Herpes Virus Health Tips

• Hygiene is important. Avoid touching the sores.
• Wash your hands after contact with any genital herpes sores.
• Keep genital area dry and clean.
• Taking a very warm bath with Epsom salt is helpful. Used to wash the infected area salt baths can clean, soothe and dry the blisters. Use 1 teaspoon of salt in 600ml of water or a handful in a shallow bath.
• The area should be kept dry most of the time. If toweling off after bathing is uncomfortable, try using a hair dryer. Then put on cotton underwear. Cotton absorbs moisture better than synthetic fabric does.
• Choose cotton underwear, rather than synthetic materials.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Do apply a soothing ice pack to the area during the prodromal warning stage. Ice can stop the movement of the virus from the nerve to the skin.
• Pain relievers, cool compresses or a hair dryer on low can sometimes be helpful in drying the blisters
• Wearing sun block helps prevent sun-triggered recurrence of HSV-1.
• Avoid sexual contact from the time you first feel any symptoms of a genital herpes flare up until the genital herpes sores are completely healed, that is, the scab has fallen off and new skin has formed where the genital herpes sore was.
• Boost your immune system. Take echinacea, goldenseal and vitamin C daily.
• Get plenty of rest and reduce stress.
• Antiviral therapy is available for initial, recurrent, suppressive and now prevention of transmission of genital herpes.
• Caffeine has been shown to have some anti-herpes virus properties although those infected with HSV-1 may not realize any benefits from consuming caffeinated beverages
• The herpes virus resides in the nerve endings located at the base of the spine. Not surprisingly, they are activated by stress and nervous conditions. Reducing stress is therefore crucial to avoiding outbreaks.
• Foods recommended avoiding if suffering from genital herpes or oral herpes, which have more arginine than lysine: wheat, oats, chocolate, peanuts, gelatin, coconut, and white flour.

Sources:

• Ratio of Lysine to Arginine in Certain Foods, by James M. Scutero Transcribed and calculated using data from Agricultural Handbook, 1-23, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• http://www.herpes.com/Nutrition.shtml