Are Cold Sores Caused By Herpes?

Do you have cold sores or do you have herpes?

The answer is, you have both, but don't panic, yet. The real question is, which type of herpes do you have?

There are two types of herpes simplex virus, Type 1 and Type 2.

Herpes Simplex Type 1: Type 1 Herpes Simplex appears as cold sores, or fever blisters, usually on the lip, inside the mouth or in the nose.

These painful lesions, which are also called fever blisters, are a collection of watery vesicles which usually appear on the lip, inside the mouth or in the nose.

They are usually accompanied by itching and inflammation. They are caused by the herpes simplex virus, which lies dormant within the nerves in between outbreaks.

Herpes Simplex Type 2-Genital Herpes: Type 2 Herpes Simplex is known as genital herpes. It is a common sexually transmitted disease. It appears as painful lesions in the genital area.

Herpes Varicella-ChickenPox: Herpes varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, is a mild infection with skin lesions, usually appearing all over the body.

Herpes Zoster-Shingles: Once the active Herpes varicella infection goes into remission, the virus becomes dormant, but may once again become active in later years as Herpes Zoster, also known as 'Shingles'.

These lesions follow the dorsal nerve roots in which the virus embeds itself. Upon becoming active, the painful, itching lesions appear on the outer skin above these nerve roots.

The virus that causes cold sores never goes completely away. It lies dormant within the nerves of the body. Reasons for re-activation may be stress, or an allergic reaction to certain foods, such as dairy products.

Some over the counter products for cold sores may be helpful in reducing the healing time, however blisters may still be present a week or 10 days after applying over the counter treatments.

Campho-Phenique Cold Sore Remedy

Place 2 Tablespoons of milk in a glass cup. Place cup into the microwave. When milk comes to a boil, remove the cup, let the milk cool and then rub a little of this boiled milk onto your blister.

Next, purchase some Campho-phenique either online or at a local store and dab it onto the blister. Campho-phenique has antiseptic properties, is a local anesthetic and is also a germicide and a parasiticider.

The antiseptic properties in Campho-phenique kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms on the external surfaces of the body.

In other words, while your sore is open to the air, it is possible that bacteria can quickly make a home within your open cold sore.

Using a previously opened chapstick, lipstick or even food particles from eating can introduce these bacteria into the open blister.

At a time when all you want to do is heal, the introduction of these 'extra' bacteria can further delay the healing process.

The anesthetic properties of Campho-phenique should reduce the pain of the cold sore.

The germicidal properties help to inhibit or destroy pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms on the body's external surfaces.

A parasiticider is a substance used to kill or inhibit parasites. (Cold sores are not caused by parasites, but, Campho-Phenique also has parasiticidal properties.)

Repeat the milk and Campho-phenique process 2-3 times each day.

The next time you feel a cold sore coming on, begin early with this cold sore home remedy to help reduce the healing time.

Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm: In Europe, many cold sore sufferers use lemon balm. Lemon balm is a popularly used salve-like ointment.

You can find it in tube form or in a small tin. Lemon Balm salve cream is claimed to have both anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

Tea Tree Oil - Melaleuca alternifolia

According to the book, The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies, written by Mark Stengler, N.D., 2001, Prentice Hall

Tea tree oil, also referred to as ti tree oil or cajeput oil, has become very popular for its antiseptic and healing properties to the skin.

This oils comes from the leaves of the Australian Melaleuca alternifolia tree. Early settlers in Australia made tea from these leaves, which explains the origin of its most common name.

But, even before the arrival of Europeans, Aborigines of the area were well aware of the medicinal benefits of the oils from this tree.

The first scientific investigations of tea tree oil began in Sydney, Australia in 1922, when a government chemist noticed the antiseptic effects of tea tree oil.

Though the oils were potent, he observed that they were non-toxic and non-irritating. His initial investigations were followed up by numerous studies, especially in the years between 1922 and 1930.

The benefits of this oil became so well established that it was included as standard medical issue in the Australian Army during World War II.

Tea tree oil is claimed to have anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. It is used topically (on the external skin) for a number of skin ailments, such as cold sore, dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, athlete's foot, toe fungus, gum infections, impetigo, boils, insect bites, warts and lice.

It is very potent and one drop may be all you need to use per application.

Tea tree Oil whether in oil form, cream or gel formulas may be used topically (on the external skin).

Test your sensitivity, first by putting a couple drops onto your skin (preferably on your arm rather than the sensitive skin on your face) before going to bed to see if an irritation occurs by morning.

Pure, undiluted tea tree should not be applied to the skin of infants, children or pregnant or lactating women. Also, do not use tea tree oil near the eyes.

Make sure to get a tea tree product that is 100 percent Melaleuca alternifolia oil. An organic tea tree oil product is best.

End of information quoted from The Natural Physicians Healing Therapies by Mark Stengler,N.D.

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