Shingles

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a common condition in which the virus that causes chickenpox (varicella zoster) reactivates after years of lying dormant in your body. As the virus reactivates, it causes pain and tingling and eventually a rash of short-lived blisters.

Shingles is normally not a serious condition. But in some people the rash can cause an eye infection. Shingles also can lead to a complication called postherpetic neuralgia, which can cause the skin to remain painful and sensitive to touch for months or years.

Signs and symptoms of shingles include sensations of pain, burning, tingling or itching (lasting 1 to 3 days) in a localized area. A red rash with blisters (lasting 2 to 3 weeks before scabbing over) in the same area. Fever and Headache.

Shingles most commonly occurs on the trunk of your body, often appearing as a band of blisters that wraps from your back to your chest or abdomen. The rash and blisters can also occur around one eye, on the face or scalp, inside the mouth or down an arm or leg. Although the rash and blisters may resemble chicken pox, shingles typically is limited to a small area and appears on just one side of the body.

Treatment:
Acupuncture: Acute condition; 2-3 times a week. Chronic condition; 1-2 times a week.
Chinese Herbs: Chinese herbal pills or Chinese Herbal Tea depending on condition and patient

One course of treatment is one month. If condition is chronic, more than one course of treatment may be required. Patients are generally 80 percent after one course of treatment.