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Herpes and Cold Sore Home Remedies |
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Half of the discomfort of an outbreak happens before or after any sores appear. Here are a few remedies to help deal with the pain and itching. Although helpful for pain relief, these remedies are not anti-viral and so should not be used solely to treat the condition. They are intended to help relieve the discomfort, heal the scab and/or soothe the itching that is often present with an outbreak. Please refer to the herpes treatment page for remedies that are intended to treat the actual infection.
Used to wash areas below the waist, salt baths can clean, soothe and dry the sores. Put a large handful in a warm, shallow bath and use Epsom Salts if available (you can buy epsom salts from most supermarkets and drugstores). This will help to dry out and clean the sores. A long swim in the ocean will also work well, with a similar effect.
Include simple analgesics or pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen or paracetamol. Prescription “pain killers” may also be an option if your outbreaks are very painful. You will need to talk to your Doctor about this option if you think it might be needed.
By wearing loose underclothes (preferably cotton, not nylon) or no underwear at all during an outbreak you can help minimize discomfort and allow healing. If chafing is a problem, try wearing no underwear if you can or only thin cotton material to separate the rubbing areas. For women, a long skirt with no undies works best.
For anyone experiencing extreme pain when urinating, the process can be less painful when done in a cool bath and it is important to remember to drink plenty of fluids as this dilutes the urine. If you are uncomfortable in peeing in a bath you may like to try this in the shower instead.
Set on the "cool" setting, a hairdryer can give instant cooling relief to painful sores. Sounds funny but actually works ;-)
Can be soothing if wrapped in a towel and applied directly to the sores. Ice can be applied to the sores to both numb and soothe the area, as well as lower the temperature of the infection, helping to inhibit the virus.
Cold tea bags applied to the infected area every hour may be beneficial. This is because tea bags contain tannic acid which is thought to have antiviral properties, best used at the first sign of an outbreak.
Aloe vera can be a lifesaver when it comes to cooling down the itching and redness. It is safe and gentle, so can be applied where other topical products can't, such as inside of the mouth, nostrils, on and inside the genitals, etc. Aloe vera gel is also very good in healing the pesky scab that forms. Aloe vera feeds the skin with nutrients, including the amino acid Lysine, to help repair the infection BUT still allows it to breathe naturally and to remain dry. This is really important because if you do not allow the area to breathe then it can take longer to heal. Aloe vera is a common plant and may even be growing in your own garden. To prepare the fresh plant it is best to trim the thorny edges on both sides and cut the Aloe stick into chunks (roughly 2.5 inches long or so works well). Chill the chunks that you have cut in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes (an hour is ideal) and then use them at your will. The coolness is really soothing and the gel will absorb quite rapidly. You may like to apply it after you have had a shower (and possibly in the evening) so that the Aloe vera can settle in without being washed off. It is also a little sticky which is why an evening application is sometimes best, allowing you to relax and be comfortable. If you don’t have it growing, you can pick it up for around $10 from dynamiclear.com or possibly your local pharmacist. Chill the tube of Aloe gel for about 30 minutes before applying. It is not recommended to use Aloe vera creams or moisturizers because to work properly it must be the pure inner Aloe vera gel - substitutes will not be as effective because they are usually made of only a small amount of the gel mixed with many other bi-products, including alcohol.
You can mix this with water to create an astringent (makes tissues firmer and reduces discharge).
Slightly dampen a cotton ball or tissue, dip it in Baking Soda (also called Bi-Carbonate Soda) and coat the infected area. Leave on the sore to dry out the infection and to help relieve itching. Do not to re-dip the tissue or cotton ball after you have applied it to the infection as this could contaminate the remaining soda in the box.
This can work in the same way as Baking Soda. Simply apply a coating of the cornstarch to the affected area and leave on to dry out the sores and relive itching.
Healing of the skin after an outbreak does not normally leave any marking however, occasionally the skin may be left marked, red or inflamed after the outbreak has subsided. Vitamin E is renowned for its skin healing and restoration properties. Apply daily for best results.
A nice cup of peppermint tea may help reduce pain and fever.
Bach Flower Remedies may be used to ease the emotional stress of herpes, particularly Rescue Remedy. These are gentle homeopathic remedies that can be helpful in overcoming unwanted thoughts and in bringing about a new positive outlook. More information on Bach Flower Remedies
If you are having trouble sleeping we recommend taking Valerian Forte an hour before you go to bed. This is a natural sleeping tablet that we have found to work very well, with little to no morning drowsiness.
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An "Epsom Salts" Bath or Ocean Swim
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