During the coronavirus of 2020, I got herpes zoster; better known as shingles. And let me tell you, shingles is no joke. It was never something I expected to have, especially so young, so I was taken aback when I found out. As with everything, I started to research, but it was hard to find much information on how to treat it, especially with more natural and alternative methods. Having made it through to the other side, I wanted to be able to condense everything I learned to make it easier for someone else looking for somewhere to start. Keep reading to find out all the details on how to treat shingles naturally!
What is shingles?
Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (the virus that causes chickenpox). If you have had chickenpox, that virus lies dormant in nerve root tissue near your spinal cord and brain. Years later it can reactivate as shingles. According to statistics, 1 in every 3 of those that have had chickenpox, will have a repeat of the virus as shingles.
When it reactivates, it usually presents in a dermatome region and doesn’t cross the midline of the body. This means that it will only affect the area of your body that is innervated by the specific nerve root that the virus affects. It often develops as a stripe around either the right or left side of the torso, but can show up in other areas. For me, it showed up down the right side of my neck, shoulder and chest (in the C3 and C4 region). You can see the dermatome regions below.
What causes it to reactivate?
While it is a little unclear as to what exactly causes the varicella-zoster virus to reactivate in the body and erupt as shingles, it is most common in older people over the age of 50 as their varicella zoster virus immune cells start to decline. It also seems that women have a higher risk than men, white people over other ethnicities and immunocompromised people including cancer, HIV and transplant patients and individuals taking immunosuppressants such as steroids or chemotherapy.
More recent studies have looked at the link between other potential triggers such as physical trauma, psychological stress and other lifestyle choices like diet and quality of sleep. None of these studies have found conclusive links but it’s safe to say that anything that lowers the immune system could trigger the virus to resurface.
Possible reasons for my outbreak
I felt very confused as to what triggered the outbreak I had. I had been off work for 4 months due to the coronavirus, recently returned from a vacation and was being even more intentional with my lifestyle and food choices to make sure I was optimizing my health and well being.
However, about 2 weeks after healing from shingles, I tested positive for Covid-19, although my only symptom was a stuffy nose. It makes me wonder whether I had Covid in my body weeks before and it had caused the shingles break out, but I will probably never know for sure!
Symptoms
Shingles usually follows a consistent pattern of symptom development. It starts as pain, which can often be intense, as well as tingling, numbness and/or extreme skin sensitivity over a particular area. After a few days, a red rash will start to appear in the area. Little blisters will form which will eventually dry up and scab over. Itching is usually common during this healing stage. Once the rashes are gone, there can still be nerve pain for a few weeks, months, or in rare cases, years. This is called postherpetic neuralgia.
Is it contagious?
The simple answer is yes, if the person exposed has never had chickenpox. However, being exposed to shingles will not cause shingles, it will cause chickenpox. If someone has already had chickenpox, they will most likely be immune.
The virus can be spread through the open sores of the rash so until the blisters scab over, you should consider yourself contagious. It is important to avoid physical contact with those who have not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, especially those who are immune compromised, pregnant and newborns.
Why treat shingles naturally?
I have great respect for modern medicine. There have been times in my life when prescription medication has been a lifesaver. However, with most things that are non-life threatening, I will always look for an alternative and more natural option first. I had also checked in with my doctor regarding the risks of not taking the prescribed medication, and in my case, there was a very low risk of any danger.
Acyclovir or Valacyclovir (antiviral medications) and a corticosteroid (to help with the pain) are generally offered for the treatment of shingles. I had two main problems with these.
First, the purpose of the conventional antiviral medication is to treat the symptoms of the virus and hopefully shorten it’s duration, but it doesn’t actually work to cure. The medication must also be started within 72 hours to be most effective. After that, it may or may not have much effect. Also, as with any medication, there is a risk of unpleasant side-effects as well as a strain on the liver.
Two, steroids are an immunosuppressant. To take this medication seemed counterproductive. Shingles happens when a person’s immune system is lowered, so instead of keeping it lowered with a steroid, I wanted to focus on doing things that boosted it back up and made it strong so I had the best chance of fighting the virus off.
I have been working for months on bringing balance to my hormones through diet and lifestyle changes and I am finally at a place where that is paying off. I have regular cycles, little to zero PMS and generally feel better emotionally and mentally. The last thing I wanted to do was take a medication that would throw everything off, so I was determined to find a way to treat shingles naturally instead!
My Experience
Day 1
I started to get intense pain in my right neck and right shoulder with intermittent sharp stabs of pain. I thought I had just slept funny, but the skin in that area felt sensitive to the slightest touch or temperature.
Day 3
Little red dots began showing up on the right side of my chest and right side of my neck. I called the doctor that evening and he diagnosed it as shingles. He prescribed me Valocyclovir but said I could just ride it out if I wanted.
Day 6
In the evening I noticed more rashes developing around my right shoulder and at the back of the right side of my neck. I had heard some benefits to putting apple cider vinegar on the rashes, so I started doing that 1-2x/day. After it had dried, I then blended together geranium, lavender and helichrysum italicum essential oils and put them on neat (I would recommend diluting them in coconut oil!)
Day 7
Started getting a headache in the afternoon. I called another doctor to get a second opinion and he agreed I had a moderate case of shingles. He prescribed a different antiviral medication: Acyclovir. I took Tylenol as the headache became unmanageable.
Day 8
Woke up in the night with a horrible headache again. I took more Tylenol and had to keep taking it every 6 hours to keep the headache manageable. By 9pm, the headache didn’t return, but I took 2 more before bed. I started taking Allimax, a natural antiviral (this was the game-changer! Information below).
Day 9
Woke up at 1am with awful itching. Made a paste of baking soda and water and put it on the rashes. I let it dry and then removed with a cool washcloth. Used ACV and then a diluted blend of bergamot, tea tree and lavender essential oils. Couldn’t fall back to sleep until around 5am. Noticed a few of the rashes were crusting over. Headache almost fully gone. Put calamine lotion on rashes.
Day 10
Felt so much better, like the virus was now under control and no longer running rampant. Energy started to return.
Day 14
Scabs started falling off. Still a little remaining itching and some muscular pain (this was mainly in the mornings and evenings and lasted probably another week before it was fully gone).
What I did
Supplements
Allimax: antiviral
This is the main and most important thing I did. If you do anything – take this! Allicin is the active component of garlic and responsible for many of garlic’s attributes. It has broad spectrum anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and strong immune boosting and immunomodulating capabilities and has been used for centuries to deal with different illnesses and health issues.
Fresh garlic and other garlic supplements are not as effective because the allicin generated from them is unstable and quickly changes into different compounds. This stabilized and standardized version of allicin was originally created, and the extraction process patented, in the UK under the name of AllicinMax. Allimax is the USA version.
In clinical trails, one capsule a day has shown to drastically reduce the amount of time a cold resides in the body. It has even been used effectively for things like MRSA and E.coli. Studies have shown that you can take up to 777 capsules a day with no ill-effect!
I started taking these day 8. I took 1 capsule every hour to get a dose of 2700mg/day. It was a total of 15 capsules a day for 1 week. Two 90 capsule packs lasted 1 week. Within days I felt so much better.
I should have started taking these as soon as I knew I had shingles but I had no idea what I was dealing with and it took me some time to figure out how I was going to combat the virus. If I had started right away, I think it would have made a difference in how much the virus spread and shortened it’s duration. I highly recommend starting these as soon as symptoms start appearing to get ahead of the virus.
Pure Synergy: immunity
There are a number of supplements here. I had most of them already as many are things I take on a regular basis, so I continued taking them as I dealt with shingles too. While all of these will help boost your immunity by filling nutritional gaps, etc, if you use any, I would recommend Rapid Rescue and Pure Radiance vitamin C powder/capsules.
Rapid Rescue fast immune boost 2 capsules 3x/day
Pure Radiance vitamin c powder 1/4 tsp (or 1 capsule) 3x/day
Vita.Min.Herb women’s multivitamin 2 tablets 2x/day
Immune Health 2 capsules/day
Pure Synergy Superfood powder 1TBSP/day
Pure Micronutrients: antiinflammatory
Curcumin is known for its antiinflammatory properties, however, it generally has poor solubility in the body, preventing it from being optimally absorbed and utilized. BCM-95 is comprised of all the components of the root of the Curcuma Longa plant (turmeric), including all of it’s essential oils. This delivery system boosts absorption and bioavailability by up to 7 times!
Organic Curcumin with BCM-95. 2 capsules/day
Topical treatments
I tried all of these, some only once, and some I continued throughout the whole time. I wanted to list them here as these are all things you might have readily available and can help relieve some of the itching, pain and promote faster healing of the rashes!
Cool compresses/showers
Cool water helps with relieving the pain and itchiness. This can be done by either taking a cool shower or by saturating a washcloth with cold water, wringing it out, and placing it over the rashes.
Essential Oils
Geranium, tea tree, lavender and helicrysum italicum essential oil blend 2:2:2:1 ratio. I mixed this in a little organic, extra virgin coconut oil* and applied it to the rashes. Geranium has been studied and shown to reduce pain, even outperforming capsaicin, which is often recommended for topical use with shingles. You don’t have to have all of the essential oils for it to be effective.
I like to use Rocky Mountain Oils as they are a direct to consumer company, readily provide GC/MS tests to verify purity and quality, are third party/independent lab tested and cost effective. Click here to get 10% off your first order!
*Organic, extra virgin coconut oil is great as a carrier oil in this instance as it contains antimicrobial properties and is very healing for the skin.
Organic apple cider vinegar (with the mother)
Apple cider vinegar can help with some of the stinging and itching of the rash. With it being a natural antiseptic, it also helps to keep the rash clean and kill the virus.
Pour some apple cider vinegar into a small dish and immerse a cotton ball or piece of fabric. Apply this to the rash and let it dry. I applied apple cider vinegar to the rashes 2-3x/day.
Baking soda paste
Baking soda, or cornstarch, can help relieve itching, dry up the rashes and help them heal faster.
Mix 1 TBSP baking soda with just enough water to make a paste. Spread this on the rash and leave to dry. Once dry, wash off with a cool washcloth.
Calamine lotion
Calamine lotion can help relieve itching.
Use as often as needed on the rashes to relieve itching. I used this 2-3x/day to relieve itching and it was especially helpful at night.
Nutrition
The most important thing is to put a pause on eating sugary, processed and fried foods. Focus on foods that promote L-lysine production and stay away from foods that promote L-arginine. L-arginine is a naturally occurring amino acid, but with shingles it’s best to avoid foods with high levels as it helps the shingles virus replicate. Also, focus on fermented foods that dial up gut health, in turn boosting the immune system. Be a “culture vulture”!
Some high arginine foods to avoid include:
Gelatin
Chocolate
Coconuts
Flour (white and wholewheat)
Soybeans
Peanuts
Dairy
Alcohol (not high in arginine but can disrupt the body’s immune responses)
Include these:
All fresh fruits and veggies (except peas)
Sweet potatoes
Bananas
Brewers yeast (or nutritional yeast)
Kimchi (or other fermented foods like sauerkraut or kombucha)
Other
Rest. Hydrate. Keep the rashes loosely covered to avoid it spreading during the contagious stage. Do things to minimize stress.
A word of caution
Shingles does hold a risk of causing complications or serious health concerns. If you develop a rash on your scalp or on your face, especially near your eyes or ears, speak to a doctor immediately. Shingles in theses areas, when left untreated, can cause permanent damage to the nerves innervating the eyes and ears and may lead to blindness or hearing issues.
Throughout my experience with shingles, I kept a very close eye on where the rashes were on my body and if any new ones were developing. Whether you take the prescription medication or natural supplements, stay aware of where the rash is spreading!
This was my experience and what worked for me as I learnt how to treat shingles naturally. I want to share this in case anyone is looking for information (like I was!) on someone else’s experience and can find something here that is helpful. But please do not take this as medical advice. I am not a doctor. Consult a doctor, do your own research and make decisions for your health that you are happy and confident with.
