Shingles

Anybody who has ever had the childhood disease chicken pox can develop the painful, blistered rash of shingles, technically known as herpes zoster.  The chicken pox virus lies dormant in a nerve root for years, only to be reactivated later in life when the characteristic rash appears on the area of skin supplied by the affected nerve.  The reactivation is sometimes a result of contact with someone – usually a child – carrying chicken pox, but it can also arise from stress or when the body is particularly run down.

The first symptom of shingles is severe pain, for no apparent reason, on one side of the body, usually on the chest, back or neck.  A few days later, the blistering rash appears and covers the painful area.  It normally disappears in two or three weeks but it can leave scars where the crusts have formed.

Although the rash clears up quite quickly, the pain (known as post-herpetic neuralgia) can persist for months, if not years, afterwards.

THE ORTHODOX APPROACH

If the complaint is caught early enough and treatment starts within say 24 hours of the rash appearing, antiviral drugs will reduce the duration of the illness and lessen the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia.  Strong pain-killers may also be prescribed.  If shingles affects the forehead, the physician will examine your eyes to make sure that the cornea has not been harmed (sight can be damaged if treatment comes too late), and special eye drops will be prescribed to protect the eyesight.  It is wise to war loose fitting clothing so that the blisters are not rubbed and irritated.  Cool baths may help relieve the pain.

THE HALE APPROACH

A diagnosis of shingles is best made by a physician, since other conditions can mimic shingles.  Once a diagnosis has been made, complementary medical treatment should be considered first line.  The use of antiviral drugs is slowly but surely creating the development of resistant strains of the herpes virus that causes shingles, so socially and ecologically naturopathic treatments should be used first.  Any herpetic lesion that is internal or associated with the eyes should be monitored by a physician.

Shingles is a most unpleasant illness and many people are unaware how quickly and effectively it can be treated by certain complementary therapies.  The Hale Clinic would recommend acupuncture, homeopathy or Ayurveda, combined with an appropriate nutritional program.  There are also some natural topical ointments which will considerably reduce the pain.

Patients recovering from shingles often feel very depressed and debilitated: hypnotherapy will help reduce lingering pain and encourage them to feel more positive about their lives again.  Healing, Chi Kung and Moor treatment will act as supportive therapies, helping patients on the road to recover.

ACUPUNCTURE

According to the theory of ancient Chinese medicine, shingles is caused by overheating along with viruses and toxins in the body.  As one acupuncturist explains, “The principle of treatment is to tackle the overheating, to get through the blockages and to balance the body”.

He estimates that it normally takes about two weeks to clear up shingles.  “Acupuncture alone is excellent for shingles and for the accompanying pain”, he says. More about acupuncture...

HYPNOTHERAPY

Post shingles pain can linger for a long time, often causing depression, and hypnotherapy can be most effective in dealing with this attendant aspect of the disease.  When the patient is in a hypnotic state, visualization techniques can be used so that he or she sees the virus being expelled from the body and sees him/herself being well again. More about hypnotherapy...

HOMEOPATHY

One homeopath reports that “most cases of shingles show good improvement” using homeopathic remedies.  He estimates that three to four consultations are usually adequate to produce results.  The best known homeopathic remedies for shingles are Bellis per. and Hedera helix (ivy).  Other commonly used remedies include Rhus tox. for the blistered, itchy skin, Apis mel if the skin burns or stings, and Mezereum for extreme pain and itching. More about homeopathy...

NATUROPATHY

There are dietary factors that are known to help or hinder the development of this painful disease.  Specifically, there are two amino acids, lysine and arginine, which have an antagonistic effect on each other – arginine promotes herpes and lysine suppresses it.  Therefore, foods rich in arginine and low in lysine are to be avoided.  These include peanuts and other nuts, chocolate, various seeds (sunflower, poppy, and sesame), cereal grains (bread, breakfast cereals), raisins, gelatin and carob.  Instead, choose foods which have a higher ratio of lysine to arginine, such as eggs, beans, fish, chicken, meat, potatoes, milk, and brewers’ yeast.  One naturopath recommends that you drink red bush (Rooibosch) tea, which contains a bioflavonoid called quercetin that is useful in combating the herpes virus.  In addition, aloe vera and liquorice can be taken internally and/or applied topically to help the rash.

Finally, for local, topical application, he recommends two treatments.  Firstly, propolis, which has a “tremendous anti-viral effect”; and secondly lithium, an element found to inhibit herpes.  It can be used in the form of an ointment containing lithium succinate with Vitamin E and zinc.  “When applied to the blistered area four times daily, it can reduce the duration of the pain and discomfort considerably, easily by half”, he says.  More about naturopathy...

SUPPORTIVE TREATMENTS

When combined with other remedies, the following therapies can be highly beneficial: the therapeutic properties of a Moor therapy drink or body treatment; the ancient Chinese exercise of Chi Kung, which balances the body’s energies and brings a sense of well-being; and the powerful effects of healing energy.