Exploring Natural Remedies and Supportive Care for Shingles

to aurora in mason city:

lysine for shingles (it's a herpes virus) 3000 mg a day 1000 morning, 1000 noon 1000 night. for 3 days. 500 mg. every day for the next week..

I have seen other posts here that this product is effective for shingles.

http://www.durhamsbeefarm.com/h/11/wondersalve-shingles-treatment.htm

I hope you get some relief soon. Also, look under the "Ailments" tab on Earth Clinic under "Shingles" and see other suggestions for what has helped others. Best wishes.

Mark: Get Wonder Salve. Read the reviews.

Mark, if you want, you can experiment with topical application (try a small area to test) of h2o2. The plain drugstore stuff.

Mark - I've posted before on this, but it bears repeating. A few years back my mother had a horrible case of the shingles. Her doctor put her on nerve pain killers, some gross gel and sent her home and said give it a few weeks. I researched and found this solution for her, she was 100% better in less than two weeks. L-Lysine, 3000-5000mg per day / ACV soaked cloth on the shingles 3-4 times a day / and the wonder salve from Durham Bee that everyone is talking about. That probably did the trick best. Please try it and good luck.

You might want to try taking the vit C orally and not topically. The herpes virus that causes it targets nerves. Try vit C and Lysine together orally and see if it helps.

Interesting because it seemed that vitamin C Caused my flare ups.

Before my first patch of pimples I had been taking 3 grams of vitamin C quite a while for one reason or another. I had no idea it was Shingles at the time. but after a while everytime I would take the Vitamin C, the patch would itch. So I stopped taking the large dose of C. I went down to a 500mg now and then with little or no problem.

Let me give an excerpt from my post on Shingles I sent to Tina in the Apple section back in August and put it in the Shingles Section.

Excerpt from the Apples Remedies Section:

I have been silently fighting shingles for several months. (mostly with Hydrogen Peroxide and Castor oil, Olive Leaf capsules, and Lysine). But the shingles seemed to have left a Tingly feeling. My scalp felt itchy (so I washed with backing soda the itch would leave a while), and even my face felt tingly. I have never experienced anything like it in my life.

A few details that was not mentioned in that post. Something triggered that batch of pimples on my leg to a painful point till they became blisters. Right here I want to give Baking Soda a shout out, Because it was the Baking Soda Paste made with a couple drops of cold water that initially took the pain away.

What happen on the first day that the blisters came out, I covered them with iodine. The wrong move was I really covered them. I put the iodine on it and wrapped it up pain and all. The next day when I removed the rolled gauze the blisters were flat and my skin was burnt.

When I checked with Earth Clinic and other sites, and found out about using ice cold water, or a Baking Soda paste, and a few other suggestions. I did the Baking Soda paste a couple of days as it was very calming. It took the itch away. When I would remove the baking Soda, I rubbed on Castor Oil. When the pain was gone. I used the Castor oil and Hydrogen Peroxide to finish the work. My skin healed nicely, I can't tell it was ever burnt. What may be important info for someone, is that he whole lemon juiced in water cured the tingling feeling. I did put a little baking soda in it. I guess a regular drink alkalizing drink of lemon and Baking Soda could do the same. Tina was talking of juicing a whole lemon in a smoothie, when I tried it the tingling feeling from the shingles went. Bam!

I have been done with the shingles a few months now, no pimples, no pain. However, when I started a heavy dose of C to chase a threatening cold. The cold was quickly averted. I have been taking the high does of C about Five days now. And, I can feel a burning where the patch of shingles once was.

Do anyone know if high doses of vitamin C can cause a Shingles flare up? Thanks for your time and shared knowledge.

HisJewel

Greetings TimH,

Would you happen to know if large dose of vitamin C causes Shingles flare ups? Thanks you in advance for your kindness, help and advice.

HisJewel

HJ: I am not aware of this occurring from any personal reports, and doesn't seem logical it would.

My gut tells me it's a gut issue (pun intended). We know oral Vit-C is poorly absorbed, and even with a healthy gut, but if there is infection, parasites, and/or leaky gut, oral Vit-C would be a problem.

Try some buffering remedies for a few days and then try buffered Vit-C. If paras or infection is suspected try Oil of Oregano before meals. Also incorporated Milled Flax Seed into diet to make for some gentle colon cleaning. Lipospheric Vit-C is best and one can achieve therapeutic results in cases of major illnesses, unlike oral standard C. Colloidal Silver is also effective for all types of pathogens.

Always good to read your post and hope this helps, let us know.

Hi Timh,

Well this certainly makes since. I will try buffering the 500 mgs dosage until I know for sure if more is safe for me. And okay, now I will get to work on my digestive system. Maybe I will try the Colloidal Silver to help clear up any infections, I have never tried that before.

When I stopped the C by evening the next day the burning was gone. There are a few pimples but there is no itch or burning.

After I work on my gut a while then maybe I will try the higher vitamin C again, (buffered of cause).

Thanks Again for your help,

HisJewel

Shingles is a Pain,

This Shingles pain flare up was of short duration. I almost forgot I used anything. O" but you will try whatever is available to keep from scratching your skin off.

I did not have anymore Lysine for pain as I was not looking for a revisit. So I took Tylenol or Aspirin. I sprayed on the Hydrogen Peroxide. Rub on the Castor oil after hydrogen peroxide dried.

That evening I even tried some Antibiotic Ointment that had been around a few years to help heal after some stitches. I was out of lemons and settled for Realemon juice in a glass of water. Anyway by the second evening no pain.

Now the challenge is as I understand through the posters and scholarly of EC is to, flee stress and eat gut friendly foods.

One of my main problems is I love a lot of acidic foods, and I do not balance them with vegetables or bitters each meal. But I am a big girl, (in size too), and I am about to eat my vegetables...... I love Earth Clinic!

HisJewel

You are welcome HJ. Remember the old ND saying "Good health begins in the gut". Since most of our immune system or cells is in the gut, chronic infection like Shingles flareups, can be cured by improving the gut.

Also on the list for improving intestinal health is L-Glutamine and Probiotics, but be sure to start with my previous suggestion to insure the healing process, and not end up treating symptoms. Also for immune health and chronic infection is Zinc deficiency (very common), so consider supplementing a minimal Zinc/Copper.

Okay Timh

I will follow these instructions. And prayerfuly will flee Shingles altogether.

Sincere Thanks.

HisJewel

Dear Hisjewel and Timh,

I am following this conversation with interest and have been pondering the whole vitamin C and shingles thing.

It really struck a chord with me because I think I have had a couple of shingles flare ups recently; one was during the Thanksgiving holiday when we had company and I was very busy. I realized I had a burning pain on my skin on on side at my waist. I took aspirin (Ted says it has antiviral properties) and about 8 grams of vitamin C a day. Plus I used a topical menthol/eucalyptus salve that I make. The burning passed and I never had blisters or other symptoms.

So, shingles is caused by the varicella virus, which we have in our systems from having had chicken pox as children. So, while the acute chicken pox clears up in 10 days or so, we are left with a virus that is in us for life and flares up at some point later for some. It seems to come in conjunction with other sicknesses, times of stress, or other low immunity situations.

It makes me thing of Dave's theory of many chronic illnesses (like autoimmune) having a viral link.

The Epstein Barr Virus, which causes mono, is another that seems to flare back up or be linked to other problems later on. My children had mono several years ago. One of my sons, when he gets sick, even a cold, will start to act like he did when he had mono (extreme exhaustion.) Well, we had found that coconut oil was amazing for mono. So now, every time he is sick with anything and seems run down, I give him coconut oil and he is better fast. In fact, over the weekend he had a cough and I gave him coconut oil for it before I tried anything else, and poof! The cough was gone. I don't actually know if that is because the coconut oil was fighting a mono flare up or just because he responds well to that antiviral. But I know it works.

Sorry, I know I am rambling here and not sure how to get to my point.

The body is so complex. And I think past diseases do flare up again depending on other stresses to the body (including sickness, lack of sleep, stress, etc.) Could we completely eliminate them with more diligent use of natural antivirals? Maybe so.

Another thing I notice is that everyone is different. Here Vitamin C helped me a lot with shingles but made it worse for you, Hisjewel. I see this with my children. Different ones respond to different remedies. You learn your body (or that of your children) to know what suits you. My one son - coconut oil is the answer for him when he is sick.

I so enjoy reading what others do to heal diseases. There is so much to learn. Always something new to try. While it would be easier if there were always a one size fits all solution, it does keep it interesting that healing can be so complex.

Keep sharing and I will keep reading!

~Mama to Many~

Mama to Many

Thank you for your thoughts, and for sharing your experience. I have started to work on my digestive system ("again"). This time I plan to stick to it. As I do appreciate the benefits of extra C when needed.

HisJewel

Happy, Healthy, Year, That's the Plan!

Greetings Timh, Mama To Many and Everyone,

Timh you ask me to let you know how it went concerning the vitamin C,

Well the good news is I'm back up to an occasional 2000 to 3000 vitamin C and shingles flare ups . Now I buffer the C with a bit of baking soda water. To add a little more info, the C that I was taking was an already buffered and powered C, however I have not gone back to that. But instead now I am taking the tablets and baking soda water.

At the time I had the last flare up I dropped anything else I though may have contributed to the shingles flare up. I am sure stress and revisitiation from child hood diseases had a lot to do with as Mama To Many mentioned.

My hope was that if I stayed away from the Chocolate and Nuts when I did not have the Lysine to balance the Arginine that shingles would not come looking for me.

Well the shingles still found me. Maybe I had arginine and did not realize it. Any way Shingles always seemed to flare when I had an extra dose of C. So in posing the question to EC this is what I was able to follow from Timh advice: I started working on my digestive system. Started back taking my probiotics, I bought and started taking Zinc, I already use BSM which has enough copper, I did not have oil of oregano, but put my olive leaf back to work. For L - Gultamine I started buying and eating raw purple Cabbage, which also made a great snack. I did not buy the Colloidal Silver but all seems to be much better concerning my fight with shingles.

So the blessing of extra C is back with me. I will continue to work on my gut by eating watchfully.

Thanks again EC, Mama To Many, Timh, and Everyone.

HisJewel

HisJewel, glad to see your progress. Also, do consider St John'swort during the winter months and Echinacea during warm climate for improved antiviral response. I use Oil of Oregano softgels plus Milled Flax to keep my colon clean, then populate with probiotics and Glutamine. You may also consider some Lymphatic drainage or cleansing methods as it appears necessary in your case.

Thanks, Timh.

Pharmacies charge just $25 for the vaccine, I just called after my doctor wanted $225.

Before anyone runs out to get a zostavax shot, please do your research. As with all vaccines, there are risks and unproven efficacy, and only "work" if your immune system is strong enough to build the antibodies... So goes the idea. Problem for those with shingles is that their immune system is obviously not up to snuff, since shingles is caused by an opportunistic virus, rearing its ugly head when one is under stress, suffered trauma or generally immune deficient. That said, why in the world would you subject yourself with a different strain of herpes zoster (live attenuated) virus if your immune system is not up to the task?

To kick off your research...

Chickenpox Vaccine Linked with Shingles Epidemic

"New research published in the International Journal of Toxicology (IJT) by Gary S. Goldman, Ph. D. , reveals high rates of shingles (herpes zoster) in Americans since the government's 1995 recommendation that all children receive chicken pox vaccine. Goldman's research supports that shingles, which results in three times as many deaths and five times the number of hospitalizations as chicken pox, is suppressed naturally by occasional contact with chicken pox."

[....]

"Using a shingles vaccine to control shingles epidemics in adults would likely fail because adult vaccination programs have rarely proved successful, " said Goldman. "There appears to be no way to avoid a mass epidemic of shingles lasting as long as several generations among adults."

Reading through these remedies I'm truly shocked at the number of middle age adults and younger who are afflicted with this disease which "primarily afflicts the elderly"... No surprise that the diagnosis was missed repeatedly in many of EC's forum posters, and it seems to lend credence to Dr. Goldman's research and findings, that the chickenpox vaccine (zostavax) can be linked to a shingles epidemic.

I've never had shingles, only know people who have suffered this, and can only imagine the desperation one feels, so much that they'll try anything to avoid recurrence of shingles. Just be cautious and well-informed before trying something which may do more harm than good.

Bottom line... Mother (nature) knows best!

I was given the Zostavax Vaccine in early August. By mid-September, I had a small patch of shingles on my arm (about the size of a half dollar). Two weeks later (early October), a large fever blister broke out on the corner of my mouth. Two weeks later (mid-October), I had heart pain and palpitations. The heart pain went away, but the palpitations were so bad that I went to the emergency room - twice! Terrifying! According to cardio tests, my heart was fine, but I believe the heart palpitations are a reaction to the shingles virus and my body's fight against the invader (remember, this is a LIVE virus vaccine). While the doctors did not explicitly agree with me, they did not totally dismiss the thought that heart palpitations could be a side effect of this vaccine. I wish I had never gotten it...

Meanwhile, in seeing my distress, my sister suggested I take Alka Seltzer Gold (it must be the Gold as there's no aspirin in it) and It Worked! Within 15 minutes, the palpitations were gone! Hope this helps someone else.

Thanks EC for all your efforts to help others!

I am 53 and was recently diagnosed with shingles. Glad to have found this site! Right now I am typing this while slathered with a salve made today from Vit. E oil, aloe vera gel, cayenne pepper, 50 drops of pure essential eucalyptus oil and corn starch..... Covered with gauze bandages and a t-shirt. I haven't had any pain from this, but I am not taking any chances. I had used a homeopathic anti-pain cream when the area was aching everynight at bedtime. I didn't know the shingles were emerging. Oh, I just drank 1/4 cup ACV and chased it down with 500mg. of lysine and a teaspoon of raw honey.

About the vaccine: I totally agree that the chicken pox vaccine is causing the outbreak of so many with shingles. And after (of before) having shingles, unfortunately many people will get the vaccine. Who knows what new complications will arise.

I've been studying herbs, homeopathics, blood-type diets, macrobiotic diets, you name it. for 30 years! Problem is I was low on lysine, too much sugar, post-menopausal, recently had a stressful weather-related event in the northeast USA.

I consider this a wake-up call for me to eat right, build my immunity up once again and thrive!

Thanks everyone for some great information. This site is a keeper!

Update on my shingles: It's day 6 and I have been alternating ACV on gauze padsand Eucalyptus oil pats, and taking L-Lysine, my chinese anti-viral herbs, Vit. C, B-complex, Raw Honey with propolis, and drinking the ACV. Eating nutritiously, but sparingly as my appetite has decreased. My energy level began to improve on Day 5. This morning, I noticed scabbing on one of my larger blisters and drying on most of my rash. I have photographed the stages of my shingles and am keeping a log, as I want full documentation for the naysayers. After contemplation, I remembered I had fell on my tailbone On Oct. 27 and it hurt for a week until I got myself adjusted. Then with the power out for 5 days, I was somewhat emotionally stressed, but I really think the fall and my diet had the most to do with it.

This site is fantastic. I've read every single post on this site about shingles and taken the best as suggestions for myself. I am blessed that my pain level is low, but I think that may be because I don't use OTC or scripts, just homeopathy and herbs.