If you like using alternative therapies you may have used acupuncture or some other form of Chinese medicine. If you haven’t, then there are other methods that can help you treat shingles pain. Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine are often used as complementary treatments for shingles.
Acupuncture for Shingles
Acupuncture is known for being a ‘needle treatment!’ It certainly is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting very thin needles. These needles are inserted into specific points by the acupuncturist. These points can help release your natural painkillers, like endorphins, and improve blood flow.
For shingles that can cause severe nerve pain, acupuncture can effectively reduce shingles pain and improve a patient’s quality of life. It can also help reduce the risk and severity of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is a common complication of shingles that involves persistent nerve pain even after the rash has healed.
Acupuncture can also support the body’s natural healing processes and boost your immune system. When you have a stronger immune response, your body can fight off the virus more effectively and reduce the severity and duration.
Acupuncture isn’t just about treating the symptoms!
It balances the body’s vital energy, known as qi, and improves overall well-being. The varicella-zoster virus causes a disruption in your qi flow.
Herbal Medicines for Shingles
Herbal medicines are a part of ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine’ (TCM) because they offer a natural, holistic way to treat the root causes of illness and support the body’s healing processes. Herbs are used to restore the balance between the yin and the yang.
The yin is the cooling, calming energy, and the yang is the heating, active energy. By restoring the balance overall harmony and health can be achieved. There are many different herbs, all of which have different medicinal properties. Some are anti-inflammatory, antiviral, or detoxifying, and others provide nourishing effects.
Some of the common Chinese herbs used for shingles include the following:
- Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) – This herb has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties that can help soothe the skin and reduce pain.
- Scutellaria (Huang Qin) – This one is used for its anti-inflammatory effects to reduce the redness and swelling.
- Forsythia (Lian Qiao) – Yes, this is a real herb and not just made up for the ‘Contagion’ movie. It can help reduce the spread of the virus and alleviate shingles symptoms.
These herbs are usually combined into a formula tailored to your specific symptoms. You may be given them as a tea, pills, or a tincture.
Dietary Recommendations
In TCM, diet is important in maintaining balance and health in the body. Proper nutrition prevents illness by maintaining the body’s balance of qi, yin, yang, and the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water).
Shingles is often seen as a condition of “heat” in the body, so eating “cooling” foods can help balance this heat. These include cucumbers, watermelon, celery, and leafy greens. They can help reduce inflammation and soothe the body as it fights to heal.
Foods can influence the flow and balance of qi, so eating the right foods can help ensure that qi flows smoothly and is neither deficient nor excessive. Many foods also have therapeutic properties, such as anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, or immune-boosting effects.
Lifestyle Adjustments
As TCM promotes holistic and sustainable health, it’s only natural that there is a focus on changing poor lifestyle choices. Healthy lifestyle choices can enhance the effectiveness of other treatments.
For example, stress is a killer, so it’s important that you reduce stress, and rest and relax. This is necessary for healing because shingles can be quite exhausting. Stress can weaken your immune system and worsen shingles symptoms. Traditional Chinese practices, such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong, help reduce stress and allow your body to fight shingles more effectively.
Learning to eat right, exercise daily and live a healthy lifestyle can help you in so many areas of your life. It’s holistic healing at its best. Adding in acupuncture and TCM techniques gives it all an extra boost.
Natural methods, such as acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine offer a holistic approach to managing and treating shingles. They focus on alleviating symptoms, restoring balance, and supporting the body’s natural healing processes. They are well worth using in your shingles pain management plan!
