Home Remedies For Cold Sores

With all the home remedies for cold sores circulating in the press and on the internet, you would think that everybody is affected with this malady. The truth is that more than 75% of the population is probably infected. Thankfully, the nasty little virus that causes cold sores, HSV-1, stays dormant most of the time. Once triggered, you would be well equipped to handle the outbreak if you know what works and what does not. We will talk about that in one minute but I would also like to include a few commercially available products that are available without a prescription simply because this second group of preparations includes the only F.D.A. approved medicine which will actually shorten the healing time and the duration of symptoms.

So, what home remedies for cold sores actually work? While this list includes many preparations from around the house, it can be safely assumed that not all of them will work for all people. We humans are very unique animals with different chemistries and such. Our individual state of diet, exercise, oxygenation and nutrition, plus our state of acidity or alkalinity is rather dramatically diverse from one person to another. All these factors and more will have a direct affect on how these home remedies for cold sores will or will not work for you! This list includes:

Ice pack applied to sores for 5min every hour

Damp teabag applied to the sore for 5 min every hour

Toothpaste, with sodium bicarbonate dabbed on the sore

Cold milk on a cotton square dabbed on the sore

Vicks vapo-rub dabbed on the sore

Apple Cider Vinegar in tablets or liquid

Common table salt pressed onto the sore

Teas of Echinacea, Peppermint, Hawthorne

Teas of Orange Peel, Rose Hips, Chamomile

Aloe Vera Ointment or the plant juice applied to the sore

Spirit of Camphor applied to the sore

Witch Hazel applied to the sore

And countless other homeopathic herbs and spices such as Herbal sage, violet, uva ursi, astrugalus, honey, oregano oil, olive oil, garlic, licorice, tea tree oil, lemon balm extract and coconut oil. Last but certainly not least is Lysine. This essential amino acid has been found to be lacking in individuals who get many outbreaks. As such, supplementing the diet with Lysine can certainly be at the top of the list of home remedies for cold sores.

If you have tried any of the above recommendations with little success, you might want to turn your attention to those preparations that are available over the counter without a prescription. The list of ingredients in these products runs the gamut from anesthetics, to moisturizers, to skin protectants, to drying agents, to antibacterials (even though we are dealing with a virus not a bacteria) and a true anti-viral, the only one approved for over the counter sale. The list is rather extensive and includes such well known names as:

Zilactin

Releev

Zicam cold sore gel

Nexcare cold sore treatment

Campho-Phenique

Ora Gel cold sore brush

Neosporin cold sore preparation

Abreva

This last entry, Abreva, is a true anti-viral chemical known as Docosanol. It works by stopping the virus from combining with human cell plasma membranes thus arresting viral replication. If you have never tried it, you should as you will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly the sore will heal.

Causes, Symptoms and Treatment for a Mouth Yeast Infection

- Causes and Symptoms

As with all other cases of Candidiasis, a mouth yeast infection or oral thrush takes place when yeast bacteria multiply uncontrollably and the body cannot fight them. This disease commonly affects young children and older people. Those with weak immune systems because of AIDS or HIV are also prone to developing Candidiasis in the mouth.

Candida is present in the oral cavity of almost half of the population but the problem begins when there is an overgrowth. People who wear dentures will have Candida but it does not mean that they suffer ill effects all the time. Those with ill fitting dentures on the other hand can sustain breaks in the mucous membranes in their mouth which can pretty much serve as a gateway for Candida. Candida doesn't post a problem unless there is a change in the chemistry of the oral cavity that encourages Candida over the micro-organisms that are present.

Mouth yeast infection may be one of the side effects of taking antibiotics, oral steroid or specific drug treatment such as chemotherapy. Conditions such as diabetes or any other metabolic disorder, malnutrition, drug abuse and immune deficiencies can also be the culprit for yeast flare-up.

People who are suffering from this problem normally have moist, pale pink spots on their lips. Others tend to develop white, cream coloured or yellow spots in the mouth. These spots are slightly raised but there is typically no pain in the area underneath the spots. If the spots are scraped, they are going to leave small wounds that bleed slightly. In adults, oral thrush can cause an uncomfortable burning sensation in the mouth and throat.

- Treatment

If your baby has mouth yeast infection, this may clear out spontaneously without medical intervention. You can prevent it by sterilizing all feeding equipment and mouth toys. Experts suggest giving the child sterilized water immediately following milk feed to rinse away residual milk. This will help reduce the population of candida within the oral cavity.

Those with weakened immune systems may need deeper management. Antifungal medications are prescribed and should be taken for ten to fourteen days depending on the severity of the symptoms. These medicines are available in tablets, liquids or lozenges. Your doctor will have a specific treatment approach based on your age and the root cause of the infection. Oral thrush may be an indication of other medical problems.

While on the treatment, it's important for you to follow good oral hygiene. Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. Avoid using mouth sprays or mouthwash for the time being because they have the tendency to disturb the normal balance of micro-organisms in your mouth. Lastly, to prevent mouth yeast infection, limit the amount of your sugar intake and foods or drinks that contain high amount of yeast such as bread, beer and wine.

Baking Soda: an alkalizing agent to reduce uric acid in blood

Adding baking soda in your diet will help in lowering the level of uric acid in your body because it acts as an alkalizing property. It is one of the classic home remedies to cure gout and may well raise your pH level and alleviate or even end your gout attack. For many people for whom this worked it usually begins to happen quickly - sometimes virtually immediately, often within 24 hours, and at least within a week.

Baking soda is cheap and easily available in any general store in any part of the world. Use half a teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of water and mix it well. Once it is completely dissolved you can store it and take it 4 times in a day which also includes one dose before bedtime. The body is said to be acidic at night and it is not a coincidence that most gout attacks occur at night and before daylight.

For some people, even a quarter teaspoon of baking soda four times a day can help them deal with the gout attack. It is better to take little if it is helpful to you because an excess of sodium intake is not good for the body.

It is important to note that baking soda may not be a natural gout cure. It should be tried only after doctor's recommendation because of side effects such as high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, stomach pains and headaches are likely to occur. Baking soda contains high amounts of sodium hence you have to reduce the amount of salt intake from other food. If you are using baking soda for the treatment of gout, it is essential to note your blood pressure readings at regular intervals. Also people who suffer from heart problems, kidney problems and liver problems should not try using baking soda as a treatment for gout without the doctor's consultation.The body is said to be acidic at night and it is not a coincidence that most gout attacks occur at night and before daylight.

Important: Baking Soda should not be taken when the stomach is too full. An empty stomach is better.