Home remedies for measles can soothe its symptoms and reduce the amount of time that a person is sick with the virus. As many seek to avoid being vaccinated against measles for fear of side effects, such as autism, it is good to have an understanding of what measles are, how they are caused, how to identify their symptoms and how to use home remedies for measles if a child or adult becomes infected.
Definition of Measles
Measles, also known as red measles or Rubeola, is an extremely contagious viral infection. It is a common childhood illness, but adults can also contract and spread it.
Causes of Measles
Caused by a virus, measles can spread through the air, common objects or from coming in physical contact with an infected person.
Poor dietary habits and poor hygiene contribute to its spread as both weaken a person’s natural immunity to this and other infections.
Symptoms of Measles
When a person is originally infected, an incubation period of up to two weeks can leave them unaware that they have the virus. Shortly thereafter, however, symptoms similar to that of a cold or flu will begin to surface before a skin rash appears.
Some of the most common telltale symptoms of measles are as follows:
- A hacking or dry cough
- High fever
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
- Diarrhea
- A pink or red skin rash that starts on the face, but spreads to the rest of the body
While some of these symptoms may not be present in all who are infected, a skin rash, swollen lymph nodes and a fever will likely be obvious in all cases.
Home Remedies for Measles
Natural cures and home remedies for measles have been used for centuries to treat this common childhood virus. As a safe remedy for measles, herbs and other natural treatments are the preferred method for those who wish to avoid prescription medications or immunizations.
A child or adult that is infected with the measles may not have much of an appetite when symptoms appear. It is important to keep the person well hydrated with fluids and to let them rest as much as possible.
Other home remedies for measles include:
- Drink large amounts of orange juice
- Drink lemon juice and water
- A diet of fresh fruit until the appetite improves
- A warm water enema will help reduce fever and prevent constipation
- Mud packs to the abdomen will help reduce a fever
- Lukewarm baths will also help with fever reduction and itching
Herbs and other foods commonly used in herbal remedies for measles are:
- Turmeric
- Barley (water boiled with barley can be strained and administered to help with a cough)
- Licorice (a teaspoon of powdered licorice with honey helps treat a cough)
- Margosa leaves (can be used for bathing to soothe itching)
- Bitter gourd leaves
- Eggplant seed
Combining turmeric and bitter gourd leaves, as mentioned above, with a spoonful of honey is often cited among the best home remedies for measles.
Parents and others are advised to seek immediate medical attention if ear pain is reported or if cold-like symptoms persist. Labored breathing, or discolored mucous expelled during a cough or through nose discharge may be a sign of pneumonia, which can attack during a measles infection. While home remedies for measles can still be used to treat the virus, a physician should monitor any subsequent infections in small children even while natural cures are being used. Measles is not usually a life-threatening illness, but complications can sometimes accompany the virus, which should be attended to immediately.
