Treating Shingles: How Chinese Medicine Can Help

2023-12-18 16:06:02

Shingles is treated with antiviral medications, pain relievers, and other medications to control symptoms. How does Chinese medicine treat it? (123RF)

Text/Deng Zhengliang (Director of Jide Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic)

Herpes zoster, also known as “snake-shot rash”, is a disease caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV). This virus is the cause of chickenpox, and when people have chickenpox, the virus enters nerve tissue and lies dormant in ganglia in the body.

When the immune system is weakened or affected by stress, the virus may reactivate and cause shingles. Shingles is usually characterized by pain, rashes, and blisters on the skin. These rashes usually appear on one side of the body or along an area along a ganglion. They are most commonly found on the chest or waist, but may also appear on the head, face or other parts.

Common symptoms

． Pain or tingling sensation:It usually starts days to weeks before the rash appears.

． rash:A red rash that gradually turns into blisters that may break and scab over.

． Rash range:Usually localized to one side of the body, along an area of ​​ganglion distribution.

Shingles may be accompanied by pain and discomfort and sometimes even cause nerve pain. Treatment for shingles includes antiviral medications, pain relievers, and other medications to control symptoms. Getting treatment early can help shorten the course of the disease and reduce the severity of symptoms.

How to prevent it?

Ways to prevent shingles include vaccination, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and avoiding close contact with people who have chickenpox or shingles.

． vaccination:There are currently two shingles vaccines available for prevention: Zostavax and Shingrix. The Shingrix vaccine is recommended for everyone over the age of 50, even if they have had chickenpox or have received the Zostavax vaccine. Vaccination can reduce the risk of getting shingles and reduce the severity of the disease.

． Maintain a healthy lifestyle:A good immune system helps prevent disease. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, adequate sleep, moderate exercise, and reducing stress can help strengthen your immune system.

． Avoid close contact with people with shingles:The shingles virus is primarily spread through direct contact with fluids from skin lesions. Close contact with someone with shingles (especially where the blisters are present) may increase the risk of infection.

Practice good personal hygiene: Frequent hand washing, especially following touching areas of skin with shingles, can help reduce the spread of the virus.

treatment

Treatment for shingles is designed to relieve symptoms, speed recovery, and reduce the risk of complications. Here are common shingles treatments:

． Antiviral drugs:Doctors usually prescribe antiviral medications such as Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, or Famciclovir. These medications help reduce viral replication and spread, shorten the duration of herpes, and reduce the severity of symptoms. It is best to start antiviral medications as early as possible at the onset of initial symptoms for best results.

． painkiller:Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers (such as ibuprofen, Voltaren) or prescription pain relievers to relieve pain and discomfort.

． Local care:Keeping your skin clean and avoiding scratching can reduce infection and promote healing. Certain topical creams or ointments, such as those containing zinc or more soothing ointments, may also be used to relieve skin discomfort.

． Cold or warm compress:You can use a cold or warm compress to relieve localized pain and discomfort. Cold compresses can help reduce pain and swelling, while warm compresses can reduce muscle tension and relax spasmodic muscles.

． Avoid contact with:For people who are being treated for shingles, avoid close contact with people who are not infected with the virus, especially following the blisters have burst, to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

How does Chinese medicine treat it?

TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment. (123RF)

Traditional Chinese medicine treatment of herpes zoster usually includes acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, massage and other methods.

Chinese herbal medicines can be external ointments or herbal decoctions applied to the affected area, or they can be oral Chinese medicine preparations.

If taken orally, it should be treated according to TCM syndrome differentiation. For example, if there is dampness and heat in the liver and gallbladder, Longdan Xiegan Decoction can be used; for spleen deficiency and dampness accumulation, Chushi Weiling Decoction can be used; for qi stagnation and blood stasis, Taohong Siwu Decoction can be used.

These Chinese herbs can help adjust the balance of yin and yang in the body, promote the circulation of qi and blood, help relieve pain and speed up recovery. ◇

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