Shingles is an infection that occurs as a result of the reactivation of the chicken pox virus.  After an initial chicken pox infection (for most people usually as a child) the virus remains in the central nervous system.  It can be reactivated during periods of weakened immunity, from extreme stress, other illness or therapies that suppress the immune system.

The length and severity of each outbreak varies.  Attacks may begin with flu-like symptoms.  Then the virus inflames nerves just below the surface of the skin causing burning pain and redness.  The characteristic water-filled blisters emerge, burst and crust over but usually do not leave scars.  Nerve pain can last long after the infection retreats.  The outbreak usually happens along one nerve branch, on the back, chest or face but ocular eruptions do happen and can have serious complications.  Shingles is contagious only to those people that have not had chicken pox in the past.

There is no known way to eradicate the chicken pox virus with conventional medication.  If antiviral medication is used to treat an outbreak it must be administered within a few days of the onset in order to decrease symptoms.  Pain medication, ranging from over the counter medication to narcotics, is used to control the pain.  Pharmaceutically manufactured capsaicin cream and lidocaine are used for topical treatment.

Nutritional supplements can help in cases of shingles in three different ways:  by boosting the immune system, by reducing the symptoms, and by helping the body cope with stress effectively.

The activity of your immune system can be enhanced with several different nutritional supplements and herbs.  Use vitamin C with bioflavanoids to enhance your immune system reaction.  Echinacea and oregano oil have proven antiviral activity; you can use them to combat the virus that causes shingles.  The amino acid lysine is one of the most important supplements for a shingles regimen.  It helps prevent viral replication.

Symptoms of shingles can be reduced topically with capsaicin cream, which is derived from the herb cayenne.  It disrupts pain the messages that send the sensation of pain from your body to your brain.  Homeopathic St. John’s wort (called Hypericum) is effective in reducing nerve pain.

Controlling stress is crucial to reducing the duration and severity of a shingles outbreak.

Stress will deplete many nutrients and reduce the activity of your immune system. B complex should be used.  Also consider a good adrenal support formula with licorice, siberian ginseng and ashwaghanda. Weakened adrenals prevent your body from coping with stress. You can use the herbs St. Johns wort and Valerian to help you feel more relaxed. Use melatonin if you have trouble sleeping. If you are prone to shingles, then these supplements can also be used as part of a regimen for prevention as well as for treatment during and infection.

Support the nervous and immune systems through your diet.  Eat whole grains, legumes, nutritional yeast, eggs and fish, which provide B vitamins for nerve health.  Eat yellow, orange and green vegetables and citrus fruits for their vitamin A and C content.  These vitamins help to heal the skin.  Calcium and magnesium rich foods are also important, for example green, leafy vegetables and quinoa.  They promote the proper transmission of nerve impulses.   Increase the lysine content of the diet because lysine inhibits viral replication.   Lysine rich foods include fish especially halibut, shrimp, poultry, milk, lima beans, mung bean sprouts and yeast.  Avoid foods that decrease the immune system like white flour and sugar products and trans-fat products like margarine and shortening.  Use immune boosting foods like flaxseed oil, pumpkin seeds and wheat germ.

Physical treatments for boosting the immune system include: alternating hot and cold water at the end of your shower (always ending with cold), regular exercise, relaxation exercises and dry skin brushing.  Topical treatment of shingles can be done with colloidal silver, licorice extract, vitamin E oil, and creams containing vitamin C and zinc.  All of these treatments help to kill the virus and heal the skin.  Red pepper (capsicum) cream has been studied, with encouraging results, for pain after an outbreak.  Find a cream that is standardized for its capsaicin content.  Another treatment for pain after an outbreak is an apple cider vinegar compress.

The following list of supplements can be used for preventing and treating shingles.  Adult doses are given. (CLICK SUPPLEMENT NAME FOR PRODUCTS).