Measles

Measles is a contagious eruptive fever and a highly infectious disease. This condition usually attacks people in childhood; children between 6 months and 5 years are the most vulnerable to it, though it may rarely occur in adulthood. It is so common at this stage of life that nearly all children everywhere in the world go through this brief period of red spots. A virus causes the disease and it appears in epidemic form, often in the winter season.

The eruptive stage is followed by stage during which bran-like scurf is gradually thrown off the skin. Improper treatment and suppression of the eruptions of measles can lead to many complications like pneumonia, bronchitis, and inflammation of the middle ear, encephalitis and asthma. The first symptoms, which appear during 7-14 days and a child, can infect others through sneezing and coughing during the fourth day before and upto 5 days after the appearance of the rash. After the exposure to the virus the initial symptoms of the disease are profuse watery flow from the nose and the eyes along with feverishness, cold and dry cough.

Rashes appear on the skin in three to five days after the onset of these symptoms. The appearance of the rashes is in the form of small rounded pink spots, with reddened skin in between initially appear on the sides of the face and on the forehead, behind the ears and the neck and then gradually spreads on other parts of the body appearing last on the extremities. Initially pink in colour, these rashes grow darker as time passes. Measles is usually accompanied with slight fever and diarrhoea. In rare cases of great severity, high fever and delirium may occur. Complications, which can arise from this disease, include pneumonia, bronchitis, and ear abscess. One serious but rare complication is the inflammation of the brain.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, caused by a virus so powerful, that in cities, children catch this disease before they reach the age of five years. Measles is easily transmitted in the early stages through the invisible droplets of moisture which are discharged from a patient`s nose or mouth when he coughs or sneezes. The real cause of this disease, like other diseases of childhood, is, however, wrong feeding and unhygienic living conditions. Measles is thus a natural healing crisis aimed at cleansing the infant organism of the toxins and deleterious products resulting from the assimilation of the excesses of starchy and sugary foods consumed by young children today.

There is no specific medicine that kills the measles virus. But to minimize complications and alleviate symptoms, one can try some simple and natural remedies.

Diet Therapy for Measles
Natural remedy for measles requires that the patient should be given juices of fresh fruits like orange and lemon on a regular basis. This is adequate as the patient suffers from lack of appetite during this period. He should be kept in a well ventilated room. As light has a damaging effect upon the eyes during measles, because of the weakened condition of the external eye tissues, the patient should have his eyes shaded or the room should have subdued light. As the condition improves, the patient can be placed on an all fruit diet for a further few days. Subsequently he may be allowed to gradually embark upon a well balanced diet.

Water Therapy for Measles
The cure should aim at bringing down the temperature and eliminating the toxins from the system. This can be achieved by administration of warm water enema every morning, application of mud packs on the abdomen twice a day in the morning and evening and repeated application of chest packs. Tepid water baths can be given every day to ease itching. Addition of extracts of neem leaves to this water will prove advantageous.

Home Remedies for Measles
Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of measles.
1. The most helpful amongst these is the use of orange. When the digestive power of the body is critically hampered. Orange juice is the most ideal liquid food in this disease.
2. Neem has antibacterial and anti-allergenic properties, and hence it can be very helpful in relieving itching that often occurs with the rash. Apply fresh neem leaves paste on the affected skin area. Let it dry on its own and then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
3. The juice of lemon is another medication. It also makes an efficient thirst-quenching drink in measles.
4. Turmeric is beneficial in the treatment of measles. Raw roots of turmeric should be dried in the sun and ground to a fine powder. This powder, mixed with a few drops of honey and the juice of a few bitter gourd leaves, should be given to the patient afflicted from measles. Bitter gourd has strong antioxidant properties that helps combat various symptoms of measles. It also has vitamin C, zinc, iron, potassium and dietary fibre which are required to boost immunity and speed up the healing process.
5. Powdered liquorice (mulethi) has been found valuable in relieving the cough, typical of measles.
6. The use of barley water has proved useful in case of troublesome cough in measles. This water should be taken regularly sweetened with the newly drawn oil of sweet almonds.
7. Coconut water has nutrients that help to cleanse and re-hydrate the body which makes it very effective against the measles virus and coconut flesh is rich in anti-oxidants.
8. Garlic is an effective natural cure for measles. Powder the cloves of garlic and leave to stand for 15 minutes then mix with honey. It may be better to lightly simmer the sliced garlic first to avoid an upset stomach.

Children having measles should not be allowed to mix with others. They should be given absolute rest. Hygienic condition along with the above mentioned treatment will lead to speedy recuperation. Medications should be strictly avoided.

Measles can be cured as well as be prevented through Homoeopathy. When an epidemic of measles breaks out, the child should be given a dose of Morbillinum 200 in the morning and another in the evening. This medicine is a strong immunity against measles.

However, if the child has already contracted an infection of measles, he or she should immediately be given that remedy from the below-listed ones, whose symptoms match with those of the child:

Aconite 30: This medicine is suitable for sudden onset of acute symptoms accompanied by intense nervousness, restlessness and an inexplicable fear, especially in the evening and at night. During fever, the child has an acute thirst for large quantities of cold water. He feels better in open air. These are the symptoms for which the medicine can be used.

Arsenic 30: the symptoms for using this medicine can be mentioned as the child exhibits acute restlessness, anguish and also fear. However, unlike Aconite, he dislikes cold drinks or foods because they seem to worsen his problems. Moreover, he complains of burning in the eyes, the skin, etc., which is relieved by warm applications as well.

Belladonna 30: This medicine can be used at sudden onset of acute symptoms of measles. The skin of the face and the body is dry, hot and red. Unlike Aconite, there is an absence of thirst, especially during the febrile stage, and a dislike for open air.

Bryonia 30: Very slow, gradual onset of symptoms, accompanied by dryness of the eyes, the mouth, the intestines, etc. Consequently, there is acute thirst for large quantities of cold water. The child lies absolutely still on the bed because even the slightest motion seems to aggravate his problems, even when coughing he holds his chest to prevent it from moving.

Euphrasia 30: This medicine is suitable during the early stages of the disease if these symptoms are present. Profuse watering from the eyes, causing burning and redness of eyes, however, profuse nasal discharge is bland or non-burning, cough is present only during the day-time especially in the evening but is absent at night as well.

Ferrum phos 30: Slow, gradual onset of symptoms. Fever intensifies at night or in the early morning. There is throbbing headache which is relieved by cold applications.

Gelsemium 30: This medicine is useful in very slow or gradual attack of symptoms of measles, accompanied by dullness of the mind, drowsiness and dizziness. There is trembling of the limbs and the whole body. Another characteristic feature is complete absence of thirst.

Pulsatilla 30: This remedy, perhaps, is the most important medicine for measles, is distinguished by a weeping disposition, thirstlessness and an internal feeling of chilliness. The child dislikes covering and wants to be in open air. All these are mainly the symptoms for which the medicine can be used.