Shingles, also known as "Herpes Zoster", is a re-activation of the chickenpox virus. It is an opportunistic infection that attacks people that have a compromised immune system and strikes suddenly. It is brought on by stress, the use of corticosteroid, immuno-suppressant drugs, anticancer drugs, or following surgery.

Symptoms are tenderness and severe stabbing pain with burning sensation on the skin. Within a week, a red strip or strips of rash with blisters appears. They usually occur on the face, head, eyes, scalp, shoulder, along ribs, abdomen, groin or thigh. Complications of the virus may include postherpetic neuralgia (PHN); a condition where the pain persists for months, sometimes years, after the rash has healed. Acupuncture is very effective for this type of pain. Since the virus attacks the nerve sensors located under the skin, it not only magnifies the pain and heat signals, it is often resistant to pain medications.

Can Acupuncture Help?
In China, acupuncture is recognized as the most effective of all therapies for the treatment of herpes zoster.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) usually attributes a combination of excess and deficiency in the body. Therefore, it usually affects older patients whose constitutional energy is deficient or younger patients who are suffering from exhaustion.

The more pronounced the weakness of the patient, the more likelihood of complications and the more prolonged the course of the disease is likely to be.

The intent of acupuncture treatments is to strengthen the immune system, the primary cause of the outbreak. Depending where the lesions are on the body, the acupuncture physician can target a treatment protocol based on where the lesions intersect the meridians.

For those that are resistant to or do not wish to take medications, acupuncture is an excellent and effective therapy for treating the pain associated with shingles.

Aloe vera gel, raw honey or fresh leek juice may be smoothed over the rash several times a day. Hydrogen peroxide can be used on infected blisters. Apple cider vinegar, cool goldenseal, mugwort or peppermint tea, even a solution of baking soda and water can help over the sores.