your doctor about these.  Vitamin B helps reduce stress in the body, and so does Vitamin C.  Vitamin C helps to eliminate toxins from the body, which is helpful in any disease.  Taking 1000mg of  Calcium Ascorbate,  a non-acidic form of vitamin c,  at bed-time, will help you to sleep well, as it is a mild tranquillizer.  If the Shingles is very irritating, then the dose of Calcium Ascorbate Vitamin C can be increased to 2000mg twice a day, and then reduced again when the symptoms subside.  Vitamin C in large doses works as an antibiotic, and an antiviral medicine.

Other Homeopathic Remedies For Shingles:  Dr John H. Clarke recommends Rhus toxicodendron 30, three times daily if there are Shingles on the scalp as well.  He says that three days only of the Rhus tox 30 is needed, usually.

I have found Rhus tox to be useful for shingles on the legs – three doses daily of Rhus tox 30 to begin with for several weeks – then once a week after about a month.  After three weeks or so of one dose a week, a daily dose was given for another month.  Repeat the procedure as necessary.

Other recommendations of Dr Clarke are:  Variol. 6, 4h for general cases of shingles.  this is often followed by one of the following:   He recommends Rhus tox 3, 2h for people who have not reached middle age, and Mezer. 3, 2h. for shingles in older people.  When there is ‘intractable’ pain, he recommends Pru. spi. 30, 3h.  He uses Arsen. 3, 4h for chronic cases.

A useful lotion which can help soothe Shingles and relieve the pain is Cantharis.  This, like the above remedies, would have to be prepared by a chemist.  The proportions he gives for the lotion are:  Cantharis, 3x, ten drops to the ounce.  This is applied externally only, on linen cloth or gauze.

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