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.
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 Maria (Marietta, Ga) on 05/14/2012
★★★★☆
I have had shingles pain for one year. I am taking lyrica, but does not help much. Out of desperation, I searched this wonderful site and so many people mentioned ACV. I had a large bottle at home and took 2 Talbespoons. with a glass of water and the pain was reduced a lot. I can smile now. There is still pain, but I will continue to take the ACV and hopefully, my shingles will be gone forever!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sb (Raleigh, Nc) on 05/11/2012
★★★★☆
I want to share my experience! I just found out that I have shingles. Today is Friday, last friday I felt a few funny pains in my back and around my ribs. By saturday afternoon I had a lot of pain in under and around my right side/ribs. I think the location threw my Dr off because he was thinking Gall bladder. The blisters had not popped out on my back yet. That night in pain I searched gallbladder remedies and found one suggesting drinking ACV. I drank some that night and again in the morning. By noon the pain was abating. Also, the rash was coming out but it just seemed like a couple itchy bumps or bug bites. My back itched, I had no idea it was shingles so I scratched it. Since I felt better I didn't drink anymore ACV but today I noticed the rash had spread. I went to the Dr and he dx'd shingles! I can only believe that my symptoms improved so much because I drank ACV. My blisters only itch, they are not painful. I have Valtrex to take now and in addition to that I plan to continue taking ACV and also to put it on my blisters. I bet if I hadn't stopped using it I would be healed already!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Amanda (Anchorage, Alaska) on 09/17/2011
★★★★☆
I would like to say this information was very helpful! I've never had shingles before and had four docs misdiagnosed me until they got it right! At 29 years old and coming down with a unknown rash in well, a very fragile area that started at my tail bone and wrapped down and around was one, very embarrassing and two, didn't feel the best!
I woke up this past Sunday with the shingles and never had a sign that it was coming.. Nor the true signs of symptoms.. No pain.. No itch.. No burning.. I guess in that part I was rather lucky.. When I went to the doc that diagnosed it I was already past the point of the anti viral meds working.. So I was looking for anything herbal that might help clear them up faster.. So I bought the gallon size bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar and started cleaning the affected areas right away.. Not gonna lie.. Yes it burns.. I started with one good soak and scrub and noticed a difference right away.. Later that night I did another soak and scrub and by the next morning I noticed the sores had already dried up and swelling had gone down! Now two days later it's dark.. And dried up.. Wouldn't say 100% gone.. But much better then what it was when I started..! I'm following up with zinc oxide ointment and lysine vitamin.
I would like to say thank you as reading everyone else's first hand experience has been rather helpful. I think a few good more soaks and scrubs and it will keep getting better and better.. And will heal up faster compared to if I would have just let it runs it's course as the doctor stated.. It's a pretty nasty experience and embarrassing.. I think I showed my bum to more people in the past week then my entire life.. Best of luck to everyone who experiences shingles!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nlt (Tampa, Fl) on 03/24/2011
★★★★☆
Have had shingles for about a week and a half now. Originally thought it was a spider bite like some of the other posters, but quickly realized that it was unlikely that a spider would have bitten me 3-4 times. Went to a doctor who had no idea what it was and when I asked he just mumbled "its some sort of skin... Thing. " Idiot. Prescribed Cipro and anti-itch medication, neither of which would help at all so I didn't even get it filled. I figured out on my own that it was shingles and began applying Abreva hourly, which definitely helped prevent further spread. Its pricy but OTC and really helps!
Found this site about 4 days ago and have been using the apple cider vinegar, as well as tea tree oil, directly on the blisters. This has helped a lot. The blisters are healing and haven't seen any new ones popping up. I won't say the pain or itchiness is any less, but at least they're disappearing. The tea tree oil does help to soothe a little but it only lasts for about an hour. Still can't sleep, and I'm very uncomfortable in any position- sitting, laying, standing. Just all around uncomfortable. Considering taking Ambien if I go another sleepless night. Will post if I find anything new.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by H (Bixby, Oklahoma) on 10/28/2009
★★★★☆
Developed my first case of the shingles after minor surgery! Ouch! They're worse than surgery! And itchy!!! After going several days just using the Famciclovir the dr gave me and calamine lotion on the rash (about 3-4 nickel-quarter size 'bumps' which never formed blisters)... I remembered Earth Clinic. The info provided here helped me with other conditions too!
Last night, this morning and this evening I drank 1 Tblspoon ACV in water with honey (heated up).. not exactly tasty, but I'll do what it takes. I also rubbed cotton balls soaked in ACV on the bumps several times. I'm still getting the shooting "pains" apparently associated with these shingles, but the bumps have already started to fade. It's already doing better than rubbing calamine 3-5 times a day! I also purchased L-Lysine which I've taken 2 tablets, B-12, one tablet, and I'm taking 4-6 tablets of Vitamin C. So far the ACV is helping with the rash. Time will tell! Thanks Earth Clinic.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Virgil (Houston, Texas) on 06/05/2005
★★★★☆
Can't say I am cured but applying the vinegar sure gave me pain relief. I apply when the posthepetic neuralgia pain kicks up and befroe bedtime. Started using the ACV last Tuesday, just 6 days ago. This is the best treatment so far. I had acupunture initially and it reduced the most severe pain by a lot however 6 treatments could not erase the remaining pain.
