Cold Sores (Herpes virus Simplex)

Description

Cold sores are small, frequently recurring blisters that may appear any place around the mouth, and are caused by the virus herpes simplex 1 (HSV1). Groupings of cold sore blisters are called a cluster.

Symptoms

The first outbreak of cold sores might be accompanied by virus-like symptoms, along with fever, neck pain, lymph node enlargement, and fatigue, or it might go undetected. Typically, repeated outbreaks can appear weeks or even months following the first outbreak, however it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first episode. Repeated outbreaks usually start with a burning feeling that is rapidly followed by blisters that itch and can be very sore. Within a few days or weeks, these burst, dry, encrust, and disappear. Although the infection can remain in the body forever, the number of outbreaks tends to drop over a period of years. They can be managed and in some instances eliminated.

Cold sores are very contagious, and can end up being spread from the mouth to the genitalia via oral sex.

Cause

Herpes virus is the cause of herpes. HSV causes blisters on the mouth and in genital herpes virus in, around or on the vaginal area. Even though once you contract the herpes virus it is for life, you can stop outbreaks. They can be controlled and in some instances eliminated.

Almost all people experience cold sores at least one time throughout their lives. Following the first assault, the virus remains dormant in nerve cells, and can be reactivated later by stress, colds, warm weather, anxiety, nutritional deficiencies, or even other ailments, especially ones with accompanying fever. Extended cold sore outbreaks may occur in people suffering from compromised immune function or in people who have high stress levels.

Herpes zoster, Coxsackie virus, low thyroid, and health issues that suppress immune function can all contribute to cold sore outbreaks, and should be addressed before long-term relief can be achieved.

Natural Cures

Aromatherapy: Geranium, lemon, chamomile, tea sapling, and/or rose essential oils applied topically can help speed the healing process.

Diet: Eat a whole foods diet. Eat plenty of fresh green salads, raw and steamed vegetables, cultured, fermented products such as yogurt and sauerkraut. Refrain from eating milk products, sugar, whitened flour and other processed foods. Avoid citrus fruits, including pineapple. Purchase organic whenever you can and only eat organic animal protein.

Drink plenty of fresh pure water daily.

Blossom Essences: The most useful flower essences for coping with the accompanying emotional or mental tension of cold sores are Save Remedy®, Save Remedy Cream®, and Crab Apple.

Herbal treatments: Herbs that boost your potential to deal with cold sores by strengthening the immune system include the tinctures of Echinacea, Siberian ginseng, nettle, and goldenseal. Combine in equivalent parts and take a ½ tsp. of this mixture three times a day. You can also externally apply diluted tincture of myrrh or calendula. Licorice root tincture used topically has been shown to inactivate herpes simplex contaminants and hinder the growth of the virus.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the process of using water, ice, steam and alternating cold and hot temperatures to maintain and restore health. Remedies include complete body immersion, steam bathing, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation as well as the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be utilized in the home as part of a self-treatment program. Many Naturopathic Doctors, Physical Therapists and day spas use Hydrotherapy as part of their remedy treatments. We recommend several at-home hydrotherapy treatments. Please seek the advice of your alternative health care practitioner before undergoing these types of procedures to make sure they are appropriate for you.

*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy treatment.

Lifestyle: Manage stress and stay rested.

Nutritional Supplementation: There are many optional cures in regard to herpes outbreaks. Choose from these options. During outbreaks use L-lysine cream applied on the blisters, and M-lysine supplements (four grams daily for the first four times, then five hundred mg 3 times daily for just two weeks) taken orally. Please note: Don’t take L-Lysine on a daily basis, however, as it may produce an imbalance among additional amino acids. If continual every day lysine use may be the only way for you to prevent repeated attacks, then you definitely must make diet modifications. First get rid of all wheat products, replace with other whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and buckwheat in your diet and decrease amino acid lysine into scaled-down dosages, used with a complete spectrum amino acid blend. Additionally, ask your alternative health care practitioner about amino-acid user profile testing. Other useful nutrients to help prevent and treat cold sores are vitamin B complex, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, vitamin E, and zinc gluconate. Acidophilus bacteria and thymus extract can also help, as the flavonoid quercetin, that has been shown to hinder the herpes virus.

Note: The two amino acids most important in healing herpes infections are lysine and arginine. Arginine stimulates the growth and duplication of the herpes virus, while lysine inhibits it. What`s essential is the number of arginine to lysine. The larger the arginine to amino acid lysine ratio, the more herpes virus is likely to grow. Conversely, if amino acid lysine is higher with regard to arginine, the growth is actually inhibited. Dark chocolate, peanuts, the majority of cereal whole grains, nuts, and seeds have more arginine compared to lysine.

Topical Ointment Treatment: Use vitamin E cream or saturate gauze with vitamin E essential oil and apply for 15 minutes over the area of outbreak.

BHT, a natural food preservative, put into an alcohol solution is another effective topical ointment solution.

Fast Acting Herpes Virus Protocol

This is a natural cure for herpes. This protocol works best before breakouts occur however, you can still get fast results when a breakout is underway by substituting Hydrogen Peroxide in regard to DMSO:

Buy the following supplies, available at the majority of health food stores or even online sources:

DMSO-

Food Grade Peroxide

Laurea Plant

Red Marine Algae

Lysine

Calcium

Stable Liquid Air

Apply the thin layer of DMSO to the afflicted area, the soles of your feet, and your lower back three times daily. Do this when you initially feel a breakout may be underway, before an eruption occurs. If you are already broken out, use food-grade Hydrogen Peroxide rather than DMSO. Apply peroxide by dabbing region with a thoroughly clean cotton swab.

Take Laurea, Red Sea Algae, amino acid lysine and calcium supplements according to instructions on content label, twice daily. Look for amino acid lysine in a quick acting tincture formula. These products can be found at a well-stocked health food stores.

Eat high amounts of fresh green salads, and uncooked steamed vegetables. Avoid dairy products, sugars, white flour and other prepared foods. Buy organic whenever possible, especially when selecting animal proteins.

Caution: When applying DMSO on the body use of thoroughly clean fingers and thoroughly clean cotton swabs. Be careful because whatever material comes in contact with DMSO gel is absorbed rapidly and absorbed deeply into the body. Avoid contact with dirt until the area is completely dry.

Alternative Expert Care

If your symptoms persist despite following the measures listed above, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional therapies have all been proven to be useful for treating and reducing the symptoms of cold sores/herpes: Biofeedback Training, Cellular Therapy, Innovative Visualization, Energy Medicine , Environmental Medicine, Guided Imagery, Homeopathy, Magnetic Field Therapy, Naturopathic Treatments, Nutritional Therapies, Orthomolecular Treatments, Oxygen Treatment (Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy (IV) as well as Ozone Treatment, which inactivates herpes 1 and promotes skin healing, high effectiveness), Mind Area Therapy, as well as traditional Chinese Medicine. (See Glossary for descriptions of these Alternative Therapies.)

Caution: The drug acyclovir is typically prescribed (both by mouth and topically) to treat herpes blisters. However, it may cause a rise in signs and symptoms when it is discontinued. In addition, antiviral drugs can be hard on the body and particularly the liver, using natural, alternative treatment approaches is recommended.