Herpes is a very painful viral condition, which occurs in both men and women. It is appears as small, red, itchy blisters which appear in places like the lips, face, hands, eyes, thighs and genitals. It is caused by a virus known as herpes simplex, which gets transferred by direct or indirect contact. However, there are certain natural and herbal home remedies for herpes that you can use to get rid of the problem faster, along with any medical treatment that you might be undergoing.
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Before we can learn about the things that you can do to get rid of herpes effectively, and at home, here are the commons causes for herpes, or common ways in which you can contract herpes simplex:
- Unprotected sex
- Skin to skin contact
- Menstruation
- Genital surgery
- Contact with the saliva of infected person
- Infected syringes
- Exposure to UV rays
- Illness of fatigue (which weakened the immune system)
- Kissing or intercourse with several people
The most obvious symptoms of herpes is the appearance of red, pus-filled blisters in areas like the thighs, genitals and rectum. You might also experience fever, discomfort and a burning sensation while urinating, itching and tingling and ulcers.
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If you have been experiencing one or more of these symptoms, here are some home remedies for herpes that are bound to ease your pain and discomfort, and help you get rid of the problem fast and effectively.
1. Olive oil
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Olive oil has rich anti-bacterial properties and is also anti-inflammatory in nature. It reduces the redness and swelling in the blisters that form, and also kills the virus that causes the condition. It also moisturizes the skin, which has a soothing effect and eliminates itching.
Heat a cup of olive oil with a few drops of essential oil like lavender oil, and let the mixture cool down. Apply this to the blisters and also in the surrounding areas to help your condition improve within a week.
2. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as astringent and disinfectant properties, which not only eliminates the virus from your body, but also soothes most of the symptoms of herpes, including itching, burning and fever.
To use apple cider vinegar effectively, dip a cotton ball in it and dab it on the affected areas for three to four times a day, every day. Do this for a week for the effects to become apparent.
3. Lemon
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Lemon is a wonderfully soothing home remedy for conditions such as herpes. It contains nutrients like Vitamin C and antioxidants, which drives the virus out of the body and kills it effectively. It also cleans the blisters and dries them out faster because it acts as a natural disinfectant also. The acidic nature of lemons reacts with the skin and restores its natural pH balance.
You can cut a lemon in half and apply it to your sores directly. Keep your sores covered with lemon juice for as long as you want and keep replacing with fresh slices of lemons, till you see your swelling reducing.
4. Soap and warm water
By removing infection and microbial particles from your sores and blisters, you are one step closer to ensuring that your condition does not persist. Soap and warm water also helps speed up the healing process by keeping your wounds clean and ensuring that you have a fast and natural recovery.
Make sure you use a natural soap with glycerine and essential oils when you are washing your wounds with it. You can either apply it directly to your blisters and wash off with warm water, and dip a washcloth in a solution of both and dab it on your blisters.
5. Tea tree oil
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Tea tree oil has a number of healing properties, which can help you cure herpes if you use it at an early stage of infection. It is anti-inflammatory, astringent, anti-fungal and anti bacterial and also contains phenylpropanoids. All this together helps fight the herpes-causing virus, even without medical intervention.
Mix two drop of tea tree oil with a tablespoon of almond oil or olive oil and apply it on the sores with a clean cotton ball. Make sure you do this at least 4 times a day, and wash your hands before and after each time thoroughly.
6. Zinc
Zinc is an especially effective home remedy for genital herpes. It has a number of enzymes and protein particles which breaks down the body of herpes simplex virus and restores health to your body. it also gets rid of the pus filled inflammations as it dries them out.
You can buy zinc supplements from any drug store and take them according to the recommendation of your doctor. You can also consume food rich in zinc such as fishes, pumpkin seeds, cocoa powder, chickpeas, etc.
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7. Tea bags
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Tea bags, or tea, contain tannins which is renowned for its anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, it is one of the best home remedies for herpes. It also has a soothing effect on the sores, giving you relief from symptoms like fever and itching and burning.
Boil a couple of tea bags in water and let them cool. Apply the cooled tea bags to your blisters and all other affected areas. You can also wash your blisters with the water in which your tea bags were soaking, to relax your condition.
8. Garlic
Garlic contains several important healing compounds which can help you heal from herpes much faster. Garlic oil contains a compound called ajoene, and garlic itself is rich in allicin, both of which are anti-viral and anti-inflammatory. It kills the virus and draws out pus from your sores, helping them dry and heal faster. It also builds immunity, so that you are protected from future infections.
You can apply garlic oil or a couple of cloves of crushed garlic to the affected area. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes before washing off with warm water and a little soap. You can also consume garlic by chewing on 4-5 cloves every morning.
9. Aloe vera
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Aloe vera has a host of healing properties which can help you get rid of your condition within a week. It is in fact, more effectively than most medicines available for herpes, because it not only kills the virus for good, but also soothes the skin so that you don’t have to suffer from the symptoms while you are healing.
Extract the gel from an aloe vera leaf and apply it to your blisters. Let it dry for 15 minutes before washing it off with warm water.
10. Liquorice roots
Liquorice roots contain flavonoids and glycyrrhizin, which have anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties respectively, making it an effective and natural remedy for viral infections like herpes. It prevents the growth and spread of the herpes virus in the skin, which is why you should use it during the initial stages of your infection.
Add two tablespoons of liquorice roots powder to a tablespoon of water to make a paste which you can apply to your sores. You cab alternatively soak liquorice roots in oil for about 6 weeks and apply the oil to your wounds, but this is a more time consuming process.
11. Black coffee
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Black coffee is also rich in important nutrients and the strong nature of the substance helps kill the virus in your skin effectively. Coffee also has latent healing properties, which can soothe your sores and help your body heal faster by boosting immunity.
You can either consume a cup of strong black coffee twice a day, or wash your wounds with it to reap maximum benefits that black coffee has to offer in case of herpes.
12. Peppermint tea
Peppermint is a strong herb which is considered one of the best natural remedies for herpes. It kills the virus because of the virucidal properties, and stalls the spread of the disease throughout your body. It also reduces pain and inflammation and cures herpes within a week of daily use.
Prepare peppermint tea by boiling a handful of peppermint leaves in water for 10 minutes. You can also add 2 drops of peppermint oil in water and drink it. If you want to use peppermint locally, then dip a cotton ball in peppermint oil mixed with a little water, and apply on your sores.
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13. Honey
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Honey has some amazing healing properties and works wonders in getting rid of inflammation and the viral infection immediately. Honey also soothes your blisters and reduces swelling, redness and itching, so that while you are healing from herpes, you experience minimum pain and discomfort.
Apply honey on the affected area directly at least three times a day, and wash it off after keeping it on for 10 minutes. This will show visible results in two weeks’ time.
Getting rid of herpes is now easier than ever once you are equipped with these highly effective, and all natural home remedies!
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