What You Should Know About Shingles and How To Treat Them
If you’ve ever had shingles, you can most likely relate to my recent shingles experience. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a bumpy red spot on the left side of my forehead.
At first, I thought it might be a pimple trying to come through, but it was the wrong week of my cycle for that; plus, I never get them on my forehead.
Within a few days, it had grown into an angry red mass that felt tender with a burning and tingling sensation.
Along with that, I noticed a small lump right in front of my ear — turns out you have a lymph node there — and the lymph node below my ear was enlarged and tender.
I also had a terrible headache that encompassed the whole left side of my head, and I was physically drained. So tired!
Needless to say, I started worrying about some sort of horrible infection taking over my face.
So, after work on a Friday, I went to the clinic to have it checked out.
It looked like I had run into a door — it was a knot the size of one of those red balls from the Jacks game. Well, maybe not quite, but it felt like it.
The nurse practitioner took a look and asked questions. She wasn’t convinced it was a bacterial infection, but she wasn’t sure what it was.
She took a photo and went to ask her colleague.
She returned to the room and said, “I’m so glad I asked! You know what he said? Looks like shingles!”
That was certainly the last thing I expected to hear.
Isn’t shingles for old people?
Turns out, shingles are most common in older adults, particularly over age 50.
Guess who’s over 50 (just barely).
Okay, cool. But why did this happen to me now? And how can I avoid it in the future
I did the research, so you don’t have to. Let’s dive in.
What is the Shingles Virus?
Shingles are caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same one that causes chickenpox.
Once you recover from chicken pox, the virus lays dormant in your nerve tissues like a ticking time bomb.
If you had chickenpox as a child, your immunity to the virus starts to wane around age forty or fifty.
How Do You Get Shingles?
Since shingles only occur if you’ve previously had chickenpox (or the chickenpox vaccine), it’s not something you can “catch” — like a cold.
The environment has to be just right for it to reactivate.
Scientists aren’t sure what that “right environment” for reactivation looks like, but they’ve determined it’s linked to a weakened immune system.
Your immune system weakens due to stress, aging, other illnesses, or medical conditions.
In my case, I’m positive it was a weakened immune system. Honestly, I haven’t been caring for my body like I should.
I’ve been lax about proper nutrition and not getting enough exercise and sunshine. (It is winter, after all.)
How Do You Get Rid of Shingles?
If you’re lucky enough to get diagnosed quickly — within 72 hours, (thankfully, I did!), your doctor can prescribe an antiviral medication.
Mine prescribed Valacyclovir, which I started taking immediately. I also took acetaminophen to get rid of the headache so I could sleep.
Luckily, the next day was Saturday, didn’t have any plans. It’s a good thing because I was extremely fatigued. I tried to do laundry and a little writing, but ultimately, I slept half the day.
Which isn’t a bad thing. My body needed rest to heal.
Of course, I also turned to a few wellness and lifestyle choices to support my immune system.
I avoided sugar, drank green tea and water, ate antioxidant-rich berries, and took my XFactor+ and Immune+ essential health supplements.
I also added glutathione to my supplement regimen.
Glutathione is made from amino acids. It helps build and repair tissues, supports immune system function, and protects against viral and microbial infection.
Can You Get Shingles More Than Once?
Naturally, once I started feeling better, my next question was, Will I get shingles again?
The good news is that most people who develop shingles only have it once during their lives. However, it’s possible to have a second or third outbreak.
You’re at greater risk of getting shingles again if you have a weakened immune system; it is a virus, after all.
Natural Antivirals for Shingles
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right?
That’s where natural antivirals come on the scene.
Since the dawn of time, herbs have been used as natural remedies for various diseases and illnesses.
These natural antivirals help strenthen your immune system against viral infections. Here are the top ten antiviral herbs to incorporate into your nutrition and wellness lifestyle:
Garlic
Basil
Oregeno
Sage
Fennel
Lemon balm
Peppermint
Echinacea
Ginger
Ginseng
Many of these powerful herbs are common kitchen staples that can easily be added as you prepare your meals. Peppermint, echinacea, and ginger can be found in soothing teas, making them easy to add to your routine.
Shingles Vaccine
If you’re over 50, you can get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix, to help prevent an outbreak or complications from the virus. Vaccines aren’t without side effects, so make sure to talk to your doctor to see if this is right for you.
Essential Tips for Shingles
The best way to prevent a shingles outbreak is to have a strong immune system and reduce the stress in your life. I got lazy and paid the price. Luckily, it was a small outbreak that I treated quickly.
If you get shingles, one of the best things you can do, besides incorporating the tips above, is to rest and relax. Stress and lack of sleep weaken your immune system, so make sure to rest if you get sick.
My biggest takeaway from this experience is to put myself and my health first.
I hope you never have shingles, but if you do, now you know how to fix it.
P.S. I’m on the mend!
One week after beginning the antiviral, the rash is almost healed. I’ve been using Jane Health’s Golden Salve Natural from Barlow Herbal.
