What Triggers Herpes Outbreaks
2018 article , the initial outbreak of genital herpes is usually the result of skin contact, normally during sexual activity, including oral sex. Further outbreaks can be caused by having multiple sexual partners, stress, sunlight, colds, menstruation, and wearing tight clothes.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association writes that cold sores can be triggered by stress, fatigue, colds, flu, strong sunlight, and menstruation.
Olive Leaf Extraction Method
Olive leaves were collected in Mid-November and dried at ambient room temperature, and the powdered extract was stored in dark until further usage. The powder was dissolved in 100 mL of extraction solvent that was made of 80% ethanol at 60ðC. The mixture was filtered using Whatman filter paper NO: 1. The extract was evaporated at room temperature under vacuum conditions. The leaves were obtained at the best possible time of the year, which had the highest amount of active ingredients washed, dried, and hydroalcoholic extract was extracted. The extract analysis using the HPLC showed that the active ingredient, oleuropein, was 0.475 mg/g of the total extract. The ointment was prepared in 2% and was provided to the patient.
There are three oral antivirals recommended for the treatment of oral or genital herpes:
| Famvir, 250 mg | Twice daily |
Preventing genital herpes recurrence is important as it reduces the risk of HIV. According to the CDC, having an active genital herpes infection increases the risk of HIV by 200% to 300%.
Natural Remedies To Control Herpes Outbreaks
Herpes viruses are known to cause cold sores, genital herpes, herpes zoster , post-herpetic neuralgia and, in many cases, canker sores . One type, known as herpes simplex virus type one , commonly affects the mouth and throat.
The number of outbreaks can vary widely from one individual to the next, but the virus is thought to be a permanent fixture that resides within the ganglion for a lifetime, even though it might remain dormant for long periods. In the case of canker sores, not all problems are due to herpes infections. However, some of the nutrition and lifestyle information that appears in this article is useful for all canker-sore sufferers, regardless of the cause.
Prevention and Management
There are a number of antiviral drugs that physicians prescribe to prevent and/or manage herpes outbreaks. However, these drugs often do not suppress herpes outbreaks to a satisfactory degree. Thus, many afflicted individuals look to lifestyle, nutrition and supplementation practices to further reduce the number and severity of herpes outbreaks. The following considerations involve known trigger factors and natural remedies to help manage herpes conditions.
Factors That Cause Outbreaks
Fever, cold, flu, a weakened immune system, stress Herpes attacks often occur when a person is run down, sleep-deprived or experiencing excessive stress, all of which weaken the immune system. This enables the virus to replicate more easily.
Dietary Considerations
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Herpes Symptoms And Signs
In order to diagnose herpes, a health care provider can swab an area of visibly active herpes infection or, if symptoms arent active, a blood test can be given that measures the number of herpes antibodies present in the body. The antibodies dont indicate herpes itself, but rather show the immune systems response to the presence of the virus in the body. Its important to note that sometimes a swab can give false negative results since herpes lesions need to be large enough to yield enough detectable virus and if the outbreak is already healing it also may not be detected in a swab.
The most common herpes symptoms include:
- Developing either a single cold sore or cluster of multiple cold sores that form on the lips, inside the mouth, or on the genitals, buttocks and upper thighs.
- Sores can sometimes be severe, painful and rupture and cause fluid to be secreted out.
- Some herpes canker sores develop a thin, white coating and burn when touched while they healing.
- Around herpes cold sores, its common to feel pain, tenderness and other symptoms of a rash, such as redness or signs of swelling.
- Some people are able to tell before an outbreak if one is going to occur because they feel tingling, itchy sensations near the affected area.
- Some people develop other symptoms during herpes outbreaks that are similar to those caused by a cold or the flu. This may include fatigue, irritability, aches or a slight fever.
Suppressive Therapy For Recurrent Hsv
Suppressive therapy reduces frequency of genital herpes recurrences by 70%80% among patients who have frequent recurrences . Persons receiving such therapy often report having experienced no symptomatic outbreaks. Suppressive therapy also is effective for patients with less frequent recurrences. Long-term safety and efficacy have been documented among patients receiving daily acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir . Quality of life is improved for many patients with frequent recurrences who receive suppressive therapy rather than episodic treatment . Providers should discuss with patients on an annual basis whether they want to continue suppressive therapy because frequency of genital HSV-2 recurrence diminishes over time for many persons. However, neither treatment discontinuation nor laboratory monitoring is necessary because adverse events and development of HSV antiviral resistance related to long-term antiviral use are uncommon.
Valacyclovir 500 mg orally 2 times/day for 3 daysOR
Valacyclovir 1 gm orally once daily for 5 days
*Acyclovir 400 mg orally 3 times/day is also effective, but are not recommended because of frequency of dosing.
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Herpes Causes And Risk Factors
Causes of herpes include acquiring the virus through sexual contact, coupled with immune system suppression and sometimes nutritional deficiencies.
HSV-1 is primarily transmitted by oral-oral contact. On the other hand, HSV-2 is considered a sexually transmitted disease and usually passed during oral or vaginal sex.
A scary finding is that more cases of genital herpes than ever before are now being caused by HSV-1 , and about 85 percent of people with genital herpes dont even know it. Studies show that about 50 percent of the new genital herpes infections in young adults are due to HSV-1 and about 40 percent in older adults. The fact that most people dont ever find out theyre infected is one of the reasons that transmission rates are steadily climbing.
Risk factors for acquiring herpes include:
- Kissing someone who has symptoms of an active herpes virus
- Engaging in any form of unprotected sex
- Having sex with multiple partners
- Spreading the virus through contact with cold sores on the eyes, secretions on the fingers, or ulcers/sores on buttocks and upper thighs
- Having certain other illnesses that lower immune function, such as HIV/AIDS, an autoimmune disorder or hepatitis
- Eating a poor diet that causes nutrient deficiencies and lowered immunity
- Smoking cigarettes, drinking high amounts of alcohol or abusing drugs
The Course Of The Infection
The beginning of the disease reminds of a common flu. The infection does not always develop into a blister on the lips. Sometimes you fight flu-like symptoms for a few days, but no blister appears. The virus never leaves the body, it stays there and usually becomes active when the organism has been weakened by another illness or stress. Then a typical cold sore forms. The first type of herpes often occurs in babies and later in adult and old people. The second type occurs at the beginning of sexual maturity, between 14 and 29 years.
A worldwide infection
Foto: Wikimedia Commons, author: BruceBlaus, CC BY-SA 4.0
The infectious herpes disease with typical blisters is the most common infection in the world. The most common types of herpes are called HSV1 and HSV2.
The first type is responsible for the onset of herpes in the facial area, especially on the lips. It is often transferred while kissing. The second type is transmitted during sexual intercourse and results in blisters in the genital area. In certain cases, HSV1 may also cause a blister in the genital area and HSV2 may cause a blister on the lips.
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Home Remedies For Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by two types of viruses: herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2 .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one out of every six people between the ages of 14 and 49 in the United States have genital herpes.
This kind of infection can affect anyone, but women are at a higher risk than men. Having multiple sexual partners also increases the risk of this infection.
Some common symptoms of genital herpes include pain, itching, small red bumps or tiny white blisters, sores in the genital area and painful urination. Other symptoms may include headaches, body aches and fever.
However, some people have genital herpes without any signs or symptoms.
The infectious virus spreads mostly through sexual contact. After the initial infection, the virus may remain dormant in the body and can reactivate after some time.
In fact, the signs and symptoms may recur, off and on, for years. Recurrences are generally less painful than the original outbreak, and sores generally heal more quickly.
While there is no cure for genital herpes, many home remedies can ease symptoms and reduce the risk of infecting others.
Here are the top 10 home remedies for genital herpes.
Contents
Licorice Root For Herpes
Image: Shutterstock
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
Repeat this every few hours.
Why This Works
Domeboro powder is a commonly used astringent in hospitals, especially for ulcers, sores, and lesions. It also relieves the pain and itchiness .
Let us now take a look at a few frequently asked questions regarding herpes.
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Alternative Treatments For Herpes Offer Real Relief
Article contributed by Michele Picozzi
Herpes has been around since Hippocrates, but it took the sexual revolution of the 60s to turn it into an epidemic. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that 1 in 5 Americans over the age of 12 have genital herpes, a 30 percent increase since the 1970s. Millions more have facial herpes or cold sores. Fortunately, there are alternative treatments that allow you to prevent and control herpes naturally.
Once contracted, the virus, which has no known cure, never leaves the body. Instead, it lives silently in nerve endings deep within the base of the brain or spinal cord. Current medical therapy consists of a few prescription drugs namely Zovirax , Valtrex and Famivr. These prescription-only medications suppress replication of the virus to reduce outbreaks. Unfortunately, the drugs arent always effective against HSV-1 and about 5 to 10 percent of people with HSV-2 dont respond to them.
What causes herpes to recur remains a medical mystery. However, there are several internal and external events that can trigger or wake-up the dormant herpesvirus. The triggers most commonly associated with recurrent herpes infections involve foods high in arginine , exposure to strong sunlight, alcohol, menstruation, and physical and psychological stress.
Another Alternative For Genital Herpes Outbreaks
If you prefer natural remedies but want to try something backed by more extensive clinical research, you may want to consider light therapy. You may not already have this treatment in your kitchen cabinet, but its a proven therapy that allows you to avoid pharmaceuticals in the comfort of home.
Multiple studies show that red light therapy not only reduces the pain of a genital herpes outbreak, it also decreases the viral load in peoples systems, potentially decreasing the severity and frequency of recurring outbreaks.
The Luminance RED Genital Sore Treatment Device is an FDA-registered, handheld device that harnesses similar waves of red light for the management of genital herpes blisters without the use of chemicals.
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Coconut Oil For Genital Herpes
Besides being great for cooking, coconut oil can provide some significant health benefits. In some cultures, the coconut tree is even referred to as the tree of life. Clinical studies on coconut oil and its components have even backed some of these benefits:
Not enough evidence exists yet on coconut oil for genital herpes to prove that it directly treats herpes lesions however, its many beneficial qualities may soothe irritated skin around outbreaks and moisturize dry herpes scabs.
Monolaurin, a coconut-oil-derived fatty acid, has also shown some promise as a natural treatment for genital herpes.
How To Get Rid Of Herpes The Conventional Way
For most people with herpes, the virus typically represents nothing more than an inconvenience however, the real risk is for immuno-compromised patients who cant easily manage infections. In these patients, such as those with HIV/AIDS, herpes simplex infection is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
As of 2017, there is not currently a herpes vaccine available to prevent HSV-1 or HSV-2.
Doctors sometimes prescribe medications to help keep the herpes virus suppressed or to speed up healing of cold sores by reducing bacteria that can cause infections. Some medications that are now used to control herpes include:
- Nucleoside analogues and antiviral medications
- Creams/ointment to help lower pain and inflammation near the site of sores
- Over-the-counter painkillers to reduce aches, tenderness or fever
However, its important to understand that even with early detection and prescription medications, either form of the herpes virus cannot be totally cured so transmission is always still possible. Medications for viruses dont always work long term and are not a cure-all.
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What Is Acute Genital Herpes Treatment
The first sign of an outbreak often feels like a slight tingle in the genital areaonce you feel it, youll know it when it appears again. Taking genital herpes medication right when you feel this tingle can shorten the length of your outbreak and help make it less painful. If you have less than six episodes a year, then your treatment plan may be episodic . There are two genital herpes medications that can help during this phase:
- Valacyclovir is an oral prescription antiviral that can be taken daily.
- Acyclovir comes as a pill or a cream that is taken twice a day.
Both medications should be taken from the first sign until the outbreak is gone.
To request acute cold sore treatment, begin by requesting a prescription for cold sore antivirals. After signing up for wisp, your consult will begin immediately. Simply answer a few quick questions online and a US-based physician will review and prescribe treatment if it is considered safe and appropriate.
You may also want to treat painful symptoms while you wait for your antiviral treatment to kick in. Lidocaine Pain Cream targets cold sore pain quickly so you can feel more comfortable while your medication takes effect.
Genital Herpes Prescription Treatment
How K Health Can Help
Did you know you can get affordable primary care with the K Health app? K doctors are able to treat herpes with medication, but patients must be diagnosed already. If youre worried that you might have genital herpes, a K doctor can refer you to a physician for an in-person visit. to check your symptoms, explore conditions and treatments, and if needed text with a doctor in minutes. K Healths AI-powered app is HIPAA compliant and based on 20 years of clinical data.
K Health has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.
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Epsom Salt Bath For Genital Herpes
While many people think of Epsom salt baths for treating sore muscles, they might not realize a soak can help with genital herpes symptoms as well.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends 1020 minutes in a warm Epsom salt bath for genital herpes relief. The Epsom salts cleanse, soothe, and reduce the itching caused by genital herpes lesions.
You can purchase Epsom salts at local pharmacies, online, or even in bulk at animal feed stores.
Histological Morphology And Immunohistochemistry
Vaginal and vulvar paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to assess the pathological changes. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the infiltration of immune cells. Tissue sections were dewaxed, hydrated, antigen repaired, membrane permeated, and sealed. After incubating with primary antibodies against CD4, CD8, CD11c, and CD161 and secondary antibody successively, the tissue sections were stained, restained, differentiated, dehydrated, cleared, sealed, and photographed for analysis.
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Is There A Cure Or Treatment For Genital Herpes
There is no cure for genital herpes. However, daily use of antiviral medicines can prevent or shorten outbreaks. Antiviral medicines also can reduce the chance of spreading it to others.
Though several clinical trials have tested vaccines against genital herpes, there is no vaccine currently available to prevent infection. One vaccine trial showed efficacy among women whose partners had HSV-2, but only among women not infected with HSV-1. Efficacy was not observed among men whose partners had HSV-2. Another trial testing the same vaccine showed some protection from genital HSV-1 infection, but none from HSV-2.
Try Taking The Supplement Lysine
In terms of taking supplements to prevent breakouts, I especially recommend L-lysine. This is the primary supplement for herpes, Gade says. L-lysine is an amino acid, a building block of protein. When you have an outbreak, it can be taken orally to shorten the outbreak in conjunction with an antiviral medication.
Lysine appears to be useful in reducing the number and the severity of outbreaks. The usual daily dose is between 1 and 3 milligrams.
Some studies suggest that taking lysine regularly may help prevent outbreaks of both cold sores and herpes sores. In Gades experience, patients have had no side effects using lysine. In some people, though, there have been reports of the supplement causing abdominal pain and diarrhea.
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