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 Janbug (Jewett, Texas, USA) on 08/29/2009
My husband came down with shingles after chemo and back surgery. The doctor gave him the regular meds with extra nerve pills but it did not stop the pain. I called the nurse and ask what to use. I was told to use capsaicin which I went to get as quick as I could on a friday afternoon. I put the cream on him and thought he was going to burn up. I think it may work because the pain on the outside of the skin hurts so bad you forget about the pain on the inside for a little bit. I thought I would go crazy trying to find something to help make his pain go away so I got on line and found your site. I have started him on 2 tablespoons of the Apple Cider Vinegar in water and rubbing his neck and scalp. I pray it works and I thank you for being there for me to find. jan in texas
L-Lysine
Posted by Michele (Earlville, NY) on 07/19/2009
★★★★★
L-lysine 500mg/4xday, ACV, red tiger balm, and cayenne pepper works for me. L-lysine is very effective (it literally starves the virus). I found I had stopped too early and the rash (shingles) returned. One started again it receded within a day. For the itching and burning of the patches on my neck I washed with a mild soap, patted on ACV then covered with red tiger balm, then patted on powdered cayenne pepper on top of the tiger balm (not pretty).CAUTION: DO NOT USE THIS ON BROKEN SKIN, NEAR EYES OR MUCOUS MEMBRANES. WASH HANDS CAREFULLY AFTER USE.- IT WILL BURN (I had no open blisters, just a bumpy itchy rash). Not knowing how to calm the itching & burning patches on my neck, I read in the earth clinic mosquito bite section that tiger balm soothes the itch. So I gave it a try AND patted on powdered cayenne pepper on top and left it on for an hour. Capsaicin works by stimulating and then exhausting Substance P, the nerve-related transmitter that sends pain messages to your brain, in the skin. After an hour I wiped both the tiger balm and the cayenne off with a washcloth. The area was red but no longer itched or burned. By next morning all the redness was gone and the itch had not returned. I will continue this for a few days but will continue the lysine longer, to be sure.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Gene (Sarasota, FL) on 04/11/2009
★★★★★
This is my second shingles attack, folks! First one lasted 60 days and was the most unbelievably painful thing I had ever experienced. Interestingly enough, 100% of the shingles was sub-surface, with no redness, raised areas or pustules. The deep pain was beyond words.
Now, four years later, in a period of incredible stress, I've got the damned thing again -- this time, with a left leg and the front/back of the left side of my torso covered in mega-patches of fiery pustules. Pain inside (emanating from the locus deep inside the nerve) and out.
Then, a friend of a friend mentioned ACV and I went surfing and found your site.
Last night (day 3), I covered the sores with ACV&Cayenne, and took two half shot glasses of ACV mixed with Cayenne. Within about an hour the pain - inside and out - completely went away. Yes, completely, and I had what seemed like one of the best sleeps I had had in a long time.
This AM thru noon, I felt great, but this early afternoon I'm still a little shakey -- a slight twinge here, a slight twinge there. And the pustules are still there, but not increasing in size (and, as I write this, only a very, very, very occasional itch/pain from my little read friends.
I am going to keep this up, and have absolutely no doubt that this will do the trick. In fact, I'm going to apply your ACV/CP elixer as soon as I press 'send'.
Garlic
Posted by Matt (Attleboro, Ma. USA) on 02/26/2009
★★★★★
Shingles relief: To get rid of the itch as soon as possible rub a garlic clove over the area. It works even better in the shower because the heat draws it in better. This will work and you can do it a few times a day like before work and after work in the shower and before bed . I also use bag balm after to prevent scaring. But the garlic is the best solution
Zostavax Vaccine
Posted by Gail (New Hampshire) on 04/12/2021
My 2 youngest daughters got shingles at ages 5 and 7 after getting the chickenpox vaccine. The doctors didn't quite know what to think. Thankfully they didn't suffer much. I did not allow them to get the booster vax, and the school nurse was okay with that. Some years later I came across an article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/11/02/chicken-pox-vaccine-creates-shingles-epidemic.aspx
Perfectly explained what is happening to our elderly population now. I'm nearing the end of what is my first- and hopefully last- shingles outbreak. Thanks to EC, I have an arsenal of knowledge that will allow me to prevent this should it try to attack me again! And no, I won't be getting the shingles vax or any other for that matter!
L-Lysine
Posted by Beatrice (Dartmouth, Massachusetts, USA) on 07/15/2008
★★★★★
When I started getting symtems of Shingles, which I had last year, I immediatly came to this site. Luckily I found someone who used L Lysine and Vit. C and Zinc. I followed the remedy and in one day, the jabbing pains were gone. Thank you for this site. I took L Lysine (l000Units) the same for Vit. C and l00units of Zinc every 4 hours for 3-4 days and then went down to l dose per day.
Supplements
Posted by RJ (Cleveland, Ohio) on 01/14/2008
★★★★★
I recently had a shingles, which I never knew anything about until now. This web site was a big help in helping me understand the disease and what I could do about it.
I actually used multiple remedies to help cure shingles and the excruciating pain that went along with it. I went to a doctor to find out what it was and he confirmed that it was shingles and prescribed Valtrex an antiviral pill (which will not kill the virus), 1 per day for 10 days. I did take it but it didn't do a thing for the outbreak or the pain.
First thing I did was start taking Vitamin C 1000 mg fizzy packets x 3 every hour, by the fourth or fifth hour, I had diarrhea. Not a problem, cut it back to 1000 mg every 3 hours for the next 2 days. This helps to jump start the immune system and Vitamin C doesn't build up in the body and you can't get enough from fruits and vegetables. I also started taking l-lysine 2 tablets in the morning and 2 before bed (1500 mg each time). This also helps to boost immune system and kill the virus. Unfortunately, I did have to take some ibuprofen for the pain from time to time but that was only one or sometimes twice a day for a few days. I also took twice a day 2 ounces of apple cider vinegar mixed with either orange juice or grape juice (not at the same time as the vitamins) until the outbreak was gone.
For the outbreak, I tried putting zinc oxide cream (the worst thing to do) on the outbreak, it did nothing and it was painful to get off because it is made with petroleum. I also tried honey for its' ability to heal, it may have helped but it was messy and I didn't see any results. I did put tea tree oil on for a full day and it seemed to keep it from spreading but I did not see a lot of healing. I then took and put apple cider vinegar directly on the sores and wrapped them in cellophane to keep from drying out and left on for 2 hours. It was painful but it really brought out the sores. I then took baking soda and sea salt mixed with water and applied with a wet wash cloth and let sit on for an hour and then reapplied a few times. This felt great because it had a cooling effect on the sores and took away a lot of the pain. I used to have acne as a teenager and we would go to the beach in the summer and every year, my acne clear up like I had none at all, so I tried it and immediately the sores began to heal. I only needed to use for one to two days for the baking soda and salt water and only once for the apple cider vinegar. Once everything was dried up, I put some calamine lotion on for help with itching and I was surprised when it eliminated the dark marks from where the sores were. For the pain that continued after the sores, I thought it would go away, but unfortunately, it hung around a while and made life tough. I finally tried vitamin E d-alpha, not dl-alpha 1200 IU's twice a day and the pain went away after 2 days. I read that Vitamin C and Vitamin E should be taken together so I took 1000 mg of Vitamin C with the Vitamin E at the same time.
Also, watch your diet and eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. There are some that say the virus uses foods like nuts and chocolate as food to grow and survive, so starve it and you have a better chance that the natural remedies will kill and eat the virus.
Good Luck and I hope this helps someone because many of these same things worked for others and I know that they helped me a lot. Thanks to those that shared.
Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Gloria (Salem, MA) on 02/25/2007
★★★★★
My friend came down with a painful case of shingles on her neck,into her hair,down to her chest and shoulders.I check your site and found a cure.First she soaked her feet in 1/4cup ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) and enough hot water to completely cover her feet doing this 2x a day, also dabbing straight ACV on the leasions with a cotton ball, it burns at first, followed by a cream. Made up of 1Tablespoon coconut oil,1 Tablespoon aloe vera gel and 1/4 teaspoon.cayenne pepper. Mix it up well and gently rub it in with a cotton ball.She also drank the ACV. 1 T.in water 3x day the blister came to a head that same day and the extreme pain decreased. By the third day she was healed. That was 3 weeks ago and she has had no reoccurence.
Alcohol, Distilled Water and Fastum Gel
Posted by Michael (South Africa) on 09/12/2006
★★★★★
Half each 90% Alcohol and distilled water. And Fastum Gel a non steroidal anti inflammatory. Fixed my shingles in a week. Blisters all dried and healing. Pain still there in the nerve. Good news!
Coconut Oil
Posted by Carol (Los Angeles, CA) on 07/22/2006
★★★★★
My sister had an attack of shingles with pain so bad she could barely walk. She was misdiagnosed at first and told she would need back surgery. The 3rd doctor diagnosed shingles, and warned her that the terrible pain could possibly be permanent and that the ugly blisters on her back might cause scarring. She told me this on a Sunday morning and I said, "Try coconut oil. Keep it in your system (3 tablespoons a day)." She did, plus rubbed it on her back. The very next day, Monday, she went back to work (she had been out over 2 weeks), and worked ALL day. She told me that her pain had stopped and that the blisters were going away. It has been a week now and she is feeling "better and better." Because of her success, I began using Coconut oil for myself and noticed overnight improvement for my rosacea. May I also say that I think coconut oil tastes delicious!
Neem Oil
Posted by Louise (Australia, Sydney) on 10/20/2024
★★★★★
Re Shingles
I use Neem Oil on the rash lesions a few times a day. I also take the Tea and the Leaf Extract. Neem is an antiviral and antibacterial, but it should not be used long term if you wish to become pregnant. It's also a spermicide if used long term. Neem tastes very, very bitter. Occasionally, honey helps, but you can get used to the taste.
The oil on the lesions or rash helps immediately. Pain is reduced, and sometimes itching remains, but to avoid scratching, I put more Neem oil on. I also use diluted magnesium oil but creme would do, to calmtbe nerves, this helps alot. Fluey symptoms are helped with Neem also. I take High doses of Vit C and Lysine as well along with Zinc and D.
I'm still on the 1st day, smallish outbreak managed with the above. I'll follow up soon.
Ps Teds Archive is helpful too.
How To Avoid Shingles
Posted by AB (Atlanta) on 03/07/2024
Make sure it is indeed shingles. Shingles is often the first manifestation of an internal malignancy. Not always, but often. How to keep not getting shingles comes to figuring out why she has shingles. Full blood work is a starter. There are specific markers that indicate some serious things are underneath. Ruling out malignancy is the first step. Young people get turbo cancers these days.
Shingles shot for a young person who already has shingles is a recipe for a bigger disaster
So start with blood work Just google what blood markers indicate potential cancer and do the lab work. Keep in mind her doctor must disagree or dismiss, you can do it yourself these days.
Everyone these days must have a stool test for colon cancer, it is cheap March is a colon cancer awareness month, they offer a discount. Do it annually. A family friend, a young mom has recently died, she had stage 4
If your young relative is cleared from malignancies, test her for viruses, citomegalovirus, hpylori, Epstein Barr..
Meantime I'd recommend Cats Claw supplement, L-lysine +high dose vitamin C and Arsenic Album - a homeopathic remedy I learned about here. I get shingles like rash from time to time and I start this protocol and it really works for me. I also add a trace ( not a drop) of antiviral medicinal quality essential oils to a base oil and apply externally. Young living essential oils and Alma ( former Floracopeia) is where I buy directly. Can't guarantee for other companies. Never buy on Amazon.
Do all blood work before starting the supplements
And check the shingles section here on EC site.
Coconut Oil, Carrots
Posted by Nanoagain (Texas) on 04/15/2018 1 posts
I had good luck taking oil of oregano capsules two or three times a day on an empty stomach for a shingles outbreak.
Lysine, Olive Leaf
Posted by Angee (Nz) on 10/07/2016
★★★★★
Have had shingles for 4-5 years now. was never diagnosed as this. was told had fibromyalgia becos I didnt get the rash. had neuralgia pain all this time.could not sleep at night for fever and excruiating pain in neck, head and liquid coming pooling in eardrums and eyes.It all started with central back itch/sore. Read this blog and sought Lysine and olive leaf extract 500 mg. Started taking two nights ago. Slept well last night first time in months.
Same doc advice as many on this blog, viral meds and antidepressant for pain both of which never worked at height of pain/fever. Then this week rash appeared I happened to use ozonated olive oil which my husband just happened to have on guidance from this site. Was using ACV but I have to say ozonated olive oil which is what they put in makeup and is clear not green worked MAGIC on the rash and itch. While ACV works as an antiseptic and emergency I found the olive oil worked better.
I read the dietary guide here and stopped drinking tea and coffee and drank green tea and strawberries only. No more choc or nuts. Feeling amazingly better.
For any of your doubters out there,,, THIS REALLY WORKS!! Don't get the shingle vaccine as my research is not kind on it and I believe it doesn't help as people who got it as a preventative still got shingles later, I read many reviews from many different sites to be sure. I am taking the Lysine and will continue a long course of this for at least a year to kill off the herpes virus, as I also read in this blog. I will keep this site updated with my results.
My back is still slightly tingly but the itch has gone and it is slowly receding. Thank you earth-clinic 9my god) blog for great advice which was much needed in my times of sleepless-painful-exhaustive 1am nights.
MMS
Posted by Cures (India) on 10/23/2015 2 posts
★★★★★
Recently my mom had Shingles and was very worried as her aunt had suffered unbearable nerve pain for many days. She used 6 drops doses of MMS three times a day and the condition gradually improved with each dose. By the third day, it was gone.
Calamine Lotion
Posted by beverly (Texas) on 02/02/2023
I had my first case of shingles at 15. Had it regularly through my 20's. Last time I had it was at 45 ....until tonight when I realized the pain I had on my back below my right shoulder blade was shingles. In the process of selling our home and it is very stressful................I am almost 75. I woke my husband up at 1 am to put a cayenne pepper patch on my back.
Calamine Lotion
Posted by Teena (Melbourne, Australia) on 05/01/2018 233 posts
Kayla, avoid aspartame, in energy drinks and some "sugar free" soft drinks, avoid artificial sweeteners and arginine foods. A liver detox would be great to remove build up from the liver, as an overloaded liver can not clear the body of built up toxins, heavy metals and pathogens. Failing that you might research granulated lecithin non GMO soy or sunflower, one tablespoon daily with a meal, graduate to every meal, to absorb and excrete toxins, some milk thistle or dandelion supplement to support liver function, & lysine and wholefood vitamin c to boost the immune system.
Calamine Lotion
Posted by Katzie (Alberta) on 05/06/2018
Hi Kayla. I just wanted.to ask if you're sure it was Shingles and not something else? Getting Shingles 2x is rare and getting it a 3rd time is almost unheard of! At any rate, your immune system is really struggling. You should try DMSO on the rash as well as take 1tsp of it morning and night. Use a nice soothing castor oil on the rash after the DMSO. These should clear up your rash quickly. Also look into ways to strengthen your poor, struggling immune system cause it ain't working so good right.now. Good luck!
Monolaurin, Vitamin C
Posted by Hisjewel (Usa) on 10/17/2018
Greetings EC and Everyone,
Re Shingles and that Stinging Burning Feeling in the Face Syndrome
I have come to believe that the stinging in the face was not bought on by anything I previously thought brought it on. The two things that I noticed about the stinging, burning or pins and needle feeling that I had in the face, was that it always happened when it was humid or when I was stressed. I had the shingles on the one leg. However, I am sure it was responsible for that feeling I had on my face. I am healed of it now about three months. I really don't know what did it, I was taking so many things including BHT which I started taking in March, and Astragalus which I started in June. I give God the glory He is the ultimate healer. The foods that I could not eat last year, I am now able to eat once again without a shingles outbreak. And, the burning face feeling went bye, bye with the shingles.
Never Give Up.
HisJewel
Red Marine Algae
Posted by Breathoflifeedu (Texas) on 11/15/2014
★★★★★
When my son was 12 years old, he developed a painful rash on his back, neck, and face all on the same side. A couple days after I was at my chiropractor and he noticed it and told me that it was shingles. I asked what I could do to get rid of it. He went in the other room and came back with a bottle of Red Marine Algae. He said for my son to take 2 capsules in the morning and 2 capsules at night until the bottle was empty, if the it was not completely gone then get another bottle and follow the same instructions but to take all of the bottle regardless. I followed his instructions to the T and by the time he finished the first bottle it was completely gone and he has not had another occurrence, he is now 22 years old.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Sam (Miami) on 03/20/2023
Did he have shingles before? Sometime it is a healing crisis. My dad suffered eczema for 30 years. One year he was taking 4 weeks treatment course in a balneoresort (Sanatorium Annensky Mineralnye Vody): The water is alkaline (Pn = 8.5-9.4), slightly mineralized (0.32 g/l), the composition is sulfate-bicarbonate, sodium with a high content of silicic acid (60-96 mg/l). Keep in mind he was regularly getting treatments in various balneoresorts with different composition of water. So this time he got so sick he had to hospitalised. After he recovered his eczema was gone for good.
Epsom Salt
Posted by Kenneth (Beach Lake) on 07/15/2015
★★★★★
Epsom Salt for Shingles
Do EPSOM SALT HOT COMPRESSES SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY, even eyebrows, scalp, bumps go down but return later day. Just keep doing, don't overheat & get blisters, likewise leg calves, & other areas of body. While damp, you could dust Baking Soda, BUT NOT THE EYES AREA.
Also, don't get EPSOM SALT Moisture in eyes. if do, RINSE IMMEDIATELY.
Essential Oils
Posted by Trish (Vichy, Missouri) on 01/21/2014
★★★★★
Thanks to everyone who posted on here about your shingles treatments. I put together my "super lotion" based on the articles I read. My husband was diagnosed on Friday night w this dreadful illness. His was in his eye (and face and scalp) which was quite frightening, since it could cause blindness.
He has made a remarkable recovery in two days. We did get into an opthalmologist and used eye drops that worked immediately. They were Prenisolene Acetate Ophthamic 4x dayand Neo/Poly/Dexamet before bed. He is also taking Valtrex 500mg 3x daily. Tylenol every 4 hrs for pain. Although this lotion will settle the nerves down. : )
My formula for his skin, which is working awesome is;
- 2 tsp Coconut Oil
- 2 tsp Colloidal Silver
- 2 tsp Aloe Vera Gel
- 1 tsp DMSO
- 5 drops Tea Tree Oil
- 5 drops Eucalyptus Oil
- 5 drops Oregano Oil
- 10 drops Lavendar Oil
- 25 drops Licorice Root
- 1 capful Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix well, put in very small tupperware container and use 2-x a day and before bedtime. Hope it's a blessing to you, it works so well my husbands lesions cleared visibly throughout the day. We also prayed a lot! Feel better!
Vitamin C
Posted by Timh (Ky) on 12/05/2016 2042 posts
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.
Vitamin C
Posted by Hisjewel (America, New York) on 12/08/2016
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
Olive Leaf Extract
Posted by Maggie (Philadelphia, Pa) on 07/04/2013
★★★★★
I got a nasty case of the shingles right below my rib cage on my right side a few weeks before I left for an overseas trip. It was so painful, I really thought I would have to cancel. The valcyclovir did nothing but upset my stomach, so I only took it for a few days. What really killed the shingles was olive leaf extract and vitamin C. I took 4 capsules of 20 percent standardized olive leaf extract and 500 mg of vitamin C 6 times a day for 10 days, when I reduced it to 3 capsules plus 500 mg vitamin C 4 times per day. After a month, I reduced it to 3 capsules plus 500 mg vitamin C 3 times per day and so on. It significantly reduced the pain and blisters and in 2 weeks both were pretty much gone, save for some zapping pain every once in a while. I continue to take a reduced dose just to make sure it doesn't return. Oh, and I had a great trip!
Coconut Oil
Posted by Mistyhaired (Arkansas) on 01/09/2017
LOL, I'm so sorry to laugh, but of course you vomited. You just did it all at once! I think it's funny bc it's sort of my nature to go all out too, but unfortunately a slow, gradual introduction to anything new to your body is best. Best of luck to you. :)
