Acupuncture for Shingles
There are few reliable treatments for shingles and its complications, but emerging research suggests acupuncture can help patients suffering from the condition.
Shingles is a painful condition that largely affects people over 50 years old. It is caused by the same virus that is associated with chickenpox – varicella zoster – a virus that remains in the body following a bout of the itchy, painful rash.
Treatment for shingles is aimed at reducing symptoms – pain and emotional distress, most notably – as there is no cure for the condition. Acupuncture is well-suited for this approach.
What the Medical Research Says About
Acupuncture and Shingles
For thousands of years, acupuncture has been used to treat a variety of health problems. Pain conditions respond well to acupuncture, as research shows. Among that positive research are studies linking acupuncture to shingles-improving benefits. Those studies include:
- A 2022 meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. This meta-analysis considered 29 randomized trials and 1,973 patients suffering from post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a painful and common shingles complication.
The research team concluded that, compared to medication (antiepileptics), acupuncture with medication was more effective at reducing pain and improving scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Self-Reporting Depression Scale (SDS). Electroacupuncture demonstrated the best results among all treatment methods.
The researchers proposed several potential pain-relieving mechanisms involved during acupuncture treatment. We’ll present some of them below.
- A 2022 meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. This meta-analysis considered 29 randomized trials and 1,973 patients suffering from post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a painful and common shingles complication.
The research team concluded that, compared to medication (antiepileptics), acupuncture with medication was more effective at reducing pain and improving scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Self-Reporting Depression Scale (SDS). Electroacupuncture demonstrated the best results among all treatment methods.
The researchers proposed several potential pain-relieving mechanisms involved during acupuncture treatment. We’ll present some of them below.
Acupuncture is Also Effective
in Post-Herpetic Neuralgia
PHN is a long-term complication associated with shingles. It affects up to 20 percent of shingles patients and is much more likely to occur in older patients. PHN is characterized by nerve pain, sometimes severe, that appears in the same areas as the shingles blisters. PHN pain may be triggered by very light stimuli, so it can be debilitating for patients and greatly impact quality of life.
Fortunately, in addition to reducing shingles pain and blister formation, acupuncture therapy can also reduce the intensity and frequency of PHN pain.
How Can Acupuncture Reduce Shingles Symptoms?
The exact pain-relieving mechanisms behind acupuncture’s efficacy are still being researched. As a high-level nervous system modulator, acupuncture’s effects can be perceived locally, distally, and at multiple levels of the nervous system. This can make it difficult to track down exactly where the relief is coming from, even though it’s there.
However, researchers have proposed several theories that could explain acupuncture’s efficacy in shingles. Some of them include:
Reducing pain receptor sensitivity – Acupuncture has local effects on pain receptor activity and can reduce pain sensitivity by interfacing with the central nervous system. Locally, acupuncture can stabilize sodium ion channel activity, which is associated with overexcited pain signaling. Centrally, acupuncture utilizes the CNS’s neuroplasticity to “reconfigure” how pain is perceived by the brain.
Reducing inflammation and its impact on pain – Inflammation can trigger a pain response in shingles patients, so reducing its presence can produce relief. Acupuncture has shown to do this, as studies have demonstrated a range of inflammatory markers that acupuncture can help bring down. They include inflammatory lipids, cytokines, histamine, nerve growth factor, prostaglandin E2 and several others. These compounds can increase pain receptor sensitivity due to their action around receptors, but acupuncture can undermine this process.
Suppressing glial cell activation – Spinal glial cells are associated with inflammation and neuropathic (nerve-based) pain. When these cells are activated, it can cause pain to transmit through affected nerve tissue. Acupuncture interferes with this process and reduces glial cell expression.
Restoring neurotransmitter balance – Acupuncture can alter neurotransmitter expression in the brain and peripheral nervous system structures. This can positively influence how the body perceives pain
In addition to the above effects on the nervous system, acupuncture treatments have noted benefits on cardiovascular efficiency and emotional state. Improved circulation can help the body heal tissues faster, including the part of the skin affected by shingles lesions.
Mental health is also important in shingles patients, as the condition is linked to higher rates of depression. Acupuncture sessions have been shown to improve the emotional issues associated with shingles, likely by activating certain parts of the nervous system, like those responsible for the parasympathetic (“rest-and-digest”) response. This positive mental boost can help patients manage their condition better.
Houston Acupuncture Can Help Those Suffering with Shingles
Shingles and its complications are a challenge for many to live with. The condition is difficult to treat, with medication often providing only partial relief. If your shingles aren’t responding enough to medication, consider partnering with an acupuncturist who is also board certified in western medicine. Dual-certified physicians can provide an optimal mix of western and eastern therapies that, for many patients, provides better relief than either medical philosophy on its own.