IMPORTANT
Unless otherwise stated on the package, most supplements and herbal remedies aren’t suitable for children under 12.
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Shingles

What you need to know:

Happily, this painful and unsightly condition is very rare in children, although it affects up to 20 per cent of adults at some time and isn’t unknown in adolescents. But alongside conventional pain-relieving drugs, there are several things you can do to help the young sufferer.

Possibly the easiest and most effective is a simple kitchen remedy:

Coarsely chop about 6 cm of a washed and trimmed leek
Crush it with the back of a wide knife blade or with a pestle and mortar to extract the juice
Strain the juice and dab it on the rash
Do this every morning and evening for at least a week

The most useful Herbs:

Shingles responds well to herbal remedies:

Echinacea
St. John’s wort - but check with the doctor if your child or young adult is unfortunate enough to be taking blood-thinning drugs and some anti-depressants. Teenage girls also need to check if they’re taking some brands of the Pill:

Passion flower
Lemon balm
Wild lettuce

Homoeopathy

Homoeopaths recommend Rhus toxicodendron, Mezzereum and Ranunculus bulb.

Aromatherapy

The properly diluted Aromatherapy oils Tea Tree, lavender, Roman chamomile and bergamot could also help. Massage them down the sides of the spine - or, if that’s too painful, gently paint or spray them on.

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This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk).
The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.