The Amazing Essential Oils For Shingles At Home

Herpes zoster, familiarly known as shingles, is one of the most common skin problems. It is characterized by the sudden appearance of the painful stripes of rashes and blisters on certain areas of the skin. Shingle is a self-limited disease, which means that it heals by itself through time, not necessarily by a specific treatment. However, the extreme irritation from the rashes sometimes is intolerable for the sufferers. Therefore, I want to share with you how to cope with the pain and itchiness with these best essential oils for shingles.
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How can shingles happen to you?

Although people of all age might contract shingles, it is more likely to happen to adults, especially the ones who have suffered from chickenpox before because shingles are caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same one that is responsible for chickenpox in children.

When the body immune system is weakened, for example, when you are exhaustingly stressed or under-nutritional, the dormant chickenpox virus in your body since childhood can become pathogenic again. The virus might also infiltrate the body when you have direct exposure to the bodily fluid of the ruptured blisters in chickenpox or shingles patients.

What are the symptoms of shingles?

The reactivated virus will cause the inflammation of nerve tissues under the skin. This damage results in burning rashes and blisters, and sometimes a deep pain sensation that may last for a long time even after the blisters have healed. This pain is widely known as the post-herpetic neuralgia, a late complication of chickenpox and shingles.

The top 5 essential oils for shingles

The aromatherapy has been used to treat many skin conditions since the ancient time, and it works miraculously to the surprise of many medical experts. Get rid of the irritation with these best essential oils for shingles.

1) Virgin coconut oil

Virgin coconut oil is the pure extraction of coconut without being processed by heat, which will retain the antioxidant and antimicrobial characteristics of the coconut. Therefore, virgin coconut oil could protect your damaged skin from infection. Besides, the rich amount of minerals contained in the virgin coconut oils also enhances the healing process of the skin without leaving scars.

Because the virgin coconut oil is affable to the skin, you may directly apply it to the lesions unless you are allergic to coconut. Use a soft cloth to rub the coconut oil on the rash 4-5 times a day. The blisters will encrust and heal in a week.

2) Lavender oil

The extract from lavender oil could inhibit the development of virus and bacteria, which will improve your shingles condition. Besides, the lavender oil has an emollient effect that will provide instant relief for the rash. Lavender oil is also effective in treating post-herpetic neuralgia.

Apply lavender oil directly to the blisters and the pain will be soothed within 10 minutes. You could also add a few drops of lavender into lukewarm water for a bath. The fragrance of lavender will alleviate the discomfort and reduce stress.

3) Bergamot oil

Bergamot is a type of citrus plant that has a lot of medicinal benefits.  The extract from the fruit and leaves of the bergamot is a potent antimicrobial agent. Therefore, bergamot essential oil is used to treat dermatitis and prevent infection.

Moreover, the refreshing fragrance of the bergamot will keep your body safe from stress and anxiety, which stimulates the secretion of endorphins, the neurological hormone responsible for the effects of natural relief. The analgesic effect of bergamot essential oil thereby may even last for hours.
You may either use the bergamot oil topically or take an essential oil bath.

4) Melaleuca oil

Melaleuca leaves, also commonly known as the Australian tea tree, have been used to treat cuts and open wounds by the native tribes in Australia for hundreds of years.

The essence of the tea tree is proved to be a potent natural antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory agent, which will soothe the rash and blisters from shingles. Because the tea tree oil is also very gentle, you may apply it directly to the lesions.

5) Manuka oil

Manuka oil is a natural astringent to keep the blisters dry and prevent further inflammation, which will facilitate the formation of crusts and speed up the healing process. Moreover, a study infers that the extract of manuka tree could give a boost to your immune system, which is a great aid in combating skin diseases and infection.

Therefore, manuka oil is renowned as one of the best essential oils for shingles. Moist warmth with manuka oil is shown to be effective against shingles. Cover your rash in 20 minutes with a soft cloth that has been drenched in a warm diluted manuka oil solution. The blisters will become scabs and heal in 3-5 days.

In conclusion, the aromatherapy has been proved to be effective against skin conditions like shingles since thousands of years ago. However, these essential oils for shingles are not the sole alternatives treatment for the condition. Please consult a professional dermatologist before attempting to try any essential oil because you might be allergic to them

For the sensitive skin type, you should consider a patch test in the inner forearm before using any essential oils. Multiple uses of essential oils at once are not also recommended. However, you may consider diluting the essential oil with coconut or jojoba oil if your skin might react to the strong potency. Finally, discontinue any essential oils if your skin becomes more irritated and seek medical attention

Reference
  1. https://carekees.com/essential-oils-for-shingles/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19134433
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14584615
Paula Baw, Nurse, Community Hospital Nurse
Author Bio
My name is +Paula. I have been working as a rehabilitation nurse for three years at the Community Hospital of Long Beach, CA. My work focuses on psychiatric nursing and helping patients cope with other chronic health conditions. Currently, I am freelance writing for the health and wellness category of many websites while also working as a global health volunteer in other countries. Also, I am an enthusiast of natural remedies for healthcare and beauty.

Herpes Zoster Tratamento Natural


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