Herpes, or herpes simplex virus (HSV), is a sexually transmitted viral infection.

In the United States alone, the CDC estimates that a uarter of a million people !et ne" herpes infections every year.#$% Unfortunately, there is yet no cure for herpes. &n the other hand, herpes can 'e treated and mana!ed "ith medication, home care, and simple precautions to prevent out'rea(s and transmission.

Method 1 of 4: Doctor Recommended Treatments

Have a doctor diagnose herpes. )ith a sexually transmitted infection li(e herpes, you don*t "ant to rely on self+dia!nosis. ,ou "ant to 'e sure, and in order to 'e sure, you need to visit the doctor. -any times, herpes is asymptomatic, meanin! that the symptoms either don*t present or are too mild to 'e reco!ni.ed. #/% &ther times, herpes presents "ith the follo"in! symptoms0

Small, painful 'listers that sca' over and heal over the course of several "ee(s. 1hese may either 'e on your !enitals or your 'uttoc(s. 2ed, ca(in!, or ra" s(in in the !enital area, "ith or "ithout itchin!. 3re uent pain or discomfort durin! urination. 3lu+li(e symptoms, such as fever, 'ody aches (especially in the 'ac( and nec(), and s"ollen !lands.
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If you get diagnosed with herpes ta!" to your doctor a#out medica!$strength treatment options. ,our doctor should 'e a'le to !ive you specific su!!estions a'out "hich dru!s and precautions to ta(e in order to mana!e symptoms. 4s there is no cure yet for herpes, mana!in! symptoms is the primary concern.

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&now what proper treatment wi!! you do for you. -ana!in! your out'rea(s "ith proper treatment "ill help you0

Heal sores sooner and more effectively -inimi.e the duration and severity of out'rea(s 2educe the recurrence of out'rea(s -inimi.e the chance of spreadin! herpes to any sexual partners

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Ta"e antivira! drugs as prescri#ed #y your doctor. 4ntiviral dru!s lessen the num'er of herpes out'rea(s 'y reducin! "hat*s called 5viral sheddin!,5 or the process 'y "hich the virus ma(es ne" copies of itself on the s(in*s surface. #6% 2e!ular use of antiviral dru!s also helps lo"er the ris( that you*ll pass the herpes simplex virus on to other sexual partners. 1he most common antiviral dru!s prescri'ed for herpes include0

4cyclovir (7ovirax) 3amciclovir (3amvir) Valacyclovir (Valtrex)

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&now your treatment options when it comes to ta"ing antivira! drugs. Dru!s are administered 'y a doctor durin! prescri'ed times. )hen the herpes virus is first dia!nosed, dru!s are usually prescri'ed. 1hen, on an intermittent or re!ular 'asis, dru!s are also prescri'ed, dependin! on the severity of the out'rea(s and the patient*s individual needs.

Initial treatment0 after you are dia!nosed "ith herpes, your doctor "ill prescri'e a 'rief trial (8 to $9 days) of antiviral dru!s. If $9 days* "orth of antiviral medication does not help mana!e the out'rea(, your doctor may continue your course of treatment for a fe" more days.

Intermittent treatment0 if you experience out'rea(s seldom, or at irre!ular times, your doctor may prescri'e an antiviral dru! for you to use "hen out'rea(s do occur. Havin! several days* "orth of antiviral medication on hand "ill allo" you to start a course of dru!s as soon as the out'rea( happens, minimi.in! its severity and duration. 2e!ular treatment0 If you have re!ular out'rea(s totalin! more than six a year, tal( to your doctor a'out ta(in! antiviral medication every day. 1his is called suppressive treatment. Individuals "ith re!ular out'rea(s "ho 'e!in to ta(e medication every day often find their out'rea(s reduced 'y as much as :9;.#6%
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Method 2 of 4: )omp!ementary Treatments

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*oa" the affected area in warm water #ut when not soa"ing "eep area dry.Doctors sometimes recommend soa(in! in "arm "ater to relieve itchin!, pain, or discomfort associated "ith herpes out'rea(s. ,ou may find that aluminum acetate (Dome'oro) or ma!nesium sulfate (<psom salts) help relieve the affected area, althou!h these are not doctor+recommended treatments.

Cleanse sores !ently "ith soap and "arm "ater. =eepin! 'listers clean may help speed healin!. )hen the area is not soa(in! in "arm "ater, try to (eep it dry. If to"elin! the area dry after steppin! out of the 'ath is uncomforta'le, use a hair drier instead.

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+ear !oose #reatha#!e underwear and c!othing. Cotton under"ear is a must. 2estrictive clothin! and synthetic pantyhose, under"ear, or pants can a!!ravate !enital herpes symptoms, as these synthetic materials tend not to 'reathe as "ell as fa'rics li(e cotton.

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If your u!cers are very painfu! as" a physician a#out a topica! anesthetic to

app!y to affected areas. 4lthou!h topical treatments are !enerally less effective than systemic treatments, they can sometimes 'e used to treat pain or discomfort.

1a(in! &1C pain medications, such as aspirin (>ayer), acetaminophen (1ylenol), or i'uprofen (4dvil) is often recommended to help "ith pain.

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Try an ointment containing propo!is. In its natural state, propolis is resinous material collected from the 'uds of poplar trees, althou!h it is often harvested from 'eehives. 4 6; propolis ointment (Herstat or ColdSore+3?), applied to herpes lesions, may help heal lesions.#@%

In one study, propolis ointment "as used four times a day, for $9 days, amon! 69 participants. 4fter"ards, /@ of 69 participants "ho used propolis durin! the study reported that their lesions healed, "hile only $@ of 69 participants "ho used a place'o reported that their lesions healed.#A%

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Try the her# Prunella vulgaris and the mushroom Rozites caperata. Brunella vul!aris and 2o.ites caperata have 'oth sho"n some promise in fi!htin! herpes. #C% #8% Brunella vul!aris can 'e used in a hot "ater treatment to soothe and heal sores, "hile 2o.ites caperata may 'e in!ested to help treat sores.

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Method % of 4: ,!ternative Remedies

-nverified Home

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Try echinacea. Don! used in the fi!ht a!ainst colds and infections, echinacea is a natural her'el remedy that has !ained in popularity over the recent years. <chinacea may 'e in!ested as pressed Euice, as a tincture, or as an extract (i.e. tea). 4lthou!h many people have ta(en to usin! echinacea in order to treat herpes, no scientific 'asis exists for sayin! that echinacea helps treat herpes.#:%

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-se #a"ing soda to dry herpes sores. >a(in! soda is another time+tested su'stance for anythin! from smelly frid!es to smelly underarms, as "ell as a toothpaste and acne treatment. >a(in! soda can help dry out moist or oo.in! lesions, there'y helpin! them disappear faster. 4s a dry a!ent, 'a(in! soda is clean and a'sor'ent, thou!h still not a doctor+recommended treatment option.

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-se !ysine or .$!ysine to prevent out#rea"s. Dysine is an essential amino acid that does a num'er of thin!s for the human 'ody (a'sor' calcium, form colla!en, and produce carnitine, amon! others). In the case of herpes, lysine may help to prevent an out'rea( 'y 'loc(in! ar!inine, "hich helps in herpes replication. #F% Still, the clinical trials usin! lysine have 'een mixed, and scientists 'elieve that lysine is 'etter at preventin! an out'rea( than treatin! one.

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-se a coo! tea #ag to he!p manage f!are$ups. Some people thin( that the tannins found in tea help treat out'rea(s "hen they do happen. 1o use0

Heat up "ater Eust enou!h to steep the tea 'a! in. Cool the tea 'a! under cold "ater, until it is no lon!er "arm. 2emove most of the moisture from the tea 'a!. 4pply the tea 'a! to the lesions. Det stay for several minutes. Discard the tea 'a! and dry the area off immediately "ith a clean to"el or a hair drier.

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-se a!oe vera cream to treat !esions. 4loe vera may 'e 'eneficial in healin! herpes lesions, especially amon! men.#$9% 4pplyin! the aloe vera cream to the lesions, and dryin! thorou!hly after"ard, may reduce the duration of the out'rea(.

Consider >io+ener!etic homeopathic herpes nosodes such as /lherp, H2B76 and >io ::. 1hey 'enefitted :/; of trial participants for A years after C months of treatment Doo( into Hypericum, 4yurvedic Doctors s"ear 'y it as the 'est natural treatment for herpes

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Method 4 of 4: /reventive Techni0ues

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-nderstand that out#rea"s fre0uent!y occur during times of stress i!!ness physica! trauma 1inc!uding se2ua! activity3 and fatigue. 1a(in! care of yourself physically and emotionally may help you reduce the fre uency of out'rea(s.

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/articipate in stress re!ief activities. -ana!in! your emotional stress may help you avoid out'rea(s. Consider findin! a routine, such as yo!a, paintin!, or meditation, that helps you stay 'alanced and calm.

<xercise re!ularly. <xercise is a !reat natural stress 'uster, and it (eeps you in pea( physical health as "ell. Stayin! fit can help you avoid illness and protect your immune system, "hich may help prevent herpes out'rea(s.

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,!ways use a !ate2 condom during ora! genita! or ana! se2. 1his not only helps protect your sex partner ("ho should al"ays 'e informed of your condition prior to any physical contact or sexual activity), 'ut also helps protect your s(in from dama!e that mi!ht lead to an out'rea(.

1ry not to have sex durin! out'rea(s. Viral sheddin! of herpes may happen over the entire !enital area, ma(in! transmission even li(elier. If you*re "orried a'out transmittin! the virus to your sexual partner, only have sex 'et"een out'rea(s, al"ays usin! a condom.

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4et enough rest. =eepin! your ener!y levels up 'y !ettin! sufficient sleep helps you avoid illness and mana!e physical and emotional stress. 4im for 8 to : hours of sleep each ni!ht and avoid activities that put your 'ody throu!h extreme endurance tests (such as marathons).

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,void activities that put you at high ris" of i!!ness or infection. )ash your hands re!ularly and avoid areas "here communica'le disease is common (such as doctorsG "aitin! rooms and other areas "here sic( people may !ather). =eepin! your immune system at its full capacity is important for maintainin! an out'rea(+free lifestyle "ith herpes. 4d

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+arnings

If you are experiencin! a "idespread, severe out'rea( of HSV sores, you may need to 'e admitted to a hospital for intravenous medication and professional topical treatment of your 'listers. 4s soon as you have 'een dia!nosed "ith herpes, inform your sexual partners of your infection and recommend that they also !et tested. Initial out'rea(s usually occur "ithin / "ee(s of exposure and infection, 'ut may 'e mild or unnoticed. Individuals "ith herpes can transmit the virus even "hen there are no visi'le symptoms or sores. It is crucial to use synthetic protection durin! all sexual contact to avoid transmission of the virus, even durin! out'rea(+free periods.
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