Copyright People’s Pharmacy

Q: About 30 years ago, I got shingles from my hip to my knee.  A doctor told me to get a bottle of original Listerine and rub it on often.  It took about a week or two, but that Listerine got rid of that terrible pain.  I also didn’t develop blisters.

A: Shingles is a painful rash that may occur many years after a person suffers chickenpox.  This infection is caused by a herpes virus called varicella zoster.  Antiviral drugs such as acyclovir, famciclovir or valacyclovir may speed healing if taken early enough.  Sixteen years ago, another reader shared a similar story: “What is the miracle of Listerine? Twenty years ago I got shingles.  I had a blistery rash and it really hurt. My doctor told me to keep rubbering Listerine on it.  The itching stopped, the rash disappeared and the pain went away for good.”  We have no idea why Listerine might be helpful against shingles pain.  We could find no research in the medical literature, though some doctors seem to know about this home remedy.