When I started brainstorming post ideas to kick off this new blog, this is just about the last topic that I ever thought I'd write about, but here it is: SHINGLES. Yep, shingles. It is most commonly associated with the elderly, but apparently it can (and does!) happen to people of all ages as I now know firsthand. 🙄(insert eye-roll...)
Here is a little bit of (very simplified) information about shingles that came from my doctor: it all starts with the chicken pox. Most children are now vaccinated against it, but those of us who grew up attending chicken pox parties in the 90's are at risk now. Once you contract it, the chicken pox virus never fully goes away, but instead it lays dormant until you least suspect it and BAM. It comes back as shingles and screws you over. So what causes a shingles outbreak? No one knows for sure, but stress seems to be the biggest culprit.
A couple of weeks ago I started feeling nasty. The first thing I noticed was a raging headache that wouldn't quit and extreme sensitivity to light. Then I became tired. Not just a little tired, but kick-your-butt tired, and a little nauseous. I figured that I was just feeling the effects of a teething baby who was boycotting sleep, so I took a nap and didn't think much of it.
After about 3 days of feeling that way I noticed that I was becoming extra itchy and numb on my left side around my ribs. It started at my spine in the middle of my back and wrapped around to my sternum. I ignored it for a couple of days, but when it persisted I went to google to try to figure out what was happening. The possibilities were (of course) terrifying, but the most likely culprit was a pinched nerve in the ribs so I did the stretches that were recommended and made an appointment with my chiropractor. Then my husband came home from work and noticed me clawing at my skin and asked what was wrong, so I explained my symptoms. He immediately knew that it was shingles.
In my mind it made zero sense. I eat just about as healthfully as humanly possible (seriously--I'll share about that in a different post though.) I exercise. I didn't feel stressed (or at least I didn't until I heard the word shingles?!) As I envisioned my face and body erupting in giant painful boils for weeks and weeks, I panicked and jumped in the car to see the urgent care doctor that night.
Even with my lack of the classic shingles rash, he confirmed the diagnosis based on all of the other symptoms and the location of the numbness, itching, burning and pain. He gave me a prescription for an anti-viral medication called Acyclovir, but after I explained my reservations he gave me the green light to wait and see what would happen rash-wise before taking it.
This wasn't an easy decision for me because on one hand I wanted to give myself the best chance of kicking shingles' butt quickly, and I was told that taking the medicine right away was the best way to do that. I also have a nursing baby and he is susceptible to the chicken pox virus, which he might contract if he is exposed to shingles rash/blisters! On the other hand, I try to avoid prescription medications unless absolutely necessary, but especially when I am nursing and pregnant because they get passed through to the baby. I had to weigh the risks and benefits and decide which route would best protect my baby and myself, and I ultimately made the choice to go the natural route and forego the Acyclovir unless a rash started on my face or the symptoms became severe.
**Before I go any further, I want to say that I am not a doctor and what worked for me may not work for everyone. I am sharing this in hopes of helping someone else who is looking for some natural relief from shingles symptoms, but please seek medical advice if necessary.**
So what is the best natural cure for shingles? That answer will differ from person to person, but this is what worked for me:
First, I took steps to boost my immune system and reduce stress. For my immune system, I added vitamin C and elderberry to my normal supplement regimen. I chose a food-based vitamin C instead of ascorbic acid because it is more recognizable to the body, and in turn it is more easily absorbed. I already take vitamin B12 daily, but I have seen it recommend for shingles so I am mentioning that here as well. And for stress? I have 4 young kids, so to be honest I'm still working on that one 😉 but I have been trying to relax more, allow the house to be a little messier than usual, and get a little more sleep.
Next, I turned to my essential oil supply for help. I don't believe that essential oils are the be-all end-all when it comes to health and wellness, but I do think that they serve a purpose in some situations. I started regularly diffusing my favorite kid-friendly immunity blend to help not only myself, but the rest of my family too.
I also made myself a "shingles spray" to help with the pain, itching, burning, and redness. Out of everything that I did, this spray had the most drastic and obvious benefits.
Shingles Spray Recipe:
Add the above ingredients to a small spray bottle and remember to SHAKE IT LIKE CRAZY before each use to evenly disperse the ingredients since oil and water don't mix. Spray it on the affected areas as often as needed for relief.
I used those three hydrosols and the aloe gel as my base because they all have skin soothing and calming properties, and I added the tamanu oil because it has some pain relieving and anti-inflammatory benefits. I debated about the essential oils that I wanted to use in the spray, but ultimately I needed something that was child safe (because I have a nursing baby) but also effective, so I chose tea tree and sandalwood. The tea tree oil is cooling (which feels AMAZING) but more importantly it has anti-viral and antibacterial qualities. I chose sandalwood because of its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities, and also because it has worked miracles on my sore throats in the past. Sandalwood is hands-down one of my favorite oils because of its
versatility.
There are about a million different combinations that could be used successfully in a shingles spray, but this one worked for me. On three separate occasions I had the beginnings of a rash, and within hours of using this spray it was completely gone with only bruises left to show where I had been clawing at my skin hours before. Hallelujah! I can't say with 100% certainty that the spray is responsible for the rash's disappearance, but it sure didn't hurt! I dealt with the shingles virus for about 3 weeks and never had an actual rash! Even without the possible rash-healing benefits, this spray feels freaking amazing. I sprayed it anytime I felt like my skin was crawling or on fire or I couldn't stop itching and it provided immediate and lasting relief.
The last thing that I did to help my shingles naturally was to take frequent detox baths. I usually do this once a week, but I have increased them to every other day because they are helping. I use a combo of Epsom salts, Himalayan pink salts, and bentonite clay and soak for about 45 minutes. There is nothing scientific about this process for me--I just throw in whatever amount looks good and hop in to enjoy it. 😉 If I had to guess, I would say that I probably use 3 cups of Epsom salt, 1/3 cup of bentonite clay, and 1/3 cup of Himalayan sea salt. I can't say for sure if this actually detoxifies the body, but it definitely provides relief for the shingles itching and burning so I'm a happy girl. ☺️
If you are currently fighting shingles I wish you a speedy healing because this stuff sucks! I hope that these tips help you like they helped me, but everyone is different and there is no shame in taking advantage of modern medicine if it is needed!
***Affiliate disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. I promise that I will only link to products that I personally use and love! ***
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