Got shingles? I sure hope not, but if you do then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve compiled all the information I could find on the best home remedies that eliminate shingles quickly and effectively. I hope you enjoy!~
Shingles is the chickenpox come back to torment you. Actually, torment puts it rather lightly, it’s more like “searing, shooting, relentless pain from hell” as a friend of mine describes. Most people when they are diagnosed with shingles are given Rx meds to help with the infection and the pain, but are there home remedies that can help eliminate shingles naturally?
What is Shingles?
To better understand and treat shingles naturally, you must first know how you got shingles to begin with.
Everyone who develops shingles had at one point in their life the chickenpox virus. Once the chicken pox has run its course, the varicella-zoster virus doesn’t go away. Instead, it migrates to the spinal cord and nerve ganglia where it lays dormant for the rest of our lives.
If our immune system becomes weak or overly compromised, the dormant varicella-zoster virus (the same virus that causes the chicken pox), begins to reactivate. In fact, 10-20 people out of 100 will get shingles in their lifetime and 4 out of 100 people will get it more than once. It can appear at any age, though typically the virus effects those 60 and older with weaker immune systems.
Once activated by a temporary or permanent weakening of the immune system, the shingles virus begins to replicate and move to the nerve endings where it sends impulses to the brain. These impulses are interpreted as sharp pain, burning, or itching sensations that render the skin extremely sensitive. The skin will blister and become extremely painful to even the slightest touch.
After all this you may be wondering…Is shingles contagious?
Those who have never had chicken pox are very unlikely to contract shingles as it is not very contagious, so no! That’s good news at least.
What Does Shingles Look Like?
Once the virus reawakens, it is common to see raised lesions with tiny fluid filled bumps. These lesions are red in color and tend to follow nerve pathways along the abdomen, but can also appear on the face, scalp, and even in the eyes. It normally stays on just one side of the body.
What Causes the Onset of Shingles?
The chances of activating shingles largely depends on the strength of our immune system. If you are under intense stress, have cancer or are going through cancer treatments, have suffered a spinal injury, have a condition that suppresses the immune system (like HIV), or use certain medications, then your chances of developing a shingles outbreak are higher. However, you do not need to be ill in order to activate the virus. Simply enduring intense physical or emotional stress, or even a mild cold or injury can lead to an outbreak in an otherwise healthy person.
What are The Symptoms of Shingles?
An attack of shingles is often preceded by several days of chills, fever, and body aches with pain in areas where the virus may surface on the skin. When it begins to surface, you will typically feel a tingly slightly burning sensation before a lesion erupts, most often a fluid filled blister with a red ring around it. These will often clump together.
Since shingles affects the nerves, it is also very common to experience sharp shooting pain every few minutes lasting anywhere from 1 week to several years even after the lesions have disappeared. However, the average person’s shingles outbreak will last 7-14 days.
If the pain continues for several months or longer, it is called Postherpetic Neuralgia. This syndrome usually occurs in older people and is very difficult to treat and can be incapacitating. The pain is described to be so severe that you cannot tolerate clothing or even a gentle breeze to touch the affected areas.
In the severest of localized cases, shingles can cause blindness, deafness, or paralysis. It can even effect the internal organs.
Other symptoms of shingles include:
• Depression
• Extreme sensitivity
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Numbness
• Shooting pain
• Swollen tender lymph nodes
• Tingling
Eventually, the blisters crust over into scabs that drop off after 7-14 days. In severe cases, scars can be left behind so it’s important to try and keep the scabs moist if possible.
What are The Best Home Remedies that Eliminate Shingles?
Now we can get into the nitty gritty! Remedies that can help you get rid of shingles faster and with eased symptoms.
Unless otherwise specified, the remedies below are adult dosages. For shingles in children ages 12-17, reduce the dose by 1/4. For shingles in children ages 6-12, reduce the dose by 1/2 and for shingles in children under 6, reduce the dose by 3/4.
Supplements for Shingles
These are useful supplements that will help eliminate shingles more quickly and offer some relief. I have listed them from must have to helpful.
Must Have Supplements for Shingles
L-lysine– Very important for healing and fighting the shingles virus.
To use: Take 500 mg daily on an empty stomach and not with milk. Do not take longer than 6 months at a time. Get it here. You can also get L-lysine with immune support herbs here.
Vitamin C (with bioflavonoids)– Boosts the immune system and aids in fighting the virus.
To use: Take 2,000 mg 4 times a day. Get it here.
Very Important Supplements for Shingles
Beta D Glucans– Effective against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
To use– Follow instructions on the label for best results. Get my favorite here.
Vitamin B Complex (w/ extra B12)– Supports nerve health.
To use: Use a complex that lists the major B vitamins as 100 mg each. Take 3 times daily. Get it here.
Zinc– Protects the body against infection and enhances immunity.
To use: Get a chelated zinc supplement that contains 80 mg of zinc. Take daily for 1 week. Get it here.
Important Supplements for Shingles
Calcium Magnesium– enhances nerve function and protects the body and mind against stress.
To use: Take 1,500 mg of calcium chelate with 750 mg of magnesium chelate daily. This is a nice combo supplement you can get here.
Garlic by Kyolic– An excellent immune stimulant.
To use: Take 2 capsules 3 times a day. Get it here.
SAMe (S-Adenosylmethionine)– Reduces pain and inflammation and boosts mood.
To use: Use as directed on the label. Do not use if you have a bipolar condition or take prescription anti-depressants. I like this one.
Vitamin A, D, and E– Boosts immunity and protects the body from infection, aids in tissue healing, and prevents the formation of scar tissue.
To use: Take 25,000 IU of Vitamin A daily for 2 weeks daily. Take 1,000 IU of Vitamin D daily for 1 week, and take 200 IU of Vitamin E daily.
Helpful Remedies for Shingles
• Take a good probiotic to help boost immunity. I like this one.
• Take homepathics like Apis mellifica, Arsenicum album, Clematis flower essence, Iris versicolor, and Rhus toxidendron.
• Use essential oils for shingles like bergamot, eucalyptus, geranium, goldenseal, and lemon.
I’ve also written an entire post on essential oils for shingles relief.
The Best Herbal Remedies for Shingles
Here are some supportive herbal remedies that will help eliminate shingles more quickly. Some of them have been very effective at reducing pain and shortening the duration of the outbreak.
Cayenne Pepper– Cayenne is a powerful pain reliever when applied topically to the skin. Most find it best to use a cayenne salve for soothing pain relief.
To use: Apply the cayenne salve in an even layer over the affected areas twice a day. If able, cover with gauze.
Elderberry – Elderberry is useful to use both topically and internally for all types of herpes related viruses. It reduces symptoms, prevents shingles from spreading, and stimulates the immune system.
Goldenseal– Goldenseal is an amazing herb to use against infections.
To use: Apply the tincture topically and rub into the skin 2-3 times a day and take internally as directed with plenty of rest.
Holy Basil – Use holy basil during healing to help relieve and lower stress. it’s also a potent antiviral that helps reduce inflammation and pain associated with shingles. Holy basil is also great to use for PHN symptoms.
Lemon Balm Tea – Drinking lemon balm tea may help your body overcome herpes that has become resistant to prescription medications. it also helps prevent the spread of shingles as it’s a powerful antiviral.
You can also apply the tea topically by spritzing it on affected areas.
Licorice Root– When used topically in extract form, licorice root has the ability to help boost the immune system and prevent the virus from spreading.
To use: If you are able, apply a few drops of licorice root extract to the affected areas 2-3 times a day.
If you take medicines for heart conditions, high blood pressure, digitalis, or are pregnant, avoid using licorice root.
Neem – Neem oil is a powerful antiviral that can be used to help control shingles symptoms and soothe itching. Apply topically using a clean cotton swab 3-5 times a day.
Oats– Oats are incredibly soothing for the skin and helps reduce redness and inflammation.
To use: Blend up some dry oats until powdered and make a poultice by adding a little water at a time until spreadable. Apply to affected areas. If able, you can also soak in an oatmeal bath for 20 minutes.
Olive Leaf– Olive leaf is another powerful ally against infection and will help inhibit the virus.
To use: Take as directed on the label. You can use capsules or the tincture for best results.
Rose Hips– These are high in Vitamin C and are perfect to make a delicious hydrating tea with. When you have shingles, it’s very important to stay hydrated.
To use: Add a few TB of rose hips to a quart of boiling water and let steep for at least 15 minutes. Drink throughout the day hot or cold.
St. John’s Wort – This herb is effective against all herpes viruses and helps aid the body in restoring damaged nerves caused by shingles. Using the infused oil on active shingles legions can prevent the virus from spreading and can also be used for PHN relief.
Valerian– Valerian is a wonderful relaxant and will help dull the pain of shingles while you sleep. It will also calm nerve pain.
To use: take as directed on the label. I like the tincture best for quick relief.
What have been you best remedies that eliminate shingles faster?
Be sure not to miss these articles:
How I Eliminated Shingles Naturally Without Rx Meds
Cayenne Salve for Pain Relief
Cold Sore Home Remedies- The Ultimate Guide
So my battle with shingles started first week in May.went to hospital with severe pain and bladder retention and constipation.i was given a Foley catheter and sent home .next night pain was so intense couldn’t even walk.so was given another exam and told I had shingles.omg the pain.i had them in the worst place you could imagine.left butt cheek wrapped around went inside the butt cheek around my anal area up the side of my lady part.because of were it started at the base of my tailbone it shut down half of everything intestines bladder urithra prolapse and being able to poo.i still have the nerve pain right by my rectum it is just so intense.because I have hemmoroids they also are on fire .I have tried everything you can think of.but most creams can’t go to that area .I have been on Lyrica but can’t take enough to help because I had all the side affects.if you are reading this and never had shingles get the vaccine.i got them right before my 50 birthday.do any suggestions would be a help.thank you.
Hi, my name is Steve, I was born and raised in New Zealand and moved to the UK where I am now 11 years ago, and am in my late forties, 5 weeks ago I got terrible pain throughout the left side of my scalp and the left side of my forehead felt like it had bad sunburn, both the hospital and my Dr told me it was probably the nerve network being pressed on by something in my head and would go away..3 days later the left side of my scalp, forehead and side of face broke out in shingles.. Dr gave me a Capsaicin 0.025% cream, the blisters were gone in 2 days and the ‘shooting’ pain, the ‘fire’ stopped..But, I still have 5 points of ‘sores’ near left eye and on forehead that have not changed in 5 weeks and the pain from them is immense, , I have a ‘scar’ type effect, deeper colour skin, less sensitive and very tight, but constantly painful, from just below my eyebrow to the crown of my scalp, the left, back, side of my head feels like I have a knife deeply embedded in it, the size of a spread mans hand. The only thing that gives a few minutes relief to the sacred area and the sores is to wet them, but moisturizers do not help,what concerns me the most, is the scabs forming daily just on and near the crown of my scalp, If I scratch them off in my sleep, new ones form within hours, I suspect they are shingles blisters, dried out somehow but Dr simply told me to use a medicated shampoo ( which states not to use on any area that is red, weeping or sore to the touch ) I am in 24 hr pain as all the pain killers from Dr either prevent my driving or working (Tramadol, Co Codamol) (I will lose my job right away if I have time off and must drive several hundred miles a week ) or ones that do not help at all ( Ibuprofen, Nurofen ) She has now given me Pregabalin 75 mg to take twice a day as apparently it targets nerve pain..after reading the warning list on it I am scared to take it, I live alone and and am only in my late forties. In excruciating pain 24 /7. I will attempt to locate some of the remedies you mention above, here in the UK. Thanks for reading, any advice will be very gratefully received. Kiwi Steve.
Hi Tash,
I had Chicken Pox has a child. I can feel the Shingles Virus in various spots in my body, but to date have not had a full breakout. I have had several RIFE treatments to prevent a full onset. Can you give me any suggestions to prevent this virus from taking over.
One of the most common triggers for shingles is stress, So I can’t “stress” enough how important it is to make sure you get enough downtime. have you tried any other methods other than RIFE?
I just recently got the shingles. After a week I got a product from the health food store that was a topical shingles relief with Colloidal silver Aloe Vera and Tea Tree oil. Pain was taken away with in 2 days and has not hurt since. the scabs are falling away after 2 weeks. Such a relief! I also started with ginger shots and cut out sugar as much as possible. Diet is also key!
That’s great, Nathan! Can you share what the product was called?
Hi, I used a cayenne compress, yesterday. I got a paper towel folded in half and sprinkle olive oil on it, then sprinkled cayenne pepper, 160 K UI over the oil. Then I placed that directly on my rash. For the 10 minutes that I could tolerate it on my skin, I noticed the sharp pains and shooting nerve pain, and went away entirely, and the numbness is gone now. The next day I did it again, kept it on for 20 minutes, it certainly helps to diminish those nerve pains. But I noticed my rash is spreading. I’ve had this for 2 weeks now…
Hi Ali!
Is the rash still blistering?
For those who want temporary relief– Walmart handles a product called–” LIV Relief”,for diabetic nerve pain, (found in the pain relief isle), or ask for it. This product is available in Canada only, I believe. I use when then nerve pain is intolerable. Worth the try.
For me milk was the magic. I had extreme burning in my eyes and rinsing with whole milk stopped it instantly. A milk bath also helped the rest of me.
Wow! good to know Brenda!
What about oregano oil?
I would say no. Oregano can burn if it’s not diluted enough and with the nerves so sensitive I wouldn’t risk it. Try things like frankincense and lavender instead. Bergamot is also good for it. If you can afford it helichrysum is amazing but it’s one of the most expensive oils.
Your post, where you discuss contagious, suggests that if one has not had chicken pox then one is very unlikely to contract shingles.
This is terribly misleading information.
If one HAS HAD chicken pox, then one is generally safe around a person with shingles as shingles itself won’t spread via touch.
If one HAS NOT HAD chicken pox, then one is NOT entirely safe as they can CONTRACT CHICKEN POX from a person with SHINGLES. ie: shingles does not spread but chicken pox does so if they make contact with the rash they will get chicken pox, not shingles.
Current post is terribly misleading.
This is so true. The first time I got shingles all
four of my little children got chicken pox. They ranged in age from seven up to fourteen years. It was a miserable experience.
Yes so very true Rob! If your children have not had chicken pox, keep them away from anyone that has shingles!
Thank you. I am a 56 year old female. I have never experienced pain so severe until I got shingles about 2.5 weeks ago. I’m still in that horrid burning stinging pain stage. I will try the must-have level of remedies today. Again, thank you…prescription meds for pain are not working. I really don’t like taking prescripts too much.
Best of luck Spirit Fields! 🙂
I got shingles on my right side, it hurts so much, and medicines were not really helping
until i found out this remedy https://youtu.be/V2vZag9i39c
Hi Vencila!
Which of the remedies do you use? They’re are a few! 🙂
Is there any thing that will help after the shingles are gone but u still have nerve pain. My Mom recently had shingles for the second time and this time it was mild but it was on her stomach closer to the right side and now she has nerve pain on the side and back.
Hi Cheryl!
I would recommend that she try cayenne creams. You can get them on amazon 🙂 It might sound strange to slather on cream made from hot peppers, but it works for many types of pain including nerve pain. Have her use it twice a day. it is safe to use for long periods of time, but she may come to a point where she can go days without it. It should at least give her some relief. Just keep in mind that it needs to build up in the tissues before you start to feel a difference.
If she doesn’t want to try the cayenne creams, get her to start using geranium essential oil diluted in carrier oil. Try adding 20-30 drops of geranium essential oil in 1oz of carrier oil and apply it to painful areas morning and night. One study suggests that this remedy works better than cayenne creams.
Best of luck 🙂
As for shingles… I am a Naturopathic Health Advisor and I simply applied 15 minutes of ozone air on the area and I asked my client to rub on aromatherapy oil by searching on the internet…..Ozone is a great detoxifier and at first my client complaint that he was feeling quite uncomfortable and I informed him that was detox with the shingles microbes and allergenic chemicals leaving his body. Within a day he was feeling so comfortable he felt he did not have to spend the time and the money for more of the ozone.
What about St. John’s Wort salve? That’s an anti viral herb, wouldn’t that help too?
Hi Laura!
Yes it would! 🙂
This is great info. I’ve had two friends pop up in my Facebook feed with shingles lately. Will pass this along to them.
Thank you Beth! I hope your friends find it helpful 🙂
I always learn so much from your posts. This is so helpful, thanks! I had no idea about those homeopathics for this. I love homeopathy, great to see those included.
Oh gosh! Pinning in case I ever need it…which I really, really, hope I don’t!
Thanks for this info! I’ve run across many people who have experienced shingles.
You’re very welcome Susie!
I know more and more people getting shingles. THANK YOU for all this useful information. I will be pinning it. I hope I don’t need it, though…