Shingles Acupuncture Clinic

Traditional  Chinese  Medicine

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus of chickenpox.
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA (CDC), 1 out of 3 individuals will develop shingles over their lifetime. Developing Shingles is most normal in individuals 50 years of age and older. People who get shingles are those who have previously had chicken pox and who have a weakened immune system. Once having chicken pox, the virus moves to the nervous system near the spinal cord where it remains dormant. It is believed the virus will reactivate as shingles given the right circumstances, such as high levels of stress with a weakened or suppressed immune system. However in practice we also noticed Shingles may develop when a person’s immune system is in recovery along with increase of energy.
 
People with shingles often experience pain, tingling or itching, followed by a painful rash. The pain and rash from shingles frequently affect only one side of the body. Areas commonly affected include: chest, abdomen, neck and face or eyes, Shingles on the face and around the eyes may affect vision and should be addressed promptly.
 
Some clients experience pain around the rash site for months after the skin blisters or rashes have cleared. The pain of shingles can be so severe that the daily life of clients can be affected negatively. The pain further incurs anxiety and insomnia with low appetite. This remaining pain, after the skin blisters/rashes have cleared, is known as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). This occurs because the damaged nerve fibers send confused and exaggerated signals to the brain.

 

What is the western treatment for shingles?

 
Shingles is often treated with antiviral medication (—acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir—) to reduce the severity and duration of the symptoms, along with pain reliever, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, or topical capsaicin.
 
For lingering severe post-herpetic neuralgia which can not be relieved by medications, sympathetic nerve blocks may be applied. This involves injecting an anesthetic near the sympathetic nerves to numb the pain.
 
Such nerve blocking may negatively affect some automatic functions, such as blood pressure, digestion, and sweating, as they are controlled by the blocked nerve.
Reference:
 
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-acupuncture-can-relieve-shingles-pain#acupuncture-and-shingles-pain;
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34397828/;
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22389674/;
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28338265/;
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29067137/;
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21639941/;
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28712474/;
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35222677/
https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/treatment.html
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/postherpetic-neuralgia;
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25293476/;

https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/nerve-blocks-for-pain-management/sympathetic-nerve-block

 
 

how do we treat?

Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners use a combined method to treat shingles:
 
  • acupuncture;
  • moxibustion;
  • blood-letting; and
  • cupping.
 
We may also incorporate ointment and herb-formulations, as deemed appropriate.

How acupuncture & moxibustion work for shingles

Chinese practitioners have used acupuncture and moxibustion to treat shingles for at least two thousand years. It can restore the skin quickly, as well as significantly reduce or even prevent post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).

 

In 2011, a randomized controlled trial showed that acupuncture could be effectively used for the treatment of shingles pain, or acute herpetic pain. Acupuncture and moxibustion may also improve quality of life and reduce anxiety in people with shingles.
 
More recently, researchers found that adding acupuncture to traditional antiviral therapy shortened the pain in the three key phases of shingles:

 

•the pain before the blisters appeared;
•the pain when the blisters appear; and
•the pain after the blisters stops forming and the rash clears up.
 
Blood-letting and cupping is often used in conjunction with acupuncture and moxibustion to further encourage irritated or damaged nerve fibers to heal more quickly, thus reducing and normalizing pain signals to the brain.

 

 
Why you should treat shingles ASAP?

 

The best therapeutic window for shingles is 1-3 days after symptoms occur. The earlier treatment is started, the greater likelihood of full recovery.

 

 
What results to expect

 

After treatment, the affected skin will heal. Some scarring may be present althoughit will fade as time passes by. The goal is to minimize and prevent any long-term side effects such as pain or scarring. Our treatment also focuses on improving immune system function and nervous system function.
 
Studies have also shown that acupuncture and blood-letting are effective at managing the pain of shingles. In a study of 134 cases by Dr. NIU, Yunduo, the pain was largely reduced within 24-48 hours. Additionally the scab from the blisters appears and will clear up within one week. Among all the 134 cases, no post-herpetic neuralgia was observed/reported.
 
In conclusion, studies have shown that the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with blood letting and cupping in the treatment of PHN is significantly higher than that of conventional western medicine , and it can significantly prevent the occurrence of post-herpetic neuralgia. More and more people have chosen acupuncture to treat Shingles and have reported satisfaction with the treatment results.