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61 User Reviews
Posted by Nick (UK) on 07/01/2023
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar for Shingles
I wanted to write this post because I'm pretty sure this is the best remedy there is for Shingles. I tried almost everything including aciclovir antivirals, but it was apple cider vinegar (ACV) that cured it at the end. I had no idea what the outbreak of itchy blisters where when I got it about 6 months ago.. It took quite long for my to figure out it needed proper treatment and it had time to spread all over the body and with extreme itchiness and burning. After taking aciclovir for some weeks I thought the shingles was gone, but it actually came back again not as bad, but still very itchy and burning on various places. I think I can say that alcohol and coffee (although I don't drink much of either) seemed to make it worse, as well as chocolate, and fats such as butter and olive oil.. I definitely noticed worsening of the symptoms after eating big lunches. So since I then thought it had something to do with the gut and the antibacterials/virals didn't seem to work I started supplement with prebiotics instead such as kefir and yogurts, which seemed to work a bit, but it wasn't until I tried ACV that I started notice a real change! This was probably after 3-4months since first getting it. I took about 1-2 tablespoons diluted in a glas of carbonated water with breakfast, and another tablespoon at supper time. If I could, I would have taken it at work as well for lunch, but a bit messy bringing a bottle along, so I didn't do that. It probably didn't take more than a few days before I started seeing results, and after a few weeks it pretty much all disapeared, although I have continued taking ACV afterwards as well at least once a day. Lately I have seen that you can actually buy ACV in pill form as well, so that's a good option to have in the bag when out and about. I wish everyone to stay healthy with this little marvel which is ACV!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Forge On! (Midwest Of Usa) on 01/06/2022
★★★★★
Yes, drinking ACV (ALWAYS diluted! ) helps. However, my 2-cents here......I had shingles on my face & eye over 10 years ago. Using DILUTED ACV in a spray bottle (or gently dabbed) helped relieve / reduce itch. Probably also prevented scarring......
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nan (Ohio) on 05/02/2020
★★★★★
Several have mentioned and I believe that shingles pain, itching, burning is worse at night. Not sure why. However, it pays to be pro-active and apply your ACV, and drink your ACV right before going to bed, even though you haven't had any problems during the day.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Angi (California) on 02/04/2019
★★★★★
My shingles episode started after Christmas 2018. My first trip was to the ER. They gave me Acyclovir, which in 24hr made the skin peel off my hands and a red rash. Threw that away. My next thought is EC and started reading.
1. I put paste of ACV and baking soda on the lesions. They dried in one day.
2. Then started dealing with nerve pain, my regiment was: 16 units of Vit E, Maca for nerve pain, Liposomal Vit C 6000-10000 daily for 1 month, B12 microlingual 5000 morning and night. Magnesium increased for 2 weeks, increase folic acid for 3 weeks. Increase Vit D to 4-5000 daily, as I was really low on that.
When I researched the cause of Shingles, I realized the foods that were high in arginine. I was eating chocolate, grapes, nuts, all in one week and was low in lysine at the same time. Once I found out the correlation between arginine and lysine, it was very important that Lysine keeps the shingles at bay from reoccurring.
I also started, acupuncture and chiropractic visits, that also helped with pain. I never had any itching, as I caught the lesions early and dried them up. The acupuncture visits also provided herbal medicines that helped with pain. It's also very important to continue to stretch and walk if at all possible. Even simple short yoga workouts help with pain. I was sleeping on the hard floor for 10 days because the pain was so exhausting, until my acupuncturist helped relieve most of the stinging pain in my leg.
Thank you EC for being a source of knowledge.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Apple Cider Vinegar (Hiawassee, Ga) on 06/06/2017
★★★★☆
I was using apple cider vinegar on what I thought were spider bites. I later was diagnosed with shingles. All I can say is that from 6 areas I am down to 2. And the pain has subsided tremendously since I started doing this. I am happy to say that my symptoms are very mild after 4 days using the vinegar topically with cotton balls.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Maze (Nc) on 05/26/2017
★★★★★
Applied ACV directly to my shingles on my back/flank area, was the only thing that stopped the painful itching and burning!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Michael (Ajax, Ontario, Canada) on 10/10/2016
★★★★★
Shingles with NO PAIN
On a recent Friday, my wife's personal support worker noticed a small rash on her waist, nothing to worry about. On Saturday, she thought it might be shingles.
Having no experience with or knowledge about shingles I started to look into it. The only thing I knew was that my wife's father and mother had it, and it was very painful. Her brother had fairly recently had it, and said it was excruciating, the most painful experience, that just lasted and lasted. So I expected a grim experience ahead.
After my initial inquiries as to the nature of shingles, I of course came to EARTHCLINIC. The most interesting results were with ACV. People who did not receive pain relief from their pain meds then tried ACV, with some success at pain relief.
But those results were after the shingles had matured. I decided to be proactive. On Sunday, I started treating the rash with ACV.
On Monday, the doctor confirmed it was shingles, but said it was too late to do anything to prevent it (because it was over the weekend we couldn't get in earlier). She did give her an anti-viral. The next day, we went to the Naturopath, but she couldn't offer anything else, but gave her another anti-viral to take as well. Whether or not these did any good I can't say, but I'm sure these would have been given to everyone else, so I doubt that they had any significant effect. Both the doctor and Naturopath expected the shingles to become worse and painful.
I used an atomizer bottle to spray the ACV directly on the rash 3 or 4 times a day. It was covered so there was no rubbing. I also gave her a tablespoon of ACV orally once or twice a day. I used organic ACV.
My wife took no pain medication.
She had absolutely no pain and only an occasional slight itch. Only a couple of the lesions burst. The rest just shriveled. The shingles were finished in 1-1/2 weeks.
I have no further experience to confirm this, but it certainly seems that ACV did the job.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mrs. Muldrow (Magnolia, Arkansas) on 10/29/2015
I had a bout w shingles for the first time when I was in my mid twenties, and it was the most horrendous experience of my life. I first noticed a tingling sensation on my right butt cheek accompanied by extreme itching and thought nothing more of it then a bug bite. A couple days later I noticed it began to sprout bumps that were accompanied by pain. My mother has had shingles a few times before so when I told her about it she opted to see them- and behold!! My shingles had been confirmed!! I didn't go to the hospital because again, my mother has had them before and assumed she was the "shingles queen"!! Lol Long story short- Worst 3 weeks of my life!!
Well, just a couple days ago, I began to notice the beginning stages of shingles, and absolutely refused to deal w the same situation. As I've read on several testimonials on this site going to the hospital would be absolutely pointless, plus I'm pregnant and don't want to put anything harmful in my baby's system. I also saw where people almost swear by Apple Cider Vinegar, and I had read where one gentleman suggested making a baking powder paste... What could it hurt right?? Lol So I told my husband about it, and he grabbed some ACV, baking powder, and honey. I took 2 tablespoon orally, and chased it w a spoonful of honey for taste because it's absolutely disgusting!! Soaked a large cotton ball in the ACV, and taped it to my butt (it came back in the same spot) and let me tell ya, it burns like hell!! We're gonna leave it on for a little while longer, and then apply the baking powder paste.......... I'll be back to tell you my results!! Keep your fingers crossed!! Lol And thank you all for your suggestions!!
Replied by Elaine
(Ky)
10/30/2015
Replied by Clare
(Uk)
01/06/2016
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Graham (England) on 07/03/2015
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
The pain on the right hand side of my face, eye socket, eyebrow and top of head is unbelievable following recent Shingles. Apple Cider Vineger has helped but not any longer. Can anyone help please. Thank you.
Replied by Kim
(Portland, Or, Usa)
08/04/2015
Replied by Anna
(Mississippi)
09/14/2017
Replied by CC
(SD, CA)
05/29/2022
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lynn (Texas) on 05/20/2015
★★★★★
A while back I got shingles on the back of my leg. It is the second time in 2 years, I am getting old unfortunately. I read about apple cider vinegar, so I got some, put it on a cotton ball, and taped it to my leg. I slept with it on with a piece of plastic taped over the cotton ball. For 2 days I left it on. Shingles were basically gone. When they started to come on the second time, did the same thing. Never had a chance to even get started. When your system is too acidic it allows herpes, shingles, etc., to erupt. It brings back the correct ph and stops it in its tracks. Same thing when I got a UTI (age again.). I took drinks of vinegar dressing and voila, gone after 2 days. It is really a wonderful remedy that is so underestimated. Just think what they do for cats who get UTIs all the time.....they put apple cider vinegar in their water. We pay the pharma companies billions that are unnecessary. They know it, we just need to stop believing in them so much.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gabrielle (Adelaide) on 05/09/2015
★★★★★
So good to read these posts. I got hit two weeks ago with shingles across the right head into my temple, jaw and nose, shocking pain like nails being driven in to me. Thought it was bad sinus or flu as the temple headache felt "fluey", but could not see why the pain spikes moved around my head.Turns out those sites were the sites where shingles outbreaks would occur but not for about 5 days. The slow reveal of the red marks slowed down my formal diagnosis which slowed down my anti virals which made my outbreak worse, so dont wait til the spots out before noticing that the pain line follow a nerve.
Anyway I used the apple cider vinegar suggestions and the compresses described thanks to my sister who read all this when I was too sick to know anything . They helped a lot and put the sores into retreat within 48 hours and comforted the burhung nerve lines. Sores now settled after 5 days bur neuralgic pain still strong . Got up today for 2 hours but needed to rest all afternoon.Apple Cider Vinegar compress helps me at night when pain disturbs. Think this may take some time to get free of this viral impacts but luckily no eye damage and face recovering . What an experience! What out for codeine constipation- avoid at all costs maybe only use codeine for first 4 days of pain relief then switch to panedol. Serious constipation seems to be inevitable if you use codeine for long and it creates its own pain and slows down recovery. With thanks to all advice.
Replied by Joe
(Bay Shore, New York)
05/17/2015
Replied by Frank
(Pielach)
11/24/2015
Replied by Mama To Many
(Tennessee)
11/24/2015
Replied by
Art (California)
11/25/2015
2326 posts
Replied by
Art (California)
11/25/2015
2326 posts
Replied by
Art (California)
11/25/2015
2326 posts
Christina
(Bc)
06/04/2018
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Snptime (Ardmore, Al. ) on 02/10/2015
Please help me I have a very painful rash on my left inner butt cheek. It seems to be spreading. I have had chicken pox. and have gotten cold sores in the past. This feels like a rash of cold sores and it really hurts. I am using vinegar, and it does help some. What else can I do?
Replied by Mr. Ree
(Usa)
02/11/2015
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Oneoffmom (Appalachia, NC) on 01/15/2015
★★★★★
My teenaged son showed me a spot on his back, within 3 days it had spread from shoulder blade, under his arm, through to his chest, became so painful internally and to touch that he couldn't sleep. Checked shingles symptoms, fit the bill - and by this time it was blistering because OTC rash cream was not working. So I checked this site (of course) for remedies.
We applied cotton ball dipped in Apple Cider Vinegar 3-4 times per day, especially before bed. For the first two days we used the coconut oil/cayenne/turmeric salve also. I had him take Echinacea immune boosters, and turmeric supplement (because we had on-hand). After the first day/night, the blisters were beginning to dry up, no more spreading. Area was still painful on second day, so I massaged with arnica gel (which worked, pain mostly gone next day, and he slept that night). By day three, we were overjoyed because the area was thoroughly dried out and obviously shrinking, only slightly painful, thanks to the arnica I think. Within a week, the rash was gone. WOW!
Note: My son said the ACV burned and tingled, but not unbearably. He was desperate to find relief, and said this was far less painful than the rash. He is fine now - that was 3 weeks ago.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ydebyounger (Detrot, Mi) on 01/25/2014
★★★★★
I developed a case of shingles on my left arm and across my stomach and a few spots on my shoulder blades. The pain was horrendous! After re4ading about Apple cider vinegar, I decided to try it. I drank 2 tbsp mixed with about 8 oz of apple juice. Next I soaked a long sleeve t shirt in a mixture one half ACV and water, wore it wrapped in a fuzzy bathrobe (so bed wouldn't get wet). The pain stopped within an hour and the blisters went down. This was the first night I was able to sleep. I tried this on the third day after contracting shingles and by the end of the week, I had no pain and the shingles rash was barely there. I have continued this drinking and soaking in ACV for two weeks while continuing to take the antibiotics. My doctor could not believe the improvement when I returned for a check up. When I told him of my natural remedy, he was skeptical but it worked for me!
Replied by Karen
(Mi)
02/05/2015
Replied by Jo
(Pearland, Texas)
02/20/2015
Replied by Lindsayweir
(Seattle, WA)
04/21/2015
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Blair (Sydney, Nova Scotia) on 05/04/2013
★★★★★
I just wanted to write a thank you letter to all the people who have shared stories on Earthclinic.com about the Cure for Shingles. My mom was suffering bad she had them on her back, neck and even spreading to her face. She went to the doctor and got $80 medication that was doing little to nothing for her pain, she couldn't sleep. I read the stories here and picked up a bottle of Apple Cider Viniger. I made a drink for her with two tablespoons of ACV and two cups of water and told her to take this mixture daily every morning. I applied the ACV directly undiluted to cheesecloth, then I taped that cheesecloth to the infected areas. With medical tape. I called her two hours later to find out how she was feeling. She reports that it is working the pain is lessoned, she is finally able to sleep the entire night soundly. The next day is reports back that the pain is gone for her. Thank you everyone, and my mom thanks you too.
Replied by Matheo
(Lawrenceville, Georgia)
06/23/2013
★★★★★
