Homeopathic management of herpes zoster: A case report

Herpes zoster, the cutaneous reactivation of varicella-zoster virus, typically presents as a painful dermatomal rash and carries a risk of debilitating post-herpetic neuralgia. Conventional management involves early antiviral therapy alongside analgesics, corticosteroids and neuropathic pain agents to mitigate the pain and reduce post-herpetic neuralgia. However, these interventions can be limited by adverse effects, high cost or incomplete pain relief. This report describes a case of a 19-year-old male who presented with a classic vesicular eruption on right upper abdominal, lateral thoracic, and upper back accompanied by severe burning, consistent with herpes zoster. After considering the totality of symptoms, the patient was prescribed Calcarea carbonica in 1M potency. Within 48 hours there was a marked reduction in burning, which had been the most distressing symptom, followed by complete crusting of all lesions over the next two days. Importantly, the case resolved without progression to post‑herpetic neuralgia, a common complication of herpes zoster. This case challenges the prevailing perception that homeopathy is slow in action, demonstrating that an appropriately selected remedy can achieve rapid resolution of herpes zoster and prevent complications such as post‑herpetic neuralgia.