Shingles

This distinctive and painful skin condition is caused by a virus related to herpes and chicken-pox, although less tagious. Shingles begins with a bout of pains that follow a nerve path way whether along the trunk, the limbs, or even from the eye. The pain is soon followed by the appearance in the same location of blisters that itch, burn , or throb, sometimes unbearably. These blisters then dry into scabs which last somewhat longer, and which may leave small but permanent scars.

In most cases, shingles is a painful, but benign condition, which usually resolves in three weeks. However, horribly painful after-effects do sometimes recur and may persist, particularly among the elderly. It becomes a serious, possibly an emergency, condition if it appears allover the body, if it affects the eyes, or if it occurs in an immuno-deficient patient

Treatment

A powerful course of treatment should be used from the outset. Both topical and general, the treatment aims to shorten the duration of the condition, limit its seriousness, and above all prevent the painful post-herpetic neuralgia.

Acupuncture

This treatment is almost essential for its effectiveness against acute pain. It is a good idea to start acupuncture treatments without delay, as soon as the first symptoms appear.

Treatment Schedule: The frequency of the sessions may be quite intensive, ranging from one a day to three or four times a week, for the first two weeks.

Oligotherapy

Copper alone or in a copper, gold, and silver combination.

Magnesium and zinc

Trace elements are usually found in the diet, which should be varied and of high quality. In cases of deficiency, they can be given as medicinal supplements.

Dietary sources of copper

This element is found in small quantities in almost all foods. The highest concentrations of copper come from (calf and sheep's) liver ++. seaweed, shellfish such as scallops and oysters, lobster, fish roe, almonds and walnuts. some vegetables (such as avocados and mushrooms), cereals (whole wheat, whole-grain rice and soya), dried fruits, green vegetables, plums, cocoa, and tea.

Dietary sources of magnesium

Magnesium can be found in almost all foods, but comes mainly from citrus fruits, bananas, whole-grain cereals (oat or bran flakes), cocoa and chocolate, shellfish (winkles, shrimps. oysters, and clams) and oily fish, figs, hard cheeses, nuts (such as almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts and walnuts). vegetables (spinach, dried and green beans, maize, split peas, and soya beans), and wholemeal bread.

Dietary sources of zinc

Zinc is most plentiful in seafood. fish, oysters ++ and other shellfish. It is also found in meat, egg yolk, cereals, whole­meal bread, brewer's yeast, hazelnuts, and some vegetables (broccoli, mushrooms, spinach, and beans).

• Copper-magnesium-zinc treatments: each of these three trace elements can be taken in various forms, such as Organic Minerals (Colloidals) which contains 70+ trace minerals:
  - Available in 946ml bottles
  - Take 1-3 caps just before breakfast and/or evening meal
  - Children 1 teaspoon daily for each 20lbs of body weight

Or Maximol (Ionized colloidals):

- Available in 500ml bottles
- Take 1/2 capful once or twice daily on an empty stomach

Vitamins

Vitamin C is vital for building up the immune system.

The B vitamins are needed to help regenerate the nerve cells.

Foods rich in vitamin C

Citrus fruits (lemons. oranges, and grapefruit), green vegetables (celery, green cabbage ++, watercress, spinach, sorrel. parsley, and horseradish), fruits (such as pineapple, blackcurrants ++, guava, and kiwi fruit ++), red berries istrawberries, raspberries, and redcurrants), potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes.

• You can find a vitamin supplement in Berocca@, a blend of calcium, magnesium, B vitamins, and 1 ,000mg of vitamin C:
  - Sold in boxes of 10 or 20 effervescent tablets
  - One tablet to be taken in the morning
• You could also try Megavit@ (Lam berts), which combines vitamins A, B, C, and E, and zinc, selenium and the bioflavonoids:
  - Sold in containers of 60 and 180 tablets
  - 1 to 2 tablets daily

Brewer's yeast

Origin: A living substance specially prepared as a supplement, from a minute fungus that serves as a ferment in the preparation of beer. It is not the same as baker's yeast, and is better tolerated by the digestive system.

Composition and Properties: Yeast is packed with B vitamins, minerals (such as chromium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium) and essential amino acids. It reinforces the immune system, helps fight infections, and restores the balance of intestinal flora. It boosts the health of the skin, nails, and hair.

Method of Use: It is obtainable from health food shops and pharmacies in the form of tablets, capsules, and flakes 'or sprinkling on food

Homeopathy

Vaccinotoxicum is systematically prescribed.

- Six 7c tablets to be sucked slowly between meals, once a day for four or five days.

Vaccinotoxicum

- Animal origin: made from the smallpox vaccine
- The homeopathic remedy for blister type rashes (herpes, chickenpox, and shingles)

Also Mezereum and Ranunculus bulbosus

- Four 5c tablets of one or both of these remedies to be sucked slowly between meals, three times a day for several days

Mezereum

- Vegetable origin: a shrub, the Daphne mezereum tree
- One of the homeopathic remedies for rashes with itching blisters and scabs
- A specific indication: the condition is made worse by the heat of the bed

Ranunculus bulbosus

- Vegetable origin: the bulb of the buttercup plant
- The homeopathic remedy for acute, burning, stinging pain, with blood-filled blisters or blisters that itch until they bleed
- Two characteristic indications: the condition is made worse by being touched, or by the slightest movement.

• You could also try Lehning@ Euphorbium Complex 88, whose ingredients include Mezereum 4x, Rhus toxicodendron 4x, and Sulfur 4x:
  - Sold in 30ml bottles of oral drops
  - Fifteen drops to be taken in a little water, three times a day
• Another remedy would be Ranunculus-Homaccord@ (Heel), which contains Ranunculus bulbosis and Asclepias tube rosa in various potencies:
  - Available in drop bottles containing 30 and 100ml
  - In general, 10 drops 3 times daily. In acute disorders, initially 10 drops every 15 minutes

Herbal remedies

Echinacea for fighting infection.

Eleutherococcus or Siberian ginseng, which strengthens the patient's terrain.

Possibel Prescription: Ask your herbalist to make up 30 capsules of a blend of dried extracts of all three plants, 100mg of each plant for each NO.2 capsule (the size of the capsule that the herbalist will use for the ingredients). Take one capsule three times a day for ten days.

Siberian Ginseng / Echinacea

Siberian ginseng, or Eleutherococcus, belongs to the ginseng or ivy family, but comes from the plains of Siberia where it grows in abundance. It gained some notoriety after athletes from the former Soviet Union and Eastem bloc countries used it to increase their resistance to physical and mental fatigue. EchinacE (purple coneflower) comes from North America, where it was much used b native tribes to combat infections.

• You can use Echinaforce (Bioforce)" tincture of Echinacea purpurea: - Available in 50ml and 100ml bottle: of oral drops
  - Fifteen drops to be taken in a little water, three times a day by adults seven drops three times a day by children (6-12 years old)
• And Lamberts@ Korean ginsen 600mg:
  - Sold in containers of 60 capsules
  - Take one to two capsules daily
• As a topical treatment, you could try applying cold compresses, two or three times daily, soaked in a few drops of a mother tincture of calendula (marigold), together with the usual daubing of the skin with soluble eosin, which dries out the blisters

Calendula

The common marigold, with its deep orange petals rich in active principles, possesses antiseptic, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, and helps heal many skin conditions.

Plant essential oils

Spanish oregano, for its effectiveness against infection.

True lavender.

- Two drops of essential oil of Spanish oregano to be taken in a little honey, twice a day for several days; two drops of essential oil of lavender to be applied to the affected area two or three times a day

Spanish oregano

Oregano has been in use since Greek and Roman times, and not only as a garnish for pizza. Like eucalyptus, savory, and thyme, it contains an essential oil with powerful infection fighting properties.

Lavender

Lavender is one of the oldest plants to be cultivated for herbal treatments, and one of the most popular for minor wounds and bruises. Its aromatic and therapeutic properties come from the plant's essential oil.

• You could also try Gouttes aux essences@(Lehning), whose ingredients include essential oils of cinnamon, lavender, and thyme:
  - Sold in 45ml bottles of oral solution
  - Twenty drops to be taken in a little water, three times a day. For children over the age of 30 months: five drops to be taken in a little water, four times a day .