Shingles
Natural Remedies

Effective Home Treatments & Natural Remedies for Shingles

L-Lysine

8 User Reviews
5 star (7) 
  88%
4 star (1) 
  13%

Posted by Pat (Ann Arbor, Mich) on 06/23/2006
★★★★★

For me, it's the only thing I've tried, and it works every time. I used to get shingles regularly, and have used l-lysine each time, except for the time the MD didnt recognise the condition, and gave me............ antibiotics! Wow. I also use the dietary guidlines, and eat foods rich in lysine, and low in arginine. Stress will up the arginine, and bring on the outward manifestation of the virus


L-Lysine
Posted by Donna (Aspen)
★★★★★

L-lysine, when taken immediately upon infection will cure shingles.

Replied by Louise
(Saint George, Utah)
09/26/2011
★★★★★

I have used L-Lysine for over 30 years to PREVENT and lessen the outbreak of cold sores and shingles. I first heard about it in the Saturday Evening Post in the 1980's. They apparently did several studies on the subject. At the time I had cold sore blisters on my mouth almost continually. I began to take mega-doses of L-Lysine (at least 3000 mg per day). I took them for about 15 days and because the cold sores were almost gone, I reduced the dose to about 1500 mg a day for another 30 days. I then took about 500 mg a day for another 2 or 3 months.

Then, because I had not had any breakouts, my drive to take the amino acid had become almost non-existant. What I discovered is that if I felt a tingle on my lip--I knew that an outbreak was immenent and I began to take the mega doses of L-Lysine again for a week or so. Then I never had an outbreak of cold sores again. Each time I got the tingle the L-Lysine prevented the outbreak. What I didn't know was that the virus is sneaky. I broke out in shingles on my chest during a time I wasn't taking the L-Lysine and I didn't know what the pain was signaling. When I started to breakout in the blisters I realized what it was and began the mega doses of L-Lysine again. When I was able to see a doctor to confirm my outbreak--I had no pain, and refused to take the offer of pain medication. He, of course, scoffed at the idea the the amino acid had anything to do with the lightness of my outbreak.

By the way, I've not had another outbreak of shingles, either. If I feel the burning/tingling sensation anywhere on my body. I take the mega doses of L-Lyine and I have never had any more outbreaks. IT WORKS!!!! It saved the quality of my life!

Replied by Mark
(Las Vegas)
07/04/2015

Lysine can cause liver toxicity if taken too much. Read up on it.


L-Lysine + TENS Unit

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by DLee (USA) on 10/08/2023
★★★★★

My wife was having pain for about a week before the first blisters showed up and we realized it was shingles. Started L-Lysine right away, 500 mg twice per day, sometimes 3 times. Two patches developed, one about 2 inches long and maybe 1 1/2 inches wide, the other a bit smaller. Blisters were scattered over the affected area; not a mass of blisters like some have had. The infection never spread beyond those areas. Took 5 weeks to heal up. I believe that Lysine limited the development of the infection. Lysine did not seem to help with the nerve 'zaps'. A TENS unit, however, did a remarkable job at nearly eliminating nerve 'zaps' . We used a 2 channel unit. The nerve pain ran along a line that started just beside the spine and wrapped around in a downward sloping arc around to the front of the chest almost to rhe sternum. The front terminal end of the line was about 2 inches lower than the other end at the spine. TENS unit Electrodes were placed this way: 1st channel- one electrode at the starting point of the pain next to spine with its pair electrode about halfway around the line, on the side (about where your arm would fall). 2nd channel- one electrode halfway between the first pair, the other one at the terminating end of the pain path near the sternum. Used a steady, not pulsating, mode. After 90 minutes of this, no zaps for the next 12 hours, and very few zaps for quite some time after that. Only had to do this twice, about 3 or 4 days after the visible onset of the infection. After that, nerve pain was very intermittent and less intense than it had been.


L-Lysine and Vitaminc

3 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  67%
4 star (1) 
  33%

Posted by Valeria (Eden Prairie, Minnesota - USA) on 04/04/2008
★★★★★

I developed shingles in October 2007, however, all I had was all the discomforts of the disease and never developed the rash. About 3 days ago (4-2-08) I began experiencing the same symptoms again. It was jsut a fluke that I began taking vitamin C and Lysine tablets. I had some Lysine on hand and determined that if the Lysine was good for preventing or lessening the pain of cold sores - why shouldn't it work to help allieviate the shingles. So I began taking the Lysine and also the Vitamin C. The dosage of the tablets for the Lysine is 1000 mg. and the Vitamin C is also 1000 mg. I have been taking two Vitamin C and 2 Lysine tablets about every four hours and it is definitely helping to relive the pain. I have also had pain meds which my doctor recommended last fall - but they do not seem to do much of anything. I hope that this will help someone else - I am 77 and never had shingles before last October. I have not developed the rash this time either.

Replied by Kelly
(Us)
05/14/2014
★★★★☆

I am 62 and I believe my shingles are from stress. I immediately stated the L-lysine and vit c - 1000 mg each 3x/day. after 2 weeks of very little sleep, I added vicks vapor rub to the area of pain and then wrapped it snugly with a wide ace bandage. Also I added homeopathic remedy phosphorus 30c. finally in the middle of the 3rd wk I have actually had less pain and 6.5 hrs of undisturbed sleep! I think due to intense prayer and the above remedies I am on the upside of this nightmare. I hope my post is helpful to someone. Blessings.

Replied by Rebel
(Somewhere Usa)
05/14/2014

Since shingles virus live in the spine, if I had shingles I would rub from the base of my skull to my lower back down the spine, with a few drops of clove oil. I do not know if this will help or not. But I have in the past had very bad pains in my spine and in my throat and rubbed both places with clove oil and it went away very over night. If I had sensitive skin, I would maybe dilute the clove oil. I don't have sensitive skin so I use full strength.

I believe somewhere on here Ted speaks of spinal virus and clove oil.

Replied by Rebel
(Somewhere Usa)
05/14/2014

I should mention, I DID NOT have shingles. Just pain in spine and throat area.

Replied by Kelly
(Us)
05/18/2014

UPDATE - I ADDED liquid vitamin B12 by Now & it includes B-Complex also- 2x/day. This has made a significant difference.


L-Lysine and Vitaminc
Posted by Kathy (Mitchell, NE) on 03/31/2007
★★★★★

Dear sufferers of shingles, Don't. Lysine and Vitamine C seem to be the best get rid of them forever cure. I have had about 3 or 5 breakouts in 20 years since I discovered Lysine and Vitamin C. Always take the Lysine the minute you notice a breakout. Before this my breakout would occure regularly. My life is high stress. stress causes outbreaks. If the lysine and c dont quite do it, add liquid b vitamins also to your diet. So far, I'm going on 8 years since my last breakout!


L-Lysine, ACV, Tiger Balm, Cayenne

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Michele (Earlville, NY) on 07/19/2009
★★★★★

L-lysine 500mg/4xday, ACV, red tiger balm, and cayenne pepper works for me. L-lysine is very effective (it literally starves the virus). I found I had stopped too early and the rash (shingles) returned. One started again it receded within a day. For the itching and burning of the patches on my neck I washed with a mild soap, patted on ACV then covered with red tiger balm, then patted on powdered cayenne pepper on top of the tiger balm (not pretty).CAUTION: DO NOT USE THIS ON BROKEN SKIN, NEAR EYES OR MUCOUS MEMBRANES. WASH HANDS CAREFULLY AFTER USE.- IT WILL BURN (I had no open blisters, just a bumpy itchy rash). Not knowing how to calm the itching & burning patches on my neck, I read in the earth clinic mosquito bite section that tiger balm soothes the itch. So I gave it a try AND patted on powdered cayenne pepper on top and left it on for an hour. Capsaicin works by stimulating and then exhausting Substance P, the nerve-related transmitter that sends pain messages to your brain, in the skin. After an hour I wiped both the tiger balm and the cayenne off with a washcloth. The area was red but no longer itched or burned. By next morning all the redness was gone and the itch had not returned. I will continue this for a few days but will continue the lysine longer, to be sure.


L-Lysine, Manuka Honey

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Julie (SWFL) on 03/21/2020
★★★★★

Lysine + maximum strength (MGO) raw Manuka Honey raw

My husband had chicken pox twice (as a child and in high school) and recently had his first episode of shingles, on one arm.

I gave him 1000 mg Lysine (by mouth) twice a day, coated the rash with the highest MGO rated Manuka honey and covered it with gauze + a tube bandage overnight for 5 days. It's gone.


L-Lysine, Vitamin C, Zinc

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Beatrice (Dartmouth, Massachusetts, USA) on 07/15/2008
★★★★★

When I started getting symtems of Shingles, which I had last year, I immediatly came to this site. Luckily I found someone who used L Lysine and Vit. C and Zinc. I followed the remedy and in one day, the jabbing pains were gone. Thank you for this site. I took L Lysine (l000Units) the same for Vit. C and l00units of Zinc every 4 hours for 3-4 days and then went down to l dose per day.

Replied by Marigold
(Usa)
12/17/2014

Absolutely! This worked for me!


Licorice Extract

6 User Reviews
5 star (5) 
  83%
4 star (1) 
  17%

Posted by Preston (MA) on 10/07/2022
★★★★★

Put licorice extract on your shingles then wrap a piece of saran wrap around the outbreak then take a one hour nap...shingles will be gone...my own personal remedy which works always...


Licorice Extract
Posted by Pam (Columbia Falls, Montana ) on 02/25/2022
★★★★★

My husband had shingles on the back of his head in his hair. He had them for two or three weeks before he showed them to me. Too late for an antiviral from the doctor. I got licorice root extract and applied 2-3 times a day and my husband rubbed it in. His shingles dried up and went away within 2-3 weeks. Completely gone. My son's father-in-law got the this fall and they got some right away. It took his pain away and healed his shingles also. We swear by it!


Licorice Extract
Posted by Jonathan C. (Shelburne MA) on 10/16/2019 4 posts
★★★★★

I got shingles after doing a triathlon. At first, I thought it was chafing, then went to the ER and confirmed the diagnosis. The doctor said the stress of an athletic event like this could bring it on. Thank goodness for EarthClinic!

At first, I immediately tried the essential oils of geranium, lavender and tea tree and eucalyptus and they seemed to help. Then I tried Licorice Extract, applying it three times per day, and, within days the shingles were noticeably on the retreat; within ten days, totally gone! I had it a total of two weeks and, because of the Licorice Extract, I had very little discomfort. Unbelievably grateful for EarthClinic!


Licorice Extract
Posted by Daffodil (British Columbia, Canada) on 07/18/2016
★★★★★

After my husband passed away I got shingles 2 years in a row. I bought a bottle of Licorice Root Extract from the local drugstore. It had a dropper in it and I just dropped some liquid on my fingers and applied it to the shingles sores. This took the pain away and I was immediately able to go back to sleep at night, or be painfree during the day. The shingles seemed to stop spreading at that point and eventually cleared up, although I had raised bumps (nerve endings I think) that still show up occasionally 5 years later.

I also supplemented (to boost my immune system) with Vitamin C (Camu is readily available to the body) 500 mg 3x/day, L Lysine - 500 mg 2x/day and Folic Acid - 1 microgram/day. This is inexpensive and worked for me.


Licorice Extract
Posted by Grannyguru (Az, Usa) on 11/03/2013
★★★★☆

The licorice root extract did not get rid of the shingles blisters, though it did seem to help the areas of skin and muscle which only had tiny red spots.

There it made the area generally feel less swollen and more returned to "normal" tissue.

Prior to that what had worked best was calamine lotion. However my initial experience with calamine lotion made me search further:

The initial application of calamine lotion really helped, though it is VERY messy to apply to the calf and shin and ankle. Almost immediately, I got relief and the large ugly blisters stopped weeping and seemed to become inactive and dry up.

The next day the rash was nearly gone. So I spred the lotion over the area again. The result was that the (shingles) infection appeared all over the area covered with lotion, so I stopped using the calamine.

I don't think I knew it was shingles at that time.

I tried apple cider vinegar and various other "remedies" but nothing really helped.

I believe the calamine lotion only seemed to spread the shingles, but really the shingles were just in the middle of blasting my leg with the outbreak.

Since the calamine did dry up the blisters, I tried it again. It provided relief and dried up the blisters, but it also made the areas with only small blisters or sensitive to touch, dry beyond reason.

So while it allieviated the pain from the large blisters, walking made the rest of the area covered with calamine lotion feel as if the skin was being ripped off for a while each time I had to walk.

The licorice root extract does not do that. It made the areas with only tiny blisters or no blisters feel better, with no or little pain when touched. It seemed to make the tiniest of blisters there go away, but it did not get rid of small blisters or the large blisters.

I am now past the 3rd day of using the licorice root extract. I am going to go back to using the calamine lotion, at least on the large blisters.

Arrgghhhh!!!!!

Replied by Bob Loblaw
(USA)
11/03/2013

I hope you're applying the licorice 3 or 4 times a day...?


Licorice Extract
Posted by Mr. Ree (Usa) on 08/15/2013
★★★★★

I used licorice extract on Shingles lesions and they were gone in 3 days... It came back twice and I put it on the same day and in an hour it was gone... $8.95 a bottle... Dr's told me there was nothing they could do about it but give me percoset... And they said it might last as long as a couple of years... Bright people!

Replied by Kilee
(Ontario, Canada)
04/04/2014

Mr Ree from Usa Thank for your suggestion that I try licorice extract for shingles. I am over four months into this , left with the horrible scarring and the nerve pain that just goes on and on. Do you think the licorice extract will still work this late in? If you think so , I will definitely give it a try. thank you , Kilee

Replied by Mr. Ree
(Usa)
04/04/2014

For $8.95 it's certainly worth a try...I have always recommended "Natures Answer.' I have not tried other licorice extract...I got rid of my shingles in 3 days about 1 1/2 months after it surfaced...Then beat it twice more when it hit the same day...In one hour! I still have the bottle a couple of years later and it's 1/2 full.

Replied by Dave
(Fountain Inn, Sc)
04/05/2014

Hello Kilee,

Re Shingles

You might also consider this: The ongoing nerve pain might be that the virus is still working. That is the virus has not been killed. Look under the Shingles (Ailment Section) on Earth Clinic and you'll see numerous remedies to deal with Shingles.

I have a post there and relate my experience with Shingles. I used a combo of Cayenne and Vitamin E and DMSO and Colloidal Silver as a salve. The CS and Cayenne were used to kill the virus; the E to make sure the Cayenne did not burn the skin and of course the DMSO was the carrier. And it too is anti viral.

Next, consider the possibility that the virus has damaged the nerves. So even if you do kill the virus, some shingles cases continue to hurt because of nerve damage. To help with nerve healing I use "AEP" and it's called Calcium AEP. (NOT just calcium.) The AEP is what you are after. Google; nutrition review calcium AEP. Great article. Dr Robert Adkins used it as primary item in treating his MS patients.


Licorice Extract
Posted by John P. (Cape Cod, Massachusetts) on 07/05/2012

Get a bottle of licorice extract and apply it to the lesions. Do this for 3 days and they will be gone at the end of the third day. Of course keep the bottle in case it re-surfaces. $8.95 here in the states... Cheap fix.. Don't get a vaccine for shingles.



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