| 5 star (50) | 82% | |
| 4 star (7) | 11% | |
| 3 star (1) | 2% | |
| 1 star (3) | 5% |
Nick (UK) on 07/01/2023: 
I wanted to write this post because I'm pretty sure this is the best remedy there is for Shingles. I tried almost everything including aciclovir antivirals, but it was apple cider vinegar (ACV) that cured it at the end. I had no idea what the outbreak of itchy blisters where when I got it about 6 months ago.. It took quite long for my to figure out it needed proper treatment and it had time to spread all over the body and with extreme itchiness and burning. After taking aciclovir for some weeks I thought the shingles was gone, but it actually came back again not as bad, but still very itchy and burning on various places. I think I can say that alcohol and coffee (although I don't drink much of either) seemed to make it worse, as well as chocolate, and fats such as butter and olive oil.. I definitely noticed worsening of the symptoms after eating big lunches. So since I then thought it had something to do with the gut and the antibacterials/virals didn't seem to work I started supplement with prebiotics instead such as kefir and yogurts, which seemed to work a bit, but it wasn't until I tried ACV that I started notice a real change! This was probably after 3-4months since first getting it. I took about 1-2 tablespoons diluted in a glas of carbonated water with breakfast, and another tablespoon at supper time. If I could, I would have taken it at work as well for lunch, but a bit messy bringing a bottle along, so I didn't do that. It probably didn't take more than a few days before I started seeing results, and after a few weeks it pretty much all disapeared, although I have continued taking ACV afterwards as well at least once a day. Lately I have seen that you can actually buy ACV in pill form as well, so that's a good option to have in the bag when out and about. I wish everyone to stay healthy with this little marvel which is ACV!
Forge On! (Midwest Of Usa) on 01/06/2022:
Nan (Ohio) on 05/02/2020:
Angi (California) on 02/04/2019:
My shingles episode started after Christmas 2018. My first trip was to the ER. They gave me Acyclovir, which in 24hr made the skin peel off my hands and a red rash. Threw that away. My next thought is EC and started reading.
1. I put paste of ACV and baking soda on the lesions. They dried in one day.
2. Then started dealing with nerve pain, my regiment was: 16 units of Vit E, Maca for nerve pain, Liposomal Vit C 6000-10000 daily for 1 month, B12 microlingual 5000 morning and night. Magnesium increased for 2 weeks, increase folic acid for 3 weeks. Increase Vit D to 4-5000 daily, as I was really low on that.
When I researched the cause of Shingles, I realized the foods that were high in arginine. I was eating chocolate, grapes, nuts, all in one week and was low in lysine at the same time. Once I found out the correlation between arginine and lysine, it was very important that Lysine keeps the shingles at bay from reoccurring.
I also started, acupuncture and chiropractic visits, that also helped with pain. I never had any itching, as I caught the lesions early and dried them up. The acupuncture visits also provided herbal medicines that helped with pain. It's also very important to continue to stretch and walk if at all possible. Even simple short yoga workouts help with pain. I was sleeping on the hard floor for 10 days because the pain was so exhausting, until my acupuncturist helped relieve most of the stinging pain in my leg.
Thank you EC for being a source of knowledge.
Apple Cider Vinegar (Hiawassee, Ga) on 06/06/2017: 
Maze (Nc) on 05/26/2017:
Michael (Ajax, Ontario, Canada) on 10/10/2016:
Graham (England) on 07/03/2015: 
Worked Temporarily
Lynn (Texas) on 05/20/2015:
Gabrielle (Adelaide) on 05/09/2015:
Anyway I used the apple cider vinegar suggestions and the compresses described thanks to my sister who read all this when I was too sick to know anything . They helped a lot and put the sores into retreat within 48 hours and comforted the burhung nerve lines. Sores now settled after 5 days bur neuralgic pain still strong . Got up today for 2 hours but needed to rest all afternoon.Apple Cider Vinegar compress helps me at night when pain disturbs. Think this may take some time to get free of this viral impacts but luckily no eye damage and face recovering . What an experience! What out for codeine constipation- avoid at all costs maybe only use codeine for first 4 days of pain relief then switch to panedol. Serious constipation seems to be inevitable if you use codeine for long and it creates its own pain and slows down recovery. With thanks to all advice.
Oneoffmom (Appalachia, NC) on 01/15/2015:
We applied cotton ball dipped in Apple Cider Vinegar 3-4 times per day, especially before bed. For the first two days we used the coconut oil/cayenne/turmeric salve also. I had him take Echinacea immune boosters, and turmeric supplement (because we had on-hand). After the first day/night, the blisters were beginning to dry up, no more spreading. Area was still painful on second day, so I massaged with arnica gel (which worked, pain mostly gone next day, and he slept that night). By day three, we were overjoyed because the area was thoroughly dried out and obviously shrinking, only slightly painful, thanks to the arnica I think. Within a week, the rash was gone. WOW!
Note: My son said the ACV burned and tingled, but not unbearably. He was desperate to find relief, and said this was far less painful than the rash. He is fine now - that was 3 weeks ago.
Ydebyounger (Detrot, Mi) on 01/25/2014:
Matheo (Lawrenceville, Georgia) on 06/23/2013:
Blair (Sydney, Nova Scotia) on 05/04/2013:
Tom (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA) on 09/30/2012:
THANK YOU!!!
Gadgetgirl1733 (Clementon, NJ) on 05/27/2012:
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.
Maria (Marietta, Ga) on 05/14/2012:
Ray-ray (East Northport, New York) on 05/13/2012:
Sb (Raleigh, Nc) on 05/11/2012:
A Believer (Muskoka, Ontario Canada) on 04/03/2012:
Dthales (Ogden, Ut) on 03/01/2012:
I was seriously doubting that Apple Cider Vinegar was working becasue so many people seemed to be also using some other form of treatment. My 16 year old son has shingles on his neck and was miserable for two days. He was beyond the time when antivirals would be effective so the doctor said he just had to wait it out and to take an allergy pill if itching became a problem.
My son was miserable and couldn't beleive all he could do was wait it out for a week or so. So he begged me to find some other form of releif and I found this website talking about Apple Cider Vinegar. I figured it couldn't hurt to try.
So I went and bought some and dabbed it on all the affected areas with a cotton ball about 5 times during the whole day yesterday and he drank one capfull of the ACV 2 times during the day. He also also put on calamine lotion on before bed.
This morning he woke up and says he feels 80% improved from yesterday! Holy cow the stuff really works! The sores even look better already! Drives me crazy I have to search the internet for this stuff though. The doctor should tell us these things!
Angela (Honchurch, Essex, Uk) on 02/25/2012:
Dkimb (Redondo Beach, Ca, Usa) on 02/24/2012:
Ja (Burlington, Vt) on 12/26/2011:
I then would daub any new little red dots with calamine lotion and that over the course of a couple days dried them up. I was really impressed with the results of the combo of ACV and calamine lotion. Finally yesterday my arms began to return to normal, but it took a few days to get there. The last 2 days my arms are looking so good I only do 1 compress and ACV daub/calamine lotion per day.
My flaming red arms are now retuning to their normal color. I have a few other small areas to deal with--but my arms were the worst. At one point they were flaming red 12"x 4" and I never saw anything so virulent and rapid. I'll list some things I've learned to help you.
1. Dilute the ACV with 2-3 parts water for a long compress. Then daub with full strength.
2. Let dry and apply calamine lotion to any small red dots and let it dry. Wear loose cotton clothing. And drink at least 2 oz per day of ACV per day--dilute with 6 parts or more of water.
3. I would take a Benadryl capsule with antihistamine if there was any itching. Sometimes the itch urge can drive you crazy.
4. I beefed up my vitamins and took a good multi, 2000mg of C, and a B Complex.
5. Wash with cool or tepid water and minimal mild soap. Warm or hot water only aggravates the skin. When you wash you are throwing trauma at your skin.
6. Try to rest and don't eat any junk food. Also no sugar, coffee, choclate, nuts, strawberries and spinach--they will aggravate your skin.
7. Any rash on your face--get to a Dr.
8. Shingles is a virus and will run its course. Once you have it all you can really do is to alleviate the pain and itchiness and keep the shingles from being infected and to reduce the dots as fast as you can. ACV with calamine worked for me.
Maggiemae (Dearborn, Mi) on 11/21/2011:
Nalatie (Farnham, Surrey) on 11/19/2011:
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.
Happsoul (Frisco, Co) on 10/24/2011:
Autodinman (Modesto, Ca) on 10/20/2011:
Amanda (Anchorage, Alaska) on 09/17/2011:
I woke up this past Sunday with the shingles and never had a sign that it was coming.. Nor the true signs of symptoms.. No pain.. No itch.. No burning.. I guess in that part I was rather lucky.. When I went to the doc that diagnosed it I was already past the point of the anti viral meds working.. So I was looking for anything herbal that might help clear them up faster.. So I bought the gallon size bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar and started cleaning the affected areas right away.. Not gonna lie.. Yes it burns.. I started with one good soak and scrub and noticed a difference right away.. Later that night I did another soak and scrub and by the next morning I noticed the sores had already dried up and swelling had gone down! Now two days later it's dark.. And dried up.. Wouldn't say 100% gone.. But much better then what it was when I started..! I'm following up with zinc oxide ointment and lysine vitamin.
I would like to say thank you as reading everyone else's first hand experience has been rather helpful. I think a few good more soaks and scrubs and it will keep getting better and better.. And will heal up faster compared to if I would have just let it runs it's course as the doctor stated.. It's a pretty nasty experience and embarrassing.. I think I showed my bum to more people in the past week then my entire life.. Best of luck to everyone who experiences shingles!
Karen (Tulsa, Ok) on 09/12/2011: 
