Treatment of herpes with folk remedies: myth or reality?

Herpes is a viral disease accompanied by rashes of blisters on the mucous membranes and skin. Traditional recipes for the treatment of herpes have been known for many centuries; they are quite simple and accessible. The components included in their composition are natural and will only bring benefits.

Herpes in the human world: general characteristics of the pathogen

The herpes virus is highly contagious. It can enter the body by any known means of infection:

• airborne;
• contact and household;
• sexual;
• in utero.

Regardless of its variety, active herpes poses a threat to others. A conditional exception is the zoster virus, which is the causative agent of chickenpox: it can only be harmless if you have had this disease before. But in people with weak immunity, as well as in older people, it can be the culprit of such a terrible and incurable disease called herpes zoster (shingles). You can learn more about the mechanism of development of this pathology in the article Herpes on the body: treatment in adults .

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Is herpes dangerous? Of course, during the period of activity it is accompanied by unpleasant and painful symptoms:

• watery small bubbles appear;
• herpetic rash is very itchy and burning;
• after opening the vesicles, a dry bloody crust appears, which becomes a favorable environment for bacterial infection;
• body temperature may rise;
• in severe cases, the lymph nodes become inflamed;
• Herpes can cause conjunctivitis and tonsillitis.

It is worth noting that the localization of visible symptoms largely determines the type of pathogen:

• virus type 1 , or simple. It mainly affects the face, especially often it likes to pop up under the nose, on the lips, in the mouth (herpetic stomatitis);
• Type 2 virus manifests itself on the genitals and is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world;
• type 3 virus is the one that causes chickenpox and shingles;
• Types 4 and 5 include types of herpes that cause diseases such as infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus) and cytomegalovirus.
• There are also types 6 and 7, but they have not been studied from the point of view of their effect on the body, so they are conventionally considered the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic types of rash. But for now these are only scientific theories.

Any type of herpes causes a lot of trouble to the sick person if the body's immune defense is weakened.

Causes, characteristic symptoms

Exacerbation of HHF is provoked by a number of factors:

• weak immunity;
• stressful situations;
• unbalanced diet;
• vitamin deficiency;
• cold;
• hypothermia.

The first signs of herpes:

• itching;
• tingling sensation;
• redness;
• pain.

If timely treatment is not carried out, inflammation develops. Bubbles with a transparent substance appear on the affected area. The pain intensifies. After a few days, the blisters burst to form a very painful ulcer, which gradually becomes covered with scabs.

The patient may feel weak and have a headache. The temperature often rises and appetite disappears. Without treatment, serious complications are possible.

Of particular danger is intrauterine infection, which manifests itself in a newborn in the form of fever and the spread of a rash over the entire surface of the body.

Is it possible to get rid of herpes quickly?

The duration and course of the disease directly depends on the following factors:

1. The power of your immune system. That is, its ability to bounce back after weakening.
2. Timely detection of symptoms.
3. Adequate therapy: carried out according to the regimen recommended by the doctor.
4. The presence of other chronic diseases that can readily worsen.
5. Type of pathogen (herpes simplex virus is easier to suppress than herpes zoster).
6. Degree of spread: it is proportional to the area of ​​the lesion (or the number of single rashes) and the presence of accompanying general symptoms. If there is fever, muscle aches and inflammation of the lymph nodes, this indicates a systemic spread of the process, and limiting oneself to local treatment only is ineffective in this case.

On average, uncomplicated herpes lasts about 7-10 days (plus time for regeneration of the affected skin); advanced forms can last for months. Due to the fact that treatment is closely related to individual internal and external factors, treatment cannot be reliably guaranteed to relieve symptoms quickly.

Complete expulsion of the virus from the body is impossible: after the harmful agent is suppressed by the forces of immune defense, it goes into a latent phase and hides in the tissue of the nerve nodes, to which the body’s protective reactions are not directed. Therefore, at any opportunity, there is always a possibility of relapse of the disease.

By “opportunity” we mean circumstances that affect the functioning of the immune system:

• pregnancy;
• premenstrual period;
• excessive physical and mental stress;
• prolonged stress;
• poor nutrition;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• hypothermia;
• abuse of bad habits;
• HIV infection.

It is quite difficult to prevent a relapse of the disease; often the very appearance of symptoms of the disease serves as a signal that there are violations of the immune defense.

What do traditional methods of treating herpes promise: truth and lies?

Each of us has a different intensity of immune system function, so some people are bothered by herpes symptoms a maximum of a couple of times in their lives, while others are less lucky - itchy blisters can appear more than 5 times a year.

It is quite difficult to take control of a raging virus; sometimes you have to periodically change antiviral treatment regimens because the microorganism mutates and becomes insensitive to antibodies. Therefore, more than one user forum on the Internet is dedicated to discussing this disease, where the possibilities of treatment with traditional medicine are also readily discussed.

This is what makes healing techniques so attractive:

• no side effects: it is worth noting that harmless herbal treatment can give various negative side effects, in exceptional cases, even lethal;
• guarantee quick treatment. Here you can argue that in the paragraph above we outlined the main points that affect the speed of obtaining a positive result. In addition, most recipes recommend using the product for a long time;
• helped one woman, a friend of an acquaintance, the son of a mother’s friend. That is, in most cases, the result is based on some, possibly fictitious people, so it is impossible to establish the truth: what prevented them from being treated for herpes with medication and a combination of folk remedies?
• and, most importantly, they get rid of herpes forever! From the point of view of official medicine, no such cases have been registered. Long-term remission is not an indicator of complete disposal of the pathogen, but it can occur quite spontaneously as soon as immunity has sufficiently normalized.

Let's take a closer look at the most interesting, popular and fascinating methods of folk treatment for herpes.

Healing vitamin teas

When treating herpes, it is important not only to treat the infected areas superficially, but also to treat the body from the inside. To strengthen and restore the body, vitamin teas will be quite effective. They can be consumed in unlimited quantities, with the exception of contraindications in case of allergies to certain components. Drinks with vitamins calm the nervous system, effectively increase immunity and have a general strengthening effect.

What else to read Boosting immunity for herpes: drugs and vitamins to strengthen the body

When treating herpes you can:

• Raspberry and black currant leaves. Drink healing tea throughout the day.
• mint, lingonberry and strawberry . Let it brew for 1.5 hours. Drink at the patient's request throughout the day.
• A decoction of dried rose hips. To prepare it, you should take 1 large spoon of rowan berries, rose hips, and lingonberry leaves. Pour this mixture into a glass of boiling water and take it on an empty stomach.

Toothpaste for cold lips

Tool number one. Those who like to suppress the manifestations of herpetic rashes on the face warmly recommend it to everyone who has not used it before.

What is the point: the substances contained in toothpaste, in particular fluoride, have a drying effect on the area affected by the virus. This, in theory, should accelerate the transition of the bubbles from the rash phase to covering the wound with a crust.

What are the significant disadvantages of this method:

• toothpaste contains components that irritate the skin, try applying the composition to your wrist and leave it for some time, when you wash off the teeth cleaner, you may find that this area is red and even slightly sore. By applying toothpaste to a herpetic lesion, you injure the affected epidermis, the rash bubbles burst faster and a bloody crust, characteristic of wounds, appears.
• the method does not guarantee protection against pathogenic microbes that can penetrate the erosion site;
• The method can “work” if you catch the very beginning of the development of the disease, when the symptoms are indicated only by a characteristic tingling sensation and single vesicles. If during this period you use a medicinal antiherpetic agent, for example, Acyclovir or Zovirax cream, the effect will be milder and the appearance of a bumpy scab on the face can be avoided. The virus will simply be suppressed at the initial stage, before it can cause harm to the skin. The main thing is to catch him at the right moment.
• Since the skin is injured by the chemical composition of the toothpaste, the area of ​​application of the product becomes overdried. The blood crust will be dense, prone to cracking and bleeding. Such side effects are noted by many who dare to try the method on themselves.
• Like any hygiene product, toothpastes vary in composition and contain excipients: fragrances and perfume compositions that can cause an allergic reaction on the skin with prolonged contact.

Therefore, if you want a safe way to get rid of a cold on your face, it is better to use specialized products that have proven activity against the herpes simplex virus.

But the fact is that toothpaste is usually more accessible as an emergency aid when the first symptoms are detected.

Acyclovir

Acyclovir was developed first among all analogues as a means for the specialized fight against herpes. Today, various ointments are produced based on it (Acyclovir-Acri, Zovirax, Vivorax, Virolex), as well as tablet preparations. Acyclovir tablets are more effective than ointments, but they have a much wider range of side effects and the greatest number of restrictions are placed on their use.

Aciclovir tablets weighing 200 mg are started to be taken at the first manifestations of a cold on the lips or shingles. Take five of these tablets per day with equal intervals between each dose. Take them until the erosions are completely healed, or if no rashes appear, until the itching and pain on the lips disappear.

Apply a hot spoon to the lesion

This recipe in its entirety is as follows: dip a spoon in hot tea and apply it to the place where the herpes has formed.

The method, like the previous one, is aimed at getting rid of herpes on the lips. What is the point: under the influence of hot metal, the virus will die, and since for greater efficiency it is recommended to do this manipulation several times, you should expect that part of the skin will also die, because a thermal burn will be provoked.

As a result, we get a wound with a scab, which will need to be carefully protected from bacterial infection. At the same time, there is a high probability of a scar appearing after this type of injury.

Natural antibiotics

Complications often occur with this disease. There are a number of reasons why not everyone can take antibacterial drugs. In this case, antibiotics made from natural ingredients will help. Many medicinal plants have antibacterial properties: celandine, horseradish, garlic, home plants aloe and Kalanchoe:

• It is recommended to take one small spoon of aloe/kalanchoe juice
• the aloe leaf across the grain and apply it to the area with the bubbles. Carry out the procedure twice a day.
• Garlic. Peel and cut the garlic clove in half. Apply the cut to the herpes blisters. This treatment can be repeated several times a day.

Completely free: Apply earwax to cold sores

For many reasons, traditional medicine is very sensitive to various types of secretions from the human body. We may also touch upon the issues of urine therapy in other articles devoted to the analysis of home treatment, but with regard to the treatment of herpes, for some reason the choice of healers fell on the contents of the ear canal.

And there is even some justification for the use of this substance in folk medicine:

• sulfur is rich in natural skin oils;
• it contains amino acids and antibacterial substances;
• it is hypoallergenic, as it is produced by the body itself;
• contains silicon, sulfur and other useful chemical components;
• performs the function of immunity, so it will help defeat the virus.

It should be noted that many fluids secreted by a person are factors of local immune defense, for example, saliva contains the protein lysozyme, which protects the oral cavity from microbes, and nasal mucus contains mucin, which prevents infections from entering the respiratory tract.

The essence of local immune protection carried out by the activity of special glands is that its means are effective where, in fact, they are secreted.

Regarding earwax, it is also worth noting that its main role is still reduced to barrier protection against the penetration of dust particles and microbes into the ear canal. All these contaminants just get stuck in it and get stuck. Therefore, having ventured on such an extravagant method of treating herpes, you must understand that you are applying to the lesion not a pure organic product of natural origin produced by the glands inside the ear, but waste material that is already contaminated and is of no value.

Of course, there is no medicinal benefit from earwax in the treatment of herpes and other diseases. And for people who are particularly squeamish, this method can become a serious test of strength.

And, as is common among fans of traditional medicine, all “safe” healing methods are practiced on children. This is absolutely not worth doing; most often, a misconception about the possibilities of official medicine is instilled precisely at a tender age, and such sophisticated tricks greatly contribute to this. And many psychological traumas of childhood come from just such therapeutic measures.

An egg with vodka and herpes will go away forever

This is perhaps one of the most mysterious ways of getting rid of the disease, which, despite all the absurdity of what is happening, does not lose popularity and always finds its consumer.

The recipe is as follows: you need to boil the egg for 15 minutes, then peel it, place it in a faceted glass and pour vodka so that the product is completely immersed in the strong drink. Place the resulting drug in the refrigerator for three days, after which, use the resulting “medicine” in a certain sequence: first eat the egg in alcohol, and then drink the vodka in which it was soaked. It is imperative to perform this “treatment” at night, so that upon completion of the manipulation you immediately go to bed.

Having discarded the idea of ​​​​the taste characteristics of the drug, let's talk about how it can help in the treatment of herpes.

From the point of view of evidence-based medicine - no way. And if vodka and other alcohol-containing liquids in therapeutic practice are considered to be an excellent antiseptic that helps to defeat the disease externally (but not from the inside), then the egg in this recipe is used as a favorite witchcraft component.

The egg “works” from the position of symbolism, which plays a major role in witchcraft. It represents a certain idea of ​​​​the birth of a new being. Therefore, in the interpretation of healers, the egg is endowed with vital energy, has a certain degree of influence on fate and health, and also has other metaphysical meanings that cannot be proven in practice, but can be developed and supplemented with subjective conclusions ad infinitum.

It is noteworthy that this method is recommended for getting rid of any type of herpes. And if it doesn’t work the first time, you just need to repeat the procedure after 10 days.

Herpes can be a real pain, so there are always desperate patients who risk the well-being of their taste buds to try any healing method that offers hope of relief. In most cases, the egg with vodka method leaves a negative impression and corresponding reviews. It is not possible to verify the veracity of statements about the positive result obtained (due to their subjectivity), but we should not forget that no one has canceled the placebo effect. Namely, it often serves as the “engine” of traditional medicine.

Eggshell film will defeat herpes in a lesion on the skin

And for those who absolutely cannot drink alcohol, it is recommended to fight herpes with the help of a film that lines the inner surface of the eggshell. Just stick it on the rash: it is dense enough not to allow oxygen to pass through and can “suffocate” the virus in this way.

In this case, it is necessary to take into account that the component is taken from a raw egg, so the risk of salmonella infection is quite high. And also, do not forget that in airless space, pathogenic microorganisms of a special type - anaerobes - multiply quite actively.

By covering the surface of a wound with non-sterile biological material, you risk getting a serious bacterial infection.

Lysine

To resist herpes, the body requires amino acids. One of them is lysine, which can stop the virus from reproducing. The amino acid is found in cheese, eggs, cottage cheese, turkey or beef. If food does not meet lysine needs, take additional supplements - 500-3000 mg. Dosage depends on age, gender and other factors.

Echinacea in the treatment of herpes

A beautiful flower from the aster family is known for its immunomodulatory properties, and various parts of this plant are included in many dietary supplements, homeopathic remedies, as well as medical preparations (alcohol tincture).

As a herbal adaptogen, that is, a remedy that has a beneficial effect on the state of immune defense, it is recommended to drink the solution during the period of seasonal restructuring of protective forces - in spring and autumn, as well as during mental and physical stress.

Official science conducted a study of the components of the plant and this is what they were able to establish:

• Echinacea contains a number of chemical components: alkamides, glycoproteins, heteroxylane, caffeic acid derivatives;
• these substances individually have different effects, but immunomodulatory properties can only appear if they have a synergistic (complementary) interaction;
• Manufacturers of dosage forms that unofficial medicine does not recognize (dietary supplements, homeopathy) do not indicate from which parts of the plant the product is made and what type of echinacea is used in the composition. Accordingly, there is no data on the concentration of substances and their interaction with other components, provided that the alternative medicine is multicomponent.
• Three varieties of echinacea are used in medicine, and each of them has a different degree of effect on the body;
• According to official studies of the composition of the plant conducted in 2014, the most effective variety of echinacea was recognized as purple, it has a supporting effect on the immune system in healthy people. And the key point here is the term “healthy”, since today there is enough medical data to say that Echinacea is useless in the active phase of the development of viral infections and does not treat advanced pathological processes initiated by microorganisms.

In relation to any type of herpes virus, Echinacea is absolutely useless both as a treatment and as a prevention. He's just not afraid of her.

Therefore, you should not count on quick and effective relief of symptoms from taking medications based on this plant.

Preparations for home use

The main means for treating colds on the lips are antiviral drugs in the form of ointments or tablets - Acyclovir and products based on it, Valacyclovir and its derivatives, Famvir, Pencivir and Panavir.

The effectiveness of antiherpetic drugs is due to their ability to block the multiplication of the virus in the body. Therefore, if you start using them before the virus has led to the appearance of the main symptoms of the disease, then there is a possibility that the full symptomatic picture will not be observed.

Important to remember! These drugs should not be taken during pregnancy or lactation, as well as by children under 12 years of age. Sometimes a doctor may make an exception and prescribe one of these remedies to a mother suffering from herpes. However, you cannot use them yourself during these periods. When you start taking any of them, you should stop breastfeeding.

Some of the most common antiherpetic drugs are discussed below.

Other phytotherapeutic methods to get rid of herpes

Herbal treatment is actively used in relation to the manifestations of herpetic rashes on the skin.

But here it is important to consider the following nuances:

• external treatments with a decoction of medicinal herbs do not kill the virus, they are aimed at preventing secondary infection of wounds that arise as a result of the activity of the virus and thereby facilitate the healing process;
• plant substances can act as a strong allergen, so if you know that you are prone to such reactions, treatment should be approached with caution. Improper functioning of the immune system due to allergies can give scope and freedom for the activity of the virus;
• not all herbs are safe, some of them can have a toxic effect on the body and also irritate the epidermis and mucous membranes;
• Decoctions of chamomile, calendula, oak and aspen bark can be relatively safe, but provided that they were collected and prepared correctly, and their storage conditions were observed;
• external treatment with herbal infusions can help reduce discomfort, but in severe cases of the disease cannot act as the main method of therapy;
• It is advisable to coordinate with your doctor your intentions to resort to this auxiliary method.

Prevention of infection of affected areas of the skin by bacteria is especially important in the treatment of chickenpox, when the rashes are localized in the mucous membranes of the genitals and oral cavity. That is, in those places where treatment with other antiseptics or antiherpetic ointments is not possible.

But again, let us remind you that this will not be a treatment, but will be a prevention of the development of complications, which also plays an important role in detecting signs of the disease.

Additional recommendations

If you know the peculiarities of the development of herpesvirus infection, then you can cope with it quite quickly in the initial stages without the help of medications.

Please note that bubbles from the lips can be removed in a few hours:

• by applying a heated teaspoon;
• covered with toothpaste;
• spread with lemon.

For genital herpes, relieve the symptoms of the infectious disease using natural essential oils (lavender, geranium, tea tree).

A few drops should be applied to gauze and applied to the affected area. For these purposes, you can use already brewed tea bags.

General advice - strengthen your immune system! No virus can overcome a strong protective barrier.

In order to restore immunity, you can take tinctures prepared from medicinal herbs such as echinacea, eleuthero, Kalanchoe and licorice root.

If therapeutic measures are taken late, then there are great risks that herpes will spread to internal organs and cause serious dysfunction in the body.

Do not hesitate to start therapy, but consult a doctor. The specialist will conduct a diagnosis and prescribe effective drug therapy.

Can garlic juice on a herpetic wound help?

In folk medicine, everything related to viral infections is usually treated with garlic and onions. For example, during an epidemic of ARVI and influenza, the smells of these food ingredients invariably accompany the entire unfavorable period.

The fact is that garlic and onion juice contain special substances - phytoncides, which can have an inhibitory effect on the infection.

According to modern research, the antiviral effect of garlic against herpes is weak, as well as against other harmful agents. At the same time, phytoncides have a very selective destructive effect, and for most microorganisms they can even be an excellent nutrient medium.

It is suggested to treat herpes with fresh garlic juice (some healers recommend mixing it with vegetable oil), which has a strong irritating effect.

As in the case of toothpaste, such a product can only help destroy the skin affected by herpes, as it easily causes a burn. As a result, the depth of injury to the epidermis and underlying layers increases significantly, resulting in the formation of a fairly serious wound. And with any serious damage, the forces of local immunity begin to work more powerfully and suppress herpes. But it is worth understanding that local antiherpetic drugs also stimulate the local protective function, without injuring the outer skin.

Treating herpes with garlic juice is a rather painful and barbaric way to combat rashes, which can lead to the appearance of a scar after the wound heals. It can be regarded as chemical cauterization of the inflamed area, the effectiveness of which is very doubtful.

At the same time, the question arises: is it even worth subjecting yourself to a painful procedure if there are proven and reliable methods that will help you cope with the problem gently and effectively?

2 more simple ways

Among the most effective and simple methods of combating the signs of herpes and the disease itself are:

• Ash. Burn plain paper or bark. The ash itself must be thrown away, and the residue that remains at the bottom of the container should be used to treat the bubbles.
• Sulfur. You can also cope with herpes with the help of ordinary matches. To do this, you need to carefully scrape the sulfur from the matches and crush it. By applying this simple remedy to the bubbles, you can notice how they decrease in size and disappear.

Essential oils for treating skin rashes

Essential oils are a concentrate of beneficial substances extracted from plant materials.

To get rid of the external symptoms of herpes, it is recommended to use oils:

• orange;
• eucalyptus;
• lavender;
• fir;
• tea tree;
• sandalwood;
• mint.

This list can be impressive.

Oil solutions have an antiseptic, healing and regenerating effect. But among other things, they have a fairly impressive list of complications that arise after their improper use:

• burn if the dilution concentration is not observed, but if you use a weakly saturated solution, it will not have any effect;
• allergy. The volatile compounds included in the composition have a strong odor and, if they enter the respiratory tract (and this is inevitable), can cause rhino-conjunctival forms of irritation of the mucous membranes and skin;
• stopping breathing. This side effect can easily develop if you decide to treat your child. This is the reflex reaction of the respiratory center in children to strong odors. Any form of aromatherapy, including the use of essential oils, is prohibited for children under 3 years of age. At an older age, resort to treatment in this way can only be done with the permission of a doctor and in compliance with the recommended precautions.

Essential oils can be one of the most dangerous ways to treat herpes.

Peculiarities

To ensure that the folk remedy does not cause harm to the patient, it is necessary to take into account his age and state of health. Before carrying out treatment procedures, it is necessary to undergo diagnostics and establish which type of herpes virus became the causative agent of the disease.

In children

A child is most often diagnosed with herpes zoster, which causes chickenpox (chickenpox). In addition to medications prescribed by a doctor, you can use aloe juice, herbal tinctures (for external use) and essential oils. Alcohol-based medications are not recommended for oral administration to children.