Home Remedies for Cold Sores
Cold sores are sores caused by the herpes simplex virus. The herpes simplex virus is of two types, type I and II. There is not much distinction between these two, except that the type I virus invariably affects the region around the lips, while the type II virus affects the genital areas. An infection by the type I virus is commonly called a cold sore.
The herpes virus invariably causes an outbreak when the immune system is low, and since very often a person comes down with a cold when their immune system is low, most people tend to get a cold when they have a herpes infection. This is why the sores have the common name ‘cold sore’.
Almost all people are infected by the herpes virus when they are children, and 80% of people would have had an outbreak at some time in their lives. The herpes infection is incurable, although there are certain things that can be done to reduce the severity of the infection.
Home remedies for cold sores
There is very little that can be done for a cold sore. The normal treatment methods are the application of antiviral creams on the infected area or just leaving it to heal in time. Even antiviral creams do not kill the virus, and at the most, they reduce the severity of the infection. Many of these creams come with mild pain killers and therefore provide relief from pain. Most of these medications are over-the-counter drugs, and there is no need for a doctor’s prescription. Even without the application of these creams, the sore will crust over and fall off in about 10 days.
Some of the things that can be done to help relieve symptoms are as follows:
- Applying aloe vera on the infected area. Aloe vera is a broad spectrum antiviral and antibacterial agent and comes with the added benefit of being a very good moisturizer.
- Siberian ginseng is also known to provide relief from herpes infections.
- Echinacea is an herbaceous flowering plant. Echinacea is considered to be in popular tradition an immune system booster. Many people take extracts of Echinacea, believing that it will cure cold and herpes infections. Studies have not been conclusive either way.
- Propolis is a bee product and is considered an antimicrobial agent. It is believed to promote general health and strengthen the immune system. Beekeepers have a tradition of keeping propolis in the mouth as a cure for sore throats and applying it on herpes infections to relieve the symptoms.
- Lysine is an amino acid that is believed to work very well in controlling the herpes simplex virus. There are many herbal lysine products that are available that can be taken. Although once again, most of the evidence for its effectiveness is anecdotal rather than scientific.
The only recommendation for a cold sore is personal hygiene. Infected people are recommended not to touch the sore as the liquid that comes out of the sore is considered to be the source for further infection. Apart from washing their hands regularly, people are recommended to keep the sores clean and dry by applying corn starch or such natural astringents. For more info please check http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Cold-Sores.html for more details.
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Guest Post by: Kevin Pederson
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