What are the treatment options for shingles?

  Postherpetic neuralgia is a lesion that leaves nerve pain after the herpes zoster lesions have subsided. Clinically, it is considered that after the rash of herpes zoster has subsided, its localized pain that persists for more than 1 month is called postherpetic neuralgia. It manifests as localized paroxysmal or persistent burning, stabbing, throbbing, and cutting pains, which seriously affects healthy life, etc. Modern medicine believes that varicella-zoster virus grows and multiplies in the invaded ganglion and spreads distally, causing acute inflammation of the nerve, swelling, bleeding and necrosis of the nerve tissue, and after treatment, the inflammation is reduced and the local tissue adheres, causing the lesion to fade and the pain to persist for months or even years. Western medicine can use helium-neon laser anti-inflammatory treatment, oral vitamins to nourish the nerves, and pain relief as well as hormones when the pain is intolerable.  Chinese medicine calls postherpetic neuralgia “snake-dan pain.” It is a ligament disease in Chinese medicine, in which the residual toxicity of dampness and heat has not been exhausted, which turns into heat and toxicity over time, and stagnates and blocks the ligaments. This disease is more common clinically, mostly due to the patient’s liver qi stagnation, qi stagnation, blood stasis and blood deficiency, so Chinese medicine to dredge the liver and regulate qi, blood activation and blood nourishment, and to pass through the ligament to relieve pain as the treatment. Therefore, Chinese herbal medicine is used to promote the flow of qi and blood, nourish blood, promote blood circulation and relieve pain, such as peach kernel and safflower to promote blood circulation and relieve blood stasis, angelica to promote blood circulation and relieve blood stasis, Chuanxiong to promote blood circulation and relieve blood stasis, red peony and white peony to promote blood circulation and relieve blood stasis, raw earth to benefit yin, nourish blood and promote blood circulation, neem, Yuanhu, Qingpi and Chenpi to promote blood circulation and relieve pain, fragrant herb to regulate qi and relieve depression, frankincense and myrrh to disperse blood and remove blood stasis, subdue swelling and relieve pain, loofah to promote blood circulation and relieve pain, panax quinquefolium to promote blood circulation and relieve pain. The pain will disappear naturally when the blood vessels and channels are opened and the qi and blood flow is smooth. In addition, acupuncture is used to treat the pain. The acupoints of the three meridians of the liver, spleen and stomach, such as Taichong, Foot San Li, Sea of Blood and Sanyinjiao, are mainly selected, together with the A-Yi point. Foot San Li can regulate the spleen and stomach to improve the body’s immunity, and is an important point for treating belly and abdominal pain. Tai Chong is an infusion point on the Liver meridian, the original point, which has the effect of draining the Liver and regulating Qi. Sanyinjiao is a point on the Sanyin junction of the feet, which can regulate the Liver, Spleen and Kidney meridians and is used in conjunction with other points to enhance the effect of Blood activation and pain relief. Blood Sea invigorates the Blood and nourishes it to relieve pain. A-Yi point is the location of the lesion. Stimulation of A-Yi point can directly activate blood circulation and improve circulation to the lesion and promote the repair of local skin nerves. Peripheral acupuncture can limit the painful area. Pain is an advantageous condition for acupuncture treatment, and the internal use of Chinese herbal medicine to promote Qi and Blood circulation, nourish Blood circulation and resolve stagnation increases the efficacy of promoting Qi and Blood circulation to relieve pain, thus improving the therapeutic effect.