Exploring Natural Remedies and Supportive Care for Shingles

Eucalyptus Oil

Posted by Judyl (Philadelphia) on 05/01/2014
★★★★★

I found this site via Google and was very grateful for all the ideas on how to relieve the painful symptoms and rash associated with Shingles. I'm normally very healthy but had become run down about 2 weeks ago when I discovered I had a rash, then pain - after considerable research on medical and holistic websites it became obvious I had shingles, given my age, photos of rashes and a drawing that explained the nerve pain in my skin. Thanks to the ideas from this site and dietary guidance I have skirted this scourge by using the following suggested remedies - L-Lysine, Vitamin C, Multi Vitamin B, Beta Glucan (immune booster), Olive Leaf - all taken internally in large doses without delay. The tip on eucalyptus oil prompted me to use my brand of Eucalyptus oil, V-Vax, which friends who are nurses urged me to get years ago. It was amazing - reducing the pain, redness, blisters and healing the skin on my right hip and low back. Though I like apple cider vinegar, it didn't compare to eucalyptus oil. So in gratitude to those who shared their stories, I contribute mine to help those who are similarly afflicted by Shingles. We don't need to suffer - there are remedies that can alleviate both the painful symptoms and bring us back to health sooner than later.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Karen (Pueblo Of Acoma, Nm) on 04/25/2014
★★★★★

I have been suffering with shingles for a couple of weeks now, using various treatments from this website, such as dabbing ACV with a cotton ball, which stings, but also soothes. I've also tried mixing baking powder and cayenne with a little ACV to make a paste and rubbing that on and letting it dry. That really gave me the most relief until a friend suggested colloidal silver. I was not familiar with it, but was desperate for some relief, so, after reading up on it on this site, I have been taking 1 tsp. 3 to 5 times a day, as well as dabbing it on the areas with a cotton ball. I'm also drinking ACV in filtered water, and taking goldenseal, lysine, B vitamins and Vit. C. I am finally getting some relief and some much needed sleep! The patches are no longer thick and hard, but are much softer and not as raised. Some areas have almost completely disappeared, no more lumps, just reddened skin. I'm not sure which of the treatments are making the difference, but I will continue to do all of them until this is gone! I hope this helps anyone else who is suffering from shingles!

Vitamin C

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 12/07/2016

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~

Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda Paste

Posted by Candace Pfau (Franklin, N.C.) on 08/03/2013
★★★★★

I have shingles, taking the anti viral. But accidently found out that a paste of hydrogen peroxide mixed with baking soda stops the spreading. Or changes its course. Stopped from going up my face cold turkey. Of course then it started working down my neck. Each place you feel it breaking out, the itch, a paste of this will kill it or stop it. It also makes the blisters feel better. I had used this on cuts to heal them when nothing else would. Going to try the cayene pepper.

L-Lysine

Posted by Little Wing (Boston, Ma) on 11/08/2012
★★★★★

My mom had shingles and the best thing that worked for her was taking lots of Lysine and applying Salve a few times a day. I know some have been helped with ACV wraps, putting it right on the shingles, but I know that can burn.

Aloe Vera

Posted by Tiffany (Texas) on 08/23/2020

There are different varieties of aloe. Make sure it is aloe vera baradenisis miller. You must also drain the cut leaf of yellow liquid in a large cup of fresh water after harvesting for at least 30 minutes before use.

Castor Oil

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.

Zostavax Vaccine

Posted by Lisa (FL) on 04/22/2024

I would not. Vaccines are loaded with toxins, mercury being the worst. Instead be prepared to take colloidal silver and iodine for infection.

Aloe Vera

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 10/01/2016

Dear Waltraud,

It may be that the corn flour or oat flour are just to help the mixture thicken and stick easily to the skin. I do think that oat has something particularly helpful to skin conditions. (Thus, oatmeal baths.)

French green clay would be another dry ingredient that I think could be used to make the aloe and cayenne into a paste.

~Mama to Many~

Corn Starch

Posted by Sharon (Pecatonica, IL) on 09/21/2006
★★★★★

I was diagnosed with shingles. My first episode with these horrible things. The leasions were on my left breast and under my left arm pit also across my left back. The pain was bad enough my oncologist thought that I was passing either a heart or lung clot. The test they did came back negative for clots. I tried the medication for shingles and it did nothing. I applied plain old corn starch to the leasions after my shower or when ever they started to hurt or irritate me. I also told my chiropractor about the shingles. After just two adjustments My shingles started to clear up and were gone except for the red color of my skin where they were, in just three days.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne

Posted by Claudia (Goshen CT) on 04/07/2024
★★★★★

I got shingles a few weeks ago. Initially, I thought the pain was residual from a back spasm I had in the same area, but when it didn't resolve, I took a look and sure enough there was the rash. I got on the antiviral, but had known from this wonderful site that ACV would help with the burning and itching. I dabbed it on with a cotton ball and sprayed it on my back where I couldn't reach it. Instantly the burning subsided! The next stage is the nerve pain which I still had deeply after the rash had cleared. I had also learned from this site that Cayenne pepper mixed with aloe lotion Would help. After days of hoping the pain would resolve on its own I decided to try it. The first application didn't make much difference, but the second and third did. In fact, after the third application, the pain was completely gone! So easy and so worth it . Thank you Earth clinic!

How To Avoid Shingles

Posted by susanmaria (buffalo ny) on 03/07/2024

For viral infections: lysine 500 mg twice a day plus

iodine 12.5 mg once a day

Take the lysine and iodine until viral symptoms disappear. Then take both iodine and lysine for three additional weeks.

Limit intake of coffee while on the above protocol.

Echinacea

Posted by Ann (Phoenix) on 09/22/2022
★★★★★

I had a nasty case several years back and if it even starts to appear I take an herbal supplement with echinacea that knocks it out of the park before it becomes a nuisance :)

Licorice Extract

Posted by Jonathan C. (Shelburne MA) on 10/16/2019 4 posts
★★★★★

I got shingles after doing a triathlon. At first, I thought it was chafing, then went to the ER and confirmed the diagnosis. The doctor said the stress of an athletic event like this could bring it on. Thank goodness for EarthClinic!

At first, I immediately tried the essential oils of geranium, lavender and tea tree and eucalyptus and they seemed to help. Then I tried Licorice Extract, applying it three times per day, and, within days the shingles were noticeably on the retreat; within ten days, totally gone! I had it a total of two weeks and, because of the Licorice Extract, I had very little discomfort. Unbelievably grateful for EarthClinic!

Red Marine Algae

Posted by Gaya (Miami) on 01/13/2016
★★★★★

Shingles:

Red Marine Algae took away my nerve stabbing pain in about 36 hours. Take at least 4 tabs. It also stops the spread and cuts the life span. I'm 90% better in just days.

Clay

Posted by Danny (Toronto, Canada) on 10/03/2015
★★★★★

I had shingles on my back over thirty years ago.

I have a book Our Earth Our Cure. It suggested to use a clay poultice on the area. I went to the Heath food store and bought regular powdered clay. You take a glass or ceramic bowl, put some clay in the bottom and cover with tap water.Let it sit for a couple of hours. Get a white piece of cotton cloth and put some clay on it with a wooden spoon ( no metal ). Place the cloth on the affected area. Since it was on my back I used one of those elastic bandages and wound it around my body.Keep it on overnight and re-apply in the morning. Within 24 hours the pain disappeared.

I kept it up for a whole month and have never had any recurrences since then.

Tea Bag Treatment

Posted by Bobmike (Arkansas) on 06/07/2015
★★★★★

Shingles was breaking out bad, was in pain and they were getting worse. Just remembered that shingles is a herpes type virus, so last time I had a cold sore, I used a tea bag on it, (heated the bag in a half cup hot water then cooled it down first) it knocked my cold sores immediately, so I thought "could it also work on shingles??" It does work!!! And it is not a painful treatment!

I just took a tea bag, put it in some hot water in a cup, then let it steep for 3 or 4 minutes, then took out the bag, let it cool down and laid the wet tea bag right on the blistered area for 5 or 10 minutes, I also took 2 or 3 lysine tablets and let them dissolve in the tea water. I also soaked paper towel in this liquid and laid it on the blisters now and then. Already, they are drying up!! There is a new separation of healthy skin now between some of them. What was a very angry painful area this morning, is now way less painful, way less red, way less swollen. There is a white area of skin around the lesions where it is healing now. I can stand to run my hand over it now and this morning, that would have been agony!

Tea bags cooled, applied and I did put some lysine in the tea water, but I think the tea bags alone would do the trick! Yeah, and no pain and it is fast fast fast!! Glad I remembered by cold sore trick. This is something I wanted to share because, I would hate for people to suffer another day, when they have tea bags right in the cabinet! You can use black tea or green tea.

Epsom Salt

Posted by Kenneth (Beach Lake, Pa) on 07/12/2014
★★★★★

For Shingles Blisters, use hot bath with EPSOM SALT and bathe 15-30 minutes twice a day first week, second week once per day and away they go. For Shingles Itch, hot water compresses (hot as you can stand) from heated water in pot. A 5-10 minute cycle, once or twice per day as needed and you get relief.

Kali Mur

Posted by Dr Howard (Torrance CA) on 06/12/2024
★★★★★

Shingles: Dr Carey an MD stated in his book on 12 Tissue Salts( minerals) Kali mur is the cure for shingles.This is potassium chloride 6X homeopathic potency.

Some take the 6X and after using a full bottle go up to 12X. One potency can work for one person but another may need a higher potency.
It's a good idea in my view to take Bioplasma by Hylands each day as each small tablet contains a part of all the 12 essential body minerals in homeopathic form. It's a wonderful remedy.
l told an exhausted engineer about BP and he obtained a bottle. It helped him with stress and mental fatigue so he told another engineer.
He later told me ‘l walk past all these engineers now and each has a bottle on their drawing boards! ' They found it helped them with mental and physical fatigue!

Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda Paste

Posted by Angeline (Texas (TX)) on 10/01/2023
★★★★★

Baking soda and peroxide is a universal remedy - especially for spider/venom bites. Using it now with only a tiny sprinkle of cayenne pepper. Seems to be working. BS/Peroxide don't appear to have any major side effects for the skin.

At least the baking soda absorbs the "ooze."

Cayenne Pepper

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 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~

Oregano Oil

Posted by Sara (The Beach, Canada) on 07/04/2012
★★★★★

My husband got a small case of shingles after the passing of his father. He is in good health and low stress otherwise, a traumatic event can bring on shingles as well as stress. Anyone who had chicken pox can get shingles if all the chess pieces fall into place, like stress or trauma or even old injury. He took a couple of drops of oil of oregano in water everyday for a month and the shingles were gone within two weeks of that month. He carried on with the oil after just to make sure.

Shea Butter, Turmeric, Homeopathy

Posted by Quantumchick (Irvine, California) on 04/29/2012
★★★★★

I've received so many great natural remedies from this site that I want to contribute one of my own.

I suffered from a bout of shingles, got the pain to calm down with drinking apple cider vinegar, spraying it on the lesions, and eating raw unrefined coconut oil. The episode lasted maybe a couple weeks.

My mom passed recently, and with the stress of that, it came back and I did not realize it until after the funeral - they were all on the left side of my body, on the front. Talk about painful!

Well, I didn't have anything in the house and I'd bought some salve that had helped previously but it was all gone. I noticed a jar of african shea butter my cousin had left and thought what the heck - it might work.

I put some on, and went out for the day. Almost immediately I noticed that the stabbing pain and itch disappeared and the raised bumps had gone away too!

Needless to say, I scraped that jar then went in search of more on Amazon. com - I ended up buying a pound of it.

Another benefit is that it fades the scarring and marks that shingles leaves.

Even though the skin got 100% better, I had tremendous post-herpetic neuralgia. My skin was so sensitive, it hurt to put anything on it.

For that, what has worked like a charm is Turmeric capsules - 500 mg x 2, 4 times a day, along with homeopathic remedy Hypericum Perforatum (30x 4 times a day). I'm still taking it, but it started working on the post shingles pain after the first few doses.

Because I read about this stuff online, and I was eager to try anything that might work, I just went to my local health food store to get the Hypericum, and went to Walmart and bought the Turmeric.

Hope this is helpful for anyone who is suffering from this terrible, painful condition!

Cayenne Pepper

Posted by Carla (Rusk, Texas) on 04/10/2012
★★★★★

I've had a terrible re-occuring case of shingles in the back of my throat since I was about 12 years old. After slowly removing and adapting to the stress in my life I only have one or two occurences a year now. This last week I've had a terrible case and did not want to use vicious lidocain, so I checked this site and saw that cayenne pepper helped some people. I bought some vitamin supplements of Cayenne Fruit and took one last night as directed on the bottle and did some meditation before sleeping. I had very little pain when I woke up this morning. I have just taken another pill with some wheat cereal and have had only a little pain. I recommend to try this for anyone that has Shingle of the Mouth.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Lysine

Posted by Maryann (Emporia, Kansas) on 05/02/2013

Collodial Silver (liquid dietary supplement) is great to use as eye drops if you want to protect your eyes from your shingles outbreak. It's safe to use in eyes.