Seeing Spots - Chicken Pox?

Chicken Pox is a common childhood disease caused by the varicella virus, which is a member of the herpes virus family. It is an acute, highly contagious disease and is acquired by direct contact with infected blister fluid or by inhalation of respiratory droplets, when for example an infected child sneezes. A person inhales these droplets, the virus enters the lungs, and then is carried through the blood stream to the skin where it causes a rash. While the virus is in the bloodstream (before the rash begins) it causes typical virus symptoms like fever, fatigue, joint pains, headache, and swollen glands. These symptoms usually ease by the time the rash develops.

The time from first contact with this disease to the time the symptoms appear, called the incubation period, is 2 to 3 weeks and the person is contagious from 2 days or so before the rash appears.

Chicken pox symptoms

Chicken Pox usually begins with a slight to moderate fever, other symptoms may include headache, backache, loss of appetite, an upset stomach or vomiting.

The rash typically seen in chicken pox are little red spots that enlarge and become filled with a clear fluid. Usually they appear on the back and chest first, and then spread to the extremities. After about 8-12 hours the fluid in the spot gets cloudy and it bursts leaving a scab or crust. This crust peels off in 5 to 7 days, and this is the time the patient experiences severe itching. If the crusts are prematurely scratched off this may cause scarring. New spots emerge every day for several days, so it may take a week or more until new lesions stop appearing and the existing ones crust over.

Natural Treatment Recommendations

Once your child has chicken pox you need to keep them isolated until all the potentially contagious skin sores have healed over. Common sense nursing care applies at this time: plenty of sleep, lots of friendly liquids (no sugar or carbonated drinks as they weaken immunity ). Cooling cloths, herbs and homeopathics can help ease the fever and body ache stage and plenty of soothing creams and herbs once the itch starts plus lots of love and distraction techniques!! The itching can be very intense and it is very important to stop your child scratching as this is the best way to prevent scarring. Keep the fingernails short or try gloves on toddlers to prevent the scabs being picked off.

Tepid baths can be incredibly soothing, especially if you add herbs (see our suggestions below).

As chicken pox is viral, we prescribe antiviral herbs that can support the body. Some of the most effective are Cats Claw (Una Decario ), St Johns Wort, Olive leaf and Echinacea. These herbs can also be used preventatively if there is an epidemic in your area or if your child has been in contact with the disease.
Treating each child individually in each case is always best yet some common remedies successfully used in chicken pox are the following:

Internal Relief

Homeopathics:
Aconite - a remedy if the child is feverish and anxious after initial contact.
Belladonna- if the fever is very hot and the skin is hot, the child may be listless.
Rhus tox - helps especially the body ache symptoms
Sulphur, Urtica Urens, or Ledum may also be indicated depending on the childs symptoms.
Herbs:
Cats Claw (Una Decario ), St Johns Wort, Olive leaf and Echinacea.
Boneset – relieves the body ache and assists in lowering fevers.
Burdock – helps break fevers and reduces skin damage from the spots.
Nettle – strengthening tonic and exceptional skin healer.

External relief:

Herbs:
Ledum tincture - diluted and dabbed onto spots with a cotton bud can give instant itch relief, and it also aids healing of the area.
Aloe Vera gel - relieves itching and generally cools.
Tumeric paste – soothes when applied directly to the spots.
Sandalwood (paste/diluted essential oil/cream) – relieves itch, heals and cools.
Chickweed (tea/tincture/cream) – relieves itch and soothes.
Calendula (oil/tincture/cream) – relieves itch, heals the skin and helps prevent scarring.
Lavender (oil/cream/tea) – relieves itch, cools, heals the skin and prevents infection.

Homeopathics:

Urtica Urens – relieves itch.
Sulphur – relieves itch and body aches.

Baths:

Burdock, Nettle, and/or Peppermint - make into a strong tea and add to the bath.
Oat meal (rolled oats) - tie oats in a muslin cloth or old stocking and put under the running tap as you fill the bath or gently dab bag or stocking directly onto the skin whilst wet.

If your child has an unusually severe symptoms or high fever then please seek professional help. Mullumbimby Herbals can offer more specialised advice for your individual child – contact us for more information

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