By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

September 07, 2014

• What nobody told you about the shingles vaccine
• Naturally reduce your chances of an outbreak
• What to do if shingles catches up with you

Some of my patients have been asking about the vaccine for shingles. They’ve seen the commercials for it on TV and want to know if they should get it.

Now, there’s no doubt that shingles is a painful condition. And it’s something you want to avoid if at all possible.

It’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the one that causes chickenpox. This microbe never really goes away after a chickenpox attack. Instead it sets up housekeeping in your nerves, where it can lie dormant for years.

When you get older, it can be reactivated as herpes zoster – the virus linked to shingles.

Once this happens, the virus travels to the skin and causes flu-like sensations like chills, fever, headache, and frequently a burning-like itching sensation just prior to the outbreak. And it doesn’t take long before tiny, red-rimmed blisters start appearing over the affected nerves. But the worst symptom, by far, is the nerve pain. It can be unbearable.

With all of this in mind, getting the vaccine sounds like a great idea. But there are a lot of things those scary-sounding commercials for the vaccine fail to tell you:

1. The shingles vaccine isn’t all that effective. It reduces the risk of shingles by only about 50%. That’s means half of the time it doesn’t offer any protection at all. It’s no better than flipping a coin.
2. Even if you’re “the lucky one out of two,” there’s no evidence the vaccine continues offering protection beyond four years after vaccination. That leads to the potential for more costly shots… and more coin flips.
3. It’s not uncommon to develop a mild case of shingles as a consequence of vaccination – just what you were trying to avoid.
4. And let’s not forget the bigger message here. While we think of vaccines as “cures,” this vaccine does nothing to actually CURE shingles!

They also don’t tell you that once you have a shingles outbreak – which usually lasts two to four weeks – it’s pretty unlikely you’ll have a second attack. That’s because it acts a lot like the chicken pox virus. Once you’ve experienced an episode, it boosts your immunity against future attacks.

Now, I don’t want to make light of shingles. During an outbreak, the pain can be agonizing. I just don’t believe the answer lies in a vaccine that may or may not work.

But if you’re at risk, there are natural ways to avoid outbreaks. And, if you do happen to experience one, there are several ways to relieve symptoms.

Because the shingles virus lives in the nervous system, it’s free to roam along your nerve pathways until the right environment comes along for it to flourish again. This is when an outbreak of shingles can occur.

Thankfully, there’s an all-natural way to prevent that type of environment from occurring. And it’s simple enough to do, so you can get started right away.

You see, there are two amino acids that have a symbiotic relationship with the herpes family of viruses: arginine and lysine.

Arginine promotes the production of nitric oxide in the body, which helps expand and relax your blood vessels. This makes it very good for your heart health. This amino acid is conditionally essential; so if you’re healthy enough, your body will make some. But I like to take a supplement to increase my arginine levels and keep my blood flowing freely.

However, arginine can also promote the growth of herpes viruses, which might prompt an outbreak. So it’s important to keep your arginine level in balance with another amino acid, lysine.

Lysine inhibits the shingles virus. It’s an essential amino acid, but your body doesn’t make it. You can only get lysine through your diet and supplementation, which makes it pretty easy for you to take control. I supplement with 1,500 mg. of lysine each day.

Clearly, the key is to balance your intake of these amino acids.

This is one of many reasons I like the Mediterranean diet. It’s loaded with fruits, vegetables and fish that are high in lysine, but low in arginine. This helps keep the ratio between the two intact to help prevent outbreaks.

Some arginine-rich foods include sugar, coconut, oats, wheat flour and wheat germ, peanuts and soybeans. Grapes, blueberries and blackberries are also high in arginine.

Shingles-fighting lysine-rich foods include fish, chicken, beef, lamb, eggs, yogurt, beans, brewer’s yeast, mung bean sprouts, and most fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies are especially important. Eating less than one piece of fruit a day can triple your risk of shingles. But people who eat three portions of fruit daily and have high vegetable intake are much less likely to experience an attack.

Remember, it’s all about balance.

(Also, don’t forget to buy wild-caught fish, grass-fed meat, organic pasture-raised chickens, and organic produce!)

Eating foods that boost overall immunity can help, too. Look for whole, organic foods brimming with vitamins A, B6, C and E – as well as folic acid, iron and zinc – to help you give shingles the boot.

But what can you do if you’re already in the throes of an outbreak?

If you do come down with a case of shingles, a number of natural remedies can ease your symptoms and speed healing. Some of the most effective supplements include:

• Capsaicin. Contains Substance P, which temporarily blocks pain receptors. Apply a capsaicin cream topically to the affected area.
• L-lysine. This amino acid helps heal blisters. Take 1,000 to 3,000 mg. daily.
• Licorice. Fights the virus when used topically.
• Olive leaf extract. A potent anti-viral that helps prevent shingles and may speed healing. For an active case of shingles, take 1,000 mg. of olive leaf extract standardized to contain 6% oleuropein four times per day with meals. For prevention, take 500 mg. twice a day with meals.

Don’t let your body write a painful sequel to a childhood case of chickenpox. And don’t spend a couple hundred bucks on a “non-cure” just because the television commercials make it sound good.

Instead, invest in a healthy lifestyle that supports a healthy immune response. This is the best way to nip shingles in the bud.

Resources:
Shapiro M, et al. “Update on herpes zoster vaccination: a family practitioner’s guide.” Can Fam Physician. 2011 Oct;57(10):1127-31.

Bernstein JE, et al. “Topical capsaicin treatment of chronic postherpetic neuralgia.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 1989;21:265-270.

Thomas SL, et al. “Micronutrient intake and the risk of herpes zoster: a case-control study.” Int J Epidemiol. 2006;35:307-314