Herpes+Zoster+(Shingles)

[[image:shingles.jpg width="262" height="249" align="right"]]
Shingles occurs when the chickenpox virus lying dormant in nerve cells becomes reactivated. It is generally a disease of the elderly but can also develop in insulin-dependent diabetics and those who have immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS and leukemia.

A shingles outbreak can also be triggered by stress (either emotional or physical) or by certain medications, including steroids such as prednisone, chemotherapy and radiation, regardless of whether you’re over the age of 60 or not.

=Symptoms= The first sign is usually unilateral tingling, itching, or stabbing pain on your skin. After a few days, a red, blistering, severely painful rash appears that can last anywhere between two to four weeks. At its peak, symptoms range from a mild itch to intense pain. When the outbreak resolves, it can leave numbness, skin discoloration and permanent scars. More serious complications, including facial paralysis, hearing loss or encephalitis (inflammation of your brain) can occur, and if the infection includes your eye, it can result in glaucoma, cataracts and even permanent blindness.

TCM Pathology: Wind Heat Invasion Slight chills, fever, general malaise, group of papular eruptions at the affected part with pain & heat sensation, restlessness, thirst, bitter taste in mouth, pricking pain with itching Tongue: Red body; thin yellow or thin white coat Pulse: superficial, wiry, rapid Treatment Principles: Course wind, dispel heat Acupuncture Treatment: GV-14, GB-20, GB-31, GB-34, TW-5, LI-4, LI-11, SP-10, BL-40, LR-3 Herbal Treatment: Yin Qiao San or Chai Hu Shu Gan San

Damp Heat in Liver & Gallbladder Bright Erythema, burning sensation, clusters of taut vesicles, exudate, erosion, pricking pain, restlessness, dryness of mouth, bitter taste in mouth, irritable, propensity toward anger, dry stools or loose stools with bad smell, poor appetite, can be at eyes and/or hypochondrium Tongue: Red with thick yellow coat Pulse: Slippery & rapid Treatment Principles: transform damp, clear heat Acupuncture Treatment: LR-2/3, LR-8, LR-14, GB-34, GB-40, GB-43, SP-9, Sp-10, ST-28, CV-3, CV-9 Herbal Treatment: Long Dan Xie Gan Tang or Dao Chi San or Jin Ling Zi San

Qi & Blood Stagnation in the Jing Luo [can combine w/ others] vesicles are dry, crust formation, red or brown spots, pigmentation, erosion, nerve pain, insomnia due to pain, listlessness OR semi-erupted papules, pain that is sharp like pin pricks. Often seen in the elderly Tongue: Slightly purple body; thin white coat Pulse: wiry Treatment Principles: Soothe liver to promote blood circulation, relieve pain, remove obstruction Acupuncture Treatment: Hua Tuo, 4 Gates Herbal Treatment: Xiao Yao San or Chai Hu Shu Gan San or Jin Ling Zi San Jia Jian

=Treatment=

Recommended Minerals
-Sulfur

Dr. Duke, author of "Green Pharmacy," suggests trying a mixed mint tea made with lots of lemon balm, a little licorice plus any other mints that you have on hand such as:

Hyssop Oregano Peppermint Rosemary Sage Spearmint Thyme

Also Recommended:
capsaicin licorice

Combinations:
Combine equal parts of oat straw, St. John's Wort, and skullcap tinctures. Take one teaspoonful of this mixture four times a day.

Take 1 tbsp. of black walnut, comfrey, kelp and lady's slipper along with aloe vera juice daily. These herbs cleanse the intestinal tract and helps remove toxins which irritate the skin.

Chinese Herbs:
Pueraria combination: For initial stage and vesicle eruptions or for prodromal stage with feverish symptoms.

Minor Bupleurum Combination: Within one or two weeks of onset and vesicle eruption.

Major Bupleurum Combination: For strong people.

Wind:, (1 - mild): Bai Xian Pi (dampness w/ oozing - 15-30g. up to 60g.), Di Fu Zi (lower jiao - UTI, yeast infection), Bai Ji Li, Ku Shen (also increases immune system) (2 - powerful) Bugs - Wu Gong (1-3g./day), Quan Chong (1-3g./day), Wu Shao She, Di Long, Chan Tui, Jiang Chan (3 - itching) Shen - Dan Shen, Zhen Zhu Mu, Long Gu, Mu Li, Shi Jue Ming
 * General Dermatological Modifications**

Guiding Herbs: (1-head and face) - Ye Ju Hua, Gao Ben,, Cang Er Zi (2 - ear and around the mouth) - Huang Lian, Zhi Zi, Huang Qin, Long Dan Cao (3 - upper limbs) - Sang Zhi, Qiang Huo (4 - lower limbs) - Mu Gua, Nui Xi, Du Huo (5 - Lower Back) - Du Zhong, Xu Duan (6 - Genitals) - Huang Bai

Children: (1 - Middle Jiao) - Shen Ling Bai Zhu San, Si Juan Zi, Liu Jun Zi Tang (2 - Dampness) - Yi Yi Ren, Shan Yao, Lian Zi, Qian Shi, Bai Bian Dou