Shingles is caused by a virus and affects the skin. It results in a rash in various parts of the body. It usually develops in a band of blisters around one side of the torso. The virus responsible for shingles is the varicella-zoster virus. This virus also causes chicken pox. Once chicken pox occurs, the virus stays in the nerve tissues around the brain and spinal cord in a dormant state. The virus may then get activated after many years. Shingles is a painful condition, but is not life threatening. The risk of developing shingles can be reduced through vaccines. Once shingles develops, early treatment is helpful in restricting the infection and preventing complications.

Cold Compress

1) Garlic For Treating Shingles
Garlic has anti-fungal as well as anti-bacterial properties. This makes garlic very effective in treating skin disorders caused by viruses. To treat shingles crush sufficient quantity of garlic after peeling its pods. Apply crushed garlic directly on the affected parts of the body. Leave on for 15 minutes. Repeat the treatment after every four hours. Garlic will not only help treat the symptoms associated with shingles but also get rid of the infection causing bacteria.

2) Turmeric For Treating Shingles
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory property which makes it very effective in the treatment of rashes that are painful. Turmeric is also anti-bacterial in nature thus it helps fight any form of infection as well.For treating shingles use only turmeric sticks and not the powdered form of turmeric that is commercially available for cooking.

Grind the turmeric sticks to fine powder form. Add some water to the turmeric powder to make a smooth paste. Apply a thin layer of turmeric paste over the rashes and leave for 15 minutes. Wash off the paste with cold water. Re-apply the paste every four hours to effectively treat shingles. The advantage of using turmeric for shingles is that the medicinal properties of turmeric will help treat the scars left by the rashes as well. You will not have to worry about being scarred for life.

3) Cold Compress For Treating Shingles
Take a plastic bag and fill the bag with ice. Apply this cold compress to the affected area. Cold compress helps reduce the itching. Applying ice on the rashes also prevents further inflammation of the skin. Cold compress should be applied at least 3 times during the day especially once before going to bed at night.