It seems like everyone is trying to scare parents over chicken pox these days. It’s really gotten kind of ridiculous. If you’re afraid, then before you scroll down to read the facts — which you should do! — check out Chicken Pox is Not Dangerous or Scary (our experience going through it) and Natural Remedies for Chicken Pox.
By Danielle, Contributing Writer
Once considered a rite of passage, chicken pox has now become a part of the vaccine schedule instead, and, as a result, a part of the ongoing debate among parents and health care providers on whether this disease is one that should be avoided at all costs, or a disease not to be feared. Learn about its symptoms, treatment options, and how serious chicken pox can be to help you make an informed decision for yourself, and your family.
Chicken Pox {What You Need to Know}
What is Chicken Pox?
The chicken pox (varicella zoster virus) is a contagious, viral illness that results in small, red, pus-filled blisters called “pocks.” The incubation period (period from exposure until symptoms show) is 10-21 days, with the majority of children showing symptoms on days 12-14. It is spread through the air, or by contact with the open pocks. A person islikely contagious for 1-2 days before symptoms begin.
Chicken pox typically begins with a low grade fever, tiredness, and possibly a headache. Within 1-2 days, small, red, itchy pocks will form, which will blister and may contain a small amount of pus soon after appearance. These pocks will be present for 5-7 days, when they will dry out, and heal completely within 1-2 weeks. After the pocks have dried, the child is no longer contagious. 99.9% of healthy children suffer no or minimal complications, and receive life-long immunity.
Should I get the vaccine?
The chicken pox vaccine is a live vaccine, meaning that it used live (aborted fetal) tissues. It also sheds, exposing those around the vaccinated person to the virus for up to 28 days post vaccination.
The chicken pox vaccine is also not very effective. The vaccine will likely not produce lifelong immunity, which is an issue, as adults who get the varicella virus suffer more complications. Adults who get the virus have a 20% chance of getting severe complications than young children.
A review of the varicella vaccine in 2012 showed that it is not effective in providing long term immunity and actually increases the likelihood of experiencing shingles.
Vaccination has shifted the demographic getting the virus from those who can tolerate it well (young children), to those whom suffer serious complications. We are also seeing shingles, an extremely painful illness from the same virus, on the rise in adults and seniors. Mustering through the natural illness to ensure life-long immunity during childhood is the best best for most. Mothers who have been through the illness report that it is not much more than a few days of feeling under the weather, followed by some fun days at home with some funny spots.
Natural Treatments for Chicken Pox
Natural remedies for a virus, as well as baths and balms to dry out the spots, are the most typical ways to treat the chicken pox.
Drying Salves and Masks
Apply anti-viral and drying salves to the pocks. Encourage your child to not scratch or open the pocks.
Chicken Pox Salve Recipe
Use this formula to ease the itchiness and prevent infection.
- 4 tablespoons of organic coconut oil
2 teaspoons of ground lemon balm (I ground my own from dried leaves)
4 capsules of lysine
Warm the coconut oil until it is a liquid consistency. Add in the ground lemon balm and lysine, and pour into a clean, glass jar. Allow to cool and harden before use.
If you live where it’s warm and your coconut oil will not harden, you can add a 1/2 teaspoon of beeswax when warming the coconut oil.
Image by Danielle
Chicken Pox Drying Mask
Use this formula to dry out the pustules:
- 1/4 cup bentonite clay
2 tablespoons filtered water
1-2 drops oil of oregano or oregano essential oil
Combine your clay and oil in a glass jar. Slowly add your water while stirring, add until the consistency of a paste. Apply the paste to budding pustules to dry.
Image by Danielle
Soothing Baths
Soothing baths can take away the itch, and promote drying of the pocks. Use a bath blend with baking soda, oatmeal, and potato or rice starch.
Chicken Pox Bath Blend
- 1/2 cup of rice or potato starch
1/2 cup of baking soda
Blend the starch and soda and keep in a small container near the bath tub. Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of the mixture in each bath. This blend will help soothe and dry out the blisters.
Homeopathy
Homeopathic remedies can lessen the severity and promote healing.
- Aconitum 30x: Best used during the initial stages of the illness and when there is fever, restlesness, and increased thirst. (Ullman, Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants)
Rhus toxicodendron: (Rhus Tox for short) 30x: This is the most comon remedy for chicken pox. Use especially if htere is intense itching, especially at night.
Belladonna 30x: Use when chicken pox is accompanied by severe headache, flushed face, hot skin, and drowsiness with the inability to sleep (Ullman, Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants)
A common rule of thumb is to give a remedy 3-4 times a day for up to 3 days. For more information about treating chicken pox, and other childhodd illnesses with homepathy, check out the book, Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants, by Dana Ullman, M.P.H.
– Both calendula and grindelia tinctures applied topically to the pocks will ease itching. Add into coconut oil to apply to pocks.
Healing Foods
Antiviral foods and teas can help your little one fight the illness quickly. Load up on garlic, echinacea, elderberry syrup, and your favorite antiviral herb to quicken the healing process.
Additionally, a whole foods diet, rich in vitamin A and C, will lessen the severity. Now is a great time to bring out all the orange fruits and vegetables, as both vitamins A and C aide in healing of skin illnesses specifically.
Get in the Sun!
Numerous studies have shown that sun exposure limits the spread of chicken pox and its severity.
It was not long ago that every parent sighed a sigh of relief when the chicken pox struck. Today, we choose to turn away from illness, losing the benefits of life-long immunity and the lessons learned by our immune system. Use these simple tips to help your little one get through this minor illnesses quickly.
Hey! I also have a chickenpox now, it is a day 1 stage, and i am curious about the bentonite mask. I also have bentonite mask here at home, so how do i exactly use it to dry the blisters? Can i use it to dry them already? Or would it be worse if i use the bentonite mask?
Thank you
Hi, do people still do “chicken pox parties” so their child can catch the virus? I don’t plan on vaccinating my child, and I feel like the likelihood of him catching it are slim nowadays, so I’m wondering what that means for him as he gets older. Do I want him to catch it now while he is young?