Elderberry is the fruit of the elder tree. Different parts of the elder tree have been used traditionally to treat a variety of ailments. While elderberry has a history of use in the treatment of injuries to the skin, there's no history of use for the treatment of shingles, nor is there any evidence to suggest that elderberry is an effective shingles treatment.
Shingles
Shingles is a skin rash that results in the formation of painful blisters, generally along a strip or several strips of skin. The rash is caused by the virus varicella-zoster, which is the chicken pox virus. You can't get shingles unless you've had chicken pox, explains PubMed Health, but if you've ever had chicken pox, you're susceptible to contracting shingles. Normally, shingles surfaces later in life, and it may be brought on by stress or illness.
Elderberry
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there are several historical uses for elderberry. Some practitioners of alternative medicine recommend it for treating or relieving the symptoms of colds and the flu, while others suggest that it helps to relieve the discomfort associated with sinusitis. While it's also a historical treatment for injuries to the skin, it has no proven antiviral properties, so there's no reason to suspect -- nor evidence to support -- that it is effective against shingles.
Concerns
While you might be interested in looking for an herbal remedy for your shingles on the grounds that you feel natural remedies are safer, the FDA regulates herbs and other dietary supplements differently than they do food and pharmaceuticals, per the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. As such, the fact that a treatment is available in stores doesn't mean it's been proven safe or effective. Talk to your doctor before using elderberry.
Effective Treatments
Because shingles is caused by a viral outbreak, there's no way to "cure" your shingles. If you see your doctor at the first sign of shingles, however, you may be able to take an antiviral medication to help reduce the severity and duration of your symptoms. Your doctor may also give you oral or topical medications to reduce the pain associated with a shingles rash. Older adults can sometimes receive a shingles vaccination to prevent further outbreaks.
