OptiDerma Skin Care Guide
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Chickenpox

Natural remedies


Chickenpox is a contagious childhood illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is very easily transmitted by contact or even through the air. Usually you develop chickenpox once in your lifetime, but in some cases, the virus can lie dormant for years and come out again later as shingles.
The common symptoms are mostly headache, loss of appetite, fatigue, followed by an itchy rash and red pimples spreading all over the body and face. The red pimples then turn into blisters and crusts that are infectious and itchy.


Here are some skin remedies for chicken pox:

Remedies for chicken pox: healing nutrition

  • Drink plenty of liquid, such as water, fresh juices, vegetable broth, or herbal tea to stay well hydrated.
  • Eat easily digested food, like vegetable and well-cooked whole grains.
Also see healthy skin diet to know the basics of a proper diet.

Remedies for chicken pox: supplements

  • Vitamin A helps healing tissues
  • Vitamin C aids in stimulating the immune system and keeping down fever
  • Zinc and vitamin E promote healing
Also see skin nutrients

Remedies for chicken pox: herbs

  • Echinacea and goldenseal support the immune system
  • Burdock root and red clover help heal the skin and detoxify the body
  • Catnip tea keeps fever down
Also see herbal remedies for skin

Remedies for chicken pox: homeopathic remedies

  • Calendula cream promotes healing and relieves itching
  • Sulphur aids in healing
  • Rhus Toxicodendron relieves itching
Also see homeopathic remedies for skin

Remedies for chicken pox: external treatments

  • Have an oatmeal bath. It is soothing and relieves itching.
  • Avoid scratching to prevent any bacterial infections and scarring.
  • Rub vitamin E or castor oil into the skin if a scar has formed.
  • Protect your skin from the sun, especially after once the chickenpox has cleared as the skin is more sensitive.
  • Vinegar and goldenseal relieve itching
Also see seven steps for optimum skin health

Remedies for chicken pox:: external links

Remedies for chicken pox: references

  • Andrew Gaeddert, healing Skin Disorders, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, California, 2003
  • Janet Zand L.Ac., O.M.D., Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child, Published by Avery Publishing Group)
  • Louise Tenney, M.H., Today’s Herbal health, 6th edition, USA, 2007
  • Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch, Prescription for nutritional healing, United States of America, 2000
  • Siegfried Gursche, Encyclopedia of natural healing, Canada, 1997
  • Thomas Bartram, Bartram’s encyclopedia of herbal medicine, The definitive guide to the herbal treatment of diseases, Grace Publishers, UK, 1995

Comments from the community (2)

"jacklyn" on 2011-10-11 at 04:21:11
the ocean water can help kill the varicella zoster virus. my brother had chicken pox, my parents took him swimming and it helped. in Samoa , the ocean is the common treatment for chicken pox. it works.
"shadared" on 2011-03-16 at 10:57:49
When both of my children developed chicken pox I added sea salt and baking soda to their bath water. The sea salt seemed to help dry out their pox and stop them getting infected and the baking soda seemed to stop them scratching. Worked really well for the both of them. Other mothers used the same when it broke out in our nursery and found it really helped.
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