Shingles

Initially, shingles is often described as a burning pain, numbness or itchiness in one particular location of the body that's generally accompanied by 3-4 days of fever, fatigue and anxiety.

These initial symptoms are then followed by a rash featuring inflammation, reddened skin and fluid-filled blisters in the same place as the initial pain, sometimes in a line called a dermatome that follows the path of the nerve in which the virus is present. Whilst sometimes mild, the pain from shingles can also be severe and debilitating and may be aggravated by stress.

Some suffer from the pain for a long time after the shingles rash disappears and this is referred to as post-herpetic neuralgia, which becomes more common with age. Described as burning, aching, piercing, or like an electric shock the pain of post-herpetic neuralgia may be intermittent or continuous over a long period, but generally lessens over time.

Shingles is caused by the same virus that is responsible for chicken pox (the varicella-zoster virus, a member of the Herpes family of viruses) and people who have had chicken pox are usually immune from getting it again.

However, the virus never truly leaves the body and can lie dormant in the spinal cord and nerve tissue for years and may reactivate and cause shingles.

Approximately 10-20% of people who have had chicken pox will suffer from Shingles with the risk increasing with age. Shingles most commonly occurs in those over 50.

Whilst not fully understood, it appears that situations affecting the immune system, such as illness, stress or trauma, can be a trigger for the virus to be re-activated. This condition is generally more common in people with weakened immune systems.

Strengthening the immune system is important and there are a myriad of natural therapies available that may help the condition.

• The herb echinacea may assist your body in fighting infections along with the antioxidant nutrients betacarotene, vitamins C and E and the mineral zinc
• After you reach 50, consider taking a multivitamin and mineral that’s specially designed to support your immune system Vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients are essential for healthy immune function, especially as we age, along with a healthy balanced diet 
• Neuralgia (nerve pain) has traditionally been treated with herbs such as Passionflower and Hops, often taken with lemon balm if other factors such as insomnia, anxiety and restlessness are present
• Magnesium in powder form may help maintain healthy nerve function
• St. John’s wort is a herb that has traditionally been used for neuralgia (nerve pain) of the type found in shingles. You should consult your healthcare professional to check that it's OK to use this herb in conjunction with any medicines you may be taking

Supporting your immune system is essential and consuming plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a great way of doing so.

Research has shown that eating three pieces of fruit per day can greatly reduce your chance of shingles most likely due to a greater intake of vitamin C and other important nutrients.

A diet high in L-lysine and low in L-arginine may help to inhibit viruses from the herpes family and it's best to follow these dietary points:

• Lower your intake of L-Arginine rich foods such as nuts, chocolate and sunflower seeds
• Increase you intake of L-Lysine rich foods such as fish, milk, cheese, beef, and crustaceans

Also follow these tips when suffering from shingles that may  minimise the symptoms and severity of the condition:

• Prevent infection, don't scratch the blisters and make sure to maintain good personal hygiene and wash the rash gently every day
• Dilute peppermint essential oil (10% in alcohol) and apply topically as this may help to relieve post-herpetic neuralgia pain. It's important to note that you should not apply peppermint oil to your genitals, mouth or eye area. In no circumstances you should you apply this mixture to the faces of babies or small children
• Try and rest as much as possible and make sure you avoid stress as this may weaken your immune system

If the shingles appear on the face, particularly near the nostrils or eyes, then it is important to seek medical advice immediately. Consult your Doctor if your rash persists for longer than 10 days or if it becomes infected.

If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional.