Cold Sore (HSV-1) Blog
Aug 12th, 2008 by ThePrivatePharmacy.com
Feel free to submit any genuine tips, advice, remedies and/or resources dealing with Cold Sore treatment.
Please try to be specific about details such as dosage, application frequency, etc…
Replace Your Toothbrush.
Your trusty toothbrush can hold the herpes virus for days, reinfecting you after the present cold sore heals. Get rid of your toothbrush as soon as you start with a cold sore, and after your cold sore has gone, replace your toothbrush for a second time just in case. Don’t take any chances.
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
Use Small Tubes Of Toothpaste
Toothpaste can transmit disease too, so if you use smaller tubes, you’ll be replacing your toothpaste more often.
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
Award Winning Herpes Newsletter
The Helper is ASHA’s award-winning quarterly newsletter on herpes. The Helper offers: News items on the latest on HSV research, vaccine development, testing and other news in the field of sexually transmitted infections; features that address the social and emotional aspects of herpes, from relationships and dating to local support groups and online resources; and personal stories from individuals just like you.
The Helper is published four times per year: January, April, July, and October. Your subscription will begin with the first issue that is released after your order is processed. The print edition of The Helper is offered at $25.00 for a one-year subscription. Electronic (PDF) subscriptions are avialable as well for a reduced price of $19.95 per year.
http://www.ashastdwebstore.org/the-helper.html
//This newsletter is published by the American Social Health Association.
A quick rundown for new affectees.
If you have a single sore, you more than likely have a passive strain of the virus. If you ever have more than one sore, run to your doctor and get a 1000g Valtrex a day prescription. If he says you only need 500, choke him and say you want 1000g. Take these pills everyday and you won’t have to worry about missing work or school.
Lick it with lysine.
Dermatologist Mark A McCune, M.D., chief of dermatology at Humana Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas, advises patients who have more than three cold sores a year to supplement their daily diets with 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams of the amino acid lysine. He also recommends that they double up on the dosage when they feel the itching and tingling that signals the development of another cold sore. (Of course, don’t use this or any supplement without the advice and consent of your doctor. This is especially true for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Some animal studies have shown that excess lysine can interfere with normal growth.)
Not all studies have found lysine helpful for cold sore sufferers. But in one study of 41 patients, Dr. McCune and his colleagues found a daily dose of 1,248 milligrams of lysine helped subjects reduce the number of cold sores they have in a year.
Good food sources of lysine include dairy products, potatoes, and brewer’s yeast.
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
A Highly Lysine-Rich Recipe
Chicken, Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
——————————————————————————–
chicken brocco cheese casserole
2 chicken breasts
1 box chopped broccoli (about 2-3 chopped if fresh)
1/2 can evaporated milk (about a cup)
1/2 c. mayo (I’ve not tried miracle whip for baking)
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. cheese, your pick, I pick sharp cheddar
Preheat to 350 degrees
1. Cook and cut up your chicken breast
2. Place thawed broccoli on the bottom of the casserole dish, then cover with the cut up chicken
3. In a seperate microwavable bowl, mix the remaining ingredients (except the cheese) and nuke.
4. Pour mixture over chicken.
5. Sprinkle cheese over everything.
Bake about a half an hour, until it’s nice and bubbly.
-Brought to you by skyDreams @ Herpes-ColdSores
Free Sample ASHA Award Winning Herpes Newsletter
The Updated Herpes Handbook
Safety and Effectiveness of an L-Lysine,
Zinc, and Herbal-Based Product on the
Treatment of Facial and Circumoral Herpes
Abstract
Abstract
CONTEXT: L-lysine, an essential amino acid,
inhibits normal replication of Herpes simplex virus
(HSV), shortening the normal course and duration
of the disease. This study was conducted to
determine the effectiveness of a combination of
L-lysine with botanicals and other nutrients in
relieving the symptoms of facial and circumoral
herpes. METHODS: This small pilot study was
conducted using an outcome (open-label) model.
Thirty male and female participants (15 in each
group) meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria
were admitted to the study. The 10 outcome
measures used to monitor the sores were
tingling, itching, burning, tenderness, prickling,
soreness, bump/swelling, small blister(s), oozing
blister(s), and crusting, as well as before-andafter
photographs of the lesion, and a daily
diary. RESULTS: At the end of treatment the
ointment produced full resolution in 40 percent
of the participants by the third day and in 87
percent by the end of the sixth day. A cold sore
episode may last up to 21 days without treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall data indicated significant
improvement in participants by the sixth day of
treatment for all but two participants. There were
no adverse effects reported during this study.
(Altern Med Rev 2005;10(2):123-127)
When I had breakouts the worse place for me was public transportation. Due to the cramped quarters people would literally be all in your face. I would hate that walk to the back of the bus where everyone naturally looks at your face. So to draw attention away from my face, I would bring my ipod with me. I would have it hooked to my ears and then let the device hang and bounce while I walked through the bus, that way folks would be captured by the movement of my ipod and the normal stare at my face would be secondary and brief and detection of my sores would decrase dramtically.
Keep the Cold Sore Clean & Dry.
“If the cold sore isn’t really bothersome, just leave it alone,” says James F. Rooney, M.D., a clinical virologist at the Laboratory of Oral Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. “Make sure to keep the sore clean and dry. If it becomes pussy—and this rarely happens—seek medical attention to make sure the bacterial infection is properly treated.”
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
Zap It With Zinc
Several studies show that a water-based zinc solution, applied the minute you feel that tingling, helps speed healing time.
In a Boston study of 200 patients who were followed over a six-year period, a 0.025 percent solution of zinc sulfate in camphorated water was found very effective. Sores healed in an average of 5.3 days. The solution was applied every 30 to 60 minutes during the onset of the cold sore.
Researchers in Israel also found a 2 percent water-based zinc solution, applied several times a day, to be very helpful, says Milos Chvapil, M.D., Ph.D., professor of surgery and head of the Surgical Biology Section at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.
How does zinc help? Dr. Chvapil says that zinc ions crosslink with the DNA molecule of the herpes virus and prevent the double helix from splitting. That means the virus can’t get the DNA to help it replicate.
Dr. Chvapil says that zinc gluconate is kinder to the skin than zinc sulfate. The mineral is available at health food stores.
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
Protect with petroleum jelly.
You can protect your cold sore by covering it with petroleum jelly, says Dr. Glass. Be sure not to dip back into the jelly with the same finger you used to touch your sore. Better yet, use a fresh cotton swab.
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
Identify the pattern.
What was going on in your life just before you got your last cold sore? What about the cold sore prior to that? If you do some sleuthing, you just might figure out what triggers a cold sore for you. If you can find a trigger, take additional lysine when you’re most prone to cold sores, says Dr. McCune.
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
Eating Habits (Lysine Good, Arginine Bad)
Many experts believe the amino acid lysine can help control herpes recurrences. Lysine is thought to reduce the viral replication pattern of HSV. Some experts also think that arginine, another naturally occurring amino acid, may help HSV to thrive.
The following is a list of foods that are naturally high in lysine. Foods at the top of the list are the lowest in arginine, while those at the bottom of the list are higher in arginine. Mild outbreaks will not be affected as strongly by arginine as moderate to severe occurences.
Yogurt - plain skim yogurt (best), low-fat fruit yogurt (very good)
Cheese - Swiss, Gruyere, Edam, Gouda, Provolone, Ricotta, Parmesan, Mozzarella, Brick, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Cottage Cheese
Fruits - apricots, apples, pears
Milk - goat milk, buttermilk, skim milk
Meats - beef, pork, fresh fish, shellfish, chicken, turkey
Nuts, grains and vegetables - wheat germ, corn, winter squash, peas, pumpkin seeds, pistachios, peanuts, almonds, sesame seeds, Brazil nuts
Foods High in Arginine
Try to eliminate arginine-rich foods from the list below. Keep in mind that peas, some seeds and most nuts are also very rich in lysine.
Chocolate
Cola
Beer
Grain cereals
Chicken soup
Gelatin
Seeds, nuts and peas
- suite101.com
A good dosage of lysine and vitamin C we’ll do it for prevention.
The Super Lysine + cream is good for reactive measures. It literally nuked this cold sore I had in my mustache area; however, the tingling increased heavily. But it did do the job.
Beef up you immune system.
Experts don’t know exactly what causes the herpes virus to lie dormant for long periods and then abruptly awake to create havoc. But many think that a weakened immune system, like a drunken sheriff in an old western town, invites the little bandits to act up. However strong this connection may be, it’s best for you to keep your immune system sober and armed with a well-rounded diet, lots of rest and relaxation, and regular exercise.
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
Block that sun or wind
Protecting your lips from trauma like sunburn or wind exposure was cited by all our experts as a key to preventing cold sores.
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
“”"Identify the pattern.
What was going on in your life just before you got your last cold sore? What about the cold sore prior to that? “”"
Very true, for me if I sleep only a few hours one night, I’ll get an outbreak in about two days…..even if I’m taking lysine.
Inferior Testing Products???
“The good news about herpes testing is that more and more clinicians are learning about blood testing that can identify those who are infected but don’t know it. The bad news is that they are often ordering a poor test called IgM blood antibody testing. The IgM test, with other viruses, comes up early in the infection and goes away when another antibody, called IgG comes up subsequently.
However, with herpes, there are significant issues with the IgM test. It can’t accurately distinguish type 1 from type 2, so a person could be told they have brand new genital herpes when all they have is old cold sore infection. It also can’t accurately distinguish herpes simplex virus from other herpes viruses, like chicken pox. And about a third of people infected with HSV 2 make new IgM with a recurrence, so it really can’t tell old from new infection, which is often why clinicians order the test.
PLEASE, if you’ve been diagnosed with herpes by a blood antibody test, get a copy of your results, and make sure they are IgG results, not IgM results. If you were positive by IgM and not by IgG, and at least 3-4 months have passed since your test, ask for an IgG test. If its negative, then the IgM was wrong.
And when you do this, let your clinician know the IgM is not a reliable test for herpes antibody. If it were me, I wouldn’t pay for that test, period. Be proactive about your herpes status - be certain your diagnosis is correct.”
WebMD Blog
Stay away from Cola soda, it’ll do it to you.
The Mind/Body Connection
Why do some people carry the herpes virus for years without an attack, while others carrying the virus experience regular attacks?
The answer is largely in the mind, says Christopher W. Stout, Ph.D., of Denver, a clinical psychologist specializing in psychoneuroimmunology. “People who are more tense, depressed, carry more hostility, and are more easily aroused to anger, seem to suffer more frequent outbreaks,” says Dr. Stout. “These kinds of attitudes are thought to suppress the body’s immune system.”
Judith M. Hurst, R.N., is coordinator and medical adviser to Toledo HELP, a support group for people with herpes in the Toledo, Ohio, area. She is also an obstetric nurse at Toledo Hospital.
Christopher W. Stout, Ph.D., is in private practice in the Denver, Colorado, area and a clinical psychologist specializing in psychoneuroimmunology (the study of the connection between the immune system and human emotions). He is also an industrial consultant.
Exercise
“There is some evidence that exercise actually helps bolster the immune system,” says Dr. Vanderplate. The stronger your immune system, the better able it is to defend you against viruses. Exercise is also a super way to relax, he says.
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
Perfect your coping skills
Studies have shown that stress can trigger recurrences of the herpes simplex virus. High levels of stress are not necessarily the culprit, says Cal Vanderplate, Ph.D., an Atlanta psychologist specializing in stress-related disorders. “How you cope with the stress—how you perceive it—is what’s important. Stress is not a tangible thing; it’s a concept.”
His number one stress deflator is “maintaining a loving social support system. This is the number one thing you can do to protect yourself from high stress,” he says. “A sense of control is also very important. If you take a positive attitude toward your health, you’ll be more able to influence your symptoms.”
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
Avoid arginine-rich foods
The herpes virus needs arginine as an essential amino acid for it metabolism. So cut out arginine-rich foods such as chocolate, cola, peas, grain cereals, peanuts, gelatin, cashews, and beer.
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
Freeze-dry it
Some of Dr. Rooney’s patients reach for ice when they first feel the tingling. “I’m not sure that it works, but if I were to speculate, I’d say that ice does decrease inflammation. And if inflammatory substances aid the reactivation process, this could help.”
-Prevention Magazine, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
What Triggers the Herpes Virus to Return by M. Picozzi
A variety of theories exists to explain what reactivates the dormant herpes virus in our bodies, but exactly what causes about one-third of the people who have HSV-1 or HSV-2 to have recurrent outbreaks remains a mystery. But there are certain situations that roust herpes virus from its dormant state deep within the body’s nerve endings and send it on a return trip to the skin’s surface.
While theories abound on what causes herpes virus to reappear repeatedly, it boils down to individual tolerance. What spurs herpes virus into an active state can be of a physical or psychological nature or both. Emotional stress may be a strong factor for some, but for others it is unrelated. An elevated temperature at the site of the original herpes lesion caused by fever or exposure to UV-B rays (found in both sun and shade) often sets HSV-1 in motion for many, but not for all. The most commonly identified single triggers include eating nuts (particularly the ordinary peanut) or other foods with a higher percentage of the amino acid arginine (such as chocolate), exposure to sunlight, fever, being physically or emotionally run down (often these go together) or by experiencing chronic anxiety, worry, and even ambivalence. Women with compromised immune systems also have recurrences that are more frequent or last longer or both.
The following are the most common situations that have been found to trigger a herpes virus outbreak:
Foods high in arginine. Peanuts, sunflower seeds, chocolate, soybeans, gelatin, carob and coconut are high in arginine content. Almond paste, a common and often hidden ingredient in many baked goods, also can trigger a negative reaction in sensitive individuals. Onions, raw or fried, also should be avoided.
Ultraviolet light. UV-B has been isolated as a trigger of facial herpes. Exposure to sunlight, particularly where and when rays are the strongest–beaches, mountains, lakes, and between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.– should be avoided. PWH should use a sunscreen of SPF-15 or higher and wear a hat with a brim that covers the face. UV-B also has been linked to certain types of skin cancer.
Using known immunosuppressants. Cigarettes, alcohol, recreational drugs, and sugar all have been proven to suppress immune-system function. Chronic or excessive consumption of these substance puts PWH at a distinct disadvantage at keeping herpes outbreaks at bay.
Increased internal acidity. This can occur when stress levels are elevated or from eating foods that contribute to an over-acidic condition in the body. The most common offenders in this category are sugar, white bread, and other highly-refined foods.
Menstruation. While not conclusively proven because the pattern of recurrence can be intermittent, some women are more vulnerable to outbreaks before the start of their periods because of the significant hormonal changes taking place.
Strenuous physical activity. This can tax the body’s resources, depending on current physical condition and stamina level. More studies though are finding a distinct link between suppressed immunity and intense periods of exercise.
Trauma to the skin. Recurrences are known to appear at the site of an injury, and routine dental procedures can trigger outbreaks for some PWH.
Increased moisture of friction. Both conditions are present during sexual intercourse.
Seasonal changes. Those with oral or facial outbreaks are especially vulnerable when the body transitions from spring to summer and summer to fall. Traditional Chinese medicine maintains that certain bodily organs undergo a period of change of during seasonal transitions. For example, in the spring the liver is under stress and during the transition from summer to fall the lungs are vulnerable.
Illness or disease. With the immune system fighting off other predators, it can become taxed, giving the latent herpes virus an opportunity to reappear. It should come as no surprise that the common cold is one of the most precipitating factors to an outbreak or facial herpes.
Stress, stress, and more stress. Several theories that suggest that psychological stress by itself can arouse the dormant herpes virus. The #1 factor responsible for repeated and frequent outbreaks is stress, writes Dr. Richard Hamilton in The Herpes Book (J.P. Tarcher, 1980), citing experience with hundreds of PWH. Emotional stress does two things to the body: it can suppress the body’s natural antiviral agent interferon and also hinder the body’s ability to make the antibodies it needs to fight any type of infection.
Picozzi, Michelle. Controlling Herpes Naturally. 1998.
Tingling Signals / Prodromes
How Herpes Communicate with the Body
“As decidedly invasive and persistent as the herpes virus is, it does have its own way in communicating with our bodies to warn us that the dormant virus is about to reactivate. The medical term for this phenomenon is prodrome, defined as the warning our bodies send to our brains to signal an impending attack before the main set of symptoms appear. One survey indicated that more than 50 percent of PWH say they experience one or more prodromes, or internal warnings, before an outbreak. These signs and sensations are thought to happen in 90 percent of recurrences and typically occur at the exact site of previous infections. Recognizing these “on-alert” symptoms when they first occur can be a PWH most valuable asset in controlling outbreaks and spreading the herpes virus.
One theory to explain prodromes finds that as herpes viral particles move from the ganglia toward the skin cells, they may irritate the nerves slightly and thereby create the sensations known as prodromes. Another hypothesis supposes that as these affected cells swell, die and disintegrate, they cause the itching and tingling that serve as warning of an impending herpes virus outbreak.
Experts agree that skin sensitivity is the most noticeable early warning people with HSV-1 and HSV-2 routinely experience–specifically, tingling, itching, or stinging sensations near the place on the skin where the initial or previous herpes virus outbreaks occurred. These prodromes can last from a few minutes to hours or even one or two days. Even though PWH experience these warning sensations, the developing lesions for whatever reason are stopped in their tracks, leaving PWH with a much less severe episode to contend with or no outbreak at all.
Prodromes vary from person to person. By becoming aware of the internal signs or signals your body is sending, it is possible to help minimize the length and discomfort sure to come. Equally important, a prodrome signals that it’s time to take the necessary precautions to avoid infecting others. Until recently, the point at which herpes virus can be passed from one person to another was undefined. Recent laboratory tests, however, have demonstrated that contagious virus particles can be shed and transmitted at the outset of warning sensations, before the development of any blisters. In November 1995 Vogue reported on research that showed that overwhelming evidence exists that the herpes virus can be spread even when no visible sores are present.”
Picozzi, Michelle. Controlling Herpes Naturally. 1998.
The Overlooked Psychological Connection
According to Dr. Wayne Diamond, there are two specific emotional states that almost universally precede herpes outbreaks in those who are prone to them. One is internalizing feelings such as anger or fear (anxiety) in times of conflict, and the other is ambivalence or fear of loss. Left unexpressed, these feelings put PWH at risk for recurring infections.
Because anxiety and ambivalence express themselves outwardly in a variety of ways, Diamond has concluded that these particular emotions have an internal effect as well. He maintains that these two mental conditions can effectively diminish the power of the human glandular system which, when so affected, has a tremendous impact on immune function. “When people experience stress and anxiety, their bodies undergo immense changes. Body temperature increases and interferes with how nutrients are absorbed, then large amounts of acid pour into the stomach that then get absorbed into the bloodstream,” says Diamond. Over acidic blood can become a very powerful irritant especially in soft tissues areas where herpes virus lives. Diamond also theorizes these factors can dramatically increase the chances of a herpes virus outbreak on the face, sexually organs, or in the instance of herpes zoster, inflamed or irritated tissue anywhere on the body. “If we can understand how stress affects us, we can try to reduce its effects and maintain a healthy mind-connection,” he notes. For PWH, the fulcrum of the balancing act is maintaining sense of control over your life sustaining an internal alkaline environment.
Another part of the stress-herpes equation is feeling guilty about your condition. Fretting about the prospect of recurring bouts of herpes only adds to your stress level. When anxious or worried, the mind and body are anticipating or expecting something stressful happening that may or may not occur. While in this state, the nervous system is already engaged and the potential for harm exists.
Frank Fruedberg suggests in Herpes: A Complete Guide to Relief and Reassurance (Running Press, 1987) changing the way you think about herpes. Psychologists, he writes, often recommend to patients that they imagine the sores are a result of an allergy. “In a very real way, you are allergic to herpes virus… some people are immune to them, never developing herpes simplex lesions, no matter how often they are exposed,” he explains. Another way to put the situation into the perspective is to think in terms of simply having cold sores even though they occur in the genital area.
Picozzi, Michelle. Controlling Herpes Naturally. 1998.
The Immune System’s Role / Beating the Sugar Trap
The current state of your immune system is a reflection of your genetic history, the infections you’ve had, and allergies you’ve developed, even the vaccinations you’ve received over the years. The immune system relies on the glandular system to stay strong, and stress can adversely affect both.
One immutable fact about herpes is that the immune system provides the first line of defense against it. Herpes virus illnesses have been found to be the most common cause of serious infections in people whose immunity has been seriously impaired by AIDS or organ transplant. Research increasingly supports the theory that weak body defenses may be more responsible than the virus itself in activating outbreaks, with stress providing the catalyst in recurring herpes virus infections.
An immune system that functions at peak efficiency is really your best friend, whether you have herpes or not. It can resist all kinds of infections successfully, ward off allergic reactions, and maintain and repair cells that are constantly changing through growth, decay, or replacement.
..Sugar stalls the immune system by preventing white blood cells from doing their job as germ killers; reduces the body’s ability to produce antibodies (the proteins that combine with and deactivate foreign invaders such as viruses); hinders the transport of vitamin C, a nutrient crucial to overall immune function; upsets the balance of crucial minerals such as magnesium and calcium; and neutralizes the effects of EFAs (essential fatty acids), which can make cells more open to invasion by allergens and microorganisms.
Medical studies have found that the immune system’s antibody production drops off after as little as 18 grams of sugar– about as much as in half a can of soda. Besides having no redeeming nutrient value, sugar also interferes with the way the body absorbs B vitamins, a group of vitamins crucial to keeping herpes virus in check and maintaining a healthy nervous system. The key, as Gittleman points out, is satisfying your sweet tooth without risking your health. Blood sugar equilibrium, she says, is one of the most important but overlooked keys to health.
The ideal way for the body to ingest sugar properly is through eating whole foods, particularly complex carbohydrates. The vitamins, minerals, and enzymes in unprocessed foods allow for smooth metabolism of the sugars found in these foods, and then the gradual introduction of these sugars into the bloodstream.
Picozzi, Michelle. Controlling Herpes Naturally. 1998.
For some reason I get a few cold sore “tingles” everyday and I require a daily treatment. I currently use Super Lysine + tablets.
I take 2-3 pills in the morning and 1-2 at night as a preventive. Sometimes I may take an extra pill during the middle of the day. I rarely get outbreaks, if an outbreak does start to occur, I used the Super Lysine + ointment to nip it in the bud.
**Update**
I actually stopped taking Super Lysine altogether in September, I got a few more tingles and a cold sore at the beginning but that was it. I think I’ve taken so much Super Lysine over the months, that my cold sores are on a prolonged hiatus. If I’m really stressed a cold sore will start to appear and I’ll just take the SL tablets and use the ointment for a day or so.
So transferring from daily treatment to occurrence only treatment maybe possible. I still get tingles, but nothing comes of it.