Effective Home Remedies for Treating Herpes

Herpes is a viral disease. It is caused by any of eight types of herpes viruses including the herpes simplex virus, the varicella zoster virus, the Epstein-Barr virus and the cytomegalovirus.

The commonest herpes virus to affect humans is the herpes simplex virus. This is usually responsible for oral and genital herpes, characterized by painful blisters that become scabs while healing. Once a person is infected by a herpes virus, it becomes a life-long infection, although symptoms are experienced only sporadically.

Even today, no conventional prescription drug can completely cure herpes. Available drugs can only relieve or speed up healing of the symptoms. This is why infected individuals often use home remedies because they are natural treatments and often quite effective. Here are a few popular herpes home remedies.

Home Remedies

Dip a clean cotton ball in cornstarch or baking soda and dust over the blisters or sores. The cornstarch helps dry out the blisters and relive pain and itching.
Apply ice on the affected areas to numb and soothe. This also lowers the temperature of the area, thereby inhibiting the virus.
Aloe vera is a great home remedy. Cut off a part of the aloe vera plant and apply the juice directly on the blisters or sores. Often used to relieve and treat different skin conditions, aloe vera has antiviral properties that fight the virus and reduce pain and itching. It is better to use fresh aloe vera instead of products that contain aloe vera. The pure juice is more effective and less likely to cause further irritation.
Several essential oils speed up healing and get rid of ugly scars left by the scabs. Try oils like rose hip, jojoba, calendula, hypericum, golden camellia and olive leaf.
Drink peppermint tea to reduce pain and fever caused by the herpes infection.
To lessen glandular swelling and pain, place grated carrot in a piece of cloth and apply on the blisters.