Oral Herpes : Causes,Treatments and Home Remedies

Herpes is a very common infection caused by two different but closely related viruses — herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Both forms of herpes are easy to catch and have similar symptoms and signs. And both can occur on different parts of the body. When the infection is on or around the the mouth, it is called oral herpes.

"Cold sores" or "fever blisters" are oral herpes symptoms that usually show up on or near the lips. In cases of oral herpes where symptoms do develop they are painful and unsightly. Cold sore blisters tend to occur in the areas surrounding the mouth, such as on the lips, chin, cheeks, or even in the nostrils. Cold sores or fever blisters that develop in the mouth are most likely to occur on the gums or roof of the mouth.

It begins with symptoms that include a tingling sensation, dryness, burning, and/or itching at the site of the impending cold sore. Within one to two days, a group of tiny blisters form, then enlarge to create one large, open sort. Two or three days later, a scab forms on the sore and the wound begins to heal. Once healing is complete, the scab falls off, usually seven to ten days after the first symptoms were revealed.

Herpes is contracted primarily through direct skin contact with an infected individual. This contact is not necessarily with genital areas. In some cases the virus responsible for cold sores may also be passed on through indirect contact such as through sharing a lip balm or lip stick or from shared towels. Some triggers like pregnancy, lips or gum injury, dental treatment, cosmetic surgery, fatigue, stress, and hormonal changes may cause cold sore to reoccur.

There are many home remedies for oral herpes to use to shorten the time to 3 to 5 days when used correctly.

. Rub ice on the infected skin for few minutes, repeat this every hour. Application of ice on the cold sore helps to reduce the cold sore size and also prevents the viral movement.

. Apply a tea bag for few minutes on the blisters, repeat this every hour. One can also consider pressing a warm tea bag on the blisters for approximately 30 minutes.

. According to some, you could simply soak a cotton ball or swab in some cold milk and dab it or apply gently over the sore.

. L-Lysine fights that virus that causes cold sores. Take 500 mg twice a day.

. Take 100 mg of each major B vitamin twice a day. Vitamin B complex is very important for healing and immune system functions.

. Place a small amount of salt on the cold sore and hold it in place with your finger for a minute or two.

. Cut garlic in half and place one part on the cold sore. Take 2 garlic capsules a day.

. A cotton ball can be soaked for sometime in the plum juice and then used as a compress over the cold sores to relieve pain and inflammation.

. Small pieces of raw onion can be applied directly on the cold sores for treating and preventing cold sores from getting worse.

. Mix water with 2 ounces of hydrogen peroxide, one teaspoon of baking soda and five teaspoons of salt. This solution can be used to rinse the mouth for at least a minute, 4-5 times a day to effectively get rid of cold sores on the tongue.

. Try chewing on a licorice whip, but just you would need to be sure that it is actually made from real licorice. You could also simply buy some licorice powder and sprinkle it over the sores.

. Gently rub aloe vera gel or oil on the sores.

. Cut a small slice of lemon and place it either on your cold sore and leave it there as long as you can. Change it as often as possible with a fresh slice.

. Pour a few drops of apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball and apply it on your cold sore or blister. You can also mix it with lemon juice to increase its potential.

. Take Lysine supplements ; 1,000 mg taken three times a day may help to shorten the duration of cold sores.

. Prepare black coffee and let it cool, strain the water so you will only have the mud left in the cup. Use the coffee that was left in the cup to apply on the herpes so it will be healed faster.

. Try using propolis, a natural product created by bees, as an alternative health option for treating herpes sores of the mouth and lips.

. Place 2 to 3 sage leaves, with a small root piece of ginger in a cup of water and steep them in boiling water. Drink these tea 2 to 3 cups per day.

. Apply Vaseline (petroleum jelly) to the herpes sore, it forms a barrier around it and will help to prevent it from spreading.

. Soak a cotton bud in some Benzyl Alcohol and apply it to the cold sore twice a day.

. Apply the probiotic yogurt with a cotton bud, and then tops it off with a dab of nail polish remover to keep it dry.

. Take some baking powder and pat a cotton ball with it over the infected area. This would be beneficial in treating herpes.


Do not use cosmetic products in an attempt to hide cold sores. Burying the cold sores under a layer of makeup will simply aggravate the problem as most cosmetics do contain some chemicals, which would be too harsh for your already highly sensitized skin.
Avoid picking or pinching at a cold sore as this poses a high threat of bacterial infection. Also make sure that you never touch the cold sore and then touch your eyes or genitals, as this will simply spread the infection. Always make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly or use a hand sanitizer after touching a cold sore.



~sources:raysahelian.com/home-remedies-for-you.com~