Natural Treatments for Herpes Simplex 1

Herpes Simplex 1 is a viral infection that affects the face and mouth. It is more commonly known as a cold sore and sometimes referred to as oral herpes. Cold sores are very contagious and when experiencing an outbreak you should be careful to not spread the disease.

There is no cure for Herpes Simplex 1. Just like the virus that causes chicken pox and shingles, the herpes virus remains in the body and can reoccur at any time, without any notice. Having cold sores can be quite painful and uncomfortable. There are several natural treatments to help alleviate pain until the sores heal and go away.

You can put ice on the affected areas around the mouth. If you have sores inside your mouth you can suck on ice chips as well. Ice works to numb the area and relieve the pain. If the skin is too sensitive to place the ice directly onto the sores, you may take and wet a facecloth in cool water, wring it out, and place ice cubes into the facecloth and apply to the sores. Or you may just use the facecloth dampened with cold water without the ice. The facecloth should be laundered in warm or hot water with detergent after use. Always use a new facecloth each time you use this method of treatment.

Another natural treatment for herpes simplex 1 is using tea leaves. Tea leaves contain tannic acids with are an antiviral. You can use tea bags purchased from your local grocery store, but do not use teas that contain mint, orange, citrus, or other flavors that could further irate the sores due to the acids in the flavoring. The best teas to use are organic teas without added flavorings. Organic teas are available at some grocery stores with a wider selection available at health food stores. Dampen the tea bag in room temperature water and apply to the affected area. Leave the tea bag on for about fifteen minutes. The tea works to draw out the infection in the sores and helps them heal faster.