Shingles is the outbreak of the herpes zoster, the virus repsonsilbe for chicken pox, resulting in skin lesions, small fluid filled vesicles, and pain that transmits along the sensory nerve root from the spine never crossing the midline. In its more virulent forms it affects the eye and should be taken very seriously.
Acupuncture, although most often referred to for shingles in the chronic state known as post herpetic neuralgia, can be used as an assistant therapy along with a prescribed anti-viral in the acute phase.