Natural Treatment for Chickenpox

Do you remember getting chickenpox when you were little? Having it was not pleasant. It itched and itched and itched. The spots made you look hideous. When the spots finally went away, they left the ugliest dotted scars.

Everyone says that chickenpox is a childhood disease that all children have to be experience. It has not been considered dangerous, although it is infectious. Usually after a child goes through with having chickenpox, he or she is unable to catch it again, even if the child is around another child with chickenpox. Although they say chickenpox is unavoidable, some say it can be prevented and if caught the effects can be minimized.

What Are Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a common childhood disease. It is caused by a virus called varicella-zoster, one of the many herpes viruses that infect humans. A person affected by chickenpox first experiences fever, headache, stomach ache, and loss of appetite. Afterwards there is an outbreak of pox over the skin. They are small blister like eruptions. They are small, red, filled with fluid, and are very itchy. About two days after forming, the fluid in the blisters become cloudy. The blisters begin to dry and start to scab.

The chickenpox is highly contagious. Most people catch it from being around others who have it. It can spread through the air by sneezing, coughing, and simply breathing. People can also catch the chicken pox through direct physical contact with the fluid in the blisters. Once a person experiences the condition the virus remains in the person's system. If a person who has had the chicken pox is around someone suffering from it, he or she will not contract it again.

Why Do Children Get Chicken Pox
Children are at high risk of contracting the chickenpox, because their immune systems tend to be low. Adults with an immune deficiency, who have not had chickenpox are at risk of contracting it.

Preventing Chicken Pox
Children can be protected from contracting the chickenpox by being vaccinated. However, if a child's immune system is low, he or she can still catch the chickenpox even after being vaccinated, according to Angela Stengler, author of "Natural Immunity for Chickenpox and Measles". So to maximize protection from the chickenpox parents should work to increase their children's immune system as well as getting vaccinated. The best way to boost the immune system is through having a healthy diet.

Immune System Boosting Food
feed children plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Steam vegetables because the steaming cooking process retains more vitamins and minerals.
Prepare homemade soup such as tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, and split pea soup.
Drink 100% fruit juices.

Immune System Boosting Nutritional Supplements
Vitamin C- Use chewable tablets for older children. Use vitamin C powder or liquid vitamin C for young children. Mix it in their fruit juice.
Vitamin A
Zinc

Reduce The Effects Of Chickenpox
If a child does contract the chickenpox, natural remedies can be used to minimize the affects:

Herbs
Echinacea and goldenseal combined together can support the immune system and prevent bacterial infections of skin lesions it also relieves itching.

The Oatmeal Bath
The oatmeal bath is the most common treatment. The oatmeal bath is given many ways. The best way I think is to cook four cups of oatmeal in one gallon of water for 20 minutes. Then pour the cooked oatmeal in a bath tub of water. Then let the child bath in the water for 20 minutes. Oatmeal has proven to be very good for the skin.

Brown Vinegar
Brown Vinegar can relieve skin irritation such as itching. Simply add one cup of vinegar to warm bath water.

Rhus Tox
Is an homeopathic treatment. It can be given to a child experiencing extreme itching and fluid-running from blisters.

Variolinum
This is another homoeopathic treatment. It should be given to a child when it is first discovered that he or she has chickenpox. It can prevent serious outbreaks of the blisters and speed up healing.

Honey
This is the most unusual remedy that I have heard of. It was told to me by a college friend. When she had the chickenpox her grandmother told her mother to rub honey on her chickenpox. Her mother did just that. Within three days the pox cleared away. I did some research on honey and found that it contains healing properties that are good for the skin.

Having the chickenpox is not a pleasant experience. Fortunately we have developed ways to treat them and try to prevent them. However, do not try to treat the condition on your own. Consult your doctor if your child or you catches the disease. Have your child vaccinated and put him or her on a healthy diet. If interested in homeopathic treatment, consult a trained, knowledgeable homeopathic specialist.

SOURCES:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chickenpox/DS00053/DSECTION=6
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/who_gets_chickenpox_shingles_000082_3.htm