May 9, 2024 general

Terrifying TV commercials promoting the shingles vaccine create panic about what it would be like to suffer with the condition. They aren’t exaggerating the misery that might ensue if nothing is done to treat shingles. The vaccine maker, of course, wants you to ask for their vaccine, “Shingrix” by name. The vaccine is a legitimate option, but to be an informed consumer, there is more you should know.

• Even though vaccinated, you may still get shingles. (Remember we learned that covid vaccines didn’t necessarily prevent infection? The manufacturer claims that the disease will at least be milder.)
• As with any pathogen, the key for prevention (even vaccine effectiveness) and healing is the strength of your immune function. So, that makes a healthful diet, basic nutritional supplements (especially C, D and zinc), and probiotics very important.
• As you may know, a virus, varicella-zoster virus (VZV), causes shingles. VZV also causes chicken pox (usually in children) but long after recovery, some of it hangs around dormant in sensory nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Once re-activated, the virus travels down a single nerve and causes a painful rash in a localized area. The risk of reactivation increases after age 50 because the immune system typically has weakened. There have been many reports of shingles occurring after the covid vaccines.
• The vaccine does not appear to contain heavy metals such as mercury but it does have polysorbate 80 to which many people are severely allergic. One other ingredient, MSG, neurosurgeon Richard Blaylock, MD told us is an excitotoxin that negatively affects the brain. It is also a bit of a concern to me that Shingrix contains a live (but supposedly weakened) virus.
• Shingrix side effects reported are typically mild such as injection site pain. A law firm website states “In rare cases, more severe side effects, such as difficulty breathing, may occur. If you experience these symptoms after receiving the Shingrix vaccine, you can file a lawsuit to seek compensation.”
• With or without vaccination, if you contract shingles, your doctor can prescribe antiviral medications – the sooner the better before the virus can multiply more.
• Foods high in the amino acid l-arginine (e.g. nuts, chocolate, seafood, arginine supplements) may feed the VZV virus but meanwhile foods rich in the amino l-lysine (meat, cheese, eggs) and lysine supplements may slow it down.

There are natural remedies to help. Read the library page about Shingles that includes info about my extremely experience with shingles which was quickly resolved. (I had not had the vaccine and still have not.)