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DOES OUR SUPPLEMENT INTAKE AND LIFESTYLE EFFECT SHINGLES?

Oct 16

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Merck Manual Profession Version defines shingles (herpes zoster) as the reactivation of the chickenpox (varicella-zoster -human herpesvirus 3) from its latent phase. The inflammation of the various parts of the body from the root ganglia, skin of the associated dermatomes, and possibly anterior hors of gray matter, meninges, and dorsal and ventral roots results in the visual skin outbreak. Shingles is often associated unilaterally in the thoracic or lumbar regions of the body. Shingles can also appear in the facial, eye or other regions. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/herpesviruses/herpes-zoster


Does Oriental Medicine have an effect on Shingles?


Oriental or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) commonly identifies Wind Heat or Liver Fire Blazing as the may disharmonies causing shingles or herpes zoster.


  • Wind Heat is the invasion of a pathogen that combines with internal heat that rapidly transitions and express as a rash. Wind Heat is often treated with the herbal formula Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang that dispels wind, clears heat, and disperses stagnation. Cat lovers may enjoy the fact that Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie) is a chief ingredient. https://www.meandqi.com/symptoms/herpes%20zoster%20infection


  • Liver Fire Blazing is a disharmony of the liver meridian where internal excess heat leads to the inflammation and pain in herpes zoster. Liver Fire Blazing for shingles is often treated with Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentiana Combination) for adults and the milder Chai Hu Qing Gan Tang for children or elderly. https://www.meandqi.com/symptoms/herpes%20zoster%20infection; Ellis, A. (2002). Notes from South Mountain: A Guide to Concentrated Herb Granules. Thin Moon Publishing.

     

  • Two popular starting acupuncture points are the Huatuojiaji points based on the nerve pathways of the rash and SP 10 to cool the blood and invigorate the flow of blood. https://www.meandqi.com/symptoms/herpes%20zoster%20infection


 

Diet, Supplementation, and Lifestyle Effect


Dr. Eric Bergs notes these factors can trigger shingles:

Does Vitamin D Address Shingles?


Low vitamin D either as a deficiency or sub clinical level is a major co-factor in allowing the appearance or emergence of shingles (with a factor of three times more increased risk). Dr. Eric Berg notes Vitamin D is the currently known major inflammation and immunity modulator in the body. Vitamin D invokes the triad of immune cell activation, modulating cytokine storms and/or production, and enhancing autophagy, which removes harmful intracellular pathogens or debris for healing.


  1. Beard, J. A., Bearden, A., & Striker, R. (2011). Vitamin D and the anti-viral state. Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology, 50(3), 194–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2010.12.006 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3308600

  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955286321002618

  3. Jiang, GM., Tan, Y., Wang, H. et al. The relationship between autophagy and the immune system and its applications for tumor immunotherapy.Mol Cancer 18, 17 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-019-0944-z


Dr. Berg's Vitamin D and shingle protocol:


  • Vitamin D cream - at least 3 times a day

  • Vitamin D + K2 w/ or needs magnesium =.40,000 IU + K2 and add magnesium

  • Geranium oil topically = put it on the lesions

  • 200 mg of zinc

  • 1000 mg 3 x a day of vitamin C (mixture of non-GM) synthetic and 500 food based)

  • 600 mg of L-lysine


Like most vitamins, minerals, and supplements body size and condition can determine the effectiveness of vitamin D.


  1. Greenway, F. L., Frome, B. M., Engels, T. M., 3rd, & McLellan, A. (2003). Temporary relief of postherpetic neuralgia pain with topical geranium oil. The American journal of medicine, 115(7), 586–587. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9343(03)00434-0; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14599644

  2. Shingles: Natural Relief. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPR_O6ooM7A

  3. Vitamin D and Shingles: Key Connection Explained. https://drbrg.co/3VRSz0F

  4. https://vitamindwiki.com/Shingles+and+vitamin+D#Zoster_patients:_With_UV_58_pain_free_without_UV_38_pain_free_-_2006


Does Vitamin C Address Shingles?


There is along documented history of the effective use going back to at least 1936.

Frederick Klinner was instrumental in highlighting the use of of vitamin C during a 72 hour period in dealing with shingles and chicken pox and other diseases as early as 1949 and again in 1974.

Dr. Thomas Levy notes an average of 3 days and the use of multiple forms of vitamin C in large doses

is the center of most rapid resolutions. One of the main reason for the the success of vitamin C is the viral accumulation of iron and copper which undergo a Fenton reaction that most often irreversibly damages the virus. This is how vitamin C effects virus, pathogens, and also cancer cells. The effectiveness of vitamin C will be determined by the iron and copper levels in each indivudual and the dosage of vitamin C used.


A simple sodium absorbate vitamin C treatment:

  • 3,000 mg vitamin C every 30 minutes until a single episode of loose stool or close to diarrhea or flush.

    • If you have no loose stool for 15 hrs then increase the dosage to 4,000 mg every 30 minutes.

    • If you have loose stool then r3educe to 2,000 mg every hour and adjust to the gurgle stomach or loose stool.

  • Continue until the shingles disappears


One effective use of a vitamin C administration:

  • 1,000 to 5,000 milligrams of liposome-encapsulated vitamin C orally daily

  •  Bowel tolerance doses of vitamin C as sodium ascorbate orally daily

  •  1,000 to 3,000 mg daily of fat-soluble ascorbyl palmitate orally daily

  •  Intravenous vitamin C, 25,000 to 150,000 mg per infusion, depending on body size, as frequently as daily, depending on the severity of the infection


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L-lysine

L-lysine -slows down the replication of viruses by blocking the uptake of arginine (required by viruses for replication). A diet intake of foods rich in L-lysine are meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, seeds, and nuts. It is recommended to avoid arginine-rich foods such as peanuts, cashews, almonds, granola, and chocolates.


  1. Pedrazini, M. C., da Silva, M. H., & Groppo, F. C. (2022). L-lysine: Its antagonism with L-arginine in controlling viral infection. Narrative literature review. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 88(11), 4708–4723. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.15444; https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcp.15444


Does Homeopathy Address Shingles?


Homeopathy, much like acupuncture, is very much a detailed symptom diagnostic approach to applying its remedies to shingles. JB Bardot, a classical homeopath and western herbalist, indicates:

  • The main remedy is Ranunculus bulbosus for deeply inflamed rashes, often bluish in color, with stabbing pains primarily on the ribcage.

  • Rhus tox is a deputy remedy to address the itching and pains of shingles of the left side of the body.

  • Iris versicolor is used when the rash is on the right side of the body of under the right arm. Bardot goes into more homeopathic remedies in the article “Wipe out shingles FAST with easy-to-use homeopathic remedies - relieve pain, eliminate burning, itching and infection”.

https://www.naturalnews.com/039071_shingles_homeopathic_remedies_pain_relief.html


Avoid Aspirin

As a precaution avoid taking aspirin with chickenpox or shingles as Reye's syndrome is a known rare side effect in children and also adults. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/reyes-syndrome


Conclusion


Shingles is often a painful disease that can be treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas, vitamin and mineral formulations, and homeopathic remedies. The success is often dependent on starting health and current genetics of the patient, the skill of the healer, and the quality, dosage of needle points, formulas, formulations, or remedies that match the patients diagnosis and symptoms. The goal is to help the patient return to harmony or homeostasis for the body to heal and be in balance.


For general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, and prescription or recommendation. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting your healthcare provider or physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright 2025 Stanley Mansfield


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