Shingles

Shingles (herpes zoster) is infection with the Varicella-zoster virus that produces a severely painful skin eruption of fluid filled blisters. This happens when immunity is low, in individuals mostly over the age of 50, who have had chicken-pox previously in their life. The shingles is the re-emergence of the virus that lays dormant in the persons spinal or cranial nerves. When reactivated it spreads through the nerve to the skin where it produces painful sores resembling the original chicken-pox. The outbreak is usually always limited to the  strip of skin where the nerve fibers are located, most often the abdomen or chest or head.

Common symptoms with shingles are chills, fever, nausea, diarrhea, or difficulty urinating in the previous 3-4 days prior to the skin eruption. Others experience pain, itching or tingling sensation as the eruption appears. Clusters of small, fluid filled blisters usually appear. Most often the blisters appear on the trunk and only on one side. The blisters or skin may be very sensitive to touch and can be very painful. Usually the eruption lasts around 5 days and then resolves. Once the eruptions have healed there is very small likelihood of them ever reappearing again. This usually completes a lifelong immunity. If the eruption lasts longer than two weeks, it usually means the person has a compromised immune system.

A small percentage of people may experience prolonged pain after the eruptions have healed. This does not mean that the person is still having an active case of the virus. But there can be nerve damage leading to post herpetic neuralgia that can plague a person for up to a year.

Diagnosis can often be difficult until the blisters appear. However once the blister has appeared it is usual that they follow the main root of the nerve that is being affected. Treatment by western medical methods include drug therapy and pain medications. Usually recommended are the oral antiviral drugs valacyclovir or acyclovir which do not cure the disease but just shorten the duration of the eruption.

Homeopathy can offer real help. It is often better and quicker than drugs. Rubrics that may be helpful in finding a good remedy from the Complete 2013 Repertory are;

• skin; ERUPTIONS; herpes; zoster, zona (90) : acon., agar., 2anac., 3Aphis., apis, 3Arg-n., arn., 3Ars., 2asc-t., aster., 3Ba-tn., bell., 3Bor., bry., bufo, 3Canth., 3Carbn-o., carbn-s., caust., 2cedr., cham., 2chinin., chlorpr., 3Cist., 3Clem., com., cosm., 2crot-h., 3Croto-t., dip., 2dol., dulc., euph., euro-c., form-ac., glyc-g., 3Graph., grin., haem., 3Hep., hyper., iod., 4IRIS, kali-ar., 3Kali-bi., 3Kali-chl., kali-i., 3Kalm., lac-c., 3Lach., mand., menth., 4MERC., 4MEZ., morg., morg-g., morph., nat-c., 3Nat-m., par., 3Petr., phos., pip-m., prun., 3Puls., 4RAN-B., ran-s., 2rham-cath., 2rhus-a., 4RHUS-T., sal-ac., 2sel., semp., 3Sep., sieg., 3Sil., sphing., spig., 2staph., stry-ar., 3Sulph., tax., 3Thal., 3Thuj., 2torul., tub., 3Vario., zinc., 3Zinc-p., zinc-val.
• generalities; PAIN; neuralgic; herpes zoster; after (19) : 3Ars., caust., 2cimic., 4DOL., hep., kali-chl., 3Kalm., 3Mez., morph., petr., plan., 3Prun., 3Ran-b., sphing., still., sul-ac., thal., 3Vario., zinc.
• generalities; PAIN; neuralgic; herpes zoster; after; touch; agg. (1) : petr.
• abdomen; ERUPTIONS; herpes; zoster, zona (11) : 3Ars., euro-c., 3Graph., 4IRIS, 3Merc., morg., 3Puls., 3Rhus-t., 3Sil., 3Sulph., 3Thuj.
• skin; ERUPTIONS; herpes; zoster, zona; left (1) : par.
• skin; ERUPTIONS; herpes; zoster, zona; right (4) : 4IRIS, 3Kali-ar., morg., thuj.
• skin; ERUPTIONS; herpes; zoster, zona; chronic (2) : ars., semp.
• skin; ERUPTIONS; herpes; zoster, zona; painless (1) : morph.

Homeopathy can offer great relief if the correct remedy can be found. Use the repertory above and investigate different remedies. As with all conditions for homeopathic treatment we are treating the person and not the disease. Take the case and pay attention to the most striking expressions. The vital force is always expressing itself. Those symptoms that are particular or coupled with other symptoms are not to be ignored. Below is a list of common and most useful remedies. By no means is it complete. Refer to the rubrics above for more remedies.

• Arsenicum Album - Cry, rough, scaly eruptions. Itch burns violently. Great restlessness. Great thirst for small quantities. Exhaustion. Fear or anguish especially around health. Fastidious and upset by disorder.
• Cantharis - Rapid, intense, violent inflammmations. Raw, burning pains. Hyper sensitive. use when urine is scanty. Vesicles turn black and itch and burn.
• Graphities - Sad. Music Aggravates. Timidity. Moans and groans. Eruption worse from heat. Moist, oozing, sticky exudation.
• Iris Versicolor - Depressed and distracted. Dull. Ill humor. When gastric symptoms accompany the eruption.
• Mezereum - Indifference. Stares off. Apprehension. Aversion to talk. Itching worse from warmth of the bed. Sensation of Insects crawling. Itching and burning with fiery red areola. ooze acrid, gluey moisture from vesicle. Thick crusts, scabs. Worse from touch.
• Petroleum - Feels double. Loses their way on well known streets. Urgency to settle their affairs. Fearful. Rough skin, won't heal. Very sensitive skin. Slightest scratch suppurates.
• Ranunculus Bulbosa - Irritable. Fear of ghosts. Great itching of eruptions. Bluish vesicles. Pustular eruptions, worse for contact. Horny hard scabs.
• Rhus Toxicodendron - Anxious, restless. Apprehension.at night. Forgetful. Eruptions hot, dry and burning. Blister with clear fluid. Eruption alternating with diarrhea.
• Sulphur - Irritable. Obstinate. Absent minded. Selfish. Every vesicle suppurates. Burning when scratched. Warmth aggravates.
• Variolinum - Great fear of death. Back pains severe especially on right side. As if bugs are crawling under the skin. Post herpetic neuralgia. Chills down the back as if water were poured. Ulcers looked scooped out.

Most often shingles is considered an acute, self-resolving illness. It usually has completed it's cycle in 5 to 7 days. When treating with homeopathy it may be necessary to repeat the 30C potency as often as 3-4 times per day. If this seems like it helps, but does not hold, then the 200C potency may be necessary. Remember to receive the case and look for what is unusual about this expression of shingles. Investigate different remedies and always give the best remedy you can perceive for the case.