Apple Cider Vinegar for Shingles

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Tom (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA) on 09/30/2012
★★★★★

What I thought was a kidney infection was diagnosed as shingles. After finishing the prescription (7 days) for the virus, the pain came on with a vengeance, and was so excruciating I was eating ibuprofen by the handful. Found this site, and walked like a mummy to the store. Mixed 1oz of apple cider vinegar with a 12 oz glass of orange juice, and within 20 minutes, the debilitating pain was reduced to the annoying level. As a skeptic of home remedies, I attributed it to the massive dose of ibuprofen. The next day, the intense pain returned, and instead of reaching for the pills, I drank a straight shot of ACV and chased it with water (yuck). Within 20 minutes, the pain was reduced to annoying again. WOW. Still can't believe how effective the ACV is with pain. Now I drink it at regular intervals mixed with lemonade, and have purchased the cayenne, aloe, olive leaf extract, etc, as recommended in the previous posts. Hopefully the paste will be just as successful.

THANK YOU!!!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Ana Maria (Waterbury, Ct) on 09/09/2012

Apple cider vinegar for shingles does work should also drink it besides applying to the rash. Two to three caps of apple cider with a glass of water or in a bottle (drink some before adding). Apply with a cotton ball avoid touching it and wash hands frequently. I also bathe with it take a bucket half warm water if in the shower and put half cup of apple cider oder goes away quickly and pour it all over your body after bathing if in a bathtub then pour 1/2 cup. After bath use organic coconut oil they sell it in health stores (also the vinegar should be with the mother brand less than 5 dollars) and supermarkets in the organic section. Silver spray and liquid. The spray you apply to rash kills bacteria and viral great use for immune system. The liquid can take a teaspoon awesome results. No pain so far and rash is shrinking quickly (no meds refused after seeing side effects) Take also 1000mg of Vitamin C and cayenne capsules with a meal. Peppermint cream on rash before sleeping for a good night rest and if the rest of body hurts apply as well will sleep. After all is gone if pain persists seek Acupuncture doctor best bet! ;) Good luck!!!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Psyched (Flying Hills, Pa) on 08/11/2012

Evelyn, I am so sorry for your chronic pain & I empathize with your pain. My own 1st time bout of shingles brought me to this website, and I've read a lot of the postings. My suggestion after reading several is to try apple cider vinegar (1T. in water or juice 3x a day to drink & also dab directly on lesions), aloe Vera gel, l-lysine (for energy), oil of eucalyptus or peppermint for pain, & olive leaf extract (natural anti-viral recommended by a retired pharmacist on this site), cayenne capsules, and cold pressed coconut oil and raw honey rubbed on for their anti-viral & germ fighting properties & to keep from scarring. Personally, I used raw honey on a bad burn on the back of my hand and have NO scarring. Much success to you.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Eva (Muncie, Indiana) on 08/03/2012

I have been dealing with shingles for 9months now. My problem is not rash but flu like symptoms. I have been so sick that I cant get up somedays. I have lost 25 lbs due to lack of appetite. I have been to ER twice and on antiviral twice. Nothing works. Still on percoset 2 to 4 times a day. (pain is constant) Somedays cant move legs or arms-its in my spine. I had breast cancer in 1998. I am so scared that I may never recover. I cannot function to even work. Please is there any cure for shingles so that I may go on with my life?? Thank You, Eva.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Debbie (Geneva, Il, Usa) on 08/01/2012

About 3 weeks ago an old high school friend posted on FB that he had been dealing with shingles for 7 months and nothing was helping. I private messaged him to PLEASE go to EC's website and check out the ACV cure. He was skeptical at first. 3 days later he tried it. He posted that it burned like a million fire ants but within 15 minutes the relief was unbelievable.

This morning on my FB page I received the following from him. "After 7 months of hell, lots of money spent on prescription drugs, a $2.49 bottle of ACV has cured my shingles." He now calls me the ACV whisperer. I told him I have to give credit to this website.

Thank you EC and all the people on here who help us all.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Gadgetgirl1733 (Clementon, NJ) on 05/27/2012
★★★★★

Wow! So glad I decided to do search for natural pain relief from shingles. I was diagnosed with shingles on 5/24/2012 after having gone a week with severe pain, that was thought to be muscle strain. I'd gone to Dr. week before with pain in my lower left back and was given Rx for Vicodan w/tylenol...few days later itching started and thought it to be from pain meds till noticed what appeared to be bug bites on area where pain was. When I went back to doctor because pain wasn't better I mentioned the itchy/bug bites... he then advised it was shingles and gave Rx for Valtrax and gave samples of Zovirax topical cream for rash, but said that it wouldn't likely bring any relief.

Ironically, I had just gotten a new bottle of _____ Organic ACV the other day, since I'd been drinking the 1T with honey in 8oz water daily. I'm glad to find that it's been helpful to so many here when taken internally and applied topically. Once I read that, I immediately applied to my areas of discomfort. I also made a mixture of manuka honey, EVCO(extra virgin coconut oil), and 2 drops tea tree oil, as each of these have natural anti-viral, antibiotic, and anti-fungal properties... Applied to the rash with cotton square and left on... I did get some relief from the pain. I will continue this along with antiviral, and pain meds prescribed.

Like many others have posted, sleeping was quite difficult the first few days I had pain and no rash, it almost felt like I had really, really bad gas!!! Sitting upright in chairs and even laying in bed was extremly painful. Thankfully I work from home and desk is setup in family room where I have two theater style recliners. Well the other day I couldn't take sitting in my work chair, nor could go through another work day and not take pain med until work was done. I slid the recliner from the wall and put it in recline positon, and let me tell you it was the MOST COMFORT I'd had since the pain started. I was able to use one of those lapdesk type things I'd gotten from Bed, Bath, &Beyond that has these two cushiony things on the bottom and set my work laptop on it. I was able to get through the rest of the work day with ease.

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 Ray-ray (East Northport, New York) on 05/13/2012
★★★★★

My wife (50) had her second bout of the Shingles. Last time was about a year ago. This forum completely changed her visable rash on her left thigh overnight. She applied Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother) with a cotton ball and drank 2T ACV. Had breafast that had some raw local 100% pure wildflower honey in it and organic extra virgin coconut oil (cold pressed) too.

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 A Believer (Muskoka, Ontario Canada) on 04/03/2012
★★★★★

Shingles are affecting my neck, face and scalp, I took the advice of earlier posters, and use the ACV as an alternative to shampoo and harsh soaps that might infect the area and cause scaring alopecia. The ACV really does help take the burn and itch out of the blisters, and my hair is clean and healthy looking.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Dthales (Ogden, Ut) on 03/01/2012
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I was seriously doubting that Apple Cider Vinegar was working becasue so many people seemed to be also using some other form of treatment. My 16 year old son has shingles on his neck and was miserable for two days. He was beyond the time when antivirals would be effective so the doctor said he just had to wait it out and to take an allergy pill if itching became a problem.

My son was miserable and couldn't beleive all he could do was wait it out for a week or so. So he begged me to find some other form of releif and I found this website talking about Apple Cider Vinegar. I figured it couldn't hurt to try.

So I went and bought some and dabbed it on all the affected areas with a cotton ball about 5 times during the whole day yesterday and he drank one capfull of the ACV 2 times during the day. He also also put on calamine lotion on before bed.

This morning he woke up and says he feels 80% improved from yesterday! Holy cow the stuff really works! The sores even look better already! Drives me crazy I have to search the internet for this stuff though. The doctor should tell us these things!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Angela (Honchurch, Essex, Uk) on 02/25/2012
★★★★★

What a wonderful website. Came across this when I did a search for treatments for Shingles which I was diagnosed with yesterday. Having read most comments on ACV I called my husband on the phone who was out shopping to get a bottle from Holland and Barrett (£1.75) and applied it with cotton wool as soon as I got it. Unbelievable but true. I applied the soaked cotton balls to the blisters and rash on my face around my mouth and up my cheek round to my ear on the left side of my face and the relief was instant. I could hardly believe it. I am still taking anti viral drugs but they do not help with the burning sensation, ACV does. So now I will apply it every 1-2 hours. It really made a difference and it is such an inexpensive solution. Thank you all for discussing ACV on this site, I would never have thought to try it:) THANK YOU

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Dkimb (Redondo Beach, Ca, Usa) on 02/24/2012
★★★★★

I want to thank you all for the great tips ~ I found them late at night, when I realized I was indeed coming down with what could have been a terrible case of shingles on my face, close to my eyes, which was pretty scary. While waiting to find out how soon I could see my skin & eye doctors, I applied a lot of apple cider vinegar, and also took it in tea, and added l lysine and Brewer's yeast (great source of B12). EVERYTHING calmed down! I still have a case of shingles, and am now on the med, but not stopping any of these other things, ESPECIALLY Apple Cider Vinegar, it has made a huge difference. The itching, burning, tingling is all but gone, the blisters that had started already are drying up (in 1 day! ), and other blisters I really feel have been halted. I will complete my whole course of meds for the week, with ACV applied all the way. I would never have thought of this, but it is unbelieveably effective ~ so to all of you here ~ THANK YOU, so much. This could have been really awful!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Ja (Burlington, Vt) on 12/26/2011
★★★★★

Follow-up. YEA! ACV is a big help. I can definitely say that over the last 5 days ACV has drastically helped alleviate my shingles. The first few days the skin on both arms were a flaming scarlet red with little dots appearing like crazy. For the first few days I diluted the ACV with about 2-3 parts water and would use a compress for about 40 minutes, 2-3X per day and then daub with full strength. The first day I used a full strength compress and my skin was really irritated from that.

I then would daub any new little red dots with calamine lotion and that over the course of a couple days dried them up. I was really impressed with the results of the combo of ACV and calamine lotion. Finally yesterday my arms began to return to normal, but it took a few days to get there. The last 2 days my arms are looking so good I only do 1 compress and ACV daub/calamine lotion per day.

My flaming red arms are now retuning to their normal color. I have a few other small areas to deal with--but my arms were the worst. At one point they were flaming red 12"x 4" and I never saw anything so virulent and rapid. I'll list some things I've learned to help you.

1. Dilute the ACV with 2-3 parts water for a long compress. Then daub with full strength.

2. Let dry and apply calamine lotion to any small red dots and let it dry. Wear loose cotton clothing. And drink at least 2 oz per day of ACV per day--dilute with 6 parts or more of water.

3. I would take a Benadryl capsule with antihistamine if there was any itching. Sometimes the itch urge can drive you crazy.

4. I beefed up my vitamins and took a good multi, 2000mg of C, and a B Complex.

5. Wash with cool or tepid water and minimal mild soap. Warm or hot water only aggravates the skin. When you wash you are throwing trauma at your skin.

6. Try to rest and don't eat any junk food. Also no sugar, coffee, choclate, nuts, strawberries and spinach--they will aggravate your skin.

7. Any rash on your face--get to a Dr.

8. Shingles is a virus and will run its course. Once you have it all you can really do is to alleviate the pain and itchiness and keep the shingles from being infected and to reduce the dots as fast as you can. ACV with calamine worked for me.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Ja8877 (Burlington, Vt) on 12/23/2011

I am nearly positive this is shingles now but the symptoms etc are confusing. I've had very little pain, the little pain I get is usually in the evening and I have the urge to scratch. On a pain or discomfort level it is a 2 out of 10. It's on both of my forearms which is strange. I've called a few Dr's and they are all too busy and tell me to go to the Hospital Emergency. That shingles are very serious and I need immediate medical attention. Really no help there.

I have 2 full days of ACV now and the jury is not in yet. I use it diluted, but strong as a half hour compress which does help and feels much better. After the half hour compress I daub with cotton ball full strength. I do this 2 or 3 times per day and I drink about 4 oz per day diluted with water. I've also used calamine lotion on some areas as a test to see if it does help. And yes calamine lotion does help.

I can definitely say the ACV does help, to what extent I am not sure, but I think fairly significant. I'm sure I'd be in worse shape without it. I've also increased my vitamins, like C and B Complex and take an oral anti-histamine daily.

Since it's a virus I'm just going to let it run it's course and manage it. If I feel pain or if it spreads to my face I'll find a Dr who is not too busy. I did have shingles about 18 years ago--but I knew what it was as soon as I saw it and it was extremely painful--this is mild--so far.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Maggiemae (Dearborn, Mi) on 11/21/2011
★★★★★

Looking for relief for pain from shingles--ear, neck, head. Just tried 2T of ACV (followed by a little honey) and got instant relief. Also applied to my bumps and blisters. It's as close to a miracle as I've seen! THANK YOU! Also, going to look up morton's neuroma....

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Nalatie (Farnham, Surrey) on 11/19/2011
★★★★★

Thank you so much to this site for saving me! I have Shingles so badly on my face/scalp/eye. So bad that my GP sent me to A&E eye clinic. The blistering and swelling has been so intense that I could not sleep from pain. After researching how long shingles could take to settle down I worried about my face and cancelled every appointment for the next 2 weeks. Suffering badly and fearing the worst I researched more about home remedies and came across this site.

I have used just ACV directly on the blisters on my face (Dabbed on cottonwool) and within 12 hours the blisters looked better. After 24 hours they have totally dried up and are completely calming down. I am still dabbing the blisters every 3 hours. Along with Anti Virual, antibiotics and pain killers the blisters are less painful. ACV alone HAS helped and been the cure. ALos taking one cap in water. Take what you can as ACV is the best cure. Don't be afraid just dab it on and keep persisting as it takes the pain away and also the yellowness from the blisters!

Thank you to everyone that has written about this unbelievable aid to an extremely pain and horrid virus.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Happsoul (Frisco, Co) on 10/24/2011
★★★★★

I have shingles. I found this website at 2:00 in the morning on day 2 of shingles. I was in extreme pain. I was desperate. I had raw unpasturized apple cider vinegar and drank one ounce to start with and immediately the stabbing pain got better. I was able to sleep. I used it every 4 hours but did reduce the dose to one -two Tablespoons. I added lysine and cats claw. By the time I saw the doctor I was much more comfortable. I have been able to sleep and have not used anything for pain control other than the three I mentioned. I did start on an anti-viral 12 hours later. I have continued to use the ACV every 4 hours for pain control. I use it locally and take 1 TBS orally. I am SO GRATEFUL for this site and for this information.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Autodinman (Modesto, Ca) on 10/20/2011
★★★★★

55 years old and first time credit card size rash showed up on upper arm near elbow. Like many, I figured I must have scratched the area while carrying redwood or maybe brushed against a "gopher plant". Once I read all of your comments, I knew it must be shingles. It is; blisters, redness, pain. I saw that many of you applauded ACV. So, I went home and applied a cotton swab with ACV. Only put it on for a minute. The next day the blisters are subsiding and the rash is going away. I'll reapply tonight. Thank you all.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Bigeasybunny (Houston, Texas) on 10/13/2011

Suffering with shingles for the first time, went to doctor who prescribed anti-viral and pain meds, weeks later, still suffering internal pain and external itching/burning (thought the blisters have cleared). Found this site and started the ACV 3 T a day, drinking it using a shot glass, and follow up with tsp of honey.

Instant relief from the deep internal pain after the first dose and has not returned! Able to sleep soundly and even turn over and lie on my back and side where the shingles are! Dabbing the area with mix of ACV and sprinkle of cayenne pepper 3-4 times a day also helps with the external itching/burning, and in between, also use pure aloe vera gel and hydrocortisone cream.

As recommended on this site, I also started taking Lysine 1, 000 mg 3 times a day, and cayenne pepper pills 40,000 HU (processed to be cool in the stomach) 3 times a day, both with food. Am so grateful to be almost completely pain free and able to sleep soundly (though I wake up itching and apply hydrocortisone and get instant relief and right back asleep). I also recommend boosting your immune system with Vit C and diet.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Carmen (Ottawa, Ontario) on 10/05/2011

Was looking for relief. Tried your remedy. Thanks a bunch:)

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 Karen (Tulsa, Ok) on 09/12/2011
★☆☆☆☆

I have had shingles for the first time for a week now. I thought it was poison Ivy, really painful, itchy, burning hot patches of blisters. After three days of applying poison ivy meds, including the apple cider vinegar therapy, which actually caused mine to worsen as the Apple Cider Vinegar initiated furious blistering and swelling, I went to the dr who diagnosed shingles and started me on a potent anti-viral. I also went to the health food store (Akins) and got a gel rub which works wonderfully for relieving pain and itch. Also taking 1,000 mg Lysine 3x a day and 1-2, 000 mg of a good quality Vit C 3x a day. Shingles is a very serious ailment and can be life debilitating.