[YEA]  08/28/2011: Chrissy from Adelaide, Australia: "I recently had a serious bout of shingles; huge blisters from my clevage under my left arm through to my spine, After taking all the meds the doctor prescribed which did little to help the pain or help me to sleep, I decided to give acupuncture a try. The relief was instant, I have slept like a baby since beginning the treatment and the pain is very much under control. I'm only sorry I didn't get the treatment right from the onset as the acupuncturist says she could have stopped the shingles in it's tracks."

[YEA]  02/25/2007: Gloria from Salem, MA: "My friend came down with a painful case of shingles on her neck,into her hair,down to her chest and shoulders.I check your site and found a cure.First she soaked her feet in 1/4cup ACV and enough hot water to completely cover her feet doing this 2x a day, also dabbing straight ACV on the leasions with a cotton ball, it burns at first, followed by a cream. Made up of 1Tablespoon coconut oil,1 Tablespoon aloe vera gel and 1/4 tesp.cayenne pepper. Mix it up well and gently rub it in with a cotton ball.She also drank the ACV. 1 T.in water 3x day the blister came to a head that same day and the extreme pain decreased. By the third day she was healed. That was 3 weeks ago and she has had no reoccurence."

09/28/2011: David T from Fountain Inn, South Carolina replies: "I have found the cayenne is a key to killing the virus. We know the virus runs along the nerve. My favorite transport is DMSO. I believe the cayenne acts to "cauterize" the virus. However cayenne works, it kills the virus. Because you have to get it down to the nerve, DMSO is a great solvent as well as an anti-oxident and carrier. (Thus, make sure your hands are clean and the area of application is clean when you use DMSO. ) By the way, the younger shingles sufferer will be able to overcome shingles better than the older because the immune system can fight off the virus better.

To keep the cayenne from burning the skin I also add natural vitamin E. This must be the natural d-alpha tocopherol and not the synthetic E. Then I add any other herbal to "thicken" the mixture to make into a paste if needed. The paste should be very moist but not drippy.

I also add a dozen drops of colloidal silver to make sure the virus is killed.

So my anti shingles paste formula sufficent for two applications, one on day one, then skipping a day use a second time is as follows:

10 capsules of cayenne

10 capsules of natural vitamin E

20 drops of colloidal silver

20 drops of DMSO

any herbal/ corn meal etc to make the liquid more paste like as needed. Put into a bowl and mix until paste like.

Apply on top of affected areas. Let dry until the paste has hardened and is flaking off the skin. I even suggest if applied at night, after drying, put on a tea shirt and just let the paste fully incorporate overnight. Shower off in the morning. You will see the blisters have changed color from a bright red to a rust color... Part of the healing process. Even if the "blisters"are healed over, apply over sensitive spots. This will work to kill the virus even after months where the skin is healed back but pain remains. The pain is there because the virus still lives. This has worked so well... I would say 40 times... I am not a doctor of course, but when the regular medical community fails sometimes logical remedies work.

I also recommend that if one really wants to help the whole system fight the virus, take the cayenne orally, with food to avoid too much stomach burn, along with the natural vitamin E. Do this for a month. (I take these two as part of my own nutrient formula every day... 800 iu of the E and one capsule of cayenne.)

And so much of what is on this wonderful website is good science and good logic. Oh, of course be very careful if applying this formula to the face if the shingles are there; keep out of eyes."

[YEA]  11/19/2011: Nalatie from Farnham, Surrey replies: "Thank you so much to this site for saving me! I have Shingles so badly on my face/scalp/eye. So bad that my GP sent me to A&E eye clinic. The blistering and swelling has been so intense that I could not sleep from pain. After researching how long shingles could take to settle down I worried about my face and cancelled every appointment for the next 2 weeks. Suffering badly and fearing the worst I researched more about home remedies and came across this site.

I have used just ACV directly on the blisters on my face (Dabbed on cottonwool) and within 12 hours the blisters looked better. After 24 hours they have totally dried up and are completely calming down. I am still dabbing the blisters every 3 hours. Along with Anti Virual, antibiotics and pain killers the blisters are less painful. ACV alone HAS helped and been the cure. ALos taking one cap in water. Take what you can as ACV is the best cure. Don't be afraid just dab it on and keep persisting as it takes the pain away and also the yellowness from the blisters!

Thank you to everyone that has written about this unbelievable aid to an extremely pain and horrid virus."

12/08/2011: Phyllis from Port Elizabeth, South Africa replies: "Natural cures for shingles. In your excellent website I found a paste for shingles with an ingredient called DMSO. What is that?"

12/09/2011: Louwrence from Rustenburg, North West South Africa replies: "Hi Phyllis, The DMSO draws everything that you mix with it into the skin with it, that is probably why the shingles remedy was mixed with the DMSO."

02/25/2012: Psws_12 from Tonganoxie, Kansas replies: "That still dosen't explain what DMSO is. What is it?"

03/28/2012: Barbara from Keighley, Yorkshire England replies: "What is DMSO the letters mean nothing. In full would be appreciated. THANK YOU"

03/31/2012: Cheerios from Denver, Co replies: "From this web site under the SUPPLEMENTS tab:

DMSO, or dimethyl sulfoxide has been used for many years by athletes to treat painful muscles and joints. DMSO builds up the white blood cells and increases immune production of migration inhibitory factors (MIF) of macrophages.

A few of DMSO's Reported Therapeutic Properties:
stimulates the healing of wounds
anti-inflammatory
anti bacterial, fungal and viral
softens collagen
is a scavenger of the hydroxyl free radical
stimulates the immune system
a potent diuretic
increases interferon formation
reduces the # of platelet thrombi

Hope this helps :)"

05/03/2012: Desertpoc from El Cajon, California, United States replies: "I came down with shingles, searched the internet and luckily listed was this post. First, I used what Gloria suggested - which I could see some improvement but not enough. Then I combined some of the suggestions from Gloria and David T. Used the ratio of ingredients:

1 T. Coconut Oil

1 t. Alo Vera oil from capsules which is approx. 4-5 capsules

1/2 T. Vitamin E oil

1 T. Cayenne pepper

Plus added corn meal to thicken the mixture. Applied the mix to the shingles, as it was spreading; let the application dry then removed as suggested by David. I followed this treatment for 2 to 3 times a day. Depending on the severity and process of healing. After 2 days, the shingles were starting to heal, then I made another batch of the mix without the corn meal and applied the mix to the shingles area. Thank you to all that contributed to this subject of shingles."

07/04/2012: Kap from Perth, Australia replies: "I successfully used 1 x Cayene, 1x Coconut oil, 1x AloeVera, and 1x grated fresh tumeric. Blending together to a paste, applied it 3 times daily for 2 days, and all but the first (& scratched) blisters completely disappeared.

This scratched blister had a black scab with slight red ring. As the scab did not dry around the edges to indicate healing after 1 week, we applied a slice of fresh onion (magic for drawing and cleaning any sore) overnight for 2 nights. Amazing - no scar, although that seemed inevitable.

HOWEVER - the pain remains and 2 panadol every 2 hours is necessary. Tiredness is also a problem-maybe the panadol.

I am an 80% raw food lifestyler, but had been having a lot of meat in the two weeks leading up to shingles.

I have no stress (semi retired) or unhappiness. Very fit and happy and only 66yr old. How did I get this????

Any pain help would be appreciated. I already have a fairly high cayenne and ACV level in my diet."

07/04/2012: Sara from The Beach, Canada replies: "My husband got a small case of shingles after the passing of his father. He is in good health and low stress otherwise, a traumatic event can bring on shingles as well as stress. Anyone who had chicken pox can get shingles if all the chess pieces fall into place, like stress or trauma or even old injury. He took a couple of drops of oil of oregano in water everyday for a month and the shingles were gone within two weeks of that month. He carried on with the oil after just to make sure."

07/05/2012: John P. from Cape Cod, Massachusetts replies: "Get a bottle of licorice extract and apply it to the lesions. Do this for 3 days and they will be gone at the end of the third day. Of course keep the bottle in case it re-surfaces. $8.95 here in the states... Cheap fix.. Don't get a vaccine for shingles."

07/11/2012: Rebecca from Winston-salem Area, North Carolina replies: "Just realized this morning that what I thought was poison ivy/oak, insect/spider bite(s) is shingles - right where I bruised my ribs a few weeks ago (of course)! The ribs are better, but the area was sore for a few weeks. (A few years ago I had a similar rash on my shoulder right over some painful muscles). Fortunately the rash cleared up after muscle massage. That time I had used aloe vera gel and cold gel packs, and switched from conventional bras to seamless sports bras.

Today, reading about ACV, I have been sipping small amounts and chasing it with water, to which I add more vinegar & a few shakes of grocery-store cayenne (ground red pepper) shaken up in a sports bottle.

By the way, I do not have organic ACV. Luckily, I had a bottle of grocery-store ACV in my cupboard, which I had opened a few weeks ago. (I threw away a much older bottle which had gone bad).

Anti-itch cream and aloe vera gel give temporary relief, but do not fix the problem. After reading about cayenne, I made a paste of grocery-store cayenne and aloe vera gel, but that burned too much, so I wiped it off. ACV only burns a tiny bit, just at first. Some people dilute it, but I use mine straight.

I had already used tea tree oil 3 days, which I think kept the rash from progressing faster. However I had developed some hard painful lumps and a few tiny blistery spots, and the area was red. Tea tree Oil helps me with bug bites (which welt up and itch terribly) and also for cuts & scrapes, and it helps somewhat with shingles. How amazing that ACV, which is much cheaper and more readily available, is more effective than tea tree oil!

Hurrah! Although I did not get instant relief from ACV, as others have, it happened within a few hours. After using ACV a few hours I felt able to to go the store for L-Lysine. While I was there I realized the pain was almost gone! The area still feels tender, but the hard lumps are almost gone, and the redness & blistery spots have disappeared!

I am still alternating tea tree & eucalyptus oil with ACV (I soak a gauze pad and leave it on several minutes), and plan to do that for at least a week, to prevent recurrence. I also plan to continue sipping ACV several times a day for at least a week. AND avoid sugar (as much as possible). I can't give up my flavored yogurt!

THANK YOU for this wonderful website, which gives inexpensive, readily available solutions to desperate people! THANK YOU to everyone who has posted their experiences!

This afternoon, instead of sitting very still and applying aloe vera and ice packs to my rash I can actually go outside and do a little yardwork. It is cloudy today; I would not go out if it were sunny (too painful for that tender area)."

07/12/2012: Rebecca from Winston-salem Area, North Carolina replies: "Addendum to my post from yesterday (July 11, 2012):

After a few hours the stinging itch was back, but I kept sipping ACV (and water) and dabbing ACV on my rash. Again, relief was not immediate, but I kept it up because even a delayed response is better than getting worse!

Even after a restful day I felt unusually tired in the evening, and decided to go to bed early. I hoped the intense stinging itch wouldn't wake me during the night. I don't know why I tried this, but I put a big glop of aloe vera gel on a jumbo-sized band-aid and put it over the most painful spot. Then I went to bed and fell asleep right away.

(This may not work for everyone, but it happened to help me have a restful night's sleep). If band-aids don't work for you, try layering gauze or wrapping strips of cotton around, if you can. Or use aloe vera gel to stick the edges of the gauze to your skin, and wear a close-fitting cotton garment over it. You may need someone to help you if the rash is on your back side.

Although I dreamed about various tense emotional confrontations (unusual for me) I slept about 9 hours straight, and the itch didn't start until I got up. I don't wear a band-aid during the day (except for any quick trips to the local store). Today I've been alternating ACV and aloe vera gel on the upper half of the original spot. The lower half of the rash disappeared last night, but the upper half seems to be trying its worst to make up for it - haha!

Yesterday I broke a L-Lysine tablet in half before taking it, to give my system a head start on it. I also took cayenne capsules with dinner.

Today at breakfast I did the same. Since then I've been sipping ACV in water. Today will be another light-duty day; necessary chores only."

07/12/2012: Rebecca from Winston-salem Area, North Carolina replies: "Again on July 12, 2012: Just realized that straight ACV on the skin might be okay at first but I should've diluted it with water and/or baking soda. (It fizzes up at first but then settles down). After awhile straight ACV burns my skin alot, but aloe vera gel on the rash is very soothing! That's why I was able to sleep so well last night!

Also now I dilute the ACV that I drink. I don't drink straight ACV any more, even chased with water - now I add 2T (2/3 ounce) ACV to a cup of water (or juice). Adding 1/4 tsp. Baking soda reduces the acidity and covers the vinegar taste (but now you taste baking soda). Baking soda doesn't diminish the effectiveness of the ACV though. Although I don't mind the taste of ACV and baking soda, I recommend using juice instead of water for a better taste, especially if that's the only way to get it down."

08/21/2012: Inquiring Mind from Houston, Texas replies: "Instead of colloidal silver, why not use tea tree oil?"

09/17/2012: Alt-rocks from Felixstowe, Suffolk, United Kingdom replies: "For the post herpetic pain, I had fantastic success with Maca. I took 1x500mg in the morning and 1x500mg in the early afternoon to boost my energy level, but was ecstatic to find that it completely took away the post herpetic pain. A very welcome side-effect indeed!"

10/30/2012: Ester from Glendale, Arizona, Usa replies: "When you have shingles, you want to AVOID chocolate and nuts!! It literally feeds the virus! Also, you want to take a lot of B vitamins (B-12, B-6, etc.) it will seriously help!"

12/09/2012: Doug from Milton, Georgia replies: "I'm 63 years old and in pretty good health. My shingles hit me on a trip to Idaho for a meeting. Started as a small pimple near my scalp. Odd. Then I had severe pain under my right eye. I suspected a severe sinus infection. On the plane flight home the rash broke out. I could feel something crawling from my scalp toward the tip of my nose. I thought it was hair, went to brush it and it was liquid under my skin. Pain got worse but no fever. High anxiety - what is this??? Trip to an urgent care after plane landed and the PA said "you've got shingles. " They gave me a prescription for Valtrex, Predisone and Lorban. When I got home we hit the web for knowledge. Came to this site and already into natural health - started self- treating. Hit L-Lysine, Cayenne, Bee Propolus, coconut oil, Echinatia, Colloidal Silver, Vit. C and Vit. B supplements.

On the blisters on my face I had five areas of rash and blisters including three big red blisters on the tip of my nose and three patches near and into my scalp. I used aloe Vera, Vitimin E oil, tea tree oil (product called Miracle Oil) and Listene balm. Immediate improvement to the rash and blisters. Applied several times a day. My work briefcase looked like a medicine cabinet.

The urgent care PA told me to go to an eye doctor ASAP. The next day I got into an eye doctor and she indicated it had not entered my eye ball. She prescribed some Bacitracin for my eyelid. Things stabilized but my right eye started to get blurry. This was during a weeks vacation in Florida during which I avoided any water activities for fear of infecting my eye. On a follow-up visit I was referred to a corneal eye doctor. I had clouding of my cornea. He put me on Valcyclovil pills and Predisolone drops and Zirgan drops (though the Zirgan is like a glop and challenging to apply a drop at a time).

During this whole time I have continued the natural supplements and natural topical items. Excellent results. Within three weeks all the scabs have gone away, the rash is all but gone. My face looks normal except a little redness in the original areas. Note: I did forgo having my hair colored and cut while the rash was active in my scalp - didn't think the hair chemicals would be good. I looked like crap but stuck it out.

I also followed the other blog suggestions on this site and avoided chocolate and nuts and using many of the supplements suggested. Shingles sucks! Tell anyone you know who hasn't had it, and is around 55 years old, to get vaccinated. I heard that one of the major chain drug stores will provide the vaccine for free to anyone over 60 years of age.

I still have some residual pain in my head but am slowly getting back to normal. I give high praise and thanks to this website for helping me to get through the hell of shingles. Good luck!"

01/12/2013: Been There, Done That from City By The Bay, Md replies: "ABSOUTELY NO VACCINATIONS FOR SHINGLES... IT IS MERELY A MONEY MAKER FOR BIG PHARMA!!"

01/13/2013: Mr. Ree from Somewhere, USA replies: "Somewhere done that, I could not agree more about the shingles vaccine. It is a complete scam just to make $$$ for Big Pharma... At the cost of beating up your immune system and putting poison in your system.. If you get shingles put licorice extract on it for 3 days and it will be GONE!!!"

04/04/2013: Geolee from Durham, Nc replies: "Planning to try some of these suggestions. My pill regimen ends tomorrow and my shingles seems to be coming back before they can actually heal. Diagnosed by my eye doctor of all people, and saw my MD the next day. I don't feel like this condition will be over by tomorrow, so will work on it using natural remedies. Don't really want to take any more of these horse sized pills. I'm diabetic and don't need more pills to take. The shot for shingles?... Yes it's out there, but my doc says it has only about a 50% rate of keeping us from getting shingles. That stat is not high enough for me to put a live or dead virus into my body, so I opted not to take the shot. If the odds had been higher, like 90% I might have given it more consideration."

04/05/2013: Dave from Fountain Inn, SC replies: "To answer "Inquiring Minds" who asked if Tea Tree could substitute for Colloidal Silver in my formula listed above; well Tea Tree is an anti viral so in theory yes. I've never tried it and I know colloidal silver does work. Silver is great for taking internally to rid the body of systemic infection. I just don't know it tea tree oil would work as well."

[YEA]  09/12/2006: Michael from South Africa: "Half each 90% Alcohol and distilled water. And Fastum Gel a non steroidal anti inflammatory. Fixed my shingles in a week. Blisters all dried and healing. Pain still there in the nerve. Good news!"

[YEA]  04/28/2008: Susan from Sulphur, LA: "April 24th, 2008 I came down with shingles again. This is something I have dealt with for the last 13 years. In the past I have tried antibiotics, cortisone, etc. anything that I thought would bring relief. I was at my mothers and she told me to try the gel from an aloe leaf. To my surprise it brought great relief. I have done this 2 or 3 times a day. She also told me that once the blisters burst to apply honey to complete the healing process. I fully intend to try this at that time. It has been wonderful to have relief from this awful disease."

[NAY]  12/07/2011: Awagner3216 from Albuquerque, Nm replies: "I tried some aloe from the plant that I have and it made the itching and pain worse! I'm going to go to the store and get some Apple Cider Vinegar and Tea Tree and Eucalyptus oil.... Hopefully it will work, I'm only 22 and this is the first time that I have ever dealt with this. I hope that this is not a life long thing that keeps coming back!"

11/17/2010: Martibee from Milwaukee, Wi., U.s.a. replies: "Mafri, you said you combined Aloe vera Gel, Cayenne pepper, Corn flour, got my fiance's feet and pasted it with the above. How does he go to sleep with all this on his feet? I took plastic wrap and wrapped his feet up. What if you wrapped his feet in old cotton dish towels or some flannel fabric, and perhaps he put a pair of cotton sox on over that?
If that's possible. Sounds like it might work very well. L-Lysine is an amino acid that helps to prevent outbreaks of shingles, ass well as cold sores. If some folks have too much L-Arginine (another amino acid) in their system, it creates an imbalance of L-Lysine and may cause the immune system to produce a flare-up of shingles or cold sores (also known as herpes simplex). Those 2 amino acids are naturally occuring in protein foods (esp. Meat). However other foods have them also. Does he still have problems with shingles?

I just discovered this site as I developed shingles 4 days ago and am now on meds to treat it. I need help with alleviating the pain and horrible sensations from it. The blisters are like water blisters, but the pain feels like someone used a red hot branding iron on me. On me the blisters popped out on my lower left belly and back. I never knew anyone could develop such a painful rash. Now I understand."

05/07/2012: Shingles from Colorado Springs, Colorado replies: "I just turned 60 in Oct. They told me in ER you are more suseptible after 60! I'm reading this site & learning about your remedies, I do have vit E I think Cayenne pepper on the shelf, but no corn flour so wondering if I can just mix up what I have & try it, mine is on upper left side, ribs hurt I kept going to chiropractor until I got so sick had to go to ER.

This is miserable! Any answers if I can mix up what I have?"

[YEA]  08/17/2012: Scott from La Quinta, Ca: "I used aloe vera gel, cayenne and oatmeal flour I ground up in my vita-mix to make a paste. Worked like a charm- place aloe vera gel in a bowl sprinkle to cover with cayenne, mix then sprinkle to cover with oatmeal and mix again. Clean site with Apple Cider Vinegar and apply it every 6 hrs."

[YEA]  01/31/2012: Jo from Southampton, Hampshire, Uk: "Last night my whole leg was covered in painful red rash and blisters. I was at my wits end until I discovered this site. After purchasing aloe vera gel today and liberally applying it with eucalyptus oil I simply cannot believe the difference. The blisters have dried, the redness has significantly decreased and the pain has all but gone. I did try the ACV but found that it stung a lot and irritated the blisters. I did take it internally though. Last night I was writhing in pain unable to speak, today the pain is manageable and significantly better."

05/19/2012: Bondibox from Rockville, Md replies: "I found complete relief from shingles with peppermint oil. My impression was that the peppermint overwhelms the nerve endings, that's probably how the eucalyptus oil works. I first prepped the area with cider vinegar, but it works without that. Also, to help with my energy I found that a massive dose (8x) of Lysine daily works."

11/17/2010: Martibee from Milwaukee, Wi., U S A replies: "Pmstar from San Diego, CA , I'm going to try the Eucalyptus oil. I broke out with shingles on my belly and back 4 days ago and the pain is horrendous. Feels like hot metal stabbing me where the blisters are. Not good at all. I put minced ginger on mine and that helped. But it sounds like the Eu oil may work even better. Thanks for your input."

07/27/2012: Isabel from C, California replies: "Do you use the eucalyptus oil straight on the area or do you mix it with something?"

[YEA]  03/19/2007: Izma from Hollywood, California: "From what I see of your numerous cures. It appears that Shingles may just dissappear. Personally I used the antifungal cream clotrimazole, followed the next day by Clorox disinfectant spray applied with a Q tip to each spot, and the shingles and the pain left.and havn't returned in more than five years. I had used the clorox spray before to no avail but when first used the anti fungal cream apparently that did the trick. Another thought viruses seem to be resistant to nearly everything but they may have a protective coating that takes a wetting agent to crack. and the anti fungal creme may have that ingredient. I know that it takes a wetting agent to break down ordinary mold, before clorox can disolve it. A chemist probably could explain this better than I can."

08/19/2011: Loid from Tampico, Mexico replies: "Trying this way, but confused as to how you used the clotrimazol cream - how often? Then, how often did you use the clorox the next day???

Thanks, LM"

Apple Cider Vinegar

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Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy for Shingles

Alternative Remedy Instructions

• You'll Need: Apple Cider Vinegar

Topical and internal use of apple cider vinegar (ACV) can reduce shingles symptoms and in some cases cure the condition. Use a cotton swab to apply undiluted ACV to affected patches of skin 2-3 times a day. Additionally, take the ACV tonic 3 times a day with meals: mix one teaspoon each of ACV and honey in a large glass of water. Over time you may increase the amount of ACV to 1-2 tablespoons per glassful.

11/08/2012: Mr. Ree from Somewhere, Usa replies: "Put licorice extract on it... The shingles will ge gone in 3 days. Dead gone...! A bottle costs $8.00 at a health food store."

11/08/2012: Velva from Etowah, N C Hendersonville replies: "I have Shingles and can not seem to get any relief- What can I do to get them healed up.?"

11/08/2012: Little Wing from Boston, Ma replies: "My mom had shingles and the best thing that worked for her was taking lots of Lysine and applying Salve a few times a day. I know some have been helped with ACV wraps, putting it right on the shingles, but I know that can burn. There is a shingles page on here with lots of helpful info, different things work for different people. http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/shingles.html"

11/08/2012: Lisa from Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa replies: "Hi Velva, I have sent friends to my Chinese herbalist who was able to help them rid shingles. I knew he had helped his own dad rid shingles as he had told me about how awful it was for his dad and then he gave him herbs. Within a few days it was on its way out. If you can get to a Traditional Chinese medicine Dr., they can treat them with herbs and acupuncture to rid them.

One of my friends told me of her husband, who is a scientist who was in terrible pain with shingles and his work had even sent him home saying he needed to stay away until they were gone. I told her to take him to my herbalist but for some odd reason he refused to go. I don't think he really believed it would work. So she went alone, told the herbalist the situation, he gave her some Chinese herb remedies and within two days they were completely dried up and he could return to work.

Anyway, hope this info helps. Lisa"

[YEA]  05/27/2012: Gadgetgirl1733 from Clementon, NJ replies: "Wow! So glad I decided to do search for natural pain relief from shingles. I was diagnosed with shingles on 5/24/2012 after having gone a week with severe pain, that was thought to be muscle strain. I'd gone to Dr. week before with pain in my lower left back and was given Rx for Vicodan w/tylenol...few days later itching started and thought it to be from pain meds till noticed what appeared to be bug bites on area where pain was. When I went back to doctor because pain wasn't better I mentioned the itchy/bug bites... he then advised it was shingles and gave Rx for Valtrax and gave samples of Zovirax topical cream for rash, but said that it wouldn't likely bring any relief.

Ironically, I had just gotten a new bottle of _____ Organic ACV the other day, since I'd been drinking the 1T with honey in 8oz water daily. I'm glad to find that it's been helpful to so many here when taken internally and applied topically. Once I read that, I immediately applied to my areas of discomfort. I also made a mixture of manuka honey, EVCO(extra virgin coconut oil), and 2 drops tea tree oil, as each of these have natural anti-viral, antibiotic, and anti-fungal properties... Applied to the rash with cotton square and left on... I did get some relief from the pain. I will continue this along with antiviral, and pain meds prescribed.

Like many others have posted, sleeping was quite difficult the first few days I had pain and no rash, it almost felt like I had really, really bad gas!!! Sitting upright in chairs and even laying in bed was extremly painful. Thankfully I work from home and desk is setup in family room where I have two theater style recliners. Well the other day I couldn't take sitting in my work chair, nor could go through another work day and not take pain med until work was done. I slid the recliner from the wall and put it in recline positon, and let me tell you it was the MOST COMFORT I'd had since the pain started. I was able to use one of those lapdesk type things I'd gotten from Bed, Bath, &Beyond that has these two cushiony things on the bottom and set my work laptop on it. I was able to get through the rest of the work day with ease."

02/25/2012: Deborah from Chino Valley, Az replies: "Hi Angela, Olive leaf is terrific for shingles, taken internally as capsules or tincture. Read more about it in the link below. This article is written by a pharmacist of many decades, who recommends it for herpes-related viruses of all kinds...

http://www.prescottaz.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=101165&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=1119&S=1"

11/22/2012: Josie from Columbia, Maryland replies: "I've had shingles for 4 days now. Found out yesterday though (the day before Thanksgiving). Missed Thanksgiving dinner with the family due to it. Got some olive leaf extract. Also have been taking oregano leaf extract, zinc, magnesium, and drinking colloidal silver from my colloidal silver generator. Hard to say if it is working or not. The blisters are not spreading at all... But they also are not gone and the pain in my nerves feels like I have been plugged into an electrical socket. I got shingles right on my butt and right in the crack of my butt on the left side. Ouch. Painful to sit. Didn't know you could get it there. I just tooks some ACV internally and will tell you all if it works or not. I am hesitant to put it on my blisters cause when I had poison oak once (also near the same area) I had tried this, and also even diluted clorox to dry up the poison oak blisters and it still spread and the solution burned like hell. I don't want this to spread (and so far it hasn't) or burn (heck the virus has been doing a good job with giving me burning sensations as is). I also heard that geranium oil works pretty well and does not burn. Two articles I read that I think would be of interest to you all are: http://www.healthiertalk.com/prevent-shingles-vitamins-not-vaccine-3836 and http://hsionline.com/2006/06/26/shingles-treatment-and-relief/

I'll be getting either some geranium oil or aloe vera gel and mixing some cayenne pepper to see if either of these works."