Oral herpes is a contagious condition. The herpes simplex virus gets transmitted from one person to another through a variety of means. The most common method of transmission is through saliva and kissing is the most common cause of oral herpes. Direct contact with the skin lesions caused by the herpes simplex virus is also another common cause of transmission. Using common razors or touching herpes blisters can cause infection. On the other hand, if someone has just recovered from an oral herpes infection, their normal looking skin may also contain the herpes simplex virus and touching it may lead to infection. Finally, there are people who are asymptomatic carriers of the herpes simplex virus. This means that while they carry the virus on their body, they do not show any sign of infection or suffer from any symptoms. Coming in contact with such people can also lead to infection of the herpes simplex virus. However, the herpes simplex virus does not spread through contact with surfaces, towels, linen, etc. used by an infected person.

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The number, size and appearance of scars that people suffer from as a result of surgery has gone down in recent years thanks to advances in technology such as keyhole surgery, the use of dissolvable stitches and aiming to make the cut in areas that are not usually publicly visible.

However some scars are unavoidablly apparent whether as a result of skin conditions such as acne, the stretch marks left behind after pregnacy and weight gain or loss, or surgery that leaves visible marks on the face. Stretch marks look similar to scars but they are actually skin markings that are formed in a different way, however treatment is available for stretch marks too.

Scarring is an inevitable yet perfectly natural part of the healing process and can happen both on the outside and on the inside of the body. It can occur as the result of accidents, self inflicted harm, surgical cuts, scratches and burns and certain skin conditions like chicken pox and acne. Scarring as a healing process is unavoidable but for visible scars there are scar treatments and creams that can be used to reduce the redness or roughness of a scar, to reduce its visibilty and make it much less obvious.

These might include remedies like silicone gel and chemical peels that you can use at home. Other treatments usually carried out or prescribed by health professionals might include dermabrasion, laser surgery and collagen injections or treatment with steroids. Collagen is what the body uses naturally to heal a tear in skin tissue when it occurs.

It is advisable to get some professional advice before deciding to go ahead with any of these latter options because sometimes they can make the scar look even worse if the process is not suited to your particular kind of scar. Doing plenty of research and consulting with experts who can best advise you before you make the decision to go ahead is the best option. After all, you are the one who is going to have to live with the result.

The first thing to be aware of is that most scars, although they can have their look improved, will never be completely removed so make sure your expectations are realistic and you will be less likely to be disappointed.

Scars inside the body can sometimes cause pain through the growth of adhesions which happen as part of the healing process after internal surgery, most often in the pelvic area or lower abdomen where tissue from one organ can attach itself to another. In this case further corrective surgery might be needed or some kind of pain management regime.

By Abun. I 

Find more advice and information on scars and scarring healing and treatment options here

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Genital Herpes is a misunderstood illness, and I hope to dispel some myths with the publication of this article. Perhaps the first thing to note is that the majority of people are infected with one strain of herpes – HSV 1, also known as the common cold sore! Of course it has less of a stigma attached, so let’s look at the facts about genital herpes:

What symptoms does genital herpes carry?

The trouble with herpes is that in many people, the symptoms are so mild that they may pass unnoticed. This is good on one level as it won’t affect your life, but on the other hand, you’re at risk of passing the HSV 2 virus onto another unawares, who may suffer far more discomfort than you.

If symptoms do appear, They tend to appear periodically in ‘episodes’ (or ‘outbreaks’). As for when, again it varies from person to person. It may be days after contracting the virus, it could be months to years. When it first strikes, the sufferer typically feels flu-like symptoms – fever, headaches and pains in the back and leg. The good news is that these symptoms usually are only present in the first outbreak of HSV 2.

From then on, most genital herpes episodes produce small blisters which then break to form painful shallow sores. After 1-2 weeks, these scab over and then heal. Often the first outbreak is significantly more uncomfortable than future episodes.

If you’re thinking this sounds like a cold sore, but for the genitals, you’re right. Although HSV 1 (cold sores) is not the same as HSV 2, the symptoms are similar enough for you to think of genital herpes as a cold sore that forms around the genitals, anus, buttocks and thighs. And like cold sores, the virus stays in the body once the genital herpes symptoms have vanished, and can cause recurrent outbreaks at any time.

Are recurrent outbreaks linked to any behaviour?

Yes and no. Triggers for outbreaks of genital herpes can be linked to sex, menstruation, general illness or stress, but often you’ll see no explanation and an episode appears without a trigger.

It’s important to note that recurrent attacks are caused by the dormant virus in the body and not by re-infection. In most causes the repeat episodes become less frequent over time, and some sufferers can look forward to a time when the attacks stop altogether.
How is HSV 2 spread?

The HSV 2 virus is spread through skin to skin contact, which means sexual contact is largely the cause. Remember that as many people show few to no symptoms, it’s possible to pass on the virus to someone even if the sufferer shows no symptoms.

How do I prevent transmission?

There’s no sure-fire way to prevent transmission, because it can be passed with no obvious sores, but there are ways of minimising the risk. The first is to avoid having any kind of sexual contact with someone immediately before or during an outbreak of genital herpes. Condoms will stop transmission across the area covered, but of course they only cover the penis, so if sores are elsewhere transmission can still occur.

There are a number of dating sites set up to match singles with genital herpes – of course, people cannot be reinfected, so sufferers having sexual contact with each other are not at risk from the disease!

I think I have it – what’s does the test for herpes involve?

The herpes test involves taking a sample from the area of the body infected during an outbreak. The HSV 2 virus will usually grow in a swab taken from a open blister. It can then be determined which type – HSV 1 or 2 – you have. HSV 1 is rarer in a genital infection.

The other herpes test is taken via a blood sample. The advantage of this is that you don’t need to be having an outbreak to take the test, but it has downsides too. It can’t tell you which part of the body is infected (lips or genitals), it can’t tell you whether you are likely to display symptoms or not and if can’t reveal if general symptoms you’ve had are down to the HSV virus. Consult your doctor to discuss which herpes test is for you.

Is there a risk of transmission through childbirth?

Pregnant women with genital herpes may pass the virus onto their baby during delivery causing serious illness. This thankfully isn’t common, but the medical staff should be told if you carry the virus so that risk of complications can be minimised.

Is there a cure for genital herpes?

Sadly there is no cure for HSV 2, and once the virus is in the body it is there for life. There are ways of managing the symptoms though, thankfully. Iodine paint will dry out the blisters and help prevent secondary infection, while salt baths are good at relieving discomfort.

Anti-viral medication can also be prescribed, and this will help reduce the severity of an outbreak If taken early enough (within 3 days of the symptoms appearing is best). For the unlucky few who suffer from regular outbreaks, some antiviral drugs including aciclovir, famciclovir and valaciclovir can be taken continuously. This will stop most outbreaks from occurring allowing minimal disruption.

Genital herpes has a very bad reputation, but as STDs go, it’s actually comparatively harmless and certainly is no bar to living a full, happy and sexually fulfilled life. If in doubt, get a herpes test – you have very little to worry about even if you are infected!

By: Tim Leach

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Tim Leach is the Marketing Manager of USA Lab Testing, providers of local Herpes tests.

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Managing Genital Herpes Infections in Pregnancy

Managing Genital Herpes Infections in Pregnancy CME. Disclosures Release Date: February 25, 2009; Valid for credit through February 25, 2010. Credits Available. Physicians – maximum of 0.75 AM.

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It is so frustrating to get a cold sore on the lip as it is so visible to others. What can be done to both minimize the duration and prevent these annoyances in the future?

It seems that unfair that getting a cold sore on the lip occurs in such a viewable spot. However, often the lips are vulnerable for fever blister problems because of the fact that the skin there can be weakened from ultraviolet lighting. It’s always important to put some spf protection on your lip when you are outdoors or at the beach. Pilots also can get cold sores on the lip due to their uv exposure.

Often the tingle or initial sting is the warning sign for a cold sore eruption. You become astute at noticing this once you’ve had one or two herpes cold sore breakouts. The ones on and around the lips are herpes simplex virus 1. This is different than both herpes simplex virus 2 as well as canker sores.

Two factors that can contribute to cold sores are a weakened immune system as well as having had physical intimacy with someone who has the cold sore herpes virus 1. When your immune system is weak , you can be run down and this makes you susceptible to developing a cold sore or a respiratory problem. Because cold sores are contagious, if you were kissing someone with the herpes simplex virus 1, you can also get a cold sore on the lip. Some say that it can also be caught by sharing the same cup. Please note that it isn’t only contagious during the sore part but during all it’s stages. Some people think it’s only when it becomes a red sore that it’s contagious, but it is through it’s full course, which can be several days long.

Some people find taking the amino acid l-lysine preventively will help reduce or even eliminate cold sore on lips outbreaks. This is because the amino acids need to be balanced and sometimes we get the balance off due to the proportion if we take protein powders, eat a lot of peanut butter etc. The body cannot produce lysine so it’s a useful supplement.

Because the lip cold sore gets stimulation due to eating, it can be frustrating to see it begin to heal but then re-open. It will eventually heal, but it may go through a couple of times of scabbing, bleeding and then re-forming the cold sore scab since chewing stimulates the area. It is similar to a child having a scab on his knee and how that re-opens when he walks so it takes longer to heal than elsewhere on the body.

There are over the counter, prescription and natural remedies. Each of these will work in to shorten the healing time. Keep in mind that when using natural remedies, you need to be logical when analyzing the solutions. Ice , tea bags and witch hazel are all useful. If you search on the internet, however, you get other recommendations that include using nail polish remover, lighting a candle near it on a spoon or utilizing ear wax. Do not use a method that is just an internet post on a forum without research as the skin is very sensitive and you do not want to damage it.

Dee Cohen is a licensed social worker. Know more about Cold Sore on the Lip and find effective ways to reduce and eliminate cold sores and fever blisters.

By Dee Cohen Published: 7/18/2008

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Lassa Fever:

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If you like to learn more about this natural herpes treatment, then visit Dynamiclear review. Mail this post. Technorati Tags: cold sores, dynamiclear, fever blister, genital herpes .

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Learn how to get rid of a cold sore using natural remedies. With drugs having limited effect, alternative treatments can be highly beneficial. Find out more here.

Just think of the anxiety that precedes a job interview, date, wedding or any other big event – stress has an adverse effect on the body and can bring on a cold sore outbreak, as can other immune system stressors such as other viral infections like a cold or flu. Knowing exactly how to get rid of a cold sore can be crucial to your feelings of well being, especially in face of such situations and while there is no right time for a cold sore outbreak to occur, they always seem to appear at exactly the worst possible moment in your life, probably brought on by stress, either physical or mental. However, the herpes simplex virus does give you a warning before it attacks, which is the tingle you feel before the blister appears, caused by the virus moving from where it lies in its dormant state to the skin’s surface where it replicates. While the body is capable of healing a cold sore without any intervention or help in the form of medicines or other remedies, we can minimize the effects of the cold sore by relieving specific symptoms and encouraging the sore to heal faster. Drying the weeping sore and covering it help prevent secondary infections and spreading the virus, while topical analgesics help with the discomfort caused.

However, there are some specific steps we can take to heal cold sores faster:

Herpes simplex likes you to consume arginine rich foods that help it thrive, while being inhibited by lysine. You should therefore avoid foods such as nuts, grains and chocolate, which have high levels of arginine for red meat and dairy products which contain lysine. You may also find it useful to adjust the arginine/lysine balance by taking an L-lysine supplement and using topical lysine creams.

One of the simplest treatments for cold sores is to apply ice to the infected area for 15-30 minutes. This seems to interfere with the virus’s ability to replicate and encourages it back into its dormant state, therefore lessening the impact and duration of a cold sore attack.

While the pH of the human body is usually around 7.4, which is slightly alkaline, the cold sore virus thrives when the acid becomes acidic, such as when we suffer from an illness such as the common cold or flu, or can happen due to prolonged stress. It is therefore advisable to avoid acidic foods such as tomatoes, carbonated drinks, citrus fruits or vinegar.

While cold sores can be extremely incapacitating due to pain and mental anguish, there are steps you can take to reduce its impact on your life, and knowing how to get rid of a cold sore help will do wonders for your self esteem. By trying some of the suggested remedies you can find out what specific steps work for you and over time fine-tune your own personal cold sore treatment.

How to get rid of a cold sores
Learn how to get rid of a cold sore using natural remedies

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Cold sore medicine can be an effective way to quickly reduce the healing time of your blisters, but if you choose to use a cold sore medication it is important that you begin the treatment process within the first 24 hours of symptoms. The medication is most effective in the beginning stages of an outbreak, so don’t delay your treatment.

This article is going to talk about several different kinds of cold sore medicine that is available– some of them are over-the-counter (OTC) medicine that can be purchased at most grocery and drug stores, and other types of medicine are prescription so you will need to talk to your doctor if you are interesting in trying those treatment options.

There are several different types of OTC options for cold sore medicine. Some of them only treat the pain and others help to reduce the healing time. Usually the OTC medications are topical creams or gels that need to be applied directly to the affected area. Gels such as Anbesol, Zilactin, and Orajel are used mainly to assist with the pain and lessen the discomfort you are feeling.

Abreva is one of the best OCT options, it has been approved by the FDA and this cream has been shown to help reduce the healing time. When Abreva is applied within the first 24 hours of a coldsore outbreak it may help the skin to heal more quickly and efficiently.

One other option for OTC cold sore medicine treatment is actually an amino acid– L-Lysine. Some people may benefit from taking Lysine supplements, because it may speed up healing time and prevent future outbreaks. Also, Lysine may be purchased in a cream form to apply directly to the affected area.

There are prescription cold sore medicine options available, but you will need to visit with your health care provider to see if that is the right treatment option for your needs. There may be side effects associate with using a prescription medication, so it might be a good idea to try natural treatments first. The most common prescriptions that are used are: Denavir and Zovirax

There are also other home treatment options that can successfully help to reduce healing time and prevent future outbreaks. If you are hesitant to try a cold sore medicine, then you should implement a home treatment first to alleviate your coldsores that way.

Author: Joleen L Dixon

There are many home remedies for cold sores that can help to reduce the healing time and prevent future breakouts. Visit our website for more information about cold sore treatments: http://coldsoretreatments.info/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joleen_L_Dixon

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Cold Sores – The Alien Herpes Virus
 by: Denny Bodoh

Cold sores, fever blisters, oral herpes are 3 names for the same thing – a blister or sore on the face – normally occurring on the outer edge of your lip or nose.

"Cold sores" is the most common term used for these hideous, painful and contagious facial sores. Herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 are the root cause of cold sores. About 80% of cold sores are caused by type 1. Type 2, although primarily the cause of genital herpes sores, is responsible for about 20% of facial cold sores.

Cold sores are "location specific", occurring in roughly the same place each time. The herpes virus is normally latent, or asleep, in the nerve ganglia behind the jaw on the same side of your face as your cold sores occur. Fortunately herpes virus does not travel internally to infect other locations – but stays put in the area where first contracted.

Cold sores, when in full blossom, look like a hideous explosion on you lip or nose. Fact is – that’s pretty close to how cold sores are actually formed.

If you’re a science fiction fan like me, you’ll notice that a lot of these shows are based on the idea of alien creatures using humans to reproduce. The alien creature "infects" the human body with their seed. When the young are ready for birth, the human host is destroyed to release the new alien creatures. The herpes virus replicates in the same way.

Cold sores are the result of the reproduction process of the herpes virus. This virus, unlike bacteria, cannot reproduce on it’s own but must have a host. A single herpes virus enters a nerve cell and forces that cell to create, or clone, many copies of itself. The original virus then destroys the host cell to release it’s young. This "explosion" of millions of cells in a close area produces the massive cold sores.

Cold sores are very painful because the herpes virus has a particular affinity for nerve cells. Herpes virus travels the nerve fibers like a highway to the surface and create the cold sores on the end of those nerves. If you’ve ever had a dentist hit the end of a nerve while drilling – well, it’s pretty much the same feeling when your teeth hit the cold sores.

Cold sores are very contagious from the first tingle to the last red spot. Even your saliva and nasal fluids (and on rare occasions even vaginal fluids) can contain the herpes virus at this time. As a result, nearly 89% of the world population is infected with type 1 or 2 herpes virus.

Touching your cold sores or kissing can cause a new site for cold sores on yourself – or someone else. Contaminated fingers can also transfer the cold sores virus to objects such as telephones, faucets, and towels. The virus can live on these objects for days under the right conditions. Use extreme caution, especially during the weeping and crusting phases of your cold sores.

Symptoms of cold sores begin with a tingling, dryness sensation, burning, and/or itching. Cold sores then progress to these stages: a group of tiny blisters form, enlarge, and burst to create one large open sore. In 2 or 3 days a crust forms over this open, weeping sore and the healing begins. The skin heals, the crust falls off, but there is still healing going on below the new skin – which leaves a red spot for up to 2 more weeks before cold sores are considered totally healed.

The entire event for most people averages 3 to 4 weeks – depending on their current health and on the treatments these folks used during the various stages of the cold sores.

For cold sores there is nothing currently available from medical science or natural science that will eliminate the herpes virus from the body. If you want to be cold sore free for life – the secret you must know is keeping the virus asleep.

Without any treatment, the body will cure the cold sores through it’s own natural healing process. There are a wide variety of effective home treatment remedies that will GREATLY hurry up the healing of your cold sores – or actually prevent the outbreak from happening altogether.

Cold sores over-the-counter medications have not been shown to shorten the life cycle of cold sores. However, these lip balms and salves do provide much comfort and help prevent secondary bacterial infection of your cold sores.

Copyright 2005 drbodoh

About The Author

Denny Bodoh is a newspaper publisher and 33 year veteran research writer on alternative health and nutrition. If you would like to know more about cold sores, and what you can do about them today, join others and visit his wildly popular website:

http://www.be-cold-sore-free.com.

Information Can Be Found Online  January 29, 2009. Treating a cold sore effectively does not have to be difficult. Read this short article. You will enjoy fast cold sore relief using these easy, well-proven methods of .

help cold sore!! help cold sore!! The Cat Lounge. … My sister gets cold sores quite alot due to one of the medications she takes. The doctor suggest that she started taking the supplement Lysin… 

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Are You A Teenager Embarrassed By Cold Sores? You Can Stop Them!

I have some good news for you. Your last cold sore may have been ..well, your last cold sore.
I will explain about these nasty sores that some people refer to as fever blisters, and share the best of the best non-toxic solutions to prevent a cold sore before it begins, or stop a new eruption in its tracks so it disappears in just a few days.
Cold sores are so embarrassing. There’s absolutely no way to camouflage them. So you probably hide out as much as possible, like so many other people do, until it’s gone.

So, out of the blue, you’re noticing a little sensation on your lip. Kinda itchy, or tingling, or numb. Dread sets in. You know the next two weeks will be all about ugly.
After the initial early warning symptom, the first stage is the swollen, tender bump. It’s followed by the second stage where the bump recedes and becomes clusters of little blisters. In the third stage, the blisters will break open and ooze a clear type of pus, until eventually, at the next stage, a scab forms over them, followed by complete healing.

The Herpes Simplex Virus 1 is the cause of a cold sore, and it’s contagious when there’s an active infection. This virus is more common than you would think. Well over half the world’s population carries it.
That’s how you got the virus. Someone with a cold sore either kissed you, or shared with you an eating utensil or drinking cup at some point after you were born up to the time shortly before your first cold sore eruption.
Transmission of the virus is by direct contact with an open lesion or body fluid, such as saliva, from an infected person. The virus can lay dormant for years in the body until your immune system is lower than normal, and an infection is triggered.
The most common triggers for a cold sore include over-exposure to sun or wind, being stressed out, or over-tired.

Menstruation is another common trigger, but also, experiencing pain in the mouth area from some kind of injury or a dental procedure.
If you knew of a non-toxic solution that would prevent a cold sore or stop a new one from getting worse, that was equally or more effective than a drug store remedy or an expensive pharmaceutical drug with potential side effects, would you choose that? Would that be a yes? Try one of the recommendations below that resonates best for you.

The first recommendation is the amino acid called lysine. You’ve probably heard about it already, but if you haven’t tried it, you should. Most lysine users find this an effective way to prevent the outbreak, or stop it if it has already started. It should be taken daily on an empty stomach whether you have an infection or not, 1500 mg each day. If you still feel a cold sore coming on, increase the dosage to 3,000 mg a day until the threat is over.

Garlic is an effective cold sore preventative and treatment, having anti-viral properties. Include a garlic supplement as part of your daily regimen.
Lemon slices – place one on the area where the tingling, or other early symptom, is occurring. If you change the lemon slices once every fifteen to twenty minutes for an hour or so, you are likely to discover that no outbreak occurs at all. Avoid placing it on an open blister because it will hurt. You can’t get more natural than lemon slices, but have a Plan B available if you don’t have a lemon available.

Cold Sores Begone is a topical remedy that uses lemon balm, a highly effective anti-viral herb. It aborts the infection before the sore has a chance to show itself if it’s applied at the first early symptom. It has quite the cult following. It’s a great alternative to daily supplements, if you prefer that, and the pocket size bottle is a plus so you’re always armed and ready.

You know that not one thing works for everyone, right? It’s due to each person’s unique chemical make-up. If one of these cold sore preventatives don’t work for you, try another. Above all, the most important factor is to keep your immune system strong, so even if it’s not as fun as the alternative, get adequate sleep, and Google ways to handle your stress. Your self-esteem is counting on you.

By: Janet Malley

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Many health food stores and online nutritional retailers, such as www.vitacost.com, carry garlic and lysine supplements. Cold Sores Begone is available in selected health food stores, or purchase directly at csbegone.com, 888-877-6315.

 
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That tingling sensation is the first hint that you have a cold sore on the way; within a couple of days you know that a spot around your mouth will blister, which will burst leaving a raw looking lesion that takes up to 10 days to heal. So far the medicines designed to counter the cold sore virus have limited effect in countering outbreaks or healing and with some danger of side effects it is little wonder that many people look to alternative treatments to get rid of cold sores, which have been shown to be just as effective.

Stress relief

One important contributing factor to cold sore attacks is stress, and by taking positive actions to counter that stress you can reduce the number of outbreaks. Simply taking regular exercise can be hugely beneficial in reducing stress, and increased fitness can help boost the immune system, which also helps.

Walking for 30 minutes per day will help towards this goal, but you might also like to consider yoga, with its emphasis on mind and body harmony. In addition to helping reduce stress levels, yoga also provides a great way to stretch tired muscles and improve posture and general fitness levels.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy practitioners claim to be able to speed up the healing process, by applying essential oils such rose, tea tree, geranium, lemon balm and bergamot.

Food Therapy

Research dating from the 1950s indicates that certain foods can help us to get rid of cold sores whereas others act as triggers for cold sore due to the presence of specific essential amino acids. Essential amino acids are required by the body for healthy function, yet must be ingested, as the body is unable to produce them itself. For instance, yogurt contains lysine, which is associated with healing cold sores, as well as a natural antibiotic called acidophilus which may help prevent secondary infections.

On the other hand arginine rich foods such as nuts, chocolate and gelatin may trigger the cold sores as they are rich in an amino acid called arginine, which helps the herpes simplex virus thrive. It is therefore advisable to avoid eating arginine rich foods if you suffer from frequent cold sores, particularly during an outbreak.

Herbal Therapy

Cold sore sufferers in Europe commonly treat their lesions with an ointment made from lemon balm, which is a member of the mint family. The flower tops and leaves have anti-viral as well as anti-bacterial properties and therefore us are useful in the treatment of cold sores. As this type of ointment is unavailable in the United States, washing the sores with strong lemon balm tea produces similar results.

Ice

The application of ice to the affected area as soon as the tingling sensation is felt can work wonders according to many; simply apply ice direct to the spot where you get your cold sore and hold it there for as long as 30 minutes. It seems that the cooling action of the ice can prevent the virus from replicating and results is a much less severe attack, with some people claiming it prevents their cold sore from appearing altogether.

As you can see there are many remedies to help get rid of cold sores when they occur, as well as prevent them in the first place. While none of the natural remedies is guaranteed to work, this is also true of the over-the-counter and prescription drugs currently on the market. With unpleasant side effects to consider, not to mention the considerable cost of these products, natural cold sore remedies offer a realistic alternative to the many people who want to regain control of their own health from the misery of cold sores.

Get rid of cold sores
Find out how to get rid of cold sores using natural cold sore treatment

By JoBeth Levina Published: 5/2/2008

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Cold sores or fever blisters are a type of skin infections, caused by the Herpes Simplex virus. Acupuncture is one of the most commonly used alternative treatment options. It is used for effectively treating various ailments including cold sores.

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are small, fluid-filled, painful blisters caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). They are caused more often by HSV-type 1 than HSV-type 2. These blisters or sores appear on the lips, nose or around the mouth. The skin around the blisters is sore, swollen and red. This disease is highly contagious. HSV infection is spread from person to person by kissing or other close contact. The infected saliva can also be a means of transmission of this disease. Fever, changes in the immune system, stress, hormonal changes such as menstruation, skin trauma and even exposure to sun are the triggering factors for this infection. The primary symptoms of cold sores are pain around the mouth and lips, sore throat, fever and swollen glands in the neck. There is an appearance of small, fluid-filled blisters typically around the mouth, which is known as gingivostomatitis. The initial tingling or pain, which is referred to as prodrome generally lasts for about 7-10 days. Cold sores mostly appear on the lips and occasionally on the chin, nostrils or fingers. These blisters break open and leak clear fluid. The sores cure completely within 2-6 weeks. In some people, cold sores can cause painful skin lumps on legs, which is called as erythema nodosum.

Treatment for Cold Sores

Generally, cold sores heal within 7-10 days without any treatment. However, topical symptomatic treatments such as benzyl alcohol or topical lidocaine are recommended to relieve the symptoms. Use of antiviral medications prevents cold sores or shortens the duration of cold sores. Cold sores can be treated with medications, dietary supplements, home remedies, homeopathic treatments and acupuncture.

Acupuncture for Cold Sores

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, effective treatment options. It can be used to treat a variety of health conditions. The acupuncture technique involves an insertion of hair-thin needles through the skin at strategic points. There are about 2,000 acupuncture points in the human body and each point is associated with different healing attributes. The acupuncture technique is used as an alternative treatment for a wide range of diseases such as depression, insomnia, drug abuse, weight loss and cold sores.

Acupuncture works as a natural alternative treatment option for cold sores. When acupuncture needles are inserted into specific points on the skin, it stimulates to release endorphin hormone, which has relaxing and calming effect. It enables you to deal with frustration, stress and anxiety, which are the triggering factors for the cold sores. Due to increased stress, pH level of the body decreases and this acidic condition is perfect to make the virus active. Acupuncture reduces stress and anxiety and thus prevents herpes infection. Acupuncture also enhances functioning of body’s immune system by stimulating the production of white blood cells. Acupuncture therapy also increases Alpha, Beta and Gamma globulins, which prevent infection by producing immune antibodies. In this way, acupuncture reduces the duration of herpes outbreak and minimizes chances of recurring cold sores.

Acupuncture is also helpful in improving mental health by reducing stress and offering relaxing and calming effects. Acupuncture for cold sores is an effective and safe method to get rid of dangerous symptoms of this viral infection.

By Reshma Jirage Published: 6/26/2008

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Acupuncture for Cold Sores Acupuncture works as a natural alternative treatment option for cold sores. When acupuncture needles are inserted into specific points on the skin, it stimulat…   

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