9 Best Essential Oils for Shingles Pain
Health Benefits of Ginger Root Tea
August 9, 2017
How to Dilute Essential Oils for Topical Use
August 15, 2017
You can Find Relief with these Essential Oils for Shingles Pain!
Finding the best essential oils for shingles pain relief can help give you reprieve from this very painful and discomforting disease.
Shingles also known as Herpes Zoster is caused by varicella-zoster – the same virus that causes chickenpox.
So if you have had chickenpox in the past, then you already have the shingles virus inside of you. And the virus will live in your nerve tissue for the rest of your life.
The virus normally stays dormant and causes no problem. However, it can become active again if your immune system is weakened due to stress, illness or any other factor. And this can cause you to develop shingles.
I had chickenpox when I was in elementary school and I can still remember how painful it was. So I know that I am susceptible to shingles…. I really pray I don’t!
Even though shingles most often affects those in their 50s and above, younger people are NOT immune to this disease.
My friend wasn’t even up to 40 when she got infected… to make matters worse, she was pregnant. The pain was quite unbearable and very discomforting, to say the least!
9 Best Essential Oils for Shingles Pain Relief
#1. Melissa
Melissa EO also known as Lemon Balm fights shingles by inhibiting the spread of the virus. It helps to speed up the healing process and reduces the duration of the infection.
#2. Bergamot Essential Oil
Bergamot has antiviral properties that help to heal the blisters quicker. It also acts as an analgesic, thus helping to relieve the pain associated with the infection.
It is important to note that Bergamot is photosensitive. So, you need to be cautious and ensure you cover any part of your skin you apply the oil very well to prevent direct exposure to the sun.
#3. Lavender
Lavender is one of the most versatile essential oils and a must-have in every home. This is because it really works well for a lot of health issues.
Its soothing and calming properties help to reduce inflammation and redness associated with shingles and at the same time helps alleviate the pain.
It is also good for the skin as it helps to reduce redness and scaring.
Lavender is a relaxing and sleep inducing essential oil. So it helps you sleep better, thus making it possible for you to get the much needed rest as you fight this very painful infection.
Radha Beauty Lavender Essential Oil 4 Oz – 100% Pure & Natural Therapeutic Grade
Plant Therapy Lavender Essential Oil. 100% Pure, Undiluted, Therapeutic Grade 1/3 oz
#4. Ravensara
Another anti-viral EO, Ravensara helps to fight inflammation and pain associated with the shingles virus.
Ravensara is one of the best essential oils for shingles because it doesn’t only help reduce pain but it is also very good for the skin especially in clearing skin infections.
#5. Geranium
Geranium EO has anti-inflammatory properties that make it effective for relieving shingles pain. It is also one of the best essential oils for nerve pain.
#6. Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca)
Melaleuca (Tea tree oil) is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and antiseptic. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce inflammation and pain associated with shingles. It is also effective for healing and moisturizing the skin.
#7. Helichrysum
Great for healing the skin, helichrysum works well in alleviating itching, inflammation and pain associated with shingles. It has been found to be helpful in repairing nerve damage caused by shingles.
#8. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint’s cooling properties are helpful in soothing inflammation and relieving the itching that occurs as the blisters begin to heal.
#9. Manuka
The anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties of Manuka make it a great essential oil for fighting the varicella-zoster virus and reducing the pain and discomfort associated with shingles.
Safety First When Using Essential Oils
If you have never used a certain essential oil it is important to do a skin patch test prior to topically using! See my sections on topical use and other essential oil safety concerns:
- 8 Essential Oil Dangers and Risks
- How to Dilute Essential Oils for Topical Use
- Essential Oils that are Safe for Kids
- Essential Oils to Use During Pregnancy
How to Use Essential Oils for Shingles Pain Relief
The best way to use essential oils for shingles relief is by topical application.
However, I suggest making a spray with the essential oils instead of ointment. This will enable you to apply the oil topically without touching the affected area.
We all know that shingles is very painful and touching the affected area can aggravate the pain even more. Moreover, using the spray option also helps to avoid spreading the virus.
Essential Oil Spray for Shingles
- 1 oz glass spray bottle
- 20 drops lavender oil
- 10 drops peppermint oil
- 10 drops geranium
- 10 drops helichrysum
- Top off with fractionated coconut oil
Adjusting Shingles Spray Recipe
This recipe is a 10% dilution. Essential oil recipes can be between 10% to 25% for severe pain.
You may find this dilution too strong for you. The essential oils can be decreased by cutting the amount of each in half and using the same amount of carrier oil listed in recipe. (5% dilution)
Or, you can mix the essential oils together and put a few drops (such as 10 or 15 drops – 2% or 3% dilution) in the 1 ounce (30 ml) bottle and top with the carrier oil.
Symptoms of Shingles
Shingles causes fluid filled blisters that cluster on one part of the body (especially on the face or torso).
The blisters later burst and ooz, then form scabs, which eventually falls off and heal. Shingles pain can actually linger for several weeks after the blisters have healed.
Some of the symptoms include:
- Numbness
- Tingling or burning pain
- Itching
- Blisters
- Fever
- Headache
Is Shingles Contagious
Shingles is NOT contagious, but the virus is. This means that you cannot infect another person with shingles. But, you can infect them with chickenpox if they have not had it before.
People that already had chicken in the past have immunity against the virus and cannot contract chickenpox again.
But, the dormant virus living in their nerve tissue can become active again in the future and cause shingles.
Although this disease has no cure, the essential oils for shingles pain mentioned here can at least help relieve the associated pain and discomfort. Moreover, some of these essential oils can help reduce the duration of the disease.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not intend to diagnose or treat any disease. It is always recommended that you seek the advise of your private medical doctor.
Comments
Two years ago while staying the week with my son’s Boy Scout troop at the county fair, I broke out with shingles. I woke Wed. night with what felt similar to a Charlie horse, but it was on the right side of my back about bra band height. I was uncomfortable, but I managed to get a little more rest by twisting my right arm behind my back and laying with my bent knuckle pushing into the center of the knot in my back. Later the next day, a rash appeared on the right front and back side of my waist, and blisters appeared. I applied tea tree oil (have with me at all Scouting activities) with a Q-tip. I reapplied 2-3 times a day, after just a couple of days, the rash was nearly gone and I had no more pain. I saw my doctor the following Tues., after the fair was over, who diagnosed shingles. Prescribed a med and a pain pill. I never used the pain med, didn’t need it.
Hi Sylvia,
Happy to hear that tea tree oil dried up the shingles blisters and that you didn’t need to take the pain med. I personally hate taking pain meds!
I had a severe bout of shingles this year beginning after a prolonged fever and abdominal pain.got control of the spread in 5 days and healing in 7-12 days with homeopathic medicines.
Have neuropathic cronic pain due to a herpes zoster issue for more than one year and a half it’s really awful sometimes even unbearable, what do you suggest about eesential oils?
Hi Manuela,
I’m sorry about your pain. It’s important to note that I’m not a medical doctor, so can’t give any medical advice, however, you can read this article on the best essential oils for nerve pain. It covers essential oils that may be helpful for neuropathy and neuralgia. I hope you find it helpful.
Try cdb, to help with the pain. But be sure to start taking L-lysine, an amio acid that counteracts any herpes virus., so you don’t get them again And be sure to get a supplement that supports your adrenals. I have lived with nerve pain for 5 years resulting from a bout of shingles. These have helped me.
I got shingles in my eye. It damaged my cornia permanently plus my eyelid droops over they. Just letting you know because I could not have used the essential oils for that.
Hi Wendie,
I’m sorry to hear about your experience. Of course, I wouldn’t expect you to use essential oils in or around your eyes.
On December 17, 2018 my husband was diagnosed with Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome, a virulent, somewhat rare form of shingles. He has had pain and itching 24/7 since then and his dealing with chronic nerve pain. I’ve made several essential blends for pain and itching. They have helped tremendously until recently…now I’m on the hunt for different blends but have come up with the same recipes over and over. The itching is very intense and we are at a loss as to what to do. Any suggestions would be so much appreciated! He is feeling desperate and very, very discouraged.
Hi Gail,
I’m really sorry to hear about your husband’s condition. Unfortunately, I don’t really have any solution for him. I would suggest you consult with a doctor or look for a certified naturopath near you. A naturopath may be able to help him. I wish you all the best.
GAIL, Have you worked on his gut health and making sure all processed foods and triggers are removed from his diet. There are 4 main elimination channels plus the liver. Primary are Gastrointestinal and Urinary tracts. If these are not functioning optimally, then the secondary channels of respiratory and skin will help with releasing to protect the organs. Typically hydration and 2-3 bowel movements per day will help keep up. Essential oils are fantastic with viruses and are an excellent support AND probiotics, digestive enzymes and lifestyle can add the extra immune support needed to get someone moving forward. I personally use the oils internally and have been able to support my body through the healing of Lyme.
I don’t recommend using essential oils internally. But, if you choose that option, be sure to do so under the supervision of a certified Aromatherpist.
Can you substitute helichrysom oil for 10 drops of bergamot oil instead?
Helichrysum EO is a great oil to use alone for shingles. It has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to alleviate the itching, inflammation and pain and has been found to be useful for healing. Bergamot EO is an anti-viral type of EO which is also used for pain relief and healing. You can use either by themselves. If you have a recipe you are following that was developed by a medicinal aromatherapist then I would be more inclined to follow the recipe as each EO is used for it’s own chemical properties. Hope this answers your question. Thanks for reaching out! D’Ann
Hi,
Decided to write my own experience of Shingles with a hope that it can be of help to others.
The pain on lower part of my right shoulder blade started a wk after the onset of the red rashes underneath my right breast. But the pain in the. Breast are was felt 3-4 days prior the rashes.
Upon seing the rashes, my suspicion of Shingle was confirmed and immediately started with anti-viral (Zovirax 800 mg every 4 hrs) as Rx by my MD and made a capsule with olive oil, Bergamot, Thieves and Thyme of Young Living and prepared a spray with Geranium,Baail, Bergamot, Lavander and Peppermint in Witch Hazel and Fractionated Coco oil as carrier.
I took the capsule of EOS with 1,000 Lysine every 8 hrs and spray the area with rashes/vesicles 3xday. The peppermint helps ease the soreness of the vesicles.
After 2 days I noticed that only a few vesicles appeared while the other red patches looked like a rash and the pain was manageable.
I was just consistent with my meds, EO caps and spray. After 2 days of the onset of the vesicles, it flattens and dries up. I didn’t experience crusting, thank God!
The post herpetic Nueralgia pain was not experienced much too.
Not to forget, I also observed a diet fitting for someone with Shingles.
Wish you all well
You had quite the experience with Shingles. Sounds like the combinations you used worked well for you!! Thank you for sharing! 🙂 D’Ann