How Acupuncture Can Relieve Shingles Pain
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 1 in 3Trusted Source people in the United States will get shingles. Anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles, but it’s most common in adults over the age of 50.
When you have shingles, you’ll first develop a rash that turns into blisters. Before the rash appears, you’ll likely feel pain in the affected area.
The pain and rash from shingles affect one side of the body. Areas commonly affected include:
neck
face or eyes
chest
abdomen
If you’re experiencing pain from shingles, you may be wondering if acupuncture can help. Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that’s commonly used to treat pain. In fact, there’s been some research exploring acupuncture specifically for shingles.
How can Acupuncture Help Shingles Pain?
Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific parts of the body known as acupuncture points. The professional who performs this technique is called an acupuncturist. Acupuncturists use single-use needles and follow the Clean Needle Technique.
When your acupuncturist inserts the needles, you may feel a tingling sensation. If you experience unbearable pain, let them know.
After inserting the needles, your acupuncturist activates them through electrical stimulation or by gently moving them with their hands, or they may not stimulate them at all. They’ll leave the needles in your skin for up to 30 minutes. This process helps your body to release its own naturally occurring painkillers.
You’ll undergo this treatment depending on the severity of your case and how your body responds. Treatment may be necessary daily or weekly.
ResearchTrusted Source shows that acupuncture can ease pain in conditions such as migraine and back pain. Various studies have been conducted to see whether acupuncture can also treat shingles pain.
In 2011, a randomized controlled trial showed that acupuncture could be used for the treatment of shingles pain or acute herpetic pain. Acupuncture may also improve quality of life and reduce anxiety in people with shingles.
More recently, researchers found that adding acupuncture to traditional antiviral therapy shortened the time-trusted Source in three key phases of shingles:
the pain before the blisters appear
the time it took for the blisters to scab over
the time it took for blisters to stop forming
Postherpetic Neuralgia
After recovery, shingles can trigger a painful nerve condition in the areas where the blisters appeared. This nerve pain is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and can last for weeks, months, or even years.
The CDC reports that 10 to 18 percent of people who get shingles are likely to get PHN. If you get it, you’ll feel it in the areas where you had shingles.
According to the CDC, older adults who had shingles are more likely to get PHN.
In 2014, researchers noted that nearly 140 studies had used acupuncture to help manage PHN within the past 5 years. Other studies have shown that acupuncture may be effective at managing pain related to PHN as well as improving quality of life.
The results from a new study on the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for PHN are forthcoming.
Acupuncture is generally considered safe and has few if any, side effects.