Shingles on the waist is a very common acute inflammatory skin disease caused by infection with the varicella-zoster virus, which is called “snake sores” and “tangled waist fire” in Chinese medicine. The virus invades the human body in spring and autumn to induce chickenpox, but because the virus is neurophilic, it can be latent in the posterior root ganglion of the spinal cord or in the neurons of the cerebral ganglia for a long time from childhood, and when the immune function of the host is low later, such as when suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus, leukemia, malignant tumors, or when an infection, trauma, or recent fatigue occurs. The virus is triggered and activated along the nerve axes to reach the skin innervated by the corresponding nerves, where it rapidly proliferates in the local cells and produces herpes zoster. Herpes zoster occurs mostly on the chest, abdomen, head and face, but can also spread to any part of the body. The onset of the disease is characterized by irregular erythema, followed by dense clusters of red papules that rapidly turn into green bean-sized blisters, accompanied by mild fever, general malaise, and loss of appetite. The onset of the disease can also induce severe burning nerve pain and even affect normal life. Since shingles is a dermatological emergency, patients with shingles on the waist are advised to go to the hospital as soon as possible within 3 days of the appearance of the rash and take acyclovir and amitriptyline as prescribed by the doctor for regular treatment such as antiviral and analgesic treatment, rather than waiting until the virus has started to multiply and cause nerve damage.