Measles
Measles used to be a common childhood ailment, most frequently affecting children from 6 months of age up to 5 years old. It is very contagious. Many children are now vaccinated against this disease. This common ailment is known by the red spotty rash that appears on the skin.
Measles Symptoms
Symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, red eyes, coughing, sore throat and a fever. A rash begins with small dots that quickly enlarge and join together. Spots with white centers and a red ring appear in the mouth. The patient may also be sensitive to light.
Causes
This disease is caused by a virus. It is highly contagious and has an incubation time of 9 to 11 days from first exposure to the first symptoms being seen. It is spread through the air by coughing and sneezing. People who are immune suppressed or who are malnourished have compromised immune systems and will contract measles more easily.
Cautions
Measles can be complicated with ear infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis. The virus is spread when the patient coughs and sneezes, or has direct contact with infected secretions.
Herbal Treatments
Internal Applications
- Licorice – give afflicted children ½ teaspoon of powdered licorice mixed with the same amount of honey. This gives relief.
- Turmeric – take ½ teaspoon of powdered turmeric mixed with an equal amount of honey and the juice of a few leaves from the bitter gourd. Take once a day for 20 days.
- Lobelia – add lobelia to yarrow to aid recovery from measles.
- Chamomile – this herb helps reduce fever and stimulates the immune system. Chamomile can also calm patients who are restless. Give a single dose of tea twice a day.
- Ginger – this herb can help relieve fever. It is most useful when the patient feels cold. Take the tea as needed.
- Shiitake mushroom – this herb stimulates the immune system. This herb can be taken in capsules or eaten as part of meals.
- Echinacea – this herb stimulates the immune system. It also soothes the skin and inflamed mucous membranes. This herb is a potent antiviral. During fever, give a single dose, every two hours. After the fever has gone, a single dose can be taken three times per day for up to a week.
- Lemon balm – add lemon balm leaves to chamomile flowers and some peppermint leaves to make a soothing tea to relieve fever. Licorice root and elder flowers can also be added. Sweeten with honey to make the tea more palatable. This tea can be taken four times per day for two or three days. For an infant, the nursing mother should drink the tea and the baby will get the benefits when he or she breastfeeds.
- Elder - taken an infusion of dried elder to reduce fever.
- Sweet Violet - drink a cup of infused dried flowers 3 times a day to keep the fever down.
External Applications
- Garlic – apply the oil of garlic to any infected areas to help prevent infection.
- Oats – add finely ground oatmeal to lukewarm baths to relieve itching.
- Chickweed - apply a chickweed based cream to soothe itch.