Natural relief for shingles

One of the most common treatments for shingles or herpes zoster is acyclovir, or a drug that belongs to a class of antiviral drugs called synthetic nucleoside analogs. This particular chemical works by stopping the spread and growth of the herpes virus in the body. Shingles is an adult derivative of the chickenpox virus that many people contract as young children.

While acyclovir can help many people with shingles symptoms, it’s not always effective for everyone and can have some noteworthy side effects. A few years ago my wife got a bad case of shingles on her neck and face, and the acyclovir seemed to have no effect.

The following precautions should be considered and reviewed with your doctor before taking acyclovir:

• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to acyclovir, Valtrex, or any other medications that have ingredients similar to those found in aclilovir. You can check with your pharmacist for a list of particular ingredients.
• Be sure to make a careful list of the vitamins, medications, herbal remedies, and nutritional supplements you are currently taking or plan to take.
• There may be drugs that react adversely with acyclovir, so it is important that your doctor can make the appropriate decisions based on this information.
• Ask your doctor to determine if you are dehydrated from a recent illness. It is important to be fully hydrated when taking this medication.
• Be sure to tell your doctor whether or not you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or become pregnant while taking the medication.

Side effects can be somewhat uncomfortable and may include: vomiting, upset stomach, dizziness, diarrhea, restlessness, hair loss, joint pain, tiredness, and vision changes.

More serious side effects may include: hives, rash or blisters, difficulty breathing, itching, weakness, swelling of the face, throat, tongue, or eyes, rapid or fast heartbeat, unusual bleeding or bruising, blood in the urine, pain headache, stomach ache. cramps, fever or sore throat, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, loss of consciousness, uncontrollable tremors, and trouble speaking.

I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that some of the side effects can be as serious, if not more so, than the disease itself. My wife, who took this medication for about a month, did not experience any of these side effects except a general feeling of tiredness and malaise. However, she had absolutely no help in relieving any of her shingles symptoms.

She had large, painful blisters and sores all over her neck, scalp, and face. We were told that shingles in these areas is a cause for concern, as there is a danger of it spreading to the eyes and brain.

Fortunately, we were referred to a wonderful naturopathic doctor who prescribed a natural diet regimen and herbal remedies. Surprisingly, my wife’s condition began to improve after only 5 days of treatment. Needless to say, we were delighted, as the change in her was so remarkable.

If you’re like us, the prospect of all the side effects of any drug really makes us steer clear of these potentially harmful substances. If a natural process has the same or better result, that is the path we want to follow. The whole process works from the inside out and it worked best for us.