Herpes: Causes and Treatment
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Herpes, particularly oral herpes, is a skin infection caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus. This particular type of infection can get very unpleasant, triggering itchiness, painful sores on the lips, tongue, gums and the mouth's roof, and can reach even the inside of the cheeks. In some extreme cases, oral herpes can cause symptoms such as muscle aches and fever.
In other words, it is a widespread condition with a variety of causes. Thankfully, natural remedies recommended by plenty of online sources such as homeremedyshop.com can soothe herpes. Give this article a thorough read to find out the causes and how you can treat this condition from home.
Causes and Symptoms
The sores in and around the mouth might be caused by two subtypes of herpes:
- Herpes simplex virus, type 1 (or herpes-1). Over 80 % of oral herpes infections are caused by this subtype. This can be triggered by sharing lip balm, kissing and using the same eating utensils.
- Herpes simplex virus, type 2 (or herpes-2). Usually, it is triggered through sexual contact with individuals who carry herpes-2.
As for the symptoms, it is worth noting that some people infected with herpes might not manifest any symptoms. However, it is best to be cautious and prepare yourself, because the amount of time between contact with an infected individual and the occurrence of the first symptoms can range between two and 12 days. Statistically speaking, the average time is around four days. Moreover, the symptoms can last between two to three weeks. Here is a list of the symptoms you can expect:
- Fatigue, fever, muscle aches and a general psychological irritability might occur in some fringe cases.
- Patients might experience tingling, pains burns in the affected area even before the sores appear. Once the clusters of blisters erupt, they appear as ulcerous, gray-colored tiny spots on a red background. They eventually dry off and become scabbed or crusted.
- Sores in the front of the tongue, inside of the cheeks, the throat, roof of the mouth and gums. In some extreme cases, they might spread to the neck and chin.
- Bleedy gums
- Teenagers and young adults in their earl 20's might experience throat pains and have gray-colored tonsils.
However, the majority of these symptoms are quite rare, with most patients experiencing mild burns and a general discomfort. The most serious infections usually occur in infants. However, if you are experiencing difficulties eating and drinking or have a weak immune system, reach out to an expert as soon as possible. Thankfully, mild cases of oral herpes can be easily treated at home, through natural means. Here are a few home remedies.
Treatments
1. Black Coffee
Black coffee is not only an efficient home remedy for treating oral herpes, but can also alleviate the pains caused by the blisters inside the mouth. Prepare a cup of black coffee, take a sip and hold it in your mouth for a few minutes and then spread it to your lips. Repeat this process twice a day for as long as the infection lasts.
2. Essential Oils
Another perfectly viable treatment consists of using essential oils. There are a wide variety of oils to choose from, such as tea tree oil, clove oil, and myrrh oil. Tea tree oil, for example, has natural antibacterial and antiviral properties that can counteract the effects of the infections. All you have to do is simply to apply these natural oils to the affected areas. Make sure to apply three drops at most, three times a day. However, if you have sensitive skin, you might want to combine the essential oils with a carrier oil (jojoba and coconut oil, in particular) to attenuate their strength.
3. Lemon Balm
Lemon balms are one of the best ways to treat herpes at home. If sores and blisters are giving you a hard time, the lemon's rich amount of flavonoids, rosmarinic acid, and phenolic acid will alleviate the pains. Here is how to prepare this particular remedy:
- Prepare a lemon balm tea.
- Let it steep for ten to 15 minutes
- Grab a soft cotton ball and soak it in the beverage.
- Apply it directly on the sores and blisters.
Alternatively, you can pour two to three milliliters of lemon balm tincture in water and drink it as it is for three times per day. The alcohol in the tincture will fight off the infection and speed up the recovery process. Play today at the best friv games website.
4. Aloe Vera Gel
There is already a plethora of research concerning the health benefits of aloe vera, so there is no use in repeating them. Fortunately, its incredible healing capabilities extends to oral herpes, as it is very effective at treating it:
- Cut the aloe vera and extract the gel.
- Dip a cotton ball into the gel and apply it on the area that is affected by redness, sores, and itching.
- Alternatively, you can also apply a fresh aloe vera leaf on the infected area with similar results.
Conclusion
Herpes is an annoying, recurring infection that can be quite difficult to eliminate. Thankfully, in most cases, you do not have to go to a doctor to treat it, as it can easily be treated at home through natural remedies. You can speed up the healing process by adopting a few dietary changes, like focusing on foods high in lysine, and applying essential oils or aloe vera gel on the affected area. However, make sure to consult an expert if the infection prevents you from eating and drinking.