Shingles pain can last for years and not respond to any of the prescription drugs of choice. However, recent research shows how vitamin C can come to the rescue. Here are the details.

Shingles Pain – PHN

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is worse than a bad joke. Once a shingles outbreak is over, PHN can last for months or years. Shingles pain relief may be hard to find. Recent research on the potential benefits of vitamin C against PHN is great news.

Here is one of the pertinent research reports, in the form a letter to the editor in the medical journal cited below.

Now all you have to do is convince your doctor to administer vitamin C as described here. Or, find a doctor who will…more likely a naturopathic MD rather than a mainstream MD. Good luck!

Shingles pain update,

Dr. D

From: Capsaicin Patch Eases Shingles Pain (University of Wisconsin School of Health):

MADISON – The chronic pain left behind by shingles causes intense misery, so it sounds a bit like torture to treat it with a high dose of the chemical responsible for the heat in hot peppers.

But a clinical trial of a high-dose capsaicin patch, done at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) and other institutions, shows that it is surprisingly effective on the vexing problem known as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). In recent tests of an 8 percent capsaicin dermal patch, about 40 percent of the people had pain relief lasting as long as 12 weeks. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Can This Work At Home?

The key features of this treatment are a pre-treatment with lidocaine, to let the patient tolerate the super hot effects of capsaicin, followed by a 1-hour application of the high-potency capsaicin patch. This may sound a little complicated for doing at home. However, it sure offers the possibility for experimentation. You may be able to use an over the counter preparation of benzocaine, then apply slices of the hottest pepper you can find for an hour. This is not really a controlled experiment, so be sure to have an ice pack handy in case you need it for immediate recovery from the burning sensation.

Barring that, your best bet might be to enlist the help of a good naturopathic medical doctor.

Here Is What Is Important About Capsaicin

The medical folks believe that capsaicin does much more than offer a distracting hot feeling. It seems to be able to cause damaged nerve ends to deaden. Once the damaged tissue is gone, so is the post-herpetic neuralgia. Nice!

For shingles pain relief,

Dr. D

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Vaccination Against Shingles Virus Infection: Herpes Zoster …

Efficacy and Side Effects of the Herpes Zoster Vaccine. Zostavax, approved in 2006, is the vaccine currently used to prevent shingles. It is a one time vaccine indicated for use in people 60 years and older. The vaccine is attenuated, …

Publish Date: 10/26/2009 19:04

http://www.suite101.com/content/vaccination-against-shingles-virus-infection-a162851

Is Shingles Vaccine Effective?: All About The Vaccine For Herpes …

Side effects of shingles vaccine include itching, pain, tenderness and swelling at the injection site, allergic reactions, fever, headache. Serious side effects are rare and have not yet been reported. …

Publish Date: 08/04/2008 15:56

http://www.suite101.com/content/is-shingles-vaccine-effective-a63058

Do You Need the Shingles Vaccine?: Herpes Zoster Vaccination …

[1] The vaccine is given in a single dose injection, and consists of the same live virus as that of chickenpox vaccine but 14 times more powerful. With minimal side effects, it is most effective in people aged 60-69, …

Publish Date: 10/10/2008 22:27

http://www.suite101.com/content/do-you-need-the-shingles-vaccine-a72808

For awareness of shingles vaccine side effects,

Dr. D

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Source: Am J Chin Med. 2010;38(5):829-38.

Title: Moxibustion for treating pain: a systematic review.

Authors: Lee MS, Choi TY, Kang JW, Lee BJ, Ernst E.

Division of Standard Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea. drmslee@gmail.com.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the evidence for or against the effectiveness of moxibustion as a treatment option for pain. Fourteen electronic databases were searched. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) testing moxibustion in human patients with pain of any type were considered. Trials using direct or indirect moxibustion were included. Studies comparing moxibustion with other treatments of unproven effectiveness, studies testing moxibustion together with other treatments of unproven efficacy and trials where pain was not a central symptom of the condition were all excluded. The selection of studies, data extraction, and validation were performed independently by two reviewers. Four RCTs met all the inclusion criteria. Others were of poor methodological quality. Two RCTs suggested significant pain reductions for indirect moxibustion in osteoarthritis as compared with drug therapy (n = 200, RR, 1.11; 95% CI of 1.02 to 1.21, p = 0.02, heterogeneity: chi(2) = 1.03, p = 0.31, I(2) = 3%). The other two RCTs suggested positive effects of indirect or direct moxibustion on pain in scleroma or herpes zoster compared to drug therapy, respectively. We conclude that few RCTs are available that test the effectiveness of moxibustion in the management of pain, and most of the existing trials have a high risk of bias. Therefore, more rigorous studies are required before the effectiveness of moxibustion for the treatment of pain can be determined.

Did They Miss Something?

Yes, most likely. Reviewing the scientific literature, as this report did, often fails to address how the experimental design was set up. One thing for sure is that many people have obtained shingles pain relief with moxibustion treatment, regardless of what research scientists say about it at the moment. As a research scientist, I can only say that this is a common occurrence.

Best shingles pain relief,

Dr. D

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Natural shingles remedies provide relief from pain and itchy rash associated with herpes zoster outbreaks. Soothing topical relief and lifestyle changes prevent shingles.

Publish Date: 07/15/2009 17:44

http://www.suite101.com/content/finding-shingles-relief-a132347

Do They All Work?

Yes, of course they do. The key is to use them to see which ones work best for you. Symptoms and results vary, although you can expect some relief from all of the treatments in the article above.

Feel free to come on back here and post your comments on what worked best for you.

All the best for shingles pain relief,

Dr. D

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Here is the research abstract from PubMed:

SOURCE: Prescrire Int. 2010 Apr;19(106):72-3.

TITLE: Varicella, herpes zoster and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: serious cutaneous complications.

ABSTRACT: Varicella and herpes zoster are due to varicella-zoster virus. Outcome of both infections is generally favourable. The most frequent severe complications are invasive streptococcal and staphylococcal superinfections, especially in children. A nested case-control study conducted within a British cohort showed a statistically significant increase in the risk of severe cutaneous complications in patients with varicella or herpes zoster who took nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). No such increase was reported in patients who took paracetamol. These findings are in keeping with previously published data. In practice, fever and pain associated with varicella or herpes zoster should be treated with paracetamol, not a NSAID.

What Is Paracetamol?

The surprise is that paracetamol is another name for acetaminophen (i.e., Tylenol). Here is a link to Wikipedia that gives you all the details: Paracetamol.

Paracetamol/acetaminophen is one of the NSAIDS, although it has different side effects in treating a shingles virus infection. For my money, it is still better to use omega-3 fatty acids for treating pain and inflammation. They offer a more balanced natural way to influence the inflammatory hormone cascade than any kind of NSAID.

All the best for treating the shingles virus,

Dr. D

Shingles – Amazing Recovery with Full Spectrum TCM

Spontaneous brief interview with athletic 52 year old who contracted a case of paralyzing Shingles. Alan credits the full spectrum of TCM treatments of tui na, acupuncture and exercises for saving his senses and restoring his balance. He is grateful …

Wishing you shingles pain relief,

Dr. D

Moxibustion one of the mainstays of treatment in Chinese medicine …

Holistic Therapist Nitchara Yimsuk answers to frequently asked questions and tips us off is a versatile therapy known moxibustion.Wat holistic mean? In a comprehensive look at the treatment of the whole person – physically, …

Publish Date: 06/05/2010 22:56

http://www.rustbelttoronto.com/?p=359

For shingles natural treatment,

Dr. D

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Shingles expert

Shingles is a viral infection of a nerve and the area of skin around it. A GP describes causes, symptoms and treatment options for shingles. Learn more about shingles www.nhs.uk

With great shingles information for you,

Dr. D

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Shingles Pathophysiology

Animation showing the reactivation of dormant herpes zoster virus to cause shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia.

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D

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