What Are The Treatments For Shingles With Acupuncture

Shingles occurs when a virus known as varicella zoster--the virus that causes chickenpox--becomes active again in adulthood after lying dormant for years. Only people who have had chickenpox in the past are susceptible to shingles. Recently acupuncture, used for thousands of years as part of traditional Chinese medicine, has received fresh attention as a potential treatment for shingles.

Symptoms

The symptoms of shingles include a rash with an outbreak of blisters on areas such as the thigh, groin, abdomen, shoulder, scalp, eye, head or face. The pain from shingles can be debilitating and last anywhere from a week to a month. While the pain usually diminishes as the blisters subside, in some cases it may become persistent, a condition known as post-herpetic neuralgia.

Causes

An immune system compromised by immunosuppressant drugs, cancer treatments or stress can provide an opening for the varicella zoster virus to reactivate and cause shingles. People over the age of 50 and those with a weakened immune system are at increased risk of developing shingles.

Forms of Acupuncture

Five main forms of acupuncture are used to treat shingles: ear acupuncture, empirical point acupuncture, local area treatment, treatment based on involved channels and treatment based on pathogenic factors.

Treatment Basics

The types and number of needles used in acupuncture to treat shingles will depend on both the practitioner and the form of treatment. But a common element of treatment is that the needles, once inserted, typically remain in place for 30 minutes. The recommended number of treatment sessions varies depending on the severity of the shingles outbreak.

Diet

During treatment, junk foods, fatty foods, soft drinks, spices, alcohol, red meat and any refined foods and sugars should be avoided, since some practitioners believe these foods can cause inflammation and delay healing.

Limitations

The risk of post-herpetic neuralgia increases with age and with delays in seeking treatment. In older or weakened patients, acupuncture may not offer as much benefit.

Tags: acupuncture used, immune system, post-herpetic neuralgia, treat shingles, treatment based