Shingles
Natural Remedies

Natural Remedies for Shingles: What Earth Clinic Readers Report

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Neem Oil
Posted by Rodney (Qld ) on 03/08/2022
★★★★★

I have had a shingle on my forehead for about 4 years. I have tried most of the remedies mentioned to no good result, I did get a little improvement using Probiotics. I tried to get Lacto Bacilus but couldn't get any.

One post mentioned Neem Cream so I got a jar from India but it took a couple of months to arrive. Well, I've been applying it with my index finger three to four times a day for the past week. Just a slight amount on my finger. Well. it has worked miraculously! It seems that it will be gone within another week. It seems oily but no more than a good quality facial skin care which the skin absorbs enhancing the effect.

In my infection I had quite a large scab. Neem reduced the scab and broke it up into several small scabs and clear healthy skin arrived between the scabs. It was somewhat tender at first but that has reduced significantly.

It's been several years since the horrific fire I was caught in that caused the shingle.


Antifungal Cream for Ringworm
Posted by Anon (TX) on 10/23/2019
★★★★★

Dear god...thank you to whoever posted first on the antifungal cream for shingles pain.

The docs gave me the antiviral pills. Then nerve pain pills. Then lidocaine patches. Then told me if it got any worse they could admit me to the ER for some serious pain control. In total desperation I returned to this site and read EVERY remedy (I had already tried the top ones, several times.) Towards the bottom of the pile I found this gem. And I had antifungal cream on hand since one of the boys needed it for jock itch. It is also good for ringworm...and btw can usually be found in any dollar store. I grabbed our tube and within 2 hours I had drastically less pain. Not NO pain but certainly it knocked about 80% of it gone! I could live with the rest until the shingles subsided. Between the cream and the bleach baths, shingles became a tolerable thing and kept me out of the hospital and back to work the next day.

Again....THANK YOU.


Colostrum, Lysine
Posted by Para (Tennessee) on 01/08/2019
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Because of another underlying disease, I have Shingles every day of my life for 5 years.. The way I keep it from flaring up and causing me pain in my head is Colostrum LD Powder. I worked up gradually to 2 or 3 Tablespoons a day. This will take the pain away within an hour or two after taking it. I also take 500 to 1000 mg Lysine daily. Prevention for me is taking the Colostrum and Lysine without fail daily. If I have made mistakes (forgetting to take the above or eating arginine foods) and ended up with a severe bout of Shingles, I add in Manuka Honey from New Zealand 15+ officially graded it seems to give an extra punch when coupled with the other things.. How I get severe bouts - eating anything chocolate, eating Vanilla Bean not Vanilla flavored but the bean itself .. got to stay away from Arginine foods very important because if the Arginine fills up the pathways and is overpowering the Lysine in the pathways, you will get an outbreak of Shingles.


Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Kathy W (Waddington, Ny) on 08/23/2016
★★★★★

I discovered 3 drops of Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide purchased at the health food store in 8 oz of water actually kills the nerve pain associated with shingles!


Coconut Oil
Posted by Hot House Flower (Albuquerque) on 07/17/2016
★★★★★

I had shingles about a year ago after a long stressful year of overworking my body. At the time I did not know what was wrong with me. What I was experiencing was tingling and nerve pain in my left arm and I could not figure out what it was. I did not have health insurance at the time so I did not go to see a doctor. But judging from what others have said about the meds that doctors give for shingles it is probably a blessing that I did not go see a doctor. I never had an outbreak because once the tingling and nerve pain began I started putting a mixture of essential oil mixed with coconut oil on my left side of my body, many times a day to calm the nerves. I never broke with anything but I was left with nerve pain and a weakness in the left arm and left leg and also tingling. For the most part the shingles was under control, then about a year later, it began to come back. Then I had a pre-stroke and that really scared me because I was getting electrical shocks constantly. I still not knowing what I was suffering, I did a parasite cleanse which helped a lot and I continued to eat organic. I was no longer getting tingling or electrical shocks but I still had weakness and nerve pain in my left side. By chance, I bought some Frankincense resin and began to make lotions using coconut oil and Frankincense resin. I began putting this on my left side of my body especially on my glands and nerve paths. Slowly over a 5 month period the pain and weakness began to leave my body. I feel mostly recovered.


Multiple Remedies
Posted by Santafeumber (Maine) on 09/02/2015
★★★★★

I just experienced a pretty good outbreak of shingles (torso/back) . after reading earthclinic and some others, I decided to give the ACV a try.

Twice a day, I showered the area of shingles gently and patted dry with a clean towel each time. spray bottle of ACV and gently sprayed the area entirely. I then allowed it to dry naturally.

After the area dried, I sprayed colloidal silver on the same way and while the silver was beginning to dry, I gently rubbed Colloidal silver gel on the entire area. I did the silver treatment several times a day, when I thought of it. the other applications were after the shower. I thought it would be helpful to keep the infected area clean.

Along with this, I began immediately taking L-lysine (2000MG) a day and began to watch my diet that leaned towards the L-argenine end (nuts, tomatoes, blueberries and more - there is a list online of what to avoid). also I began taking moderate doses of Vit C once a day, as well as 3 sublingual doses of colloidal silver -kept under the tongue several minutes -then spit out.

I was also told that soaking 1/4 organic flax seed in 1 cup of water overnight and straining off the seeds and drinking the water once a day is very helpful for the skin and hair. it actually tastes real good as well.

I did a brief 4 day turpentine cleanse(1 tspn dribbled over 3 dot sugar cubes once a day in the evening before bedtime) as explained by Dr. Jennifer Daniels. her instructions can be found online. I am not sure if this weighed in on my rapid healing, it very well may have. but please read her precautions carefully before trying. I use it for candida prevention and it just happened to be that time of the month while the shingle outbreak and cure was taking place.

In less than a week, the rash has subsided by over 60% and is fading, the swollen, puss filled bumps have slowly dried and are fading out of sight. I have been so amazed! I wanted to share it and I hope anyone that suffers from these outbreaks can benefit the way I have recently. just stick to the doses, and it all takes time, but worth it!

Once in awhile, I get those strange and hard to describe, nerve tingles and pains that are short lived. I have been able to sleep normally at nights too and without the pain (that was intense only for the first two nights before this treatment).

I have had shingles about 15 years ago, and knew nothing about natural cures and suffered the entire process, all sorts of medications that didn't help and ended up with some scarring.

I can tell that these are not going to scar at all after this treatment!


Antifungal Cream for Ringworm
Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 01/02/2016
★★★★★

After reading your post, I searched for some antifungal cream and didn't have anything but Lamisil on hand. My husband didn't want to try that and then I remembered I bought some soap at Amazon for ringworm. I had about 6 bars of that. He tried it and the pain was gone immediately. He is going to wash with it once an hour to try to kill this. This has been going on for 3 months and we had done the ACV compresses and beverages. We also had the antiviral drugs and steroids. Thanks for your tip! I hope it helps him get over this.


Ice
Posted by Art (California) on 02/27/2026 2932 posts

Hi Sandra,

Shingles is considered an opportunistic infection because it is normally dormant, but it can activate when the immune system is compromised by age, medications or disease such as HIV. You didn't mention your age, but that may be relevant regarding shingles. Many doctors recommend getting a shingles vaccine for seniors or for people who are taking medications that weaken the immune system or have diseases that compromise the immune system.

You may be interested in the following topical :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/shingles2.html#aspirin

You can also consider using Lysine orally to degrade the virus itself. General recommendations for Lysine are 3000 mg total per day in three divided doses of 1000 mg each dose.

Art


Aloe Vera
Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 08/04/2017

BHT AND VITAMIN C

I read in a couple of places today that BHT 250 mg plus Vitamin C cures a host of ailments, including Herpes Zoster (shingles). Here's the link:

http://growyouthful.com/remedy/BHT-butylated-hydroxytoluene.php

It was also posted by someone on Curezone.


L-Lysine
Posted by Donna (Aspen)
★★★★★

L-lysine, when taken immediately upon infection will cure shingles.

Castor Oil
Posted by Renee (Nyc) on 12/29/2024
★★★★★

I had very painful shingles right half of pelvis. Applied castor oil packs twice a day and often slept wearing castor oil pack. Completely gone in five days.


How To Avoid Shingles
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 03/07/2024

Hi Marsh,

I had chicken pox as a child and have been exposed to it several times when my kids and grandkids have had it. I have not had a shingles shot. I have had shingles twice, both unrelated to when I was around those with chicken pox or shingles. The one connection I made to the shingles flares was stress.

Whether stress was what made me vulnerable or a reduced immune response due to stress made me vulnerable, I know not.

But if I was concerned about getting shingles I would do all I could to reduce stress.

  • Try to get adequate and good sleep. Melatonin at bedtime may help, and as it has anti-viral properties, it may be preventative to shingles. I take 20mg every night.
  • Take Vitamin C - 1000 mg 3-5 times a day (through out the day), unless your bowel cannot tolerate it.
  • Vitamin D and Zinc both support immunity.
  • Use unprocessed coconut oil in cooking as it is an anti-viral.
  • Get a bit of exercise daily if you can. I have been doing indoor walking videos lately - a fun way to get in some cardio.

I hope you are spared! If not though, I did find that a salve with Eucalyptus topically and vitamin C internally helped me a lot when I had shingles.

~Mama to Many~


How To Avoid Shingles
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 04/30/2024

Hi Marsh,

Wow, that sounds dreadful.

In her shoes I think I would try 1, 000 mg of liposomal vitamin C three times a day. It is much more absorbable than regular C. Sublingual b-12 may be helpful, too.

Does she have Trigeminal Neuralgia? Or it is just that shingles are affecting that nerve? Mullein Root Tincture (Beneficial Botanicals sells it) is a less common herbal remedy but good for pain. It is an anti-inflammatory and has been use for Trigeminal Neuralgia. It is healing to nerves. Shingles affects the nerves. I think it would be worth a try.

I found that Eucalyptus essential oil was helpful for shingles. I would use it topically, with a carrier oil (coconut oil would be a good carrier.) Vicks Vapor rub has a lot of Eucalyptus and would be an option. Hopewell Essential Oils sells a couple of blends for Shingles. (If you create an account you have access to the testimonials on the site which are helpful. This is my favorite source of high quality oils.)

Other things like avoiding dairy and sugar made a difference for my kids with chicken pox, so I wouldn't be surprised if it helped Shingles as well.

Earth Clinic has a lot of information about BHT for viruses; that is something else to look into.

I hope your friend finds something very helpful soon. Let me know how she does.

~Mama to Many~


Antifungal Cream for Ringworm
Posted by Carrie (Oklahoma ) on 01/27/2022
★★★★★

Re: Antifungal Cream for Ringworm Helps Shingles

I thought I had ringworm when it first started on my back. I used a mixture of Tinactin and yeast infection cream to treat it. We raise sheep that give us some hard to cure ringworm, so I use two different meds to treat it. I then broke out in other places and realized it wasn't ringworm and I didn't hit the front with ringworm meds. The patch treated with ringworm early was huge, but it dried up faster and hurt very little but the other non treated patches have been very painful. Also, I ended up going back to the ringworm meds because it controls the pain better than any other patch, cream or soak I used. I use it on the back patch 2x a day since it doesn't hurt any more, but I apply it to the front as often as needed.


Multiple Remedies
Posted by Art (California) on 04/06/2021 2932 posts

I have had luck using aspirin in lotion. The aspirin has antiviral activity while also relieving pain. I had to apply it frequently as the pain would come back. Here is a study that shows that it is effective :

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11703529/

I have also used lotion in Original Gold Listerine to make a spray that was convenient, but required a little more frequent application.

Art


Mama's Shingles Remedies
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 11/18/2019
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

It took me a week to realize I was dealing with shingles. I had a belt of pain around my lower ribcage on just one side. The pain was so intense I would become short of breath. Once I realized it was not injury or a lung issue, I began treating it as a virus. I was also experiencing itchy skin that felt burned, which was the clue to shingles.

1,ooo mg of lysine each day
2 t. coconut oil a few times a day
vitamin c

1 -2 dropperfuls of cayenne pepper tincture in juice 4 x a day

and...baking soda baths!

They helped more than Tylenol. 1-2 cups each, Epsom salt and baking soda. I recall that those baths helped my children when they had chicken pox. Sometimes I would use pain patches from the dollar store. They have a lot of menthol in them, and capsicum. Salonpas patches were hard to remove and irritated my skin - the generic pain patches never bothered me!

I hope you never get shingles, but if you do, I hope these remedies are helpful for you! ~Mama to Many~


Coconut Oil, Carrots
Posted by Zander (Oh) on 04/08/2018
★★★★★

CARROTS!

This site has gotten me through two bouts of shingles, preventing the eruption phase entirely the second time, I might add.

The first time I had worn myself out, lots of stress holidays, estranged from family. I woke up one morning any my right eye felt incredibly dry, as though it had been kept open all night & had a hair dryer blown on it. ACV (apple cider vinegar) with "the mother" is always on hand in my home so I made an eye wash. I used that throughout the day, every day just leaning over a little round dish with a teaspoon or so of ACV in filtered water a opening & closing my eye with it immersed in the water. This helped & turned out to be the right thing to do to normalize the pH & mitigate the spread to & severity of the shingles in my eye.

At this point I did not know what I had, mind you. Days wore on, such fatigue ~ finally I had the incontrovertible sign ~ a band of small, raised blisters on my right side waist in the back, right where a belt would rest. "Shingles actually derives from Latin, "cingulum" meaning girdle or BELT.

I began lysine, vitamin C & I was getting better but still not winning. Then I saw a post on here (p.5 last I checked) from an Australian fellow which saved me, COCONUT OIL. Viruses defend themselves from our immune systems with their own viral walls. Coconut oil permeates their defense, allowing our own immune system to fight them where they live. I took 2T of unrefined virgin coconut oil every day. The first time I took it, it knocked me out ~ I'm guessing this was from a die- off effect as my immune system finally had broken through the virus' defenses & was killing it very efficiently now.

COCONUT OIL saved me. Within a few days of taking the coconut oil daily, I was cured.

Fast forward two years, hard work, holidays, friend died. The fatigue, fever, dry eye, burning & tingling were back on my right side. I began the lysine, Vit C, coconut oil regimen at once. Nary an outbreak. When my body burned (ear, neck) somewhere, I spread coconut oil with DMSO & cayenne there externally as well as taking internally.

I was able to "manage" the shingles this way (0 outbreak) but I just couldn't seem to shake them! This went on for nearly 3 months!

One day I bought a frozen carrot dessert tray (12 servings or so) at a Indian grocery store. The dish is called GAJAR HALVA

I began having a serving a day. By the 7th day I was feeling 95% better. Hmmm...what have I been doing differently? I thought of the carrot dessert...full of vitamins no doubt. I wonder if...sure enough, Vitamin A kicks up white blood cell FIGHTERS in your arsenal!

This is what saved me this time.

Shingles is incredibly depressing when it lingers, particularly. It's telling you something's are really out of balance.

Try the remedies, do what you can to avoid or transcend stress and sleep, sleep, sleep. Your body heals during sleep.

The Gajar Halva I bought frozen recommends heating it in the microwave. Please do not declare nuclear war on your food. Microwaving blasts open the cellular structure of foods, making them something like cancer cells.

Take the 5 mins to heat up as much as you want each time on the stovetop. I poured coconut milk over mine ~ nirvana!

Get well.

ACV, Aloe, Tea Tree and Coconut Oil
Posted by Allison S. (Thomas, Oklahoma) on 03/17/2018
★★★★★

Shingles helped with ACV, Aloe Vera and Tea Tree Oil

This is for Shingles for a help to heal: First padded down area with Apple Cider vinegar with a round flat cotton pad. then I put this mixture on top:

I took a jar with a lid and added 1 cup of Aloe Vera pure 100% liquid. then added several drops of Tea Tree Oil, Melaluka is so wonderful for healing. Finally added 1 Tablespoon of Coconut Oil. Stirred with each use. Applied with round cotton pads. Please just play with the amounts to suit you.

My Shingles were so horrible that I would only get an hour to 2 hours of sleep at night. So weak and tired. This mixture really helped stop the itching pain and I finally got some sleep!


Supplements
Posted by David (Indianapolis, In) on 02/19/2017
★★★★★

Shingles:

Cut out all sugar, good diet, lots of Vitamins B-12 liquid, lots of Lysine, and 6 to 7 Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C (accept NO substitutes-$1k a pack) packets on an empty stomach ...do this for up to 3 days and Shingles will be gone....use a shingles cream too you can purchase on amazon. It easier to get rid of by doing this than a common cold.


Homeopathy
Posted by Pam (Kent, Wa) on 01/19/2015
★★★★☆

I have shingles with no rash, although it feels like I have one because of the severe nerve pain. The left side of my neck from front to back is involved. I use the homeopathic remedy Hypericum for the pain, I use both the 30c and the 200c potency. I take a dose of 30c, if I don't get relief I take again in 20 minutes or so and that usually kills the pain for several hours and repeat as necessary or I take a dose of 200c and that seems to hold throughout the day. It has not cured the shingles, I've had it for about 10 days now, but it makes the pain very tolerable. Hypericum is for any nerve pain.


Red Marine Algae
Posted by Prioris (Fl) on 03/05/2015
★★★★★

The above post is not very clear. It may cause people to buy the wrong product and think it didn't work.

There are thousands of varieties of Red Marine Algae but only ONE variety works against the shingles virus (herpes zoster). Many bottles say Red Marine Algae but they contain different varieties depending that work against different herpes.

Shingles and other herpes outbreaks can be controlled by the use of red marine algae. The main caution about using any commercial product by that name is to be sure that the appropriate species of red marine algae is in the supplement. The name to look for based on scientific research is Gigartina skottsbergii.


Antifungal Cream for Ringworm
Posted by Jody (Idaho, US) on 10/13/2014
★★★★★

I have also used an antifungal cream on my shingles and it seems to accelerated the shingles to blister then completely go away with no scarring in only a few days.

I had thought that I had ringworm on my hip and used the antifungal cream which cleared it up, but 6 months later it came back and my Dr said it was shingles. So I used the antifungal cream the second time and again within a few hours the itching was gone and healed within a few days. I don't know why it worked but I thank goodness it did. I can't imagine having to deal with the pain for weeks!



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