Home Remedies for Chicken Pox
Chicken pox is a highly infectious viral disease that affects mostly children, but can also infect adults and newborns, in which case it can be quite serious. Also, if a pregnant woman gets it in her first trimester, it can cause birth defects in the fetus. One trouble with chicken pox is that it is infectious 2 days before any symptoms have shown up, and this is often why it spreads into an epidemic.
When children get chicken pox it is usually not that serious, if proper care is taken. The symptoms are fever, lethargy, no appetite and an itchy rash. The rash helps to identify the disease. It starts off as small blisters that then crust over. They are extremely itchy, but if scratched can become infected and leave scarring. Chicken pox must run its course and will get better by itself. Home remedies for chicken pox are more to control the symptoms than the disease.
One easy home remedy for the itch of the chicken pox rash is to dissolve bi-carbonate of soda (baking soda) in cool water and dab on the rash. A cool bath with ginger and bi-carbonate of soda in it will also help relieve the itch and reduce the fever. Another itch cure is to soak 1 teaspoon of witch hazel leaves and 1 tablespoon of marigold flowers in a cup of water and allow to steep overnight. Dab on with a cotton wool ball. To prevent very young children from scratching, keep the nails cut short.
All applications to stop itching should use a dabbing rather than a rubbing motion. Rubbing will only make it itchier and tempt the sufferer to scratch the area with fingernails. Other effective treatments to stop itching are: -
- Dab on the water in which green peas have been cooked.
- Add half a cup of brown vinegar to a cool bath.
- Cook 2 cups of oatmeal in 2 liters of water. Place the porridge in a cloth bag, tie the top tightly and swish it around in a cool bath.
- Allowing the child to play in the bath for some time will make these treatments more effective.
- Once the rash is starting to fade, dab on Vitamin E oil to facilitate healing.
- An herbal tea that has mild sedative properties such as chamomile or lemon balm tea will help to calm a child who is fractious due to fever and itch.
For the fever you can sweeten Catnip tea with molasses and sip every so often. The sufferer of chicken pox should get plenty of bed rest and drink lots of fluid. Since the appetite will be very small, nutritious vegetable and fruit juices should be offered frequently. A simple soup made from carrots and coriander seeds is beneficial; offer only the liquid from the soup, not the carrot pieces or seeds.
While the sickroom of the chicken pox sufferer should be well ventilated, bright sunlight should not be allowed, as this will have a detrimental effect on his eyes.
For more information about chicken pox remedies, read: