The Treatment Of Chickenpox

This is a viral infection that is spread easily among children, particularly those under ten years of age, by contact and droplets of saliva spread through talking, coughing or sneezing. A child is most infectious just before the spots come out, and remains so until all the blisters have dried up, which takes about a week. The incubation period is seventeen to twenty-one days.

    It starts with a headache a fever and general malaise. There may be swollen lymph glands. The spots start normally on the trunk and can appear on the face, the scalp, inside the mouth, anus, vagina or ears; the arms and legs tend to be the least affected. They appear in crops every three or four days, starting as little pimples and quickly developing into oval shaped blisters, which are filled with fluid. Gradually the spots dry up and scab over. The scabs fall off after about ten days, and may leave scars, some of which are permanent, especially if the spots have been scratched.

    The blisters can be very itchy, and it is important to discourage your child from scratching as much as you can. Not only does scratching leave scars, but it also introduces bacterial infection into the skin, which can lead to impetigo, conjunctivitis or boils.

    Rarely, chicken pox can lead to encephalitis or be complicated by Reyes Syndrome. If your child feels unwell again once the scabs have healed and has a headache, vomits or feels particularly drowsy, call your doctor immediately. If your child has blisters on the eyeball call your doctor also.

     The chicken pox virus is related to the one that causes shingles, and a child may catch chicken pox from an adult with shingles, but rarely vice versa. If you are pregnant and have been in contact with chicken pox and are not immune, contact your doctor.

    Treatment of chicken pox with Echinacea and or garlic, as with all infection, will speed recovery. Take 2.5-5ml three times a day of a good root Echinacea tincture in water.

    If your child feels only mildly unwell, but has a fever add Boneset to Echinacea tincture, give an equal dose of Boneset in warm water to the child to break the fever.

    Boneset is one of the best remedies for the relief of symptoms that accompany any viral fever. It will speedily relieve aches and pains and help the body deal with any fever present overall.

    Externally, to help relieve the itching and speed healing of the skin, wash the skin frequently with chamomile tea. Use cool infusions and apply then on cotton wool or a flannel, or add them to bath water. Distilled witch hazel is also very good at relieving itching, dilute and apply ice cold – it feels really good for the child.

    Once the blisters have dried and the scabs have fallen off, use comfrey ointment alternated with dilute lavender oil, to prevent scar formation and to heal the skin properly.

     If a baby has spots on the bottom, leave the nappy off as much as possible. Keep fingernails clean and short to stop infection caused by scratching.

    Give only a light diet, with mostly fruit, vegetables and soups, and plenty to drink.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH
Medical Herbalist