Building a defense against blistery shingles

Q: I am 50 years old, and my husband recently got shingles. He is still in pain, even though the rash has been gone for several months now. I have never gotten shingles, but I am nervous after what I saw him go through. Can you recommend a shingles vaccine for me?

A: Shingles is a rash that comes from the chickenpox virus.

Once you have had chickenpox, the virus hides out for the rest of your life in your nervous system. For many people, that is not a problem.

But sometimes the virus reactivates, and then it can come out as painful blisters running along the area that a nerve travels, which often will give it a bandlike appearance.

One or two days before the blisters show up, some people will notice that their skin itches, prickles or burns. Some people will get pain before they see blisters.

Once the blisters appear, they usually crust over in about a week, though it can take longer depending on your underlying health issues.

One of the most common side effects of shingles is a painful phenomenon called "post-herpetic neuralgia." When the virus reactivates in the nerves, it can injure them.

As a result, even after the rash is gone, some people will be left with residual burning or shooting pain that can last for years. This is one reason researchers thought a shingles vaccine might be a good idea.

Right now, the shingles vaccine is recommended for people who are 60 or older. The vaccine should not be used by pregnant women or in people who have HIV or leukemia) or allergies to neomycin or gelatin.

From a holistic point of view, there are natural options you could use as an adjunct to help support your immune system.

Increasing protein, vegetables and whole grains while decreasing refined sugar and junk food is a good place to start. After that, there are myriad options, including vitamin C and zinc, as well as herbs as simple as garlic.

Also, don't underestimate the influence of stress on your immune system.

Guided imagery (a form of visualization) has been shown to boost the activity of immune cells in the body. If you are interested in learning more about this technique, see the Web sites for the National Institutes of Health (www.nccam.nih.gov) or Academy for Guided Imagery (www.academyforguidedimagery.com).

Dr. Astrid Pujari is a Seattle M.D. with an additional degree as a medical herbalist; she practices at the Pujari Center and teaches as part of the residency programs at Virginia Mason and Swedish/Cherry Hill hospitals. Send questions to apujari@seattletimes.com for possible use in future columns. All information is intended for education and not a substitute for medical advice. Consult your doctor before following any suggestions given here.