I posted a while back asking for advice on a natural treatment of Shingles. Locally, the doctors do not prescribe anti-viral medication if the rash has been present over 48 hours. They will prescribe prednisone, narcotic painkillers and Antibiotics (to prevent skin infections). I chose to try the more natural approach. Now, as I am going into the fourth week since the onset of the pain, the rash is nearly gone. I still have a few heavily scabbed lesions, but no more blisters or raw weeping wounds. There is still some swelling and episodes of considerable pain. The terrible nausea and weakness from last week has gone and I am working at getting re-hydrated.
I am using L-Lysine, St. John's Wort, Lemon Balm, Valerian, and Skullcap to help ease the nerve pain and reduce the viral load. I did use oil of oregano for a couple of days, but this tended to upset my stomach. Topically is use a natural salve laced with Lugol's made by Wombat, and a mixture of Tea Tree Oil, Lavender Oil, Oil of Oregano and organic olive oil based on suggestions from Water01. These two natural products have worked much better than any commercial preparation I have tried. I also use very small amounts of Lugol's for painting.

My friend "B" has had shingles for over nine weeks now. She is in constant pain. We are about the same age, both have similar back problems (although she can walk-with a great deal of pain). "B" went the allopathic route and nothing has really helped her. She is loaded down with prescriptions, but is getting worse. Today I suggested she at least try the L-Lysine and she was considering it.
I know there are degrees of severity in Shingles, but my decision to stay away from pharmaceuticals seems to have been a good one for me. I hope there will be no complications down the road, the idea of suffering for years with PHN is frightening, but there is no guarantee that the condition can be avoided even with pharmaceuticals. There have been times I would have loved a big shot of anything to kill pain, but I took my last Ultram a couple of months ago, and do not ever want to use another narcotic, even a mild one.
I want to thank everyone who reached out with sympathy and good advice, both in the forums and via E-mails. I am getting better and hope to never go through this ordeal again. Knowing that stress and a poor immune system are common triggers of Shingles makes me more determined than ever to get and stay healthy. A few days of detox are mild compared to weeks of suffering. Getting healthy and staying that way is a lifestyle, not just a few cleanses and supplements. This painful wake up call has convinced me to continue to make changes for the better and be more careful about giving in to temptation.