Shingles (also known as herpes zoster) is a latent side effect of chickenpox and can remain undetected in the body for years. It is a viral skin disease that is characterized by a rash, one that is usually painful and unsightly. Unlike chickenpox, it can strike at any stage in life. There are several different sensations that the shingles rash can produce, including burning, itching, numbness and tingling. Within days of the rash, strong pain will usually develop.
Along with the skin rash, other symptoms can include headache, fever, and malaise. Treatment depends on the location, duration and severity of the episode. Immediately, run to your doctor and get an anti-viral medication as well as a steroid medication (short term). Then call for acupuncture to help hasten the healing process. Shingles is non-contagious, so it cannot be spread from person to person.
The shingles rash most often shows up along a nerve pathway, and starts with affecting the nerve sheathing. Then pain is due to the disruption of the nerve sheathing, which now will need a bit of time to repair itself. Immediate medicine will be huge in allaying the damage and hastening the cure. Areas often affected are usually facial nerve, or thoracic nerves around the rib cage, or lower back to buttocks area, usually one-sided.
Acupuncture is very helpful in hastening the healing process. The point sites are local to the nerve enervation area that has been affected. There will be other point sites as well. In all cases where strong pain is involved, acupuncture is painless, and is a welcome help. All the cases I have treated have improved very quickly.
For more information, please visit us at www.ctacupuncture.com