Herpes is the name of a group of viral infection that causes painful blisters and sores. There are two types of Herpes; Herpes Simplex and Herpes Zoster.
Herpes simplex involves cold sores around the mouth and genitals (around the sexual organs). Herpes zoster is also known as shingles and presents in the form of painful blisters along the nerve affected.
Herpes viruses affect approximately 500,000 to a million people every year in the US alone.
Conventionally there is no cure for Herpes and the prevailing approach to treatment continues to be suppressive antiviral therapy.
Homeopathy has a more effective approach to its treatment. Supporting your immune system should be your first goal. A weakened immune system is more prone to Herpes infection. Homeopathic medicines are known to act from within and positively influence the immune system and enhance the body's own healing capacity. The pain, discomfort, progress and spread is effectively controlled with these medicines.
Thus Homeopathic treatment is more natural and makes you healthier!

Shingles is a common viral infection of the nerve root, caused by the Human Herpes Virus 3 (HHV 3 or Varicella-Zoster virus), the same virus causes Varicella i.e. chickenpox. In Greek language, the word 'herpes' means 'to creep' and 'zoster' means 'a belt or girdle'. Its common name, shingles is derived from the Latin word 'cingulum' that means 'a belt'.
It is characterized by an outbreak of vesicular skin blisters (sores) and mild to severe neuralgia (nerve pain), generally affecting one side of the body along the nerve affected, hence the belt like appearance.

It is a very common disease that is estimated to affect every second individual in about 10 persons. This virus affects nearly a million people every year in the US. About 90-95% of the adults in USA are infected and show presence of antibodies to varicella-zoster virus in their bodies. Men and women are equally prone to its infection.
After an initial exposure to chickenpox in the past, the white races have a greater chance to develop shingles than the black races, which are less likely (about 25% less) to develop the disease.
Incidences are common (80%) in persons older than 20 years. Children who had chickenpox before the age of one year and persons over 50 years of age are at a greater risk of contracting the disease and the risk increases with advancing age. Those with a previous history of chickenpox are at a greater risk of developing shingles (about 20% of people who have had chickenpox eventually develop shingles), as the chickenpox virus remains latent in their body ever since then. Also children are more prone to get shingles during a chickenpox epidemic.
It is also common in persons with atopic dermatitis or those who have a poor immunity due to AIDS, chemotherapy/radiotherapy, stress or recipients of organ transplant, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, other cancers etc.

Herpes zoster is caused by the Human Herpes Virus 3 (HHV 3 or Varicella-Zoster virus).
The varicella-zoster virus always produces chickenpox on first exposure. Though the chickenpox infection subsides, the virus is never fully cleared from the body and hibernates by remaining latent in the dorsal root ganglia, till the time when there is focal reactivation (due to certain factors) along a ganglion's distribution that results in an outbreak of herpes zoster infection.

Usually, after an attack of chickenpox, a person could get shingles when this same virus, after a long period of latency gets reactivated.
After the initial exposure, herpes zoster virus remains inactive in the nerve tissue and may get activated and re-emerges after many years, when the body's natural resistance to the virus breaks down. Although the exact mechanism of varicella-zoster reactivation is not known, it is believed that decreased cellular immunity is a major causative factor that stirs the dormant virus into activity. The other factors, which can revitalise the virus, are mentioned below

Factors that trigger the reactivation of the virus

• Aging
• Stress- physical or emotional
• Poor nutritional status
• Weakened immunity due to other infections
• Immuno compromised individuals (suffering from AIDS, transplant recipients, etc.)
• Decreased cellular immunity
• Fatigue
• Certain medicines like steroids etc
• Chemotherapy or radiotherapy

Local symptoms occur in fairly isolated areas of the skin, usually in a single dermatome (the area served by a single spinal nerve), on one side of the body. The rash may affect any part of the body along a single dermatome (the area served by a single spinal nerve). The most commonly involved dermatomes are those of the chest spinal nerves.

Prodrome

It is the period before the rash appears and is characterised by constitutional symptoms. Prodrome lasts for 2-3 days, occasionally lasts up to 2 weeks.

Constitutional symptoms

• Low-grade fever
• Headache
• Malaise
• Fatigue
• Burning, throbbing, shooting pain- mild to severe in intensity
• Tingling numbness
• Itching
• Painfully sensitive skin along the involved dermatome

Early signs and symptoms

• Erythematous rash on one side of the body
• Soreness and sensitivity of skin
• Clusters of small vesicles/blisters in the form of a band
  (Vesicles last from 1-14 days)

Later signs and symptoms

• Acute pain associated with the vesicles
• Vesicles break open and ooze
• They then form small ulcers
• Ulcers dry and crust over
• Lesions heal without a scar
  (Lesions completely heal in 2-4 weeks)

Severe cases

• Rash heals leaving permanent scars and pale discoloration
• Extreme debility and exhaustion

Associated symptoms

• Changes in the taste of the person
• Impaired hearing
• Pain in the joints
• Pain in the abdomen
• Genital lesions-male/females

Herpes zoster can be easily diagnosed on clinical findings as the pattern and character of the rash is peculiar and a previous history of chickenpox or shingles can strengthen this diagnosis.

Other diagnostic methods:
Specific antibody (immunoglobulin) measurement: It shows increased levels of varicella immune globulin.
Tzank test: This test helps to see the peculiar cytological changes of the HSV infection. If multinucleate giant cells are found, the test is considered positive. By using immuno-fluorescent antibody reagents the smear can differentiate between herpes viruses and non-herpes viruses; however, the smear does not help in differentiating between the herpes zoster and herpes simplex infections.
Viral culture of the skin lesions: : Culture studies for varicella-zoster virus can be done but this method is not resorted for practical purposes because the virus grows very slowly.
Monoclonal antibody tests
Blood mononuclear cell testing for viral DNA
Biopsy for direct immunofluorescence testing: It is performed very infrequently

When to call your physician
One needs to urgently see his doctor if:

• the shingles is affecting the side of the head, and especially if it seems to affect the tip of the nose or the eye itself.
• you are immunocompromised
• you have high fever
• the sores take more than 10 days to heal
• your symptoms remain for a long time or they get aggravated
• you are suffering from another illness simultaneously

Herpes zoster is most often self limiting thus not requiring treatment except for symptomatic treatment such as pain relief medication.
Conventionally patients are given anti viral medicines like Acyclovir in the form of oral tablets or loacl application. Severly immunocompromised patients may require intravenous IV acyclovir therapy.
Corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation and risk of post-herpatic neuralgia
Analgesics are used to control the pain
Antihistaminics are prescribed to control itching

Homeopathy does not consider Herpes Zoster as a local affection of the skin but as something that has deeper roots within the system of the patient. Hence the treatment is not simply symptomatic; rather it is based on a detailed case study and endeavors to treat the disease from the root cause.
Homeopathic medicines work at two levels:

• Taking care of the acute symptoms
• Preventing recurrence of the infection

Overall, the medicines improve the immunity of the individual so that he doesn't fall prey to recurrent infections.
The homeopathic approach to treatment of Herpes Zoster (or any other disease) is called as the 'Constitutional approach'. In this approach, detailed study of the following aspects of the patient is done:

• Chief complaints
• Other associated complaints
• Evaluation of the causative factor
• Detailed study of the mind, temperament of the patient
• Detailed study of general features such as appetite, thirst, likes and dislikes about food, etc
• Study of past history of diseases
• Study of family history of diseases
• Examination of patient
• Investigations done

Based on the study of all these factors, a single Homeopathic remedy is selected which covers all the important features and helps in curing the disease in that patient. The medicine not only helps in alleviating the lesions, the pain and the discomfort associated with Herpes Zoster but it also helps in preventing future outbreaks of the same. It also helps in preventing the development of complications of Herpes Zoster. An important aspect to be noted is that the medicines do not have any suppressive effects and they are without any side-effects whatsoever.

Post Herpetic neuralgia
It is the most common complication following shingles, especially seen in older patients or in patients who present with severe prodromal symptoms and affects about 7 percent of patients. This condition is characterized by constant or intermittent, continuation of pain that accompanies the acute episode of shingles, which may persist for weeks or months, after the sores have healed, or it may develop following apparent resolution of the initial reactivation of shingles. The neuralgia occurs in varying degrees along the distribution of the affected dermatome, because of the inflammation and damage to the nerve as the virus travel along the nerve to get to the skin. This neuralgia generally subsides within 6 months but may continue for as long as one or many years in about 1% of patients because nerves heal very slowly. This pain can be severe enough to be incapacitating especially in elderly persons. In cases with extreme pain, patients become depressed and on occasions may even become suicidal.
Secondary infection:
There can be associated secondary bacterial infection (streptococcal or staphylococcal) of the blisters of shingles, after 1-2 weeks, with yellowish crusting or discharge from it. There is cellulitis, with the affected area becoming erythematous, tender, firm and hot. Red streaks may appear around the wound.
Disseminated herpes zoster
This happens as a result of haematogenous spread of the disease in immunocompromised persons, leading to involvement of multiple dermatomes, many organs or at times even systemic involvement, causing death due to encephalitis, hepatitis, or pneumonitis.
Ear complications (Herpes zoster oticus):
The facial and auditory effect of shingles is called Herpes zoster oticus/ Ramsay Hunt syndrome-Type I.
Herpes zoster involving the (facial nerves) geniculate ganglion may produce the Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which is characterized by intense pain in the ear, herpetic vesicles on the external ear or tympanic membrane, mouth, face, neck, and scalp and transitory one-sided facial paralysis. This syndrome is occasionally associated with vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing disorder. Deafness occurs in only some cases. Loss of taste, dryness of mouth and eyes may also occur.
Eye complications
Symptoms can range from mild irritation to blindness depending on the part affected and extend of damage.
Conjunctiva - Scarring
Sclera - localized stromal keratitis
Cornea – Inflammayion and scarring of cornea, Ulceration, Deep stromal keratitis, etc.
Uveitis – It is the inflammation of any part of the uveal tract of the eye; either the iris (iritis), ciliary body (cyclitis) or choroids (choroiditis)
Retina – Acute retinal necrosis
Optic nerve – Optic neuritis, Ocular cranial palsies
Severe or chronic, repeated attacks of this disease may result in
- Glaucoma
- Cataract
- Scarring of the cornea and the eyelids
CNS complications:
These usually occur in immunocompromised individuals and include conditions like:
Meningoencephalitis manifesting as delirium, confusion or coma
Myelitis
Cranial nerve palsies
Peripheral facial nerve palsy
Granulomatous angiitis, which could lead to cerebrovascular accident
Involvement of the sacral nerves:
It may cause bowel or bladder problems

Shingles is rarely serious as 90 per cent of patients recover within a month after the appearance of the first symptoms.
Shingles can occur more than once. It recurs, especially at times when you are run down and may affect different parts of the body in the subsequent attacks. It is of utmost importance to diagnose this condition as early as possible and treat it effectively in order to minimize the troublesome symptoms that occur especially when the disease becomes severe, and to lower the chances of ocular complications that result in problems with the vision.

Food that one can take during shingles
One can take the following food (if possible, organically grown food is preferable):
Lightly cooked, fresh, green and yellow vegetables. This would be easier to digest.
All fresh fruits except citrus fruits.
Legumes like black-eyed peas, chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans etc.
Mushrooms
Raw, chopped garlic
Consume whole grains, especially millets, but in moderate quantities
Food that one can avoid during shingles
Sugar and chocolates
Drinks like coffee, alcohol, soft drinks
Fried foods
Peanuts and peanut butter
White rice and white flour
Processed meats

Do's for herpes zoster
You can't prevent yourself from contracting shingles. This is because it is not contracted from someone with shingles or chickenpox infection as you get shingles from your own chickenpox virus.
If you have shingles, you could transmit the virus, and people could develop chickenpox as a result of contact with you. Hence it is essential for you to remain away from others for about 7-9 days until the blisters have dried, because till then, the virus is present in the blister fluid.
Isolate patient with active skin lesions to prevent him from infecting others.
Let him remain away from those people who have a poor immune system, pregnant women or those who are immunocompromised as they are at a higher risk to develop the disease.
Local dressing with water at room temperature, for ½ an hour-1 hour, at least 5-6 times everyday helps some patients. Cool wet compresses also help to lessen the pain.
Application of soothing lotions like Calamine or soothing bath like starch baths etc. may relieve discomfort and ease the skin irritation in some individuals.
Keep the skin clean and allow the rash to remain uncovered. Be gentle with your blisters and try not to scratch them. Make a mixture of white vinegar and tepid water. Compress the vesicles or crusts with this mixture for about 15 minutes daily till the blisters dry up to soothe the area.
Skin becomes very dry, stretched and at times cracked, once the scabs fall off. Rubbing some coconut oil 4-5 times daily would nourish the skin and prevent dryness.
Articles that cannot be discarded should be used only after they are washed in boiling water or disinfected by other means.
One may need up to three weeks off from work to rest and completely recuperate from shingles.

Don'ts for herpes zoster
One should avoid any kind of close contact with older people, children, pregnant women or any individual who has a poor immunity due to any cause, as they are at a higher risk to contract the disease.
Do not share articles used by such patients or don't re-use contaminated articles.