Lemon Balm Shingles Relief Cream

You know, I have to admit that researching shingles got me a little concerned.  Even those who are vaccinated can still get this illness.  The vaccine only prevents the disease half the time if you get the old vaccine.  The newer vaccine is more effective, but not 100%.  Alternative therapies are going to be pretty important for something so painful and so common, especially for those who didn't get vaccinated.  One-third of us will get to experience shingles at least once in our lives, and quite a few will have recurrences.

The following cream from Stephen Buhner's Herbal Antivirals is reported to be extremely effective.  Unfortunately, it takes three days to prepare, not exactly ideal when someone is in excruciating pain.  I do have to wonder if incorporating essential oils or tinctures of the ingredients into a cream would be at all effective.  But until a family member has shingles, and so far, there are no volunteers for testing, I will just have to continue wondering.  

Lemon Balm Shingles Relief Cream
3 ounces licorice root
2 ounces lemon balm
2 ounces birch bark
2 ounces rosemary

Simmer the herbs in one quart of water in a slow cooker for three days.  Cool the solution and strain out and discard the herbs.  Pour the liquid into a pot.  Bring this to a boil and reduce heat.  Watching very carefully to prevent burning, which is very easy at this point, simmer until two ounces remain.
Put the resulting cream into a jar.  Apply the cream six to ten times per day as needed.  In most cases the rash will be resolved within three days.

Another option for topical pain relief, especially while waiting for the above cream to be completed, is to use pine pollen infused oil on the sores. 

Links to related posts:
Herbal Antivirals book review
The Medicinal Uses of Rosemary
The Medicinal Uses of Lemon Balm
Shingles 
7.3.23