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Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

Basics

Shingles is a viral disease that causes a painful outbreak of fluid-filled blisters on the skin, often affecting the face or body. The condition typically lasts between one to 14 days and is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life as shingles. Early symptoms include a burning or tingling sensation on one side of the body, which progresses to painful blisters. The pain can range from mild to severe, and itching is also common.

Chinese Medicine Diagnosis

In Chinese Medicine, treating shingles with acupuncture is complex and should be performed by practitioners with a deep understanding of Chinese Medicine theory. Shingles (herpes zoster) is often viewed as a wind-heat condition, and treatment is tailored according to the channels or areas affected. Common acupuncture points used in treatment include BL40 (Weizhong), SP10 (Xuehai), and LI11 (Quchi).

A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis by Liu evaluated seven randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture to pharmacologic therapy for postherpetic neuralgia. Results from two RCTs indicated that acupuncture was more effective in reducing pain intensity, as measured by the visual analog scale, compared to pharmacologic therapy. No adverse effects were reported from acupuncture, suggesting that it is a safe and effective treatment for pain relief in shingles patients.