Cold sores, fever blisters, herpes simplex, HSV: These are all names for the far too common ailment that so many millions of us suffer with. This unsightly, painful and embarrassing condition is widespread and highly contagious. I wanted to find natural health therapies to deal with cold sores.
The cold sore is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are 2 types of the virus, aptly named HSV type I and HSV type II. Cold sores are usually caused by the type I strain and, as previously mentioned, infections are contagious. That fact is worth restating, an awareness of this fact is an important component of reducing the spread of the virus to friends, family and unsuspecting strangers.
While the risk of contagion is far higher when cold sores are visible, a person infected with HSV can pass it on to another person even when a cold sore is not present. It is, however, almost impossible to catch herpes from contaminated surfaces, towels, or washcloths.
The virus lies dormant in nerve ending of the body until triggered from it's dormant state into an active one, causing the outbreaks. The most common causes to trigger the outbreaks are overexposure to sunlight, stress, hormonal changes or imbalance (such as can be caused by the menstrual cycle for women), trauma to the skin (my first outbreak was caused by a bee sting on the lip) and changes/compromises of the immune system. Irritatingly, outbreaks can occur for seemingly no particular reason at all.
Colds sores may come back as often as once a month or they may only happen once or twice a year or even over much longer intervals. When they do come back they tend to come back in the same place on the body. Most people can feel symptoms of a recurrence before it happens. That telltale tingling or burning sensation in the region where one harbors the virus is a sure sign it would like to make an appearance in the next couple of minutes, hours or days. Now is the time to act.
In January of 1998 a breakthrough in HSV research was made when it was discovered that a specific fungus was always present around the herpes outbreak site. Cold sores have a fungal host and the virus hides inside the fungus.
When acting against the virus it is not always possible to stop the recurrence of the cold sore when you feel it coming on. There are things you can do to try to stop it in its tracks or at least lessen the severity of the outbreak but in acting against the virus rather than its host the measures are temporary.
I have tried the various prescription and over-the-counter medications available such as Valtrex®, Zovirax® and ABREVA®. I have not personally found any of these to be very effective in reducing the frequency or severity of outbreaks although they may work for some people. My personal feeling with regard to using ABREVA® or any other topical ointment is that the need to frequently touch the area to apply the product is counter-productive to the healing and containment of the outbreak.
I have found the amino acid L-lysine to be helpful to speed recovery time from an outbreak and to reduce the chance of recurrences of the herpes infection. It is a natural amino acid and it is considered to be safe and non-toxic. L-lysine can be taken in pill form. It is also inexpensive and easy to find in any store that carries a good selection of vitamins and supplements.
This information from the University of Maryland Medical Center further outlines some usage guidelines:
"Adults with herpes simplex should follow these guidelines:
* To treat symptoms: 3,000 - 9,000 mg per day in divided doses
* To prevent recurrences: 500 - 1,500 mg per day
Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, dietary supplements should be taken only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider."
In the past few years my own recurrences had been happening more and more frequently despite my use of Lysine and my best efforts to minimize triggers such as too much sun, stress etc. In my on-going search for treatment to this currently incurable scourge I have found an amazing treatment that works better for me (and apparently thousands before me) for preventing outbreaks and stopping them in their tracks than anything else I have ever tried. The treatment comes in the form of a non-chemical patch known as the Aura Patch. This particular form of the Aura Patch (there are 35 different therapies) was created in conjunction with another research company that made the initial accidental discovery that the specific fungus was always present around the herpes outbreak site. The discovery that herpes has a fungal host and the virus hides inside the fungus is groundbreaking and led to the development of this natural product.
Aura Patches deliver natural energetic frequencies that let the body heal itself. This technology takes the concept of homeopathy and applies it to a 21st century product. No pills or side effects, just pure energy in frequencies that occur in an abundantly healthy person. The energy frequencies are burned onto the patches in much the same way as a software program is burned onto a CD. The OLE Aura Patch (the specific Aura Patch for HSV) has energetics against herpes simplex virus and also a barrier that can't be tolerated by the fungal host. The patch stops an outbreak almost as soon as it is placed on the body. A thirty day treatment is usually sufficient to rid the body of the fungal host that harbors the virus.
There are other natural anti-fungal HSV remedies out there as well that may also deliver promising results. I cannot speak personally for any of them. It is exciting, whatever route you take, to know that there is now help for this widespread condition.
No comments:
Post a Comment