Supplement Recommendations for Shingles

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" JoAnn Guest " <angelprincessjo

Sun Nov 17, 2002 4:43 pm

Supplement Recommendations for Shingles

 

 

 

 

Supplement Recommendations for Shingles

 

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/hc/resourceareas_supp/1,1442,510,00.html

 

From David Edelberg, M.D. at WholeHealthMD:

Natural therapies for shingles help both acute attacks (take them

until the blisters heal) and also the pain of post-herpetic neuralgia

(PHN) that can linger for months and occasionally even for years.

 

For acute flare-ups, use all the supplements together--some are

topical and others are oral immune boosters with healing effects.

 

How to take the supplements

 

All the supplements listed here can be taken in conjunction with

conventional antiviral prescription drugs.

 

For an acute outbreak

Applying an aloe vera gel combined with a vitamin E oil to the

blisters may give you some immediate relief. Together, they help calm

the nerve endings in the skin, aid healing, and reduce the risk of

infection. An herbal cream made with melissa or licorice can be

rubbed into the lesions as well. Adding colloidal oatmeal to a warm

bath may also help relieve the itching that often accompanies a

shingles rash.

 

Oral antioxidants (vitamin C/flavonoids, vitamin A) fight cell damage

and beef up the immune system. The herb echinacea also fortifies the

body's immune function and, with the antioxidants, battles the herpes

virus and fights bacterial skin infections. To promote healing and

encourage healthy skin growth, add the amino acid lysine.

 

For post-shingles pain

Continue to follow your therapy for acute attacks, but also add oral

vitamin E (400 IU twice a day) to prevent cell damage and vitamin B12

(1,000 mcg with 400 mcg of folic acid daily) to enrich the protective

sheath that covers the nerves.

 

Once the shingles blisters have disappeared, topical cayenne

(capsaicin) cream can be rubbed into sensitive areas and may also

help relieve pain. Initial applications may be quite uncomfortable,

but this will lessen as the Substance P in the area is depleted.

 

Important:

 

 

We at WholeHealthMD strongly recommend that everyone take a high-

potency multivitamin/mineral and well-balanced antioxidant complex

every day. It may be necessary to adjust the dosages outlined below

to account for your own daily vitamin regimen. All of our supplement

recommendations also assume you are eating a healthful diet.

 

Be aware that certain cautions are associated with taking individual

supplements, especially if you have other medical conditions and/or

you're taking medications. Key cautions are given in the listing

below, but you need to see the WholeHealthMD Reference Library for a

comprehensive discussion of each supplement's cautions and

drug/nutrient interactions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference Library

aloe vera

cayenne

colloidal oatmeal

echinacea

licorice

lysine

melissa

vitamin A

vitamin C and flavonoids

vitamin E

 

 

 

 

 

Create your own list of doctor recommended items by checking the

products below, then click the " Add to my list " button. From your

list you can proceed to the online shopping resources to purchase the

products or you can print the list.

MOST EFFECTIVE Check to add

 

aloe vera gel Apply liberal amount of gel to blistered skin as

needed. • Library

• Interactions

 

cayenne cream Apply small amount of cream to painful areas 3 or 4

times a day. • Library

 

echinacea 200 mg echinacea 4 times a day during the acute phase

only. To help prevent recurrences, reduce to 200 mg a day 3 weeks of

each month. • Library

 

licorice cream Apply liberal amount of cream to blistered skin 3

times a day as an alternative to melissa cream. • Library

• Interactions

 

lysine 1,000 mg L-lysine 3 times a day during acute stage; to help

prevent recurrences, 1,000 mg a day. • Library

 

melissa cream Apply liberal amount of cream to blistered skin 3

times a day. • Library

• Interactions

 

vitamin A 25,000 IU twice a day for acute attacks (up to 10 days);

should be partially covered by your daily multivitamin and

antioxidant. Pregnant women should take no more than 5,000 IU

daily. • Library

• Interactions

 

vitamin C and flavonoids 1,000 mg vitamin C and 500 mg flavonoids 3

times a day during acute stage; should be partially covered by your

daily multivitamin and antioxidant. • Library

 

vitamin E Apply topical oil to skin for acute attacks. For post-

shingles pain, take 400 IU orally twice a day; should be partially

covered by your daily multivitamin and antioxidant. • Library

• Interactions

 

ALSO BENEFICIAL Check to add

 

colloidal oatmeal Follow package instructions. • Library

 

Submitted by:

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

Friendsforhealthnaturally

DietaryTipsForHBP

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