Lifestyle Changes
A few simple changes to your lifestyle can help shingles heal more quickly, be less uncomfortable, or even help prevent their appearance altogether in those prone to shingles outbreaks.
Most importantly, keep the infected area clean to prevent secondary bacterial infections and promote healing. Expose the open blisters to the air as much as possible, keeping them uncovered by clothing and bandages. If you simply can’t keep your clothes or sheets from sticking to the sores, a light wrap with a sports bandage or similar item may be better than peeling off ooze-covered cloth. Wash your hands, clothes, bedding, and towels frequently to control spreading or recontracting the virus as much as possible.
To keep your immune system healthy, get plenty of rest, especially in the midst of a shingles outbreak, so your body can focus on fighting the virus, rather than funneling what energy it has into basic functioning. Keeping stress under control, particularly while blisters and pain are evident, will also help keep both body and mind healthier to fight off infection.
Make sure to eat a healthy diet. Some sources recommend supplementing your diet with plenty of garlic, suggesting the herb might have some healing capabilities concerning shingles. Other natural remedy sources recommend slight adjustments in diet during outbreaks, reporting that the family of viruses of which Varicella-zoster is a member are sensitive to the ratio of lysine and arginine in your system. Eat plenty of foods with lysine, and a minimal amount of those high in arginine. Lysine is found in dairy products, most meats, and several fruits and vegetables—particularly apples, pears, pineapples, green beans, and avocados. Foods to cut out in order to avoid excessive arginine intake include nuts and seeds, tomatoes, berries, chocolate and other sugars, as well as wheat germ and brussel sprouts.
Unfortunately, no matter what you do there is no way to magically cure your case of shingles. It is a virus, which means the best you can do is try to heal a little faster and stay a little more comfortable while you’re dealing with the symptoms. Some patients have found a lot of success by visiting a chiropractor during shingles outbreaks, rather than a family doctor. However, although there may not be much your doctor can do, in the end it may be better to schedule an appointment—especially if symptoms persist, worsen, or continually recur.
Did you know...
- Just saying the words "thank you" can measurably improve your mood. Researchers can actually measure happiness and changes in brain structure when people practiced regular "grateful thinking." This included things like writing thank you notes, writing gratitude journal entries, mindfully counting their blessings, and thanking friends. It may be helpful in overcoming depression!
- Do you know what the strongest muscle in your body is? No, it’s not your biceps or your thighs. It’s actually in your head. The masseter is a muscle in the jaw that is used when chewing. When all of the muscles of the jaw work together, they can exert a force as strong as 200 pounds on the molars. That’s some serious pressure.
- Does your job make you stressed? We all know that stress is psychologically bad for you, but it also has an effect on…your allergies? A Harvard Medical School study has shown that stress causes your allergies to become worse because your body's defense response loses efficacy when repeatedly triggered by stress. Then, when you really need to physically fight something off, you're less able to!
- Starting to feel claustrophobic? The smells of apples may help keep your claustrophobic feelings at bay according to a 1995 study by Dr. Alan Hirsch. Green apples, specifically, helped people change their perception of their space. Maybe they thought of expansive apple orchards? Cucumbers and barbecue made the feelings worse.
- Need a quick cool down? Try drinking some hot liquid. It's true! As counterintuitive as it may seem, the heat from hot liquids will raise your body temperature. This will heat you up and cause you to sweat. The increased perspiration will wind up helping you feel cooler as it evaporates. Try it out!