Shingles (herpes zoster) is an outbreak of blisters or a rash like condition on the skin. It is caused by the same herpes virus that causes chickenpox.

Symptoms of onset are often tingling, then burning pain or itching that occurs in one specific location on one side of the body. After several days or a week, fluid-filled blisters appear. The blisters or sores can be very painful. The blisters resemble a Poison Ivy or Poison Oak rash. Shingles pain can be minimum or extremely intense.
For people with extreme pain, even the slightest touch is hard to bear. Clothes can be extremely bothersome and hurt to wear. The most common location for shingles usually forms in a band that spans one side of the trunk around the waistline. Anyone who has previously had chickenpox is at risk for getting them. Shingles attacks the nerves of the skin and is much like the Herpes Virus in this way. The virus multiplies and the tell-tale rash erupts, and the person now has shingles.
Epstein Barr Virus - causes Mononucleosis.All of these conditions are related and caused by HSV.
Shingles can cause problems in function-ability and daily life activity. If you are taking prescription Valtrex or Zovirax, you may be wasting money! Prescription drugs do have their place for advanced cases but do not solve the underlying problem.
Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes Chicken Pox. If you’ve had Chicken Pox the virus remains in your body for life. The virus usually stays inactive in certain nerves but can become active later in life and cause the painful condition called Shingles. Shingles consist of red patches of skin with small blisters (vesicles) that look very similar to early chickenpox.
VZV vaccine (Zostavax) was approved by the FDA in 2006 for Shingles treatment in patients over 60+ years of age, who have previously had Chicken Pox. Although it has had some good reviews, this vaccine is not yet widely available. When Zostavax becomes more widely available older adults will have a means of preventative treatment.
| Certain conditions such as cancer, aging, and certain medications can bring on an episode by compromising the immune systems of the body. Or it may be that you are consuming too much arginine (an essential amino acid) in your diet! Shingles generally last around 30 days. The older you get the more you are at risk for long term nerve pain. There is however, an inexpensive, effective, preventative Shingles treatment that is available. The simple supplement helps block all herpes related viruses and helps alleviate or at least diminish these conditions altogether. It's called L-lysine . Lysine is an essential amino acid that your body needs for growth and repair. You can obtain Lysine from the foods you eat or drink or from a simple inexpensive supplement. It is also an easy and affordable shingles treatment. Lysine and one other essential amino acid called arginine compete with each other for cell absorption. When Lysine is present, it helps block out the shingles virus by blocking out arginine. |
STAY AWAY FROM LARGE AMOUNTS OF FOODS HIGH IN ARGININE IF YOU ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO, OR HAVE ANY KIND OF HSV OUTBREAK.
Foods that contain high amounts of Arginine include chocolate, peanuts, almonds, seeds, cereal grains, gelatin and raisins.
Consuming Lysine makes it easier to control outbreaks of shingles and other herpes related viruses. Consuming foods high in Lysine and refraining from foods high in arginine is another means of combating the Virus.
EAT A LOT OF FOODS HIGH IN LYSINE IF YOU ARE SUSCEPTIBLE OR HAVE ANY KIND OF HSV OUTBREAK.
Foods that have high levels of Lysine are pork, provolone cheese especially, and other cheeses, milk, and eggs.
Shingles treatment is easy if you PREVENT IT by taking Lysine. You won’t have to give up the foods you love, like chocolate, raisins, and nuts if you simply take Lysine daily.
Lysine
supplements help by starving off the virus thereby reducing the frequency and the severity of HSV outbreaks. If you suffer from shingles, implement preventative treatment by taking simple, inexpensive lysine supplements.
A person with a shingles rash can pass the virus to anyone who has NOT had chickenpox, but that person will develop chickenpox, not shingles. Shingles comes from HSV hiding inside the person's body, not from an outside source.
Dosage Recommendations for L-Lysine as Follows:
Shingles – 1,000 mg. 3 or more times daily during outbreaks.
Take 1,000 mg. daily for prevention.
Taking lysine is an easy way to prevent and treat shingles outbreaks. You cannot OD on Lysine so take the amount that works best for your body! Eat foods that are rich in lysine like pork and cheese and drink milk when any HSV is affecting you. It’s an inexpensive, easy to live with shingles treatment that works for many people!
If you're going through a shingles outbreak, here are a few ideas to reduce the duration and pain caused by the sores.