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Exploring Natural Remedies and Supportive Care for Shingles

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Black Tea

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Posted by Suanne (Geelong, Australia) on 08/10/2010
 ★★★★★

I had shingles and the medication the dr gave me was not effective so I used tepid black tea to dab on the blisters and it cleared it up in a couple of days. I use the cut side of a slice of lemon to cure corns. Use it every time you think of it over the day. Soon gone forever.

Replied by Lou
(Tyler, Tx)
02/19/2017

I saw a corn remedy on here that involved ACV on a piece of bread. Attach it to the corn. I usually wear a Ziploc bag over my foot when using ACV.

Bleach

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Posted by Josie (Columbia, Maryland) on 11/22/2012
 ★☆☆☆☆

I thought my case of shingles was poison oak and put cortisone cream on for two days as that had cleared up a case of poison oak (that I had for 2-3 months) in 3-4 days. But the cortisone was not working so I went to see my doctor and he said I had shingles. I had experienced more blistering from putting diluted clorox on my poison oaked areas and I smelled like clorox too all day long. This was a popular remedy I saw on the internet. So I was glad when I got the cortisone cream to heal my poison oak. Now I will have to be as persisitenet with this shingles. It's been the year of rashes for me.

The reason I mention the diluted clorox is that the dermatologist my doctor consulted with also on the shingles recommended a diluted clorox bath but I think it could spread the blisters like it did with the poison oak so I am not going to try this.

Bleach
Posted by Bob (Somewhere, Az) on 11/16/2012
 ★★★★★

The best way to get rid of shingles is to wipe them with a little clorox on a cotton ball. Early on this will work really well and dry up the lesions in 1-2 days. I have not tried in on PHN and don't know if it works. I know it dries up the lesions. It really works. If the lesions are on your face be so careful not to get clorox into you eyes as it will burn!!! DO NOT DRINK IT!

Calamine Lotion

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Posted by Michelle (Va) on 10/04/2015
 ★★★★☆

It is also nonsense to think you have to be 60+ to get shingles.. I'm in my 40s, and am suffering shingles in my neck and shoulder. The ER didnt think I was old enough for it and gave me a steroid for pain.. needless to say that onset the rash quicker/stronger.. Calamine lotion dried up the rash in 2-3 days but the pain is still terrible.

Replied by Kayla
(Md)
04/27/2018

I'm 25, and this current outbreak of Shingles is my 6th (yes, SIXTH) outbreak in the last YEAR.

Yet I can't get the Shingles Vaccine. I have a 3 year old and a newborn that can both easily get Chicken Pox from me now. But nope, can't get the vaccine, I'm not 50 yet. Only 25 more years of this before I can get some long-term relief without taking pills every single day. I am so sick of getting Shingles!!!

beverly
(Texas)
02/02/2023

I had my first case of shingles at 15. Had it regularly through my 20's. Last time I had it was at 45 ....until tonight when I realized the pain I had on my back below my right shoulder blade was shingles. In the process of selling our home and it is very stressful................I am almost 75. I woke my husband up at 1 am to put a cayenne pepper patch on my back.

Replied by Anon
(Usa)
04/28/2018

Try oil of wild oregano super strength in the diluted drops orally at first sign you are having an outbreak. Take three drops under the tongue at least three times a day and see if this helps to knock it out. Good luck!

Replied by Teena
(Melbourne, Australia)
05/01/2018
233 posts

Kayla, avoid aspartame, in energy drinks and some "sugar free" soft drinks, avoid artificial sweeteners and arginine foods. A liver detox would be great to remove build up from the liver, as an overloaded liver can not clear the body of built up toxins, heavy metals and pathogens. Failing that you might research granulated lecithin non GMO soy or sunflower, one tablespoon daily with a meal, graduate to every meal, to absorb and excrete toxins, some milk thistle or dandelion supplement to support liver function, & lysine and wholefood vitamin c to boost the immune system.

Replied by Katzie
(Alberta)
05/06/2018

Hi Kayla. I just wanted.to ask if you're sure it was Shingles and not something else? Getting Shingles 2x is rare and getting it a 3rd time is almost unheard of! At any rate, your immune system is really struggling. You should try DMSO on the rash as well as take 1tsp of it morning and night. Use a nice soothing castor oil on the rash after the DMSO. These should clear up your rash quickly. Also look into ways to strengthen your poor, struggling immune system cause it ain't working so good right.now. Good luck!

Gary
(Kitchener On)
02/02/2023

Hi Beverly

I know that the #1 skin care is Hemp Oil.. It works.

Best wishes

Gary

beverly
(Texas)
02/02/2023

Thanks.............I had my husband spray his jock itch antifungal on it after my shower.......makes me laugh even saying it.......the pain is very mild compared to last night..... I think I do have some hemp oil.

Calamine Lotion
Posted by Tressa (Mount Pocono, Pa.) on 05/27/2012
 ★★★★★

I'm in my 80's and got a case of shingles, the perscription my Dr. gave me was too expensive and it was to treat shingles. So I didn't buy it I saw that shingles looked like poison ivy so I treated it with calamine lotion by soking toilet paper with it, placed it around my middrift and wore a white T shirt. My shingles was gone in 2wks.

Calendula Cream

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Posted by Joan (Adelaide, South Aus) on 11/25/2011
 ★★★★★

My husband developed shingles two weeks ago. We have been using Calendula Cream which seems to have been very effective in healing them and easing pain. also taking zinc, vit C.

Castor Oil

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Posted by Junglegirl (Haiku, Hawaii) on 08/11/2009
 ★★★★★

Shingles treatment: My mother used a high quality pure castor oil slathered on the worst spots. She applied it most heavily at night and wore old pajamas because it's messy, but it worked immediately for her. We found the remedy somewhere online, years ago, so I can't reference it. But it worked.

Cayenne Pepper

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Posted by Mel (England) on 06/19/2024
 ★★★★★

I mixed the cayenne pepper with a small amount of apple cider vinegar to make a paste and dabbed this on the affected area, this brought amazing relief (I was in immense pain before this) I applied this paste several times throughout the day. Within a day and a half the shingles had gone, the pain subsided virtually straight after apply the acv/cayenne paste.

Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Gary (Claxton, Georgia) on 02/01/2015
 ★★★★★

The War On Shingles

Sunday, February 1,2015,0408, As I lay sleeping, my position came under attack by, varicella-zoster virus (better known as shingles). I awakened to the "off the charts" pain that comes from a red hot piece of shrapnel being laid across my right hip, back of the right thigh and groin. It is the kind of pain that my sweetheart best describes as a "Take me now, Lord" moment. I have been at war for nearly two weeks with this insane foe. I've counter-attacked daily with copious amounts of organic apple cider vinegar, aloe-vera gel, coconut oil and cayenne pepper from day one.

These weapons have been sufficient for the surge. I have re-taken most of the territory the enemy occupied from the onslaught. This latest attack is shingles' futile last gasp effort to return to the fray with a vengeance. DO NOT concede! Return fire with straight ACV to the infected area 3-4 times per day and a salve composed of 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel, 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Stay focused and keep up the fight! You can and will defeat it. I sincerely thank God, Gloria (Salem, MA) who posted on 02/25/2007 and the good folks here at Earth Clinic. God Bless.

Replied by Doreen
(Austin, Manitoba Canada)
01/28/2018
★★★☆☆

Hi, I have shingles, thought I had arthritis, after a week of pain, then small rash on my shoulder, decided to go to doctor. He prescribed Valacyclovir 500mg. 2 three times a day. Sooo painful, I decided to go on earth clinic, tried the cayenne missed with water put on sores, seemed to help, but I am not getting results like everyone else, what am I doing wrong. Help Doreen

Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Noell (Aiken, Sc) on 08/14/2013
 ★★★★★

For Shingles, I found that using tabasco rather than ground cayenne worked best for me. It is emulsified cayenne with vinegar and doesn't leave ground pepper all over where you dabbed it. I used it with the DMSO and my blisters were gone in two days, now I am just dealing with the little scabs drying up and shedding off, only 1 or two new single spots that are gone the next day, with no pain. Thank goodness mine were hidden in my hair, nasty stuff!!

Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Violet (Cerrillos, Nm) on 12/27/2012
 ★★★★★

I had a mild outbreak of shingles earlier this year. I tried ACV at first and it helped slightly. After a few days of pain I decided to try cayenne even though I was worried it might be even more painful. To my surprise it dried out the blisters and I immediately began to feel better. I simply mixed cayenne powder with water, applied the paste to my skin, and allowed it to flake off as it dried. The nervy pain persisted as the blisters dried. I used undiluted geranium essential oil directly on the skin and the residual nerve pain dissapeared over the next few days.

Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Ahmad_h (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) on 12/04/2012
 ★★★★★

I'm 27 and I recently had a breakout of shingles on my leg. A day after I had the red spots the nerve pain arrived. That's when I realized it was shingles and immediately began seeking remedies. It appeared that cayenne pepper was key to suppressing the virus, according to a number of folks on earthclinic. I began looking for natural pastes around the house to mix with cayenne pepper. All I had at the time was Tahini (sesame butter). I took a tablespoon of tahini and mixed it with a whole lot of cayenne pepper, almost to the point of saturation, and applied it to the red spots. 95% of the nerve pain was gone and the red spots were no where in sight within 24hours. I've been reapplying it almost daily (usually when I feel the pain creeping up). Cayenne pepper is shingles' worst nightmare. I've been ingesting half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper every few days as well, just for good measure. And they said it takes 2-3 weeks to heal!

Replied by Tabitha
(Kennewick, Wa)
11/18/2013

How long should I leave the cayenne paste on my rash? Please get back to me as soon as u can cuz im in a whole lot of pain.

Replied by Mama To Many
(Tennessee, Usa)
11/18/2013

Dear Tabitha,

So sorry about the shingles!

I do not know how long the person who wrote the post left the cayenne in place. It sounds as if people apply it and then reapply as needed. I know a man who used cayenne to pack a bleeding wound and left the cayenne in the wound. It did not cause a problem to leave the cayenne in the wound. (And it stopped the bleeding and left the ER wondering how he got the bleeding to stop! )

I once made an apple cider vinegar/cayenne liniment to put on a sore foot and just left it on.

If you haven't tried it yet, the cayenne may burn upon contact, but that usually goes away quickly. If it bothers you beyond that, you could wash it off.

You may want to take the cayenne internally as well. I like 1/2 teaspoon in some grape juice or carrot juice a couple of times a day when I need the cayenne.

Let us know how it goes. I hope you find much relief with the cayenne!

~Mama to Many~

Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Gus (Agnes Water, Qld Australia) on 10/27/2012
 ★★★★★

Hi heres my adapted paste for Shingles, adapted from thi site of course!

1tsp coconut oil.
1tsp cayenne pepper.
2tsp apple cider vinegar.
1tsp neem oil.
2tsp kaolin clay
2 cloves cut up garlic .

Combined all ingredients and applied, results in 24 hours are amazing. Applied quite frequently. regards

Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Scott (La Quinta, Ca) on 08/17/2012
 ★★★★★

I used aloe vera gel, cayenne and oatmeal flour I ground up in my vita-mix to make a paste. Worked like a charm- place aloe vera gel in a bowl sprinkle to cover with cayenne, mix then sprinkle to cover with oatmeal and mix again. Clean site with Apple Cider Vinegar and apply it every 6 hrs.

Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Desertpoc (El Cajon, California, United States) on 05/03/2012
 ★★★★★

I came down with shingles, searched the internet and luckily listed was this post. First, I used what Gloria suggested - which I could see some improvement but not enough. Then I combined some of the suggestions from Gloria and David T. Used the ratio of ingredients:

1 T. Coconut Oil

1 t. Alo Vera oil from capsules which is approx. 4-5 capsules

1/2 T. Vitamin E oil

1 T. Cayenne pepper

Plus added corn meal to thicken the mixture. Applied the mix to the shingles, as it was spreading; let the application dry then removed as suggested by David. I followed this treatment for 2 to 3 times a day. Depending on the severity and process of healing. After 2 days, the shingles were starting to heal, then I made another batch of the mix without the corn meal and applied the mix to the shingles area. Thank you to all that contributed to this subject of shingles.


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