Try These Natural Alternatives That Will Help You Alleviate Mumps

Although once contracted mumps there is lifelong immunity to the virus, it is important to know how to treat it to alleviate its symptoms and the discomfort that they can cause.

Mumps, a viral disease commonly known as mumps, is a painful inflammation of the parotids. It’s annoying and uncomfortable but, with good care, it shouldn’t have serious complications. There are multiple natural alternatives to relieve mumps.

The parotids are salivary glands found on both sides of the face, below the ears and jaw. Although these can become inflamed for several reasons, the best known is inflammation due to the mumps virus, which especially affects children and young people.

The discomfort, which lasts between 7 and 10 days, begins with pain and hardening in the parotid gland area. In addition to inflammation under the jaw, there is also:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle pains
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite from pain when chewing.

The mumps virus is usually spread by direct contact with another sick person. Although there is no medical treatment, the disease can be prevented with a vaccine. Generally, if you have the disease once, you develop lifelong immunity.

After strong vaccination campaigns, mumps became a rare disease. There are no medications indicated to treat this condition, so natural alternatives are generally sought to relieve mumps.

Does mumps “come down”?

When suffering from mumps, you can develop ovaritis, or the inflammation of the ovaries, and orchitis, the inflammation of the testicles. These are the cases in which it is said that mumps is “lowered”, a known complication that is prevented from the first symptoms of the virus.

In the cases of inflammation of the testicles, much more frequent, there are possibilities that fertility is compromised. This risk is not run in case of ovaritis.

Other complications of mumps are:

• Meningitis
• Encephalitis
• Deafness
• Pancreatitis
• Inflammation of the joints.

Prevent mumps

The triple viral vaccine, given in the first months of life, protects children from three diseases: measles, rubella and mumps. This vaccine is given in two doses: one at 12 months of age and another at 6 years of age.

The best way to prevent mumps is to get vaccinated and avoid contact with people affected by the virus. In cases of outbreaks of the disease, if you are not sure if you received the second dose of this vaccine, you can get vaccinated again. Pregnant women cannot get the vaccine.

Similarly,  total rest is recommended for those with mumps symptoms. This is very important to alleviate them and avoid infections. In case of living with a person who is suffering from parotitis, it is recommended:

• Do not share glasses, plates or cutlery.
• Avoid coming into contact with the saliva of the affected person.
• Do not share a toothbrush.
• Clean the toilet several times to avoid contagion through urine.
• Use natural alternatives to relieve mumps.

The medical recommendation in case of mumps is rest and hydration. Symptoms usually disappear on their own after 10 days, so there is no special treatment.

In particular cases, and after a medical evaluation, anti-inflammatory treatment is indicated. However, if you want to treat pain and inflammation, there are natural alternatives to relieve mumps and its symptoms.

How to relieve mumps

1. Hot water compresses on the inflamed area

Applying warm compresses to the area can help us combat the symptoms effectively. We must emphasize that compresses only help to relieve symptoms, but they do not cure the disease.

What do you need?

• Hot water
• A cloth

What should you do?

1. Using a clean cloth, apply hot water to the jaw area.
2. Keep this treatment 3 times a day, every day, until the symptoms are relieved.

2. Calendula tea

What do you need?

• 2 tablespoons of calendula (30 g)
• 1 cup of water (250 ml)

What should you do?

1. Add two tablespoons of calendula to a cup of boiling water.
2. Cover and let the tea cool.
3. You can have the drink 3 times a day.

3. Olive oil

What do you need?

• A few drops of olive oil (necessary amount)
• A cotton

What should you do?

1. Apply a few drops of olive oil to a cotton ball and massage the inflamed area for at least 10 minutes.
2. Repeat the procedure 2 or 3 times a day.

4. Infusion of chamomile

What do you need?

• 2 tablespoons of chamomile flowers (30 g)
• 1 cup of water (250 ml)

What should you do?

1. Add 2 tablespoons of chamomile flowers to a cup of boiling water.
2. Let cool and gargle, preferably in the morning and at night. Do not swallow the liquid.

5. Belladonna

What do you need?

• 1 tablespoon of belladonna leaves (15 g)
• Water (required amount)

What should you do?

1. Belladonna leaves are boiled and applied with gauze to the inflamed area.
2. It is important to handle this plant with care as it is toxic.
3. Wash your hands very well before and after applying it.

Although, if treated carefully, it is not a dangerous disease, it is a bothersome condition. Finding natural alternatives to relieve mumps and its symptoms is very helpful. They will allow you to face this disease, get away with it, and hopefully never suffer from it again. Consult with your doctor before applying any natural therapy.