What is Shingles and Post-herpetic neuralgia/什么是带状泡疹和带状泡疹后神经痛?

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful blistering rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (the varicella-zoster virus). It is often a burning pain or tingling sensation, or extreme sensitivity in one area of the skin with red rash and groups of blisters. The blisters usually appear on only one side of the body.
Post-herpetic neuralgia is a nerve pain that continues for three months or more due to damage caused by Shingles. Pain may be described as burning, stabbing, or gnawing. It ranges from mild to very severe and is confined to the same outbreak area of the skin.

带状疱疹是一种由水痘-带状疱疹病毒所引起的，累及神经和皮肤的急性疱疹性病毒性皮肤病。临床表现以簇集性水疱沿身体一侧周围神经呈带状分布，临床表现以红斑、水疱、疼痛为特征。

带状疱疹后神经痛是指疱疹的皮肤损害已完全消退，但受侵犯的神经分布区域仍有持续性剧烈疼痛，有如锐器刺入、烧灼、电击、重压、勒紧等，受到风吹或轻轻触摸衣服时都引起剧烈疼痛。可持续数月或数年以至数十年不等，且疼痛白天黑夜均存在。

带状疱疹属中医学的“蛇串疮”、“缠腰火丹”、“火带疮”、“蛇丹”、“蜘蛛疮”等范畴。

The cause of Shingles and Post-herpetic neuralgia in TCM/带状泡疹和带状泡疹后神经痛的中医病因?

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia are likely due to a deficiency in the function of the STOMACH, SPLEEN AND LIVER. Pathogenic factors such as ‘toxic’,‘fire’,‘heat’,‘wind’and ‘dampness’also play a part.

中医学认为带状泡疹是感受毒邪、湿、热、风、火郁于心、肝、肺、脾，经络阻隔，气血凝滞而成。

带状泡疹后神经痛多为气滞血瘀所致。

How can TCM help Shingles ad Post-herpetic neuralgia patient/中医如何帮助带状泡疹和带状泡疹后神经痛患者?

The TCM physician will go through a proper TCM diagnosis methods with the patient to identify the cause of the patient’s shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia, and customize the TCM services to the individual needs. The TCM services usually includes a combination of:
• Chinese herbal medication (oral and external application)
• Acupuncture (body acupuncture and skin acupuncture),
• moxibustion,
• blood extraction at skin level,
• cupping etc
These services can help to improve the skin condition by strengthening the patient’s organs and dispelling disease-causing factors to reduce the infections and pains.

中医师会对带状泡疹或带状泡疹后神经痛患者进行中医诊断, 通过辨证论治, 找出病因，然后针对患者的症型和体质，采用个人化及相对应的中医调理方案。方法治疗。中医调理方法可以综合以下几种：

• 中药(口服和外用)
• 针刺(体针、皮肤针)，
• 艾灸，
• 刺络放血 (采用梅花针在皮损局部出血)，
• 拔罐等

这些中医调理方法可通过解毒、清火、利湿、祛风、通瘀去除病邪耒改善皮肤炎症及缓解疼痛。同时，改善脏腑功能耒提高身体免疫功能以加速皮肤的恢复。

Media interviews /媒体采访