Shingles or Herpes Zoster is caused by the virus varicella-zoster. This is the virus that causes chicken pox. People who have had chicken pox in their childhood are very susceptible to shingles as the virus lies dormant in the body and erupts later when the body is stressed, weak and immunity is low. Blisters filled with fluid appear in an area of the body accompanied with itching and pain. There is a lot of discomfort accompanied by a feeling of exhaustion and depression. It affects the quality of life of the sufferer in a bad way.
Blindness, inflammation of the brain and facial paralysis are some of the conditions that may arise from complications from shingles. Medicines generally prescribed for shingles simply mask the symptoms. Side effects of conventional medicines include dizziness, nausea, headache, vomiting and rashes.
