My four year old is covered in spots. I hoped it was some sort of heat rash but I’m deluding myself: it’s chicken pox. So I’m cancelling my plans for the week and resigning myself to the looming boredom of being housebound for a good few days.
Chicken pox is a mild, highly contagious infection, peaking in late winter to spring each year. It mostly affects children under ten, and the most common complication is infection of the itchy spots. I’ve been researching the sketchy information there is on nutrition for chicken pox to see if there is a ‘chicken pox diet’; if there’s something I can do to lessen the itching and even progression of the virus, I want to know about it. From a purely selfish point of view I’d also like to not be confined to my house for longer than need be.
Unlike many viruses chicken pox doesn’t always zap appetite – so I can easily launch my four point, chicken pox dietary assault:
- Antiviral Foods
- Hydration
- Histamine Reduction
- Skin Healing
1. Antiviral Foods
Chicken pox is a virus so boosting antiviral foods such as garlic and spices such as turmeric is my first dietary ‘must do’. I’m also using vitamin C (a potent antiviral) and zinc drops mixed into a drink of high antioxidant, high lysine, sleep-promoting sour cherry cordial such as Cherry Active.
But chicken pox isn’t just any virus. It’s a herpes virus (related to cold sores and shingles) known as varicella-zoster. Certain foods ‘encourage’ the herpes virus and some ‘discourage’ it.
Herpes viruses thrive when there are high levels of the amino acid arginine in the blood, relative to another amino acid, lysine. To attack the virus we need to eat foods that contain a lot of lysine compared to arginine.
‘Good’ lysine to arginine foods i.e. foods to eat when we have chicken pox include:
- Yogurt (natural probiotic yogurt supports the immune system)
- Fish (not shellfish); oily fish contain beneficial anti-inflammatory Omega 3s
- Meat including beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, game; if you can find pasture-fed it’s a better option for their Omega 3 content
- Organic cheese and milk
- Specific fruits: stone fruit (mango, apricots, cherries, avocados, papaya), apples, pears, figs and pineapples
Most vegetables, some other fruits and pulses hover around the ‘neutral’ mark meaning they should neither encourage nor discourage the virus.
The ‘bad’ lysine to arginine foods, i.e. foods to avoid when we have chicken pox include:
- Nuts and seeds; these have the worst lysine arginine ratio
- Grains (including wheat, oats, rice)
- Tofu
- Fruits: grapes, blackberries, blueberries, grapefruit and oranges (including juice)
- Caffeine (not an issue for my 4 year old)
- Chocolate (an issue for my 4 year old)
- Onions and garlic – but in view of their strong antiviral and antihistamine properties from eating a low amount of them, I have opted to keep these in my chicken pox diet
2. Hydration
Sometimes chicken pox is accompanied by fever, so it’s important to keep hydrated – water, coconut water or home made ice lollies (good if spots are in the mouth) work well alongside the cherry cordial.
3. Histamine Reduction
Chicken pox spots are itchy, and if scratched they can become infected, so it’s important to keep nails short. Antihistamines are sometimes recommended, but I’ve instead used foods that have an anti-histamine effect. These include Vitamin C-rich foods such as kale, broccoli, peppers, papaya, kiwi and strawberries; I’ve also supplemented vitamin C. Quercetin, found in foods such as kale, apples, spinach, watercress and onions also acts as an antihistamine; an apple a day features in my chicken pox diet. Anti-histamine foods and supplements are covered in more detail in our hay fever blog
I’ve been using oatmeal baths to soothe the skin from the outside, much to my son’s bemusement (a cup of food processed oats knotted into a pair of old tights). I’ve added a few drops of lavender oil for its antiseptic as well as sleep inducing properties and have doused the spots with witch hazel gel, although reputedly bicarbonate of soda paste or calendula also are effective.
4. Skin Health
The final layer of the diet is an influx of nutrients to support skin health, and reduce scarring once the spots scab over. Brightly coloured fruits and veggies (for Vitamins A, C and E), grass-fed beef and lamb, spinach, mushrooms and asparagus (for skin-healthy zinc) and olive oil, avocado and oily fish (for their healthy fats). Avocado can easily be hidden in fruit smoothies or ice lollies. After the scabs have gone, coconut or rosehip oils applied to the skin may help to reduce scarring.
Fast forward a week later: after including foods from my chicken pox diet, skipping our normal staple of nuts and seeds, and using the baths, my son has had little itching, not too many spots and they’re healing well. A coincidence or has the diet played a part? Unfortunately it hasn’t addressed his grumpy mood from staying at home for so many days…..
We hope you enjoy this blog post, let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on social media – we’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. And don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter to receive a monthly update of our recipes, nutrition tips and expert advice.
May 23, 2016
very useful opinions within reach of every one like prescription of wisdom forthe affected ones
November 19, 2016
Thanks for the great info. My first child got CP and had a mild case. we gave him Calendula, Thyme and Baking Soda baths along with Sulpher in Homeopathic doses and and Humic acid. His light rash was mostly dry within 3 days.
When his sister had it 2 weeks after him (long incubation) it started very mildand was barely spreading after 2 days. We were not quite as proactive and on the 3rd day she got it with a vengeance, despite limiting her exposure to her brother when he had it. I asked myself what other major differences there were that could explain it and the stark difference is that my son is allergic to dairy. My daughter loves dairy so I was wondering if this might make a difference.In any case I will apply the diet mentioned above (minus the dairY) and replicate the regimen her brother was on. Cheers!
November 28, 2016
Thanks for your comments – this blog really was written and researched as fully as I could to try to lessen the symptoms for my son – so figured that if it helped him it would be useful to share the information rather than waste my research! Anything that helps to minimise inflammation at the time would be useful – so it makes sense to avoid any potential food sensitivities such as dairy, if you suspect that she may have a slight issue with them. Good luck!
November 22, 2016
Thanks for the idea. My 1-year old baby has signs of chicken pox right now. Hoping not to make this worst by following your examples. God Bless.
January 20, 2017
Thank you 🙂 I was tensed .. this article is really good ..
February 6, 2017
I’m suffering with chickenpox at the age of 14. It is itching alot. Too many rashes and red marks are there. Hoping to get rid as soon as possible.
February 24, 2017
I hope you have fully recovered now. Apologies for the late response we have been having technical difficulties with our server but hopefully things are fully resolved.
April 23, 2018
Me too dear.. But I am 13
March 16, 2017
thank you i fell relaxed nw……..
March 24, 2017
My kids were exposed to chicken pox two and a half weeks ago, and over the past week, they (all four of them, including my oldest who had chicken pox at 15 months) have exhibited some very minor symptoms of chicken pox. I’ve seen one or two blisters, but mostly just tiny itchy spots. My oldest had a slight fever a couple of days ago.
The cases we were exposed to were not this mild, and I attribute this to following this diet. I looked it up last week when I knew the kids had been exposed. We generally eat a healthy whole foods diet and avoid processed sugar as much as possible. We omitted the usual nuts and seeds that we love to eat and made sure to up our yogurt and stone fruits intake. I have also been supplementing with high doses of vitamin C. Thank you for this useful post!
August 1, 2017
I am sorry we didn’t pick up this message sooner, have had some technical issues with our site. Happy to hear that your kids showed only minor symptoms, it can be so uncomfortable for them. My eldest daughter had chicken pox at 9 months and then again recently as apparently the immune system is not developed enough to form an adequate response if they have it so young, although I have met some people who have had chicken pox many times. Apologies again for such a late response and please do get in contact if you have any questions, Emma
May 24, 2017
right now im suffering chiken pox at the age of 38. Can you give me some advice on how to cure chicken pox easily.
August 1, 2017
I am sorry we didn’t pick up this message sooner, have had some technical issues with our site. I imagine that you have now recovered from chicken pox and hope it wasn’t too uncomfortable. A little tip if there is any scarring is that a cream containing vitamins A and C such as from environ can be fantastic in speeding up the skin healing after chicken pox. Apologies again and do contact us if you have any other questions, Emma
June 23, 2017
Iam suffering frmm cp for 3 days ithas spread all over my body and till now it’s spreading in ears mouth also I have ……what should I do
August 1, 2017
I am sorry we didn’t pick up this message sooner, have had some technical issues with our site. I imagine that you have now recovered from chicken pox and hope it wasn’t too uncomfortable. A little tip if there is any scarring is that a cream containing vitamins A and C such as from environ can be fantastic in speeding up the skin healing after chicken pox. Apologies again and do contact us if you have any other questions, Emma
July 30, 2017
Hi ..I am 26 daughter is 3 ,my sister is 21 and my dad all have chicken pox ..It’s really worrying us..What can we do to ease the pain? And to.make it go away quicker
August 1, 2017
The dietary advice above helps speed up recovery but my daughter also recently had a terrible case of chicken pox and was really suffering. We found the best thing to relieve the itch and pain was to soak in a bath of colloidal oats. Basically this is regular oats made into a powder in a nutri bullet or food processor. Cut up an old pair of tights and put around 1-2 cups of the powdered oats in, tying the tights up securely. Run a bath with the oats in and allow to soak until the water becomes cloudy. My daughter had around 3 baths a day for at least 20 minutes and really felt it helped dramatically. Another great tool is the homeopathic remedy Rhus Tox that can help relive pain. Hope this helps, Emma
September 11, 2017
Hello , i am 30 years old . I felt shivering and fever last monday. Tuesday morning i saw little rashes onmy face , back and on my tummy . They increased next morning and spread all over my body from head to toe . After 7 days am still suffering from it . Plz suggest me something .
September 13, 2017
Following the dietary advice above will be helpful. Also a bath with colloidal oats which is basically normal oats put in a food processor or blender to form a powder then placed in an old sock or pair of tights and placed in a warm bath. The oats are very soothing to the skin and can help reduce itchiness. High dose vitamin C may also help with the viral infection. Hope this helps, Emma
March 23, 2018
thank you for this wonderfull tip
i feel it will really effect me a lot in the best possible way.
you are the best.
I
love u guys
April 29, 2018
Btw, did you all try “COCONUT WATER”? Very effective when consume.
April 29, 2018
It contains lots of vitamin and mineral which prevent infections for chicken pox. Try the “COCONUT WATER”.
Regards..
May 5, 2018
Thanks a lot. My 14 yrs old son is suffering now. Your information will help me.