| Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex | | | | to you developing a cold sore and prevent |
| virus, a common and infectious virus which is | | | | them from occurring. Also recognize the first |
| usually contacted during childhood and hides | | | | signs of the onset of a cold sore and apply |
| in the nerve ganglia near where your cold | | | | immediate treatment. A medical practitioner |
| sore usually appears. The virus can remain | | | | can prescribe antiviral drugs that will |
| dormant for months or years without | | | | minimize symptoms and re-infections.Avoid |
| reappearing, until your body becomes | | | | contact with the sores; wash your hands |
| unbalanced. Your natural body defenses keep | | | | immediately if you touch them, and don't |
| the virus in check until your defenses drop | | | | share linens and towels with anyone |
| because you may feel tired, upset or | | | | else.Naturopathic treatments of cold sores |
| stressed; you resistance is lowered, you have | | | | include applications of the amino acid |
| a fever, overexposure to the sun or wind, or | | | | lysine, which is particularly effective in |
| maybe you are menstruating, and suddenly you | | | | preventing or reducing the occurrence of cold |
| feel that familiar tingling sensation.This is | | | | sores. A salve containing lysine makes an |
| when the virus is moving down your nerve | | | | effective lip balm, as dry cracked lips seem |
| fibers to the skin surface. Now you feel the | | | | to invite a cold sore. Vitamin and mineral |
| tingling, itching, perhaps burning or drying | | | | supplements may help the body fight the |
| sensations, lasting a few hours or a few | | | | herpes virus, especially vitamin C, E, B |
| days, to be followed by redness and swelling | | | | vitamins and zinc. A whole foods diet that |
| at the cold sore site; the virus is | | | | excludes sugar and refined foods and includes |
| reproducing.Next is the appearance of | | | | plenty of fiber and alkali-producing foods |
| clusters of small blisters that are painfully | | | | also can help prevent herpes attacks.Applying |
| sensitive, followed by all the blisters | | | | tea tree oil directly to the tingling area or |
| joining to become one large open, weeping | | | | cold sores with a cotton swab can minimize an |
| sore. This is the most painful and most | | | | outbreak, reinfection and spreading. Throw |
| contagious stage, although next is when it | | | | away the swab immediately after using.The |
| starts to crust over and heal. At this stage | | | | advantages of using tea tree oil are:* |
| it is painful because any movement tends to | | | | Decreasing pain and shortening the healing |
| crack the scab.Once the scab forms, the sore | | | | time of the herpes lesions.* Helping to |
| is healing from the inside out. The virus is | | | | inhibit recurrences* Assisting in prevention |
| retreating, but there is continued itching | | | | of viral activity by supporting the immune |
| and some pain and irritation. Once the scab | | | | systemUsing tea tree oil, avoiding the |
| is gone, usually redness remains for another | | | | conditions that bring on herpes attacks, and |
| 2 to 14 days. Contagion remains until the | | | | supporting the immune system through proper |
| spot disappears entirely.Conventional | | | | diet and hygiene are the best methods for |
| treatment of the virus includes creams and | | | | dealing with this annoying and painful |
| lotions that can relieve the pain and reduce | | | | virus.Kathryn Beach offers extensive |
| secondary infections, but there is no cure | | | | information about the incredible healing |
| for cold sores. Preventative measures seem | | | | power of tea tree oil on her website, "Learn |
| more successful than curative in minimizing | | | | About the Tea Tree Oil Phenomenon!", and in |
| the number and severity of infections. Learn | | | | her "Tea Tree Alerts" available by |
| to recognize the situations that usually lead | | | | subscription on her website. |