Measles Is On The Rise: How To Spot It and Support Recovery

An Uptick of a Highly Contagious Disease

Once thought to be eliminated in the United States a few decades ago, today we’re experiencing the largest outbreak of the measles in more than 30 years.³ A highly contagious disease, it is spread in the same manner as severe acute respiratory syndrome through coughing and sneezing, where respiratory particles can stay suspended in the air for hours, long after the infected person has left the room. It also has a lengthy incubation period — from 6 to 21 days. It is so contagious that infectious illness experts warn that if you suspect you have been exposed to measles — even if you don’t have symptoms — it’s recommended you quarantine from the 5th day to the 21st to avoid infecting others. In this post, we will discuss the symptoms, danger signs to watch for, how to ease symptoms, and herbal support — including several DIY remedies.

Symptoms

Similar to other contagious illnesses, measles outbreaks generally tend to arise in late winter and early spring. The initial symptoms can look very similar to influenza, a cold, or severe acute respiratory syndrome. These include fever, loss of appetite, malaise, runny nose, cough, and conjunctivitis (pink eye). Koplik’s spots can appear on the inside of the cheeks that look like a grain of salt. They typically appear about two days before the telltale rash, which begins on the face, scalp, neck, and shoulders, then spreads to the extremities over 3-4 days. It can be exceptionally itchy and uncomfortable. The fever will usually peak within 2-3 days of the onset of the rash, and then begins to subside. If the fever doesn’t lower and lasts beyond the 3rd or 4th day of the rash, it can indicate measles-induced complications and requires immediate medical attention.

Viral Infections and Vitamin A

Vitamin A deficiency can lead to a severe case of measles and more complications. If measles has been diagnosed, acute treatment of vitamin A is warranted in the following doses as recommended by Aviva Romm, MD:²

For treatment of measles, vitamin A is given once a day for two days at the following doses:

• Babies under 6 months old: 50,000 international units
• Babies 6 to 11 months old: 100,000 international units
• Children over 12 months: 200,000 international units

If you live in an area that’s endemic to measles, a good course of action is to take cod liver oil daily to maintain adequate levels of vitamin A, although it is not an alternative to the treatment above if you have contracted the disease. It’s important to work with your medical provider for acute vitamin A treatment because toxicity issues may arise.

It is also crucial to seek medical care immediately if you or your child exhibits any of the following symptoms:

• Painful cough with difficulty breathing
• Severe headache or convulsions
• Drooling or difficulty swallowing
• Hearing difficulty
• Other indications of severe illness

For office or emergency room visits, call ahead to alert the staff that there is suspected or confirmed measles, as quarantine at the hospital is warranted due to the highly contagious nature of the illness.

Herbal Support

Here are a few herbal remedies that should be kept on hand as they can help to protect against severe illness and complications:

Kudzu reduces the infection rate and shortens cases of measles. It also works as a preventative for family members. People who take kudzu root get well faster than those who do not.

Recipes: Kudzu Decoction: 60 grams dried kudzu root, chopped, 3 cups water. Combine the water and kudzu root and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and cover tightly. Let the kudzu steep for another 30 minutes. The decoction will be thick. Take 1/3 cup of the decoction, three times a day. Store the remaining decoction in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To treat the measles, try cleavers internally and externally on the skin to relieve itching and the general discomfort from the rash. Cleavers can also help to bring down the accompanying fever.

Yarrow reduces the duration of measles, colds, and fevers. It is quick to bring down a fever. Either chew raw yarrow or drink yarrow tea to induce sweating and reduce fevers. An easier (and more palatable) method is to take yarrow in tincture form, like the one found in my apothecary. It opens the pores, encouraging perspiration, and purifies and moves the blood.

To lower the viral load of measles, boost immunity, and speed recovery, elderberry extract may also be helpful. While its effectiveness has largely been studied for influenza and cold viruses, its effectiveness against viral infections holds promise for measles.¹

Easing Symptoms

As mentioned above, measles is an uncomfortable illness — especially for children. Here are a few tips to help calm symptoms and support natural healing.

Oatmeal baths help to relieve itching and soothe the skin. Rolled oats can be placed in a sock, then tied off with a rubber band. Submerge it in warm bathwater and squeeze until the milky liquid is released, which can then be gently rubbed onto the skin. Calendula is also an excellent remedy when used as a compress to calm the skin.

For conjunctivitis, a compress soaked with chamomile and yarrow tea is helpful for soothing the eyes and treating infection.

To soothe a sore throat, sage, echinacea, and raw honey are excellent options to help ease discomfort, reduce inflammation, and fight infection.

Recipes. Sage Throat Spray: 3 tablespoons dried or fresh sage leaves, 3/4 cup boiling water, 1/4 cup honey, one cup echinacea extract, one tablespoon raw honey (Manuka honey is ideal). Pour the boiling water over the sage leaves and allow it to steep for 30 minutes. Strain out the leaves. Add the echinacea extract and raw honey. Store in a bottle with a spray top, preferably with a fine mist. Spray in the back of the throat as often as needed.

For addressing earaches that accompany the measles, garlic and mullein are outstanding for easing pain, addressing infection, and calming inflammation. Several herbal companies sell herbal-infused oil ear drops for this purpose. To use, place a few drops into the ear canal, making sure to plug the ear with a cotton ball afterwards. Do not use it if the eardrums are punctured.

While once a common childhood illness, measles is again seeing an uptick after several decades of declining numbers. It’s uncomfortable and energy-sapping, so care should be taken to get plenty of rest — even if it seems as though you or your child are fully recovered. It is recommended to stay at home resting for a week after symptoms have subsided to avoid picking up other contagious illnesses while immunity may still be compromised.

Stocking Your Herbal Medicine Cabinet

To sum up, here are the natural remedies and supplies you should keep on hand — especially if there is a measles outbreak in your area.

• Kudzu root
• Elderberry tincture
• Yarrow tincture
• Cod liver oil
• Oatmeal for baths
• Dried chamomile, yarrow, sage, and echinacea herbs
• Garlic and mullein ear drops
• Vitamin A
• Raw honey
• Small spray bottle
• Cotton balls

For ready-made, concentrated tinctures of yarrow and elderberry, visit my apothecary. 

Keeping your herbal medicine cabinet stocked as we enter into autumn and kids head back to school is always a good idea. A little preparation now means you’ll have nature’s best remedies on hand when you need them so you can navigate this season with confidence.

Nicole Apelian

Nicole’s Apothecary Products in this Post

References

1. Mocanu ML, Amariei S. Elderberries-A Source of Bioactive Compounds with Antiviral Action. Plants (Basel). 2022 Mar 10;11(6):740. doi: 10.3390/plants11060740. PMID: 35336621; PMCID: PMC8948669.
2. “What to Do If Your Child Gets the Measles”, Avia Romm, MD. https://avivaromm.com/natural-treatments-measles-symptoms/
3. “Experts explain what’s behind measles surge and how to stop it”, Virginia Tech News, July 8, 2025. https://news.vt.edu/articles/2025/07/measles-cases-record-experts.html