Shingles or herpes zoster is basically caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, the varicella zoster virus. When a person contracts chickenpox, the virus does not totally leave his body. It stays dormant for many years, until it finds an opportunity to re-attack the body and reappear as shingles. This often happens to immunocompromised individuals, as not all people who had chickenpox in the past will develop shingles later in their lives. Also, it follows that people who had not been afflicted with chickenpox before have no chance to develop herpes zoster.

Causes and predisposing factors

As mentioned before, the single known cause of herpes zoster is the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. However, nobody exactly knows why the virus is reactivated, though there are some speculations as to the reason behind the “waking up” of the virus.

Stress and fatigue are two of the main predisposing factors being looked upon in shingles.  Also, a weakened immune system can also be another factor, since the body is not fit to keep the virus at bay if its immune system is compromised. An example of a circumstance in which the body cannot fight the virus is during times of illness. When the body is also undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy, such as in the treatment of cancer, the immune system also becomes suppressed, thus paving the way for the virus to wake up from its dormant state.

Symptoms

Shingles is generally a disease of the nervous system, because it affects the nerve cell bodies. Shingles initially starts with non-specific symptoms, such as fever, malaise, and headache, which can be experienced in almost any other type of disease. However, the first herpes zoster-specific symptom is pain on just one side of the body. The sensations used to describe this one-sided pain are numbing, aching, stinging, tingling, shooting, and throbbing. Oftentimes, this pain is punctuated by short moments of “lightning bolt” pain.

After about three days, the person will already notice rashes starting to cover one side of his body. Remember that these rashes follow the nerve pathways, so that it only appears unilaterally. These rashes start at the torso, and then spread to the other parts of the body, such as the face and the extremities.

The appearance of the rashes typically looks like hives – red, raised bumps. Later on, the rashes develop into pus-filled blisters, and in about two to three weeks, they will begin to crust and form into scabs. Scarring may happen especially if the blisters are severe.

Treatment

Since the disease is caused by a virus, shingles is self-limiting. However, you can still take antiviral drugs early during the course of the disease, since that is the time that it is most effective.

Antiviral medications that are often prescribed for patients with shingles include acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. Unfortunately, these medications do not entirely cure the disease; it only shortens its duration and lessens the severity of its symptoms. These drugs are no longer effective if taken during the latter part of the disease, so make sure that you consult your doctor right away when you start feeling the symptoms.

There are also traditional ways to manage shingles. First of all, it is important to avoid scratching the rashes. Just like chickenpox, shingles rashes can be very itchy, but scratching them will only increase the risk of those rashes getting infected. Moreover, it might lead to scarring once the blisters heal. The person with shingles can use oral or topical antihistamines in order to relieve itching and decrease inflammation.

It is also necessary to have pain medications on hand. Most of the time, doctors only prescribe pain medications since herpes zoster resolves by itself in 2 to 3 weeks. Examples of these analgesics include acetaminophen and ibuprofen. These are also prescribed not just for the shingles rash itself, but also for postherpetic neuralgia, which is the pain felt by people with shingles even after the rashes have gone.

In order to speed up the crusting process, tap water compresses may help. These should be applied to fresh blisters for about 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Aside from drying the blisters, these compresses can also soothe the itch, remove the scabs, and decrease the risk of incurring secondary bacterial infections. However, watch out for excessive dryness of the skin, as continuous application of tap water compresses long after the blisters have crusted can make the skin dry and itchy.

Finally, nothing beats hygiene in trying to recover from a disease caused by microorganisms. Simply washing the affected area with soap and water can help in the healing process. Moreover, one can also apply petroleum jelly to the rashes. Clothes worn should be loose enough to avoid rubbing against the rashes and making them itchier and more painful. To avoid further complications, do not expose yourself to ill people, since your immune system is weak and cannot vigilantly defend your body.

Natural supplements

There had been many testimonials regarding the effectiveness of mangosteen supplements in the treatment of shingles. Because shingles is not exactly a one-time disease and recurs every time the immune system is suppressed, it is very hard to deal with it. Taking mangosteen supplements can reputedly help keep shingles in remission, as what was stated in various testimonies from shingles patients.

Aside from being able to help treat shingles, mangosteen also has analgesic properties. Since shingles is a painful disease, this pain-relieving property of mangosteen can help a person with shingles manage pain. Also, it will avoid dependence to certain analgesics.

Among all the different forms of mangosteen supplements, the freeze dried or powdered form is the most advisable because it is 100% concentrated. One can be very certain that he gets all the nutrients that mangosteen has to offer because there are no preservatives added to the mangosteen powder. Moreover, it is cheaper than other forms.

Mangosteen supplements are obviously cheaper and more natural than drugs prescribed for shingles, so why not give them a try?

Once you have psoriasis it is, unfortunately, a lifelong condition. There are a few options available to you in terms of western medicine but as the exact mechanisms of the disease aren’t well known it’s hard to create a ‘pill’ to cure it. I recommend a holistic approach which involves healing your body from the inside out, but before I get into that lets look at the more common place treatments available:

• Topical Creams—steroid creams can be prescribed by your doctor and have been shown to reduce the incidence of psoriasis spots (otherwise known as plaques) UV Exposure—probably one of the easiest ways to combat psoriasis,  exposure to UV radiation aka sunlight whether by going outside or hitting the tanning bed has been shown to have beneficial effects with regards to psoriasis.

• Systematic treatment—this is the most drastic step that western medicine has to offer. It involves taking either a pill or an injection of either an immunosupressants or a synthesized version of vitamin A. It should be noted that if you choose to undergo this method you will have to be monitored with frequent blood tests due to the toxicity of the medications.

While all of those options will provide some relief from the symptoms of psoriasis, they don’t address the root cause of the problem. That catch here is, as I said above, no one really knows what causes it in the first place. As someone who suffers from mild psoriasis myself, I found the answer lay in creating whole body health. First, it’s important to remember that you can get your body into a profound state of health and well-being but it takes work. And what’s more, once you’ve achieved this level of health, it’s easy to fall back into your old ways since you ‘feel so good, you must be cured’. This is something to be avoided at all costs as it just results in more work in the long run.

Ridding yourself of psoriasis is one part physical and one part mental. A proper diet and exercise are a must. Like that old computer programming saying goes: “garbage in, garbage out”. If you don’t give your body the tools to get better, it never will. Eat unrefined, simple, earthy foods. Often times all the additives and chemicals in our diets come from the sauces and dips we eat with our meals. Learn to love the taste of plain foods. Strength training and cardiovascular fitness keep your immune system strong and force your body to ’stay on its toes’. A worked-out body is one in constant repair, and that’s what you want to have happen. Exercise is truly a proactive and preventative approach to health care.

Supplementation also plays a big role in overcoming psoriasis. I use Natural Home Cures Brand mangosteen for a couple of reasons. Mangosteen is a natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory, so it both treats and prevents any chronic infections or low-level inflammation you may have. This is essential for whole body health. Think of it as laying the groundwork for your recovery. What makes mangosteen so special is that it’s packed full of compounds called xanthones, which is what actually have those two wonderful attributes I’ve mentioned above.

The Natural Home Cures brand of mangosteen comes in solid form, which is a must for me. The xanthones in mangosteen are found in the rind of the fruit. Solid form mangosteen is created by grinding up this rind and packaging it in a pill form for consumption. In contrast, liquid mangosteen supplements are created from the rind and the pulp and then that is mixed with other fruit juices to make the ‘drink’ taste appealing. I don’t fancy the idea of spending my money on a mangosteen supplement that’s more pear and guava juice than it is mangosteen and that’s why I like the Natural Home Cures Brand.

Last but not least get rid of alcohol, cigarettes and learn to relax. Chronic stress is one of the worst things we can do for our body so it’s paramount that you learn to relax and de-stress as much as your life and your schedule will allow.

Following the principles I’ve outlined above should have you on your way to recovery and a more healthy, active life.

A flawless complexion is a reflection of a healthy body. The toxins circulating in your blood could leave you with a dull complexion and a range of diseases. So how do you start your journey to a clearer skin?

Let Mangosteen Put You a Step Closer to your Goal

Mangosteen is a tropical fruit found mostly in Southeast Asia. It is round in shape, with purple covering when ripe, sweet white pulp, and seeds within the pulp. The medicinal properties are found richly in the pericarp or rind, with lower concentrations in the pulp. The fruits are harvested only twice a year.

To benefit from the maximum health benefits of the fruit, the pericarp part is grounded and packaged into a pill form. There is also a juice form that utilizes both the pericarp and the rest of the fruit, but it is mixed with other fruits to improve the taste, and comes out more expensive than the solid form.

Since ages ago, the fruit’s pericarp has been used as a tincture for treating skin disorders. Rind decoctions have been applied externally as an astringent. Lately, its antimicrobial actions have been found to be effective against the progression of acne. Its activity against methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus is worth mentioning.

Mangosteen has anti-inflammatory effects derived from its xanthone extracts called garcinol and mangostin. Xanthones are phytonutrients know to exhibit strong anti-oxidant effects. They are highly concentrated on the pericarp. Garcinol and mangostin are found to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase enzymes and carcinogens (cancer- causing substances). Anti-viral and anti-fungal properties were also observed from the Xanthones.

The anti-oxidant effects from mangosteen prove to be beneficial in keeping the skin Healthy.

Mangosteen Juice vs. Capsule

There are 2 preparations of mangosteen: the juice form and the solid or capsule form. The juice form uses the whole fruit and has pleasant taste. Other fruit juices are added, to improve the taste. The capsule form utilizes the pericarp of mangosteen, which contains the highest concentration of xanthones.

To extend its shelf life, the juice form uses preservatives including sodium benzoate, which is converted to benzene. Benzene has been linked to diseases such as leukemia. Futhermore, the juice form undergoes the process of pasteurization, destroying the inherent medicinal benefits that you are after.

The capsule form contains 100% mangosteen, has no preservatives, and cheaper than the juice form. It doesn’t go through processes that increases production cost and destroy the health benefits of mangosteen.

Some Skin Disorders Effectively Treated With Mangosteen

More and more skin disorders are being discovered to be responsive to mangosteen treatments. The list is endless, but here are some of the more popular uses of the fruit extract and how mangosteen addresses their respective problems:

Acne

Teen-agers are the most commonly affected population of this skin disorder. It is caused by the blockage of pores and overproduction of sebum. It manifests with bumpy skin lesions also known as zits. It becomes reddish, enlarged, and may contain pus when inflamed.

Several factors are linked to acne:

• Hormones
• Genetic History
• Stress
• Accumulation of Dead Skin Cells
• Hyperactive sebaceous (oil) glands
• Bacteria, particularly Propionebacterium acnes
• Use of steroids
• Exposure to certain chemical compounds

Diet has been implicated, yet no adequate studies prove its relationship with acne.

Treatments for acne are available, ranging from topical creams to oral antibiotics and retinoids, to intralesional steroid injection. The increasing resistance of microorganisms against antibiotics poses a challenge for effective management of acne. Retinoids, on the other hand, cause defects in the fetus when taken by a pregnant woman. These drawbacks make more people turn to natural ways of healing.

Mangosteen has been found to have anti-bacterial properties against acne-causing P. acnes and S. epidermides. Its anti-inflammatory action soothes the irritation and prevents further growth of the pimple.

The strong anti-oxidants in xanthones are your army against environmental stressors and toxic build-up in the body that can aggravate acne. Stress, whether physical or mental, invites free radicals in the body. By taking anti-oxidants, the free radicals are prevented from causing havoc to the skin.

Eczema

Eczema is a persistent skin condition characterized by dryness, rashes, redness, and itchiness, formation of blisters, oozing, cracking or bleeding, often found on the flexor aspect of joints.

The most common type of eczema is atopic or allergic in origin. Foods that were found to trigger it were eggs, peanuts, chocolate, wheat, cow’s milk, chicken and potato. Emotional stress, rough clothing, chemical irritants, bacterial infection and environmental changes all cause a flare-up. The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus complicates eczema by infecting the areas that resulted to abrasions after scratching.

Eczema is inherited but not contagious. It cannot be cured, only controlled. The symptoms are annoying and it can be a stubborn disorder to treat. You may have tried all the topical creams, steroids, and immunosuppressants available in the market, to no avail.

A number of patients attest to the efficacy of using mangosteen for eczema. Traditionally, the rind of the fruit has been used to treat skin disorders including eczema. The anti-inflammatory nature of mangosteen accounts for the improvement of symptoms. When taken constantly, your body starts to heal and rids off the toxins aggravating the condition.

The antibacterial power of mangosteen against Staphylococcus aureus is of value in preventing flare-ups and complications.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition affecting men and women equally. It occurs when the autoimmune system of your body gets messed up. The plaque type makes up for 80% of psoriasis cases. It is commonly symmetrical and found on the elbows, knees, buttocks, and scalp. The affected skin is red and scaly, which cracks and bleeds. The itchiness that comes along with it disrupts a good night’s sleep.

The exact cause why one suffers from it is still not well established. Genes and faulty signals in the immune system are believed to be among the culprits. It is an old skin problem that dates back to 35 AD. To this day, no cure has been found.

Not everyone with a family history of psoriasis develop it. There has to be provoking factors to precipitate the disease process, such as: Injury to the skin, pharyngitis caused by Streptococcus, emotional stress, and drugs including antimalarials, beta-blockers, lithium, and NSAIDs.

Despite that there is no cure to it, there are treatment options that can clear it for a period of time. Topical creams, light therapy and systemic medications are among the choices.

The topical creams may get messy and stain clothings. For light therapy, you need to keep coming back to the doctor’s office for several weeks. Most of the systemic medications have serious side effects, that they have to be combined or rotated with other treatments to lessen the side effects.

If you’d rather not deal with the drawbacks of the said treatment options, you can always try mangosteen supplements. Like eczema, the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of mangosteen take care of flushing out the harmful substances that contribute to the disease process, while keeping the body at its optimum health.