Cures and treatments for herpes, traditional chinese medicine treatments - Try Out

Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, body aches (especially in the back and neck), and swollen glands.
If you get diagnosed with herpes, talk to your doctor about medical-strength treatment options. Initial treatment: after you are diagnosed with herpes, your doctor will prescribe a brief trial (7 to 10 days) of antiviral drugs. Intermittent treatment: if you experience outbreaks seldom, or at irregular times, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug for you to use when outbreaks do occur. Regular treatment: If you have regular outbreaks totaling more than six a year, talk to your doctor about taking antiviral medication every day.
In one study, propolis ointment was used four times a day, for 10 days, among 30 participants. Look for tablet Monolaurin (if in gelatin form, crack open capsule, pour into almond milk or coconut water). Understand that outbreaks frequently occur during times of stress, illness, physical trauma (including sexual activity), and fatigue. As soon as you have been diagnosed with herpes, inform your sexual partners of your infection and recommend that they also get tested. If you are experiencing a widespread, severe outbreak of HSV sores, you may need to be admitted to a hospital for intravenous medication and professional topical treatment of your blisters. Individuals with herpes can transmit the virus even when there are no visible symptoms or sores. Meet Colie, a wikiHow Admin, New Article Booster, Welcomer, and Featured Author from the US who has been part of the community for over five years.
One of the most difficult aspects of living with herpes is the knowledge that it’s with you forever. Antiviral drugs are most often prescribed to treat herpes today, such as acyclovir and famciclovir, while they effectively suppress the symptoms of an active herpes infection, the medications do little to inhibit viral shedding. However, the advent of research and latest technology has helped experts to have finally aced the possible cure for herpes – with better and promising treatment of existing herpes infections, and experimental vaccines to prevent infections from occurring.
Additionally, since this drug works differently than antivirals already approved for use, it may provide a weapon against drug-resistant herpes viruses. At Duke University, studies have focused on the herpes virus’ unique ability to lie dormant in the body for extended periods of time, and then reactivate. The key to making this research into a viable herpes treatment, according to researchers, will be in learning how to use single strands of RNA, called microRNA, to activate the dormant virus, thereby making them vulnerable to antiviral drugs. These innovative cures for herpes are encouraging, but what’s truly exciting is the possibility of a herpes vaccine. Much like pritelivir, the experimental vaccine HerpV focuses on viral shedding as the crucial function to suppress. Perhaps even more interesting are the results of early clinical trials for a vaccine currently called GEN-003. Reports from Genocea, the company developing the vaccine, also indicate measurable increases in the immune response of T-cells, which are known to be instrumental in fighting off various diseases and infections. While classified as vaccines by their developers, HerpV and GEN-003 are still mostly targeted at responding to the symptoms of an active infection. The first of these trial vaccines is currently called HSV529, and it’s being developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
Phase 1 trials appear to have been successful, and a second round of trials is in the works. Many of these natural remedies have proven to be highly effective when used to heal herpes sores and decrease the number and frequency of herpes outbreaks. The connection between the amino acids lysine and arginine and herpes activity is fairly well documented. A resin made by bees, propolis is full of immune-boosting, infection-fighting antioxidants and flavonoids. Bee propolis is an extremely safe antibacterial and antiviral that can be used anywhere on the body (except for the eyes) with one major exception: people who are allergic to bee pollen or who suffer from asthma should not use propolis, as it can cause an allergic reaction. Chinese herbalists have known the anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties of black tea tannins for thousands of years. Taking liquid Siberian ginseng extract is a great way reduce the duration and intensity of genital herpes outbreaks. This popular remedy for the common cold does seem to offer some protection against viral infection. Another standby of Chinese herbal medicine, licorice root has long been used to treat herpes, shingles, and cold sores. This gentle, effective antiviral can be used as a topical treatment four or five times a day. While it may be risky to ingest high doses of zinc regularly, in a cream or ointment zinc (often sold as zinc oxide cream) is a well-known and effective treatment for herpes sores. Melissa officinalis, or lemon balm as it’s commonly called, is a versatile and proven antiviral and one of the most effective topical treatments for herpes sores. A relative newcomer to the herpes treatment scene, red marine algae (Gigartina) has shown the ability to stimulate immune response, lessening the intensity and frequency of herpes outbreaks. Long used as a home remedy for burns and cuts, aloe vera has also shown promise as a topical treatment for genital herpes, especially for men.

When you’re suffering from a painful, itchy genital herpes outbreak, one of the most soothing remedies possible is a simple bath in warm water infused with Epsom salts.
Along with Epsom salts, baking soda is a safe, inexpensive way to dry out herpes lesions, relieve pain and itching, and speed healing. The best times to apply baking soda to sores are after a shower, so that sores are softer and more absorbent, and before going to bed, so the baking soda stays put. Information provided on this site is not intended as a substitute for medical advice on any health concerns you may have. In the United States alone, the CDC estimates that a quarter of a million people get new herpes infections every year.[1] Unfortunately, there is yet no cure for herpes. With a sexually transmitted infection like herpes, you don't want to rely on self-diagnosis.
Your doctor should be able to give you specific suggestions about which drugs and precautions to take in order to manage symptoms. Antiviral drugs lessen the number of herpes outbreaks by reducing what's called "viral shedding," or the process by which the virus makes new copies of itself on the skin's surface.[3] Regular use of antiviral drugs also helps lower the risk that you'll pass the herpes simplex virus on to other sexual partners. If 10 days' worth of antiviral medication does not help manage the outbreak, your doctor may continue your course of treatment for a few more days. Having several days' worth of antiviral medication on hand will allow you to start a course of drugs as soon as the outbreak happens, minimizing its severity and duration. Doctors sometimes recommend soaking in warm water to relieve itching, pain, or discomfort associated with herpes outbreaks. Although topical treatments are generally less effective than systemic treatments, they can sometimes be used to treat pain or discomfort.
Prunella vulgaris and Rozites caperata have both shown some promise in fighting herpes.[6][7] Prunella vulgaris can be used in a hot water treatment to soothe and heal sores, while Rozites caperata may be ingested to help treat sores. Baking soda is another time-tested substance for anything from smelly fridges to smelly underarms, as well as a toothpaste and acne treatment. Lysine is an essential amino acid that does a number of things for the human body (absorb calcium, form collagen, and produce carnitine, among others). Aloe vera may be beneficial in healing herpes lesions, especially among men.[10] Applying the aloe vera cream to the lesions, and drying thoroughly afterward, may reduce the duration of the outbreak. You may wish to consult a herbalist about the possibility of finding an herbal solution to herpes. Taking care of yourself physically and emotionally may help you reduce the frequency of outbreaks. Exercise is a great natural stress buster, and it keeps you in peak physical health as well. Viral shedding of herpes may happen over the entire genital area, making transmission even likelier. Keeping your energy levels up by getting sufficient sleep helps you avoid illness and manage physical and emotional stress. Wash your hands regularly and avoid areas where communicable disease is common (such as doctors’ waiting rooms and other areas where sick people may gather). Initial outbreaks usually occur within 2 weeks of exposure and infection, but may be mild or unnoticed. She loves to write articles (she has started 55 of them herself!), fix grammar mistakes, organize and revamp articles, and help other wikiHowians. While there are many ways to treat the symptoms of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), there are no cures yet. The news is good for several reasons: First, subjects taking pritelivir experienced dramatically less viral shedding than the control group in the study.
It’s also possible that pritelivir could be used in combination with current drugs to deliver a powerful one-two punch to HSV. Since current treatments only apply to active viruses, these latent viruses survive despite drug therapy.
Their work also focuses on the herpes virus’ ability to reactivate and recur over time. If the technique works equally well for humans, this gene therapy will keep the virus from causing repeated herpes outbreaks. By inhibiting the body’s production of Akt, they were able to significantly reduce herpes infections in human cells exposed to the virus.
There are, however, two vaccines in the very early stages of clinical trials that are aimed directly at preventing a herpes infection from ever taking hold in the body.
The vaccine is the result of a 10-year partnership between doctors at Harvard Medical School and the NIAID. Research for the vaccine is being conducted by Coridon, an Australian biotech company working in conjunction with the University of Queensland.
Instead of introducing a weakened version of the herpes virus, this vaccine uses a small section of DNA to produce T-cells and stimulate the immune response. Researchers at Coridon, however, emphasize that even in the most ideal of circumstances, they’ll need between 6 and 10 years of further studies before their vaccine becomes commercially available.
But those who are already dealing with a herpes infection understand the importance of living in the present. Arginine seems to promote the formation of herpes sores, while lysine tends to prevent herpes breakouts and also helps to heal existing sores quickly.


You’ll find propolis in ointments, lotions, and even some high-quality organic honeys. Just brew a cup of black tea, let the tea bag cool until you can touch it comfortably, and apply the tea bag directly to a herpes lesion. Ginseng is known to have the ability to strengthen the immune response, which may make it helpful in fighting off the effects of an active herpes episode. Liquid extract of licorice root can be applied directly to herpes sores; you can also make a paste with powdered licorice root and almond oil. It reduces healing time dramatically, and can also lower the stress levels that incite herpes outbreaks.
Aloe vera is readily available in creams and gels – you can even keep an aloe plant growing in your home and break open one of its thick leaves for an easy source of this useful substance. The Epsom salts ease the pain of inflamed tissues and dry out herpes sores, helping them to heal faster.
For best results, cover a cotton ball completely with baking soda, and apply it directly to the sore. On the other hand, herpes can be treated and managed with medication, home care, and simple precautions to prevent outbreaks and transmission. You may find that aluminum acetate (Domeboro) or magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) help relieve the affected area, although these are not doctor-recommended treatments.
Restrictive clothing and synthetic pantyhose, underwear, or pants can aggravate genital herpes symptoms, as these synthetic materials tend not to breathe as well as fabrics like cotton. In the case of herpes, lysine may help to prevent an outbreak by blocking arginine, which helps in herpes replication.[9] Still, the clinical trials using lysine have been mixed, and scientists believe that lysine is better at preventing an outbreak than treating one.
Consider finding a routine, such as yoga, painting, or meditation, that helps you stay balanced and calm. Staying fit can help you avoid illness and protect your immune system, which may help prevent herpes outbreaks. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night and avoid activities that put your body through extreme endurance tests (such as marathons). Keeping your immune system at its full capacity is important for maintaining an outbreak-free lifestyle with herpes. That’s why many medical researchers consider the search for a herpes cure to be akin to the search for the Holy Grail. Rather than seeking to activate the latent herpes virus, however, this study seeks to keep it dormant and thereby eliminate the possibility of recurring infection. And, like pritelivir, it will provide an alternative to drugs that viruses already tolerate. Later, if the virus is re-introduced, production of those antibodies is stimulated and the body is able to stave off infection. But widespread use of vaccinations gradually decreased incidences of this disease, and the last known case of polio in the U.S. Study of the vaccine is in the early trial stage, and researchers hope to complete this initial phase some time in 2016.
And for the present, there are two main approaches to managing the symptoms of HSV: medical treatment with prescription drugs like acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir, or with natural remedies.
Avoid taking higher doses of lysine for extended periods of time, as it may raise cholesterol levels and increase the amount of calcium your body absorbs. As a topical treatment for herpes lesions, propolis has proven to be a quick and effective healer. The recommended dosage is one-half to a full tablespoon three times daily during a herpes outbreak. There’s not a lot of evidence, however, that echinacea is effective when used as a herpes treatment. Either way, it’s made from lauric acid, which is a component of both coconut oil and human breast milk. That’s why it may be easier to take a supplement in concentrated form, as lauricidin. Then, on an intermittent or regular basis, drugs are also prescribed, depending on the severity of the outbreaks and the patient's individual needs. As a dry agent, baking soda is clean and absorbent, though still not a doctor-recommended treatment option.
Many herbs mentioned in Ayurveda, have been used for thousands of years to soothe the burning, itching and the tingling sensation. She says that she’s learned communication and coaching skills through wikiHow, and enjoys the instant gratification of improving something and being productive online.
Bonus: black tea is a great source of caffeine, so enjoy a little pick-me-up by drinking the tea while treating a herpes sore with the tea bag.
Herbs such as Chandana (Santalum album), Devadaru (Cedrus devdar), Nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Ficus group plants like Ficus bengalenis and sacred fig (Ficus religiosa), Sariva (Hemidesmus Indicus), Utpala (lotus), Yesthimadu (Glycirhiza glabra), are well known for their cooling powers on the skin.
A mixture of the aforementioned herbs in equal proportions can be prepared and used in the following manner to help soothe Herpes ulcers and blisters.

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