Natural Cures for Postherpetic Neuralgia

Postherpetic neuralgia is a painful condition of the nerves that lingers after an episode of shingles. This condition is often treated with pain medications that have side effects that are intolerable to some people. The condition can be treated with natural remedies that relieve the pain of postherpetic neuralgia.

Capsaicin

Capsaicin is a product of cayenne pepper that has pain-relieving properties. The product can be found in natural oral medications and topical creams that relieve the pain of this nerve condition. When capsaicin is applied to the skin, it stops a chemical in the nerves that is responsible for the transmission of pain. These creams are available without a doctor's prescription and are made from natural materials.
The cayenne pepper also has an ingredient called salicylates, which act on the body in the same way as aspirin. This ingredient works on the inflammation that is present with postherpetic neuralgia.

Herbal Pain Relief

Use herbal teas to treat and remedy the pain of postherpetic neuralgia. Take ginger as a supplement or steep it in a tea for pain relief. A poultice that is made with ginger syrup and placed on the painful areas of the body sometimes relieves the nerve pain. Ginger is also an anti-inflammatory.
Teas made of willow bark and peppermint are effective pain relievers as well. Willow bark has anti-inflammatory properties that will help relieve the inflammation of the nerve disorder.

Lifestyle

Stress and depression are linked to postherpetic neuralgia in some patients. Working to reduce stress through natural remedies such as meditation often relieves the pain of this condition. Not all patients with shingles or postherpetic neuralgia respond to stress relief for their pain.

Acupuncture and Hypnosis

Some cases of shingles or postherpetic neuralgia are helped with acupuncture or hypnosis. In some of the cases that have been helped with this alternative treatment, the condition has been cured completely. There has not been enough research in this area to effectively determine whether the alternative remedies will work for a larger group of those suffering from the painful condition.

Precautions

Precautions should always be taken when using herbal remedies or cures. Some herbs can counteract prescription medications and render them ineffective. A doctor can determine whether herbs will negatively affect any medications you are using.
Alternative and natural treatments are used when prescription or traditional treatments are not effective or cause uncomfortable side effects.