Homeopathy for Shingles – Symptoms, Causes & Best 10 Remedies

This blog explains homeopathy for shingles, its symptoms, causes, risk factors, management & best remedies.

Herpes zoster is known as Shingles a viral infection that causes a painful rash or blister on the skin.

It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.

The shingles rash or blister is commonly on one area of the body and it appears like a reddish band of rash.

Shingles are characterized by a painful rash that occurs due to viral infection, although Shingles can occur anywhere on the body, it most often appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or the right side of the patient’s torso.

When one has had a chickenpox infection in childhood, the Varicella-Zoster virus lies passive in the nerve tissue near the spinal cord and brain.

After many years, the virus may become reactivated resulting in Shingles.

Shingles is not a life-threatening condition, but it is a painful disease.

Vaccines usually reduce the risk of Shingles.

Also, early treatment of viral infection will aid in shortening Shingles infection and reduce the chance of complications occurring from it.

The common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia which causes Shingles pain to last for a longer time even when the blisters have cleared up.

Shingles Causes 

A combination of factors causes eczema-like immune system activation, genetic or stress-related, and environmental triggers.

1) Viral infection

Shingles are caused by the Varicella-zoster virus it is the same virus that causes chickenpox infection.

Anyone who’s had Chickenpox may develop Shingles this is because, after one recovers from chickenpox, the virus infiltrates your nervous system and usually lies dormant for years.

Eventually, this dormant virus might get reactivated and travel along nerve pathways toward the skin leading to Shingles.

Usually, everyone who’s had chickenpox will not develop Shingles.

The reason for Shingles appearing is not clear, It is observed that it may be due to lowered immunity to infections as one grows older.

Shingles tend to commonly occur in older adults and in people who have weakened or compromised immune systems.

Varicella-zoster Virus is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses, which includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes, that’s why Shingles is also known as herpes zoster. Still one should know that the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles is not the same virus responsible for cold sores or genital herpes, or any sexually transmitted infection.

2) Contamination:-

A person with shingles can pass the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who is not immune to chickenpox.

The spread of viral infection mainly occurs through direct contact with the open sores of the Shingles rash.

Once infected, the other person will develop Chickenpox, and not Shingles.

Chickenpox can be dangerous for some people.

One is contagious to surrounding until Shingles blisters or scabs are over, and so one should avoid physical contact with anyone who is not yet had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, particularly people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newly born infants.

3)Genetic factors

One is more at risk to get Shingles if there is a family history of Shingles or Herpes in old age.

4)Stress-related

Stress levels, mental and emotional stress, can worsen your chances of getting Shingles.

Females are more likely to get Shingles in situations such as during pregnancy stress and at some times the stress due to menopause.

Shingles Symptoms

Primary symptoms of shingles may include:

• Chills
• Fever
• Headache.
• Fatigue and weakness
• The patient gets sensitive to light.
• The patient may have a stomach upset.
• Other signs and symptoms that appear a few days after the primary symptoms are
• There is a burning, tingling, and itching feeling in the affected area of your skin.
• The affected area of the skin will appear red.
• A small area of your skin will show raised rash.
• The blisters will be fluid-filled that break open and then scab over.
• The area of skin affected will have mild to severe pain.
• Pain is mostly the first symptom of Shingles, it can be intense in some people.
• Depending on the location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for a symptom of disease problems that are affecting the heart, lungs, or kidneys. Some people have Shingles pain without ever developing the rash.
• Most commonly, the shingles rash develops as a stripe of blisters filled with fluid and reddish in appearance that wraps around either the left or right side of your torso, but sometimes the Shingles rash occurs around one eye or on one side of the neck or face.

Complications of Shingles

• The pain and rash occur near an eye. If left untreated, this infection can lead to permanent eye damage.
• Age significantly increases your risk of complications, if your age is 60 years or more.
• The rash is widespread and painful if one has a weakened immune system due to cancer, medications, or chronic illness.

Risk Factors For Shingles

• Eczema can cause irritation and disturbance in everyday life, it varies in severity. Anyone who has ever had chickenpox can develop shingles.
• Various factors may increase your risk of developing Shingles few of them are:
• Age related-Shingles are most common in people older than 50. The risk increases with age.
• Certain diseases:-Few Diseases that make your immune system weak, such as HIV/AIDS and cancer, can increase your risk of Shingles.
• Cancer treatments:-Chemotherapy or Radiation can reduce your resistance to diseases and can trigger Shingles.
• Certain medications:- Heavy Medicines designed to prevent rejection of transplanted organs can increase your chances of getting Shingles as there is prolonged use of corticosteroids, such as prednisone.

Diagnosis of Shingles

Shingles are usually diagnosed based on the history of pain on one side of your body, along with the typical fluid-filled blisters, and a red rash and your doctor may also take a tissue scraping or culture of the blisters for examination in the laboratory.

Diagnosis can be done by the doctor, by examination of your skin, and by noting your medical history.

A doctor may ask you to do a skin patch test or other tests to rule out skin diseases.

Identification of conditions that weaken your immune system like diabetes, high blood pressure, and the thyroid will need lab testing, these diseases may accompany.

Shingles Management

There’s no cure for shingles, but prompt treatment with prescription antiviral drugs can speed healing and reduce your risk of complications. These medications include:

• Acyclovir (Zovirax)
• Famciclovir
• Valacyclovir (Valtrex)

Shingles can cause severe pain, so your doctor also may prescribe:

• Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin and Neurontin Numbing agents,
• An injection including corticosteroids and local anesthetics.
• Capsaicin topical patches like Qutenza other medicinal creams such as lidocaine are delivered via a cream, gel, spray, or skin patch
• Medications that contain narcotics, such as codeine
• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline

Shingles generally last between two to five weeks. Most people get shingles only once, but it is possible to get it two or more times.

Medications

There is no cure for shingles but there are treatments for managing the symptoms.

Antiviral medications

These drugs may ease the discomfort and make the symptoms stop sooner, particularly if you start them within 72 hours of the first sign of shingles.

• Acyclovir ( Zovirax)
• Famciclovir ( Famvir)
• Valacyclovir ( Valtrex)

Over-the-counter pain medications

These medications include the following and may be effective in relieving pain:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Ibuprofen ( Motrin or Advil)

Other medication

• Topical corticosteroid creams and ointments:

These are Anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone may be prescribed if shingles affect your eyes or other parts of your face.

• Medication to fight bacterial infection: 

Few antibacterial drugs may be prescribed if you develop a bacterial infection due to the shingles rash.

• Injected biologic drugs:

 An injection including corticosteroids and local anesthetics.

Prevention

• Two vaccines are available to reduce the chance of developing Shingles and Postherpetic neuralgia.
• Zostavax is one vaccine that has been available since 2006.
• The second vaccine is Shingrix, which has been available since 2017. Shingrix is recommended as the preferred vaccine, Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) is given as a two-dose shot in the upper arm of the recipient. One should receive the second dose (shot) two to six months after receiving the first.
• Shingrix has been known to be more than 90% effective in preventing Shingles and Postherpetic neuralgia.
• Its effectiveness remains above 85% for four years after receiving the two doses of vaccine.
• The most common side effects of either shingles vaccine are redness, pain, tenderness, swelling and itching at the injection site, and headaches.
• The Shingles vaccine doesn’t guarantee that one may not get Shingles. But this vaccine will likely reduce the course and severity of the disease and reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia.
• Vaccination for Shingles is used only as a prevention strategy, it is not intended to treat people who currently have the disease.

One should talk to the doctor about which option is right, depending on your case

Home care

Most people with shingles don’t need to be in a hospital, but if you do:

• The patient has to be in a contact isolation room.
• The door should be kept closed.
• A sign on your door will remind people who have never had chickenpox or the vaccine not to enter.
• The sign will also remind staff to wear gowns and gloves when entering the room.
• Stress is a risk factor for developing Shingles, so limiting the stress can be helpful. One should try meditation, yoga, or other relaxation methods.

Other things you can do include:

• Eating a healthy diet.
• Maintain an ideal weight according to height and age.
• Regular physical exercise is recommended.
• Seven to nine hours of sleep at night is helpful.
• One should not smoke or use tobacco products.
• These are all tips for an overall healthy lifestyle, along with reducing your chance of getting Shingles.

Homeopathy for Shingles – Best Remedies

1. ARSENICUM ALBUM – Shingles with burning and restlessness

Symptoms

It is indicated for people who have Herpes, in which the skin is thickened, with the sensation of itching, and burning intensely.

People who respond well to this medicine are usually anxious, restless, and compulsively neat and orderly.

Scratching the affected area makes the itching worse, but applying heat, or a bandage will give relief, along with skin problems, there is extreme weakness, debility, and fever with burning pain and general chilliness observed.

Potency & dosage

30 CH Potency,4 globules three times a day is used. Gradually, one can increase the potency depending upon the case’s progress.

2) SULPHUR-For Shingles with red, crusted skin and burning of skin surface

Symptoms

Shingles with intense burning, inflammation, itching eruptions that are worse from washing and warmth.

Eruptions can be dry initially, later can become moist, affected area appears red, with scaling or crusted skin, with scratching that increases the burning.

It is useful in treating people who have used medicines repeatedly in form of creams and ointments without much improvement.

Potency & dosage

200 CH Potency,4-8 globules daily ones are used. Gradually, one can increase the potency depending upon the case’s progress.

3) RHUS TOXICODENDRON – For red vesicles and blister

Symptoms

It is useful in the person when shingles appear as blisters, look red, swollen itch intensely, and is better by hot application.

The patient has a fever with intense itching of the affected part, marked tiredness yet restless, and moves around.

The patient is restless due to discomfort caused by Shingles, they become very irritable and anxious about the disease.

There are burning and Neuralgic pains after herpes zoster, especially on the right side.

Herpetic eruptions alternate with dysentery and pains in the chest or asthma.

Itching with burning and smarting, feeling as if pierced with hot needles, an increase in eruptions on rubbing, a feeling of burning pain on blistering skin rash, and itching that gets better with the application of hot water are the main symptoms.

Potency & dosage

30 CH Potency,4 globules three times a day is used. Gradually, one can increase the potency depending upon the case’s progress.

4) NATRUM MURIATICUM – For Shingles on the bent of curved parts

Symptoms

Natrum Mur is used in treating shingles that are worse on flexures (bent or curved parts).

There are Vesicles with watery contents that burst and leave thin flakes on the skin.

The blisters form on the skin and occur as burning spots on the skin. There are small Herpetic eruptions that become crusty and dry in the bends of the limbs and margins of the scalp

Potency & dosage

30 CH Potency,4 globules three times a day is used. Gradually, one can increase the potency depending upon the case’s progress.

5) SEPIA – For Shingles that appear on knees and ankles

Symptoms

This remedy is indicated in people who have brownish spots on the skin.

It is useful in shingles about the knees and ankles, in the bends of joints, and behind the ears.

The eruptions are initially dry, it becomes moist and discharges copiously.

Yellow spots appear with itching is worse from warmth in bed and the person scratches the affected area until it bleeds.

It is a wonderful remedy when the rash appears due to milk or pork intake.

Potency & dosage

30 CH Potency,4 globules three times a day is used. Gradually, one can increase the potency depending upon the case’s progress.

6) DULCAMARA – For Shingles from Exposure to Cold

Symptoms

Dulcamara is a top-grade remedy when Shingles occur after being exposed to cold, especially in wet weather.

Herpetic eruptions get worse at night and better by moving about and from external warmth.

The Shingles rashes are thick, crusty, moist, and get worse before menses in women.

The crusts over blisters are thick and brownish-yellow and they start bleeding when scratched or rubbed.

Potency & dosage

30 CH Potency,4 globules three times a day is used. Gradually, one can increase the potency depending upon the case’s progress.

7) CROTON TIGLINUM -For Shingles on face

Symptoms

Croton tiglinum responds well in cases of Shingles where the rashes have stinging and itching pains, the vesicles, develop into pustules and run into one another and quickly develop a seropurulent exudation.

Over some time there is the formation of large brown scabs with peeling of the skin and falling off of the pustules.

It is indicated when the blisters are present in clusters, confluent and oozing, especially on the face with itching that is followed by painful burning of the affected skin surface mostly the face.

Potency & dosage

30 CH Potency,4 globules three times a day is used. Gradually, one can increase the potency depending upon the case’s progress.

8) RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS – For Shingles with bluish vesicles and intense itching:-

Symptoms

Ranunculus bulbosus is the specific medicine for treating Shingles. It is indicated for herpetic eruptions with itching where the eruptions are vesicular and pustular.

It is indicated for shingles with blue blisters that are filled with serum, clear viscid liquid.

There is an intense burning and itching that gets worse with contact.

Potency & dosage

30 CH Potency,4 globules three times a day is used. Gradually, one can increase the potency depending upon the case’s progress.

9)CALENDULA – For preventing infection

Symptoms

This remedy is useful for Shingles that itch excessively and causes bleeding on scratching, some wounds result from scratching.

Calendula promotes the formation of healthy skin, it can be used as a specific in herpetic conditions anywhere on the skin surface.

It acts as an antiseptic and prevents infection.

Potency & dosage

30 CH Potency,4 globules three times a day is used. External application of ointment along with internal medicine is advisable.

10) MEZEREUM – For Shingles with blisters and scabs

Symptoms

It is indicated for Shingles with burning pains, in the rashes, they ooze out with a discharge of acrid, gluey moisture from thick crust formation.

There are scabs formation over the herpetic blisters with pus beneath it, itching on the affected skin rash that gets worse by warmth, and a sensation of insects crawling are a few indicative symptoms of the remedy.

The rash of Shingles is crusty with white scabs and can bleed when touched, the skin becomes cold in those places where there is intense itching.

Potency & dosage

30 CH Potency,4 globules three times a day is used. Gradually, one can increase the potency depending upon the case’s progress.

Remember that homeopathic remedies should be prescribed based on individual symptoms and characteristics. It’s crucial to consult with a qualified homeopath for proper evaluation and personalized treatment. Homeopathy focuses on treating the whole person, so a detailed case study is necessary to select the most appropriate remedy.

Homeopathic medicines should be taken only when prescribed by a homeopathic physician. Self-medication may aggravate the original conditions.