Herpes Zoster

Herpes zoster is a painful skin rash. It is also known as shingles. It is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) that has remained dormant within dorsal root ganglia, often for decades after the patient’s initial exposure to the virus in the form of varicella (chickenpox), results in herpes zoster (shingles).

Symptoms of herpes zoster

• Redness
• Burning sensation
• Fatigue
• Itching
• Blister

Home Remedies of herpes zoster:

• Essential oils such as chamomile oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil may help with skin irritation.
• Holding cool clothes or compresses against the rash site may assist in relieving itchiness and reducing inflammation.
• Use of witch hazel to reduce inflammation and itching.
• Use of colloidal oatmeal in a cool bath helps relieve pain and itchiness.
• Gentiana scabra for pain relief.
• Use of vitamin supplements such as vitamin C and vitamin D.

Treatment of herpes zoster:

• Pain relief and antiviral medications such as aciclovir or valaciclovir.
• A chickenpox vaccine in childhood or a shingles vaccine as an adult can minimize the risk of developing shingles.
• Aluminum acetate.
• Oral administration of corticosteroids reduces the pain.
• The use of tricyclic antidepressants such as Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline or anticonvulsants such as phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol) and gabapentin (Neurontin) to control neuropathic pain.

Ayurvedic medicine of herpes zoster:

• Several herbs are used for herpes, such as Turmeric (haldi), Indian Sandalwood, Garlic, Lotus, Red Octave, Azadirachta indica, Glycyrrhiza glabra.
• Internal medicines for herpes such as Ahifen, Guduchi Kwath, Gandhak rasayan, and Chandraputi praval
• Yoga Asanas for herpes such as Balasana, Viparit Karani and Supra Baddha Konasana.