honey neem for chicken pox

Home Remedies for Chickenpox

Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral condition caused by varicella-zoster virus. It begins to spread easily from the infected person even two days before the actual rashes begin to appear on the person's body.

Children below the age of 12 are more prone to chickenpox then the adults but any one at any age can get it. Any one with low immunity or pregnant women can easily get chickenpox.

The symptoms of chickenpox appear as a skin rash in the beginning which soon turn into itchy blisters. The symptoms usually subsides within 2 weeks from the onset.It can spread from an infected person to another through air, saliva and fluid from the blisters.

The best way to prevent chickenpox is through vaccination. Once you have been infected with chickenpox, you can relieve the itching with natural remedies and take some extra precautions to ensure that it doesn't become a complicated case of chickenpox because of ignorance.

 

If the chickenpox is not complicated then it may not require any medication. You just have to bear the brunt of the disease for the next two weeks before the blisters subsides and you get back to normal condition.

A complicated case of chickenpox may require medication and special care depending on the age of the patient and complexity of the case.

Following are some useful home remedies for chickenpox and precautionary measure for smooth recovery. Use them to ease the symptoms.

Stop the Temptation to Scratch the itchy Blisters

The life with chickenpox can be miserable for two weeks. Your child may not be able to cope with it easily as the discomforts are many including fever, headache, fatigue and itching leading to strong urge to scratch.

You have to ensure that your child does not scratch the blisters This will reduce the probabilities of any other complicated infections significantly and the recovery will be smooth.

Additionally scratching will cause permanent scar and reduce the speed of healing. The best way to protect yourself from scratching is as under

  • Trim your child's nails
  • Put gloves in his/her fingernails

1. Baking Soda or Oatmeal Bath

Baking soda and oatmeal help in reducing the itching. It will be very comforting to take bath in baking soda or oatmeal added bath.

  • Add a cup of baking soda or oats in the bathtub filled with cold water.
  • Soak the body of your child in the prepared cold water

Stay inside the bath tub for 20-30 minutes. Do it 3-4 times a day.

2. Apply Neem Paste

Neem leaves have very powerful antibacterial and antiviral capabilities. It can also make the chickenpox blisters dry and reduce itching.

  • Wash and crush handful of fresh neem leaves
  • Make a paste
  • Apply gently on the blisters with cotton swabs
  • Dispose the cotton swab carefully to avoid any chance of passing on the infection to others

3. Honey

Apply honey to get relief from itching and faster healing of chickenpox blisters. You can use any pure honey for the purpose.

4. Vinegar

Vinegar also helps in reducing itching. You can directly apply the diluted vinegar on the blisters.

  • Take a tablespoon of vinegar in a cup
  • Add 5 tablespoon of water
  • Stir it well
  • Apply on the blisters.

You can also use vinegar for bath. Add a cup of vinegar in room temperature water in the bathtub. Soak your child's body in the vinegar water for 15-20 minutes.

5. Lavender Essential Oil with Coconut Oil

You can apply diluted lavender essential oil on the blisters to get relief from itching. Add 10 drops of essential lavender oil in a teaspoon of coconut oil. Mix it well and apply on the chicken blisters.

Remember, all these remedies will help reduce itching and give you a little comfort, but the most important aspect still is to ensure that the itch is not scratched. You don't want the chickenpox to become complicated which otherwise could just disappear within two weeks.