Originally published July 1 2010
Genital Herpes: Home Remedies can Help
by Todd Mumford
(NaturalNews) Genital herpes is a chronic and contagious viral infection but there are several home remedies you can use to help relieve the pain, itching and discomfort of a herpes outbreak.
-Aloe Vera is a soothing home remedy. This common plant will grow easily in your garden or you can buy 99.9% pure Aloe Vera gel from a health shop. Don't use a product that says "contains Aloe Vera" because this will only have a small amount of the gel. If you are fortunate enough to have the genuine plant growing, trim the thorny edges on both sides and cut the Aloe stick into sizeable chunks. Chill these in the fridge or freezer for 30 to 60 minutes and use when needed. If you are using commercial Aloe Vera gel, put the tube or tub in the fridge too as the coolness is extra soothing. Application is best after a shower so that it has the opportunity to settle in without being washed off.
-Essential Oils are well known for their skin healing and restoration properties. They will even repair the skin after an outbreak is over. There are two safe and gentle products - one that is concentrated to use during an outbreak (or at the very first signs of an outbreak) and one that prevents and controls future outbreaks. The antiviral properties of essential oils penetrate the blood stream to do their healing work.
-Herbs such as thyme, liquorice and cayenne are well known for their ability to fight the herpes virus.
-Epsom Salt is another helpful home remedy that can cleanse, soothe and dry herpes sores as well as relieve itching and tenderness. An Epsom salt bath is the best method of application. Put a large handful in a warm bath and soak for 10 to 20 minutes or even longer if you wish.
-Salt Water also works well. If you have access to the beach, a regular swim in the ocean will help the healing process.
-Cool or Warm Treatment. Some sufferers find warmth helps while others prefer a cool treatment. A bath or shower with warm water over the genital area 3 or 4 times a day is soothing for some. Afterwards, gently pat dry or use a hair dryer on a low or cool setting. The warm air can even speed up the healing process by helping the sores to dry out. Others prefer cool or even very cold treatment such as an ice pack or packet of frozen peas wrapped in a soft cloth and applied to the affected area.
-Painful Urination. In many initial outbreaks of genital herpes, urination (particularly in women) can bring intense pain as acidic urine passes over open sores. The easiest way to overcome this is to sit in a large bowl of warm water and urinate into that.
-Immune System Booster. To help defend against the return of a genital herpes outbreak, a healthy immune system is vital. This means no smoking, reducing alcohol intake, a healthy balanced diet, plenty of rest, a good night's sleep, lowering stress levels and taking nutrients that help to build healthy immunity such as Echinacea, vitamin C and zinc.
Although you may feel depressed and disheartened when diagnosed with the genital herpes virus, it is possible with the right treatment and a healthy lifestyle to reverse the effects of this unwelcome condition.
Sources:
http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/genital_herp...
http://www.amoils.com/health-blog/928/
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshel...
About the author
Todd Mumford is staff writer for Amoils.com - a provider of 100% natural treatments for a variety of conditions - and writes on a wide range of alternative and natural health topics.
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