Herpes zoster, also referred to as shingles, is a viral disease that affects the nerve endings in the skin and can appear anywhere on the body. Individuals infected with shingles experience tiny crops of fluid filled blisters that are extremely painful and symptoms usually last for 7 to 14 days. Certain vitamins can help to support the immune system of shingles sufferers and may therefore increase healing time and reduce the duration of symptoms. Vitamins can be toxic in high doses however, so consult with your health care practitioner before taking any vitamin supplement.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A boosts the immune system and reduce the replication of the shingles virus. Phyllis Balch recommends in her book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" taking 50,000 IU daily of vitamin A for 2 weeks and then reducing your intake to 25,000 IU daily. CSNN warns however that high doses of vitamin A should not be taken by women who are pregnant, or people with known liver pathologies.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E may also be helpful because it prevents the formation of scar tissue and Balch says it can help to reduce pain. For maximum absorbability Balch recommends taking 400 to 800 IU daily of vitamin E and choosing a supplement in the d-alpha-tocopherol form. CSNN adds that topical application of vitamin E may also be helpful, and you can poke a hole in a vitamin E soft gel, squeeze it onto a cotton ball, and apply it directly to the lesions.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C can aid in fighting off the shingles virus and boost the immune system. CSNN adds that it will help to speed recovery and reduce the intensity of the pain. Balch says to take 2,000 mg of vitamin C, 4 times daily, and recommends choosing a supplement that also contains bioflavanoids, because bioflavanoids improve the absorbability of vitamin C.
B Vitamins
B vitamins are important for proper immunity and they are required for nerve health. Balch recommends taking a B100 complex, three times daily, which is a supplement that contains 100 mg of the most important B vitamins. For maximum immune-supporting benefit, she recommends taking an additional 1,000 mcg of B-12 daily.
Zinc
Although zinc is a mineral and not a vitamin, CSNN notes it is an important addition to herpes supplemental therapy. Zinc supports and enhances the immune system and helps to protect shingles sufferers from contracting a secondary infection. For therapeutic purposes, Balch recommends taking 80 mg of zinc daily for one week, during a shingles outbreak, and then reducing your intake to 50 mg daily until symptoms have cleared. For maximum absorption Balch says to take a zinc picolinate supplement sublingually, which means you put drops of it under your tongue; or a zinc chelate lozenge, which means that you suck on it until it dissolves.
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis Balch; 2003
- "Pathology and Nutrition"; The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition; Lilieana Stradler Mitrea; 2008
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