By Schuyler Corrigan

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March 2, 2022

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What are Shingles?

Shingles present as a painful rash that can occur anywhere on the body, and is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox – the varicella-zoster virus. Once you have experienced chickenpox, this virus remains within your nervous system and lies dormant (unreactive) for years. If reacted, it can begin as a painful rash that wraps around either side of the torso and can cause itching, swelling, or deep discomfort. It is also commonly found around the eyes, neck, and back. Some people may experience these painful symptoms without a visible rash. Shingles are sometimes fairly short-lived, lasting for only a week or two, but sometimes they can be recurring and last for several months with flare-ups. And it is important to note that just because you have had chickenpox and the virus remains in your system, this does not mean you will ever present with shingles. 

How is it all connected?

Shingles are more common in older adults with somewhat weakened immune systems. Like many conditions that “flare” and cause an acute reaction, stress or exposure to another pathogen can trigger the dormant virus to reactivate and travel through nerve pathways to your skin, causing these symptoms of pain, redness, and swelling. Shingles primarily affect the nerves – hence why it can be so painful and uncomfortable. 

 

You may notice that when you are stressed and anxious, your nervous system feels very agitated, like you’re on the edge of your seat, or highly reactive to even small stimuli or situations. This is because our nervous system is largely responsible for our “fight or flight” reaction, and along with various other hormones throughout the body regulates our stress response. Our nervous system is a major communication pathway throughout our body, being highly receptive to both conscious and unconscious cues and triggers. 

 

It is not uncommon that when we experience periods of acute or chronic stress, other illnesses may present as a result. Shingles can be one of these, with stress being a trigger to re-active a dormant virus. Other examples of this may be HPV and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Some of the biggest triggers of reactivating a chronic infection can be the presence of another virus weakened immune function or stress. Chronic infections may also present with cyclical or seasonal patterns, therefore taking a proactive approach could be very helpful. Having a “big picture” perspective while understanding the nuances of chronic infections or viral patterns is a big help to approach your care holistically, effectively, and individually. That’s where naturopathic medicine can help.

 

Read More: Naturopathic Care & Chronic Infections

 

Naturopathic Approach to Shingles

Always looking to get to the root cause of a health issue, the naturopathic approach to shingles is no different. We will look to address your immediate symptoms while also taking a preventative approach moving forward. We will take a thorough health history to look into other factors that may lead to a recurrence of your symptoms, and make lifestyle, herbal, homeopathic, behavioral, and/or nutrition recommendations. Everything we put into our body affects its daily function, either strengthening our body or depleting it. Every day in every season, it is important to maintain a whole food, a seasonal and colorful diet rich in phytonutrients (vegetables!) antioxidants (fruits!) adequate fiber (vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes), and probiotic-rich foods (fermented foods like yogurt, miso, kimchi, and sauerkraut) can help to maintain our natural vitality. Your naturopathic doctor will tailor these recommendations based on your personal needs.