Traditional & Alternative Medicine

Biography

Biography: Sam C Liang

Abstract

Herpes zoster is caused by varicella-zoster virus, the relapse of latent infection caused by the human varicella virus, and it only reoccurs when the immunity turns low. This virus is transferred from the skin through the nerve fibers to the ganglion lurking, and it relapses when immunity runs down along the nerve fibers to the skin, resulting in erythema and blisters. In most of the cases, the relapse occurs only along certain nerves, and produces zonal distribution. When herpes zoster happens, initially there will be no skin erythema or blisters, but with local nerve pain lasts about 3-5 days, after that the part with the pain will have erythema, followed by blisters. According to Chinese medicine, herpes are caused by the liver and gallbladder fire blazing up combining with the dampness accumulation in the spleen and exterior pathogen attack. In the early stage, the main symptoms are fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, mild fever, and then soon patient will have burning sensation at the infected part. 45-years-old patient, Caucasian, initial visit on January 14th, 2014 with herpes attack, and after 2 weeks acupuncture and herbal treatments, patient claimed no more burning pain, blister totally disappeared, daily life activities and energy completely recovered.