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.
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.
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!
Turmeric
Posted by Lou (Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu-natal South Africa) on 04/12/2012
★★★★★
A reliable cure for Shingles is the crushed herb Turmeric used in curry or to boil with rice which gives it a bright yellow colour. This herb is a wonderful antiseptic for shingles. Simply take a teaspoon of it with jam or peanut butter twice a day and within a week your painful shingles is history. I use it on a daily basis but I have never had shingles and am quite healthy, I am 76yrs old. Lou
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.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Donna (Newcastle, Nsw, Australia) on 04/04/2012
★★★★★
Last Wednesday dr diagnosed shingles. I was given antivirals. I came home in shock!
After looking up loads of information, I changed my diet. Cut out a lot of meat, juiced up loads of vegies (beetroot, spinach, purple carrots, parsley and some fruit to sweeten it) and added extra vitamin c and zinc (big healing properties there). I drank 1x 8 ounc glass before every meal. Two days in, fevers stopped, one week later, blisters are healing and no itching. I also used eucalyptus oil, which was great!
Hypericum Oil
Posted by Ernest (Newcastle, Nsw Australia) on 03/23/2012
★★★★★
I have suffered with shingles for three years on the left hand side of my face the pain has been debilitating, but I have just found a treatment that has eased that pain. That treatment is a bottle of essential oil called hypericum oil, I rub it into the painful areas twice a day. Hypericum oil is oil of saint johns wort.
Herbs
Posted by Susanfrommontreal (Montreal, Canada) on 03/17/2012
★★★★★
Shingles: My husband had a severe case of shingles 3 years ago all over his upper body that lasted 3 months. The only way he could sleep was to wrap ice in a towel. We finally found a Dr who recommended a 9 step treatment at the hospital (injections in the spine) that finally worked along with a cream compound (xylotaine)
The shingles are back again (no more cream) but on his face this time. I had an herbal infusion made at a local shop that I read about with oak bark, sage, lady's mantle, oats, sweet clover& chamomile that I boilled, let cool and he used it as a compress. Itching gone. So far, so good.
Ice
Posted by Renee (Pensecola, Florida) on 02/21/2012
★★★★★
I have read many of these replies of all treatments you have tried, I have suffered for 3 CONSTANT years now with the shingles on both sides of the body, face, arms and other places. I have found to help stop immediate itch and severe pain till anything you have taken orally can work place ICE on the blisters, red bumps, or just when the itch starts this will calm it and feels great! Ice for 20 minutes at every hour soothes the nerves.
Olive Leaf Extract
Posted by Quercus (Inland Empire, California ) on 02/12/2012
★★★★★
Have had shingles on and off for several years. What really seems to knock them out is olive leaf extract. Olive leaf has anti viral properties and brought me almost instant relief during the last outbreak. I have found using the standardized extract of 20% Oleuropein in 300 mg /3 times a day worked well. I have also found that the Zyrtec antihistamine helps with the uncontrollable itching. Diet/stress for me seems to cause an outbreak. Usually chocolate and nuts are factors. How long they last seems to depend on rest, diet and supplementation. Lysine, B & C vitamins along with the olive leaf extract really helps me.
Eucalyptus Oil
Posted by Jo (Southampton, Hampshire, Uk) on 01/31/2012
★★★★★
Last night my whole leg was covered in painful red rash and blisters. I was at my wits end until I discovered this site. After purchasing aloe vera gel today and liberally applying it with eucalyptus oil I simply cannot believe the difference. The blisters have dried, the redness has significantly decreased and the pain has all but gone. I did try the ACV but found that it stung a lot and irritated the blisters. I did take it internally though. Last night I was writhing in pain unable to speak, today the pain is manageable and significantly better.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Awagner3216 (Albuquerque, Nm) on 12/07/2011
★☆☆☆☆
I tried some aloe from the plant that I have and it made the itching and pain worse! I'm going to go to the store and get some Apple Cider Vinegar and Tea Tree and Eucalyptus oil.... Hopefully it will work, I'm only 22 and this is the first time that I have ever dealt with this. I hope that this is not a life long thing that keeps coming back!
Tagamet
Posted by Barbara (Montgomery, Al) on 12/06/2011
★★★★★
Several years ago when I had a near outbreak of shingles... Rash starting to appear and painful stinging sensation, I read in a health magazine that Tagamet, an over the counter acid reducer, could help with symptoms. It did! The symptoms went away in a few days.
Zostavax Vaccine
Posted by Colleen (Whitewater, Wi) on 11/30/2011
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!
Calendula Cream
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.
Eucalyptus Oil
Posted by Ruark (Sydney, Nsw Australia) on 11/10/2011
★★★★☆
I have been experiencing shingles for the first time. On the face which is excrutiating. Read a post here on using eucalyptus oil, so I just applied some and it certainly quelled the pain. As soon as I can get someone to help apply it to my scalp I reckon it will knock down the degree of pain too. Wow shingles is horrendous, any relief and a good night's sleep please.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Healthnut (Scarsdale, Ny, Usa) on 11/05/2011
★★★★★
Hi Everyone-
Much to my horror, I had all the symptoms of a shingles outbreak on my scalp and face - headache, pain, tingling, electric shock - 4 weeks before my 40th birthday party!!! After finding this website, I started my own treatment in an attempt to stave off any rash/blisters on my face. Here's what I did DAILY for 3 straight weeks and I never did have the outbreak!!! After a total of 4 weeks of symptoms and my daily routine, no outbreak and symptoms disappeared. Good luck and God Bless to everyone dealing with this.
1) 3 times per day: 2 TB _____'s Apple cider vinegar. You can mix with apple or pear juice.
2) L - Lysine - 1000 mg, 2-3 times per day
3) Folic Acid - 800 mg, 2-3 times per day
4) Vitamin C - 2000-3000 mg per day
5) B12 - 1000 mcg per day
6) mixture of plain yogurt and zinc oxide - applied on my face along the nerve where I felt tingling and electric shock.
