Genital Herpes At Home Remedies

How To Manage Genital Herpes With Compresses

Warm and cold compresses are the simplest natural treatment for genital herpes. Though the idea of a compress might sound old fashioned, research shows that topical therapy can effectively alleviate symptoms of genital herpes outbreaks and even contribute to the prevention of outbreaks when used promptly.

Here are a few tried-and-true natural compress ideas to get you started:

• -Dry, warm compress using warmed rice in a sock
• -Cold compress using an ice pack or soft washcloth filled with ice
• -Baking soda paste
• -Crushed garlic cloves mixed with olive oil
• -Topical apple cider vinegar using one-part ACV and three-parts warm water

How To Get Rid Of Herpes Symptoms Naturally

By Joe Boland

• Facts and Statistics About Herpes

Herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases , prompting many to wonder how to get rid of herpes naturally.

The herpes virus can live dormant inside a persons immune system for a lifetime, periodically causing blisters that burst and turn into open cold sores or ulcers before healing. When left alone, herpes cold sores usually last about 1014 days and are uncomfortable for a variety of reasons causing redness, pain, burning and often embarrassment.

Many people wonder if there is a natural cure for herpes or are looking for ways on how to get rid of herpes for good. While technically the virus that causes herpes is not curable, there are many natural herpes remedies that can put herpes into remission. In fact, many people with herpes dont experience any symptoms at all, especially long term, once they learn to manage triggers of outbreaks. So while theres no guide for how to get rid of herpes naturally, there is a method for how to get rid of herpes symptoms the natural way and keep breakouts at bay.

Risks And Side Effects

The three main treatments for herpes acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir are all FDA approved, though there are side effects and interactions to be aware of.

Common side effects of these antiviral medications include headaches and nausea. Famciclovir can cause dizziness or sleepiness, and confusion is mainly seen in older adults.

Acyclovir and valacyclovir, which are very similar to each other, can cause your kidneys to stop working. If you have kidney issues, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose. These medications can interact with other medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. This may weaken kidney function.

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Best For Quick Results: Stdcheck

• Collection method: blood test
• Results: within 12 days
• Follow-up care: consultation with doctor and a written prescription for $95
• Cost:$45 for HSV-1 or HSV-2 only, $79 for both
• Pro: rapid results
• Con: requires a visit to a laboratory

STDcheck offers tests for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. A person can order an HSV-2 test for $45, or they can order a test for both HSV-1 and HSV-2 for $79. There is also an option to order a test package that tests for 10 different STIs.

This option is best for people who need their results quickly.

To order a test, a person must enter their ZIP code on the company website to find their nearest testing center. The company claims it has over 4,500 test centers nationwide, making them a convenient option for most people.

A person needs to attend their local test center for a blood test. They should then receive their online results within 12 days. Anyone who receives a positive result is eligible for a phone consultation with a STDcheck doctor. The doctor may prescribe treatments at their discretion.

Symptoms Of Genital Herpes In Females

Getting a menstrual period can cause an outbreak of genital herpes.

Also, a person may mistake the symptoms of genital herpes for those of a yeast infection or bladder infection.

Genital herpes can spread in the following ways:

• receiving oral sex from a partner with a cold sore
• touching a herpes sore, then touching the genitals
• a baby can contract genital herpes during birth if the mother has the virus

People can sexually transmit the virus even if they have no visible symptoms.

It is not possible to contract genital herpes from toilet seats, bedding, swimming pools, or touching other objects. The virus can only spread from human-to-human contact.

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Is Genital Herpes Related To Shingles

Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella zoster virus , which causes chickenpox earlier in life. The natural history of varicella zoster infection is similar to genital herpes infection in that VZV also becomes latent in the sensory nerve roots. Later in life the virus may exit, causing shingles.

Recurrences in shingles cause blister lesions in a single area of skin called a dermatome. Shingles is not a sexually transmitted infection and is independent from genital herpes.

Is There A Cure For Herpes

There is no cure for herpes, but the virus tends to cause the most symptoms during the first few years. After that, while herpes does not go away entirely, it usually causes mild to no symptoms.

When the virus is active, people can take medications to help reduce and prevent symptoms. Antiviral medicines may be prescribed to help reduce symptoms of genital herpes or oral herpes and speed up the healing of an outbreak, such as:

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Can My Kids Use This Too

Many peer-reviewed clinical studies have shown light therapy to be safe and efficacious. However, if you have any concerns about using it with children, we recommend consulting with a healthcare professional. Please also note, all treatments with children should be done under adult supervision.

Started using this device during the middle of an outbreak I had while taking Acyclovir. Since using this treatment, Ive been able to get off meds.

Epsom Salt For Herpes

What You Have To Do

How Often You Need To Do This

Repeat this twice a day.

Why This Works

This is one of the best home remedies for herpes that works well for genitals. The salt soak will soothe the itching and pain caused by the sores . It will also dry out the sores because of its hygroscopic nature .

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What Causes Genital Herpes

Two types of Herpes Simplex Virus or HSV are linked with Genital Herpes i.e. HSV2 and HSV1

HSV2 is specific for causing Genital Herpes and is transmitted through sexual contact. It is highly contagious even if there is no open sore on genital area.

HSV1 is the main cause of fever blisters around the mouth which causes genital herpes through the orogenital route

The HSV virus tends to enter the body through any cut in the skin or mucus membrane lining the openings in the body, like mouth, nose, and genitals. After entering the body, the virus enters cells where it multiplies and symptoms appear.

• Future Treatments

Scientists have studied alternative treatments, like herbal extracts and nutritional supplements, based on some genital herpes patients claims that they help relieve symptoms. Some study results have been promising, others discouraging.

Many people say that an extract of the echinacea plant helps boost the immune systems ability to fight the genital herpes infection. Some say it decreases the frequency and severity of genital herpes outbreaks. Researchers in the U.K. compared the effect of echinacea with that of a placebo. They gave echinacea to 50 people with genital herpes for six months and a placebo for another six months. There was no significant difference in the number of herpes outbreaks during the two periods.

How Can I Treat Herpes At Home

Certain dietary supplementsâlike lysine, vitamin C, zinc, and probioticsâcan help support your immune system and prevent or shorten outbreaks. Once an outbreak has begun, applying cold compresses, licorice root extract, lemon balm oil, manuka honey, or garlic can reduce its severity and provide symptom relief.

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How To Get Rid Of Herpes Naturally

Not every person with a herpes infection actually experiences breakouts of cold sores throughout his or her lifetime or even after initially becoming infected. How often someone has a herpes cold sore outbreak, how severe the outbreaks are, how contagious someone is after infection and how long the sores take to heal all depend on someones individual immune response.

1. Boost Nutrient Intake

If youre going to keep the herpes virus from frequently causing outbreaks, the first step in how to get rid of herpes is to improve immune function by boosting nutrient intake. Include these healing foods in your diet to keep the virus dormant as much as possible:

2. Avoid Inflammatory Foods

Certain foods can raise inflammation, weaken immune defenses and make skin irritation even worse. Avoid the following foods as much as possible to limit outbreak severity and duration.

3. Consider Supplements

• Antiviral herbs: These include elderberry, calendula, echinacea, garlic, astragalus and licorice root.
• L-lysine : Can help treat and prevent outbreaks.
• Lemon balm extract: Apply as a topical cream for healing.
• Vitamin C : Vitamin C boosts immune function improving herpes.
• Zinc : Zinc benefits include supporting immune function, keeping viruses dormant and rebuilding skin tissue to speed up healing.
• B-complex : B vitamins help your body deal with stress and can prevent outbreaks.

4. Try Essential Oils

5. Ease Cold Sore Pain Naturally

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Preventive Measures Against Cold Sores

The most important thing to avoid the reactivation of the herpes simplex virus is to follow some preventive steps, which are mentioned below.

• Do not come in touch with the body fluids of a person, suffering from cold sores.
• Do not kiss the infected person.
• Do not use lipsticks, spoons, drinking cups, lip balms, straws, towels, etc. that have been used by the infected person.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and lukewarm water to prevent the spread of infection.
• Do not touch or pop the sores.
• Fried and acidic foods increase the chances of an outbreak, so avoid them.
• Change your toothbrush regularly.
• Plenty of sleep will reduce stress, which prevents cold sores.
• Proper medication is a must if the cold sores are severe.

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Home Remedies For Herpes

There is currently no cure or vaccine for either HSV-1 or HSV-2.

Prescription medications have been proven safe and effective in reducing pain and partially suppressing the herpes virus during active outbreaks.

But many natural treatments and home remedies can complement these treatments and help to soothe outbreak symptoms in their own right.

In recent years, scientists have expanded their research into the antiviral properties of certain natural remedies.

If proven effective in the future, these remedies could be especially important in battling infections that have become resistant to prescription antivirals.

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Aloe Vera Gel For Herpes

Image: Shutterstock

Fresh aloe vera gel

What You Have To Do

You can also use organic aloe vera gel that you find in the market.

How Often You Need To Do This

Do this thrice a day.

Why This Works

Aloe vera has more than 70 potentially active components that exert multiple beneficial effects on the skin. Application of this gel will reduce inflammation, soothe and moisturize the skin, have antiseptic and antiviral effects, and also quicken the healing process .

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Home Remedies For Herpes Treatment

Herpes is an infection, caused by the herpes simplex virus. It is a very itchy and painful problem, generally seen in both men and women. It appears in the form of small red, swelled and liquid-filled blisters or sores near eyes, mouth, lips, and genitals. But can you treat herpes at home? Well, yes! Here are some easy and quick natural remedies for a herpes treatment. Take a look.

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Herbal Remedies For Genital Herpes By Planet Ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda provides best combination of effective herbal remedies such as Herpi Care Pack for ayurvedic treatment of genital herpes. These herbal remedies are prepared from using best quality herbs and strictly follow the principles of Ayurveda. All these herbal remedies of Planet Ayurveda are 100 percent pure, natural and vegetarian. These are free from chemicals, additives and preservatives. These are safe to use as these are free from side effects.

What Is Neonatal Herpes

Neonatal herpes can be a very serious infection. Babies generally contract the virus from their birthing parent during childbirth even if the parent doesnt have active lesions. They may also get HSV-1 if an adult with an active cold sore kisses them. Breastfeeding babies can also get HSV-1 from the breast if there are lesions present. But babies cant get herpes from breast milk, so its safe to pump and feed.

Herpes simplex can be more dangerous for young babies because they dont have a fully developed immune system. But most babies with neonatal herpes can recover fully with treatment.

The dangers of neonatal herpes are much higher if the infection spreads to the babys organs. If youre pregnant and have herpes, speak with your healthcare provider about how to lower the risk of passing the infection to your baby.

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What Not To Do With Cold Sores

Certain habits or behaviors could trigger a cold-sore outbreak or make new cold sores appear elsewhere on your body.

Avoid triggers. This means that if you know a hot, sunny day at the beach or a lot of stress makes you break out in cold sores, try to stay out of those situations when you can. You may be able to stop it in its tracks, or at least keep it from getting worse.

Donât touch. If you pick at your cold sore, you may spread the virus to another part of your body. That will just make your outbreak worse. Keep your hands away from your mouth, and wash your hands often, especially when you touch your face.

Donât pop sores. The virus is most likely to spread after a cold sore appears and before it heals. Popping the sores may spread the virus to other parts of your body.

Donât give or receive oral sex. When you have a cold sore, you can spread it to other parts of the body, including the genitals.

How To Prevent Cold Sores

Once the herpes virus is inside you, recurrent outbreaks are possible. But there are things you can do to prevent or at least reduce their frequency and severity:

• Manage stress. Stress seems to provoke cold-sore outbreaks
• Use sunscreen. Shield yourself from the sun, another common cold sore trigger
• Avoid spicy foods or any foods that seem to trigger your outbreaks

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What Are The Complications Of Genital Herpes

The common complications that may stem from genital herpes include:

• Spread of the virus to other organs
• Bladder problems
• Rectal inflammation

If you are pregnant and have contracted genital herpes, chances are you will transmit herpes to your baby. Babies who contract genital herpes can suffer from serious complications such as:

• brain damage due to herpes meningitis
• chronic herpes skin infection

Cool Or Warm Compression

Cold or warm compression is an effective natural remedy to treat the symptoms of herpes. Applying heat can be helpful even if the sore has not developed completely. If a sore has already formed, warm compression can help in reducing the pain and inflammation. You can make a dry warm compress by filling a soft cloth with rice and heating it for a minute in the microwave. You can also use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Apply an ice pack or a clean, soft washcloth filled with ice on the sore affected area. You can even take frozen peas in a soft piece of cloth. You can use these compressions on the sores after every few hours.

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Avoiding Passing Genital Herpes To A Partner

If you have herpes, you can follow some simple measures to avoid passing the virus on to your partner, and to continue to have a healthy and happy sex life. These include:

• telling your partner if you have herpes
• learning to recognise the warning signs that an episode is starting
• not have sex during an episode of herpes
• avoiding direct contact with your sores or blisters and another person
• avoiding kissing and oral sex when you or your partner has cold sores around the mouth

If you have frequent episodes of herpes then it is worth talking to your GP or sexual health clinic about longer term treatment which may also reduce the chance of you passing on the virus to your partner.

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