Homeopath David Needleman shares his nine favorite remedies to soothe symptoms of shingles
We’re constantly being bombarded with adverts encouraging us to get vaccinated for shingles, also known as herpes zoster, the viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox.
It’s a particularly debilitating illness, especially in the elderly, as I can personally attest to. But there are a number of useful homeopathic remedies that can dramatically reduce the duration and intensity of the infection.
After a chickenpox infection, which many people get in childhood, the varicella-zoster virus that caused it lies dormant in the body. Years later, the virus can reactivate as shingles. The key symptom is a painful, blistery skin rash that almost always appears on one side of the body.
Anyone who’s had chickenpox can develop shingles, but those over age 50 or with a weakened immune system—from medication, illness or stress, for example—are more likely to get it.
Shingles itself isn’t contagious, but the virus that causes it can spread to anyone not immune to chickenpox, usually via direct contact with the fluid from an open or oozing shingles blister. In these cases, the person will develop chickenpox, not shingles.
Shingles typically lasts three to five weeks, but some people develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This nerve pain where the shingles rash was located can persist for months or years after the rash has cleared up.
The medical approach to shingles is to treat it with antiviral drugs like acyclovir, but homeopathy can be a safer and still effective treatment. Below are the most important and useful remedies that can make a difference to the duration and intensity of shingles, along with my number one remedy for PHN.
Nutritionally, it’s a good idea to reduce foods containing arginine, such as nuts, seeds and chocolate, and increase foods containing lysine, such as fruits, vegetables and lean protein, which contain vitamins A, B12, C and E as well as zinc.
Homeopathy can also help with preventing shingles. Seeing a homeopath on a regular basis and taking the right constitutional remedy (based on your unique characteristics and individual health profile) is an important step toward overall good health, along with eating well, staying hydrated, and getting enough exercise and sleep.
Arsenicum Album
Choose this remedy if you have a burning, itchy rash with swellings that are dry, rough or scaly. The rash can also be ulcerous with offensive discharges. Generally, people who benefit from Arsenic Alb may have an icy coldness to the skin along with a high level of anxiety or stress and a fear of dying or being alone.
Iris Versicolor
This remedy is useful for those suffering from the typical shingles symptoms alongside stomach problems such as flatulence, cramps, nausea, watery stools and a burning sensation in the anus.
If the infection affects the ear, there may be ringing in the ears accompanied by a roaring or buzzing sound in the head. Vertigo may also be a symptom.
Mercurius Solubilis
This is the right remedy if your skin is moist rather than dry and your sweat is sticky and smelly. The typical shingles rash may be surrounded by pimples and be extremely crusty and itchy.
Generally, people who benefit from Merc Sol are very sensitive to changes in temperature. Moving from a warm room to a cooler one may feel like being in the Arctic, and moving from a cool room to a warmer one can feel like moving to the burning heat of a desert.
Mezereum
Mezereum is indicated for those with intolerable itching that can also burn. Blisters can be shiny and fiery red at the center or have thick scabs. The pain of the rash is exacerbated by touch and damp weather and is also worse at night.
Natrum Muriaticum
This remedy is useful for the emotional side of shingles rather than the physical one. It’s particularly good for those who refuse to show their feelings of pain. Nat Mur is also the number one remedy for PHN.
Ranunculus Bulb
This is often the first remedy prescribed for shingles when there is intense burning and itching at the site of the skin eruptions. It is named in the homeopathic Materia Medica specifically for shingles. This remedy is ideal for rashes accompanied by pain.
Rhus Toxicodendron
Reach for Rhus Tox if you have all the classic presentations of shingles alongside intense itching and restlessness. If you don’t have feelings of restlessness, Rhus Tox is probably not right for you.
Suggested dosages: For all these single remedies, use 30C potency and take one dose three times a day until the vesicles have either scabbed over or dropped off. If taking Nat Mur for PHN, use until the pain is gone.
Narayani Shingles Mix no. 98
This is a mixture of five remedies—Antimonium Tartaricum, Hypericum, Penmycin, Proteus and Variolinum—all in 200C potency. I’ve found it effective for shingles, and it can be taken alongside any other appropriate remedy or remedies.
Suggested dosage: One pill three times daily
Narayani Herpes Mix no. 60
This is a combination of six remedies—Natrum Carbonicum, Sabadilla, Sarsaparilla, Helleborus, Nat Mur and Rhus Tox—in 30C potency, designed to help with shingles, herpes, chickenpox, fever blisters or any other skin condition with blisters. Again, this remedy can be taken alongside any other remedies, including the Narayani Shingles Mix.
Suggested dosage: One pill three times daily
Shingles is usually described as a rash, but it’s more accurately a series of vesicles—fluid-filled blisters—along the line of a nerve. The worst places to get shingles are in the eye or ear as these can lead to blindness or deafness.
Here are some of the common symptoms:
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