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Complementary Medicine / Re: Have you tried Ice for curing cold sores?
« on: 05/03/2008 19:36:28 »
I have just tumbled upon this discussion.
Cold sores have been the bane of my life since the age of 7-8. For the last 5 years my outbreaks have got worse, and worse. I am sitting here now with two sores, one on either side of my mouth, just under my lips. they stretch down almost as far as my chin, and almost meet in the middle. They are 6 days old. They hurt like hell, and look like hell spawn. The previous two weeks before these I had a similar sized one on my left cheek. Before that, on my right cheek, before that, in my nose, ears, and around my lips.
I have tried just about everything in the past. All the anti-virals, tea tree oil, lavendar oil, lemon oil, garlic, L-Lysine, herbal cures, blue-green algae, topical alcohol, etc, etc;
None of it works.
Today I sat down with a doctor who specializes in immunology, and has a good deal of knowledge about the herpes virus in all its guises. He has put together a very sensible sounding plan of action for me to follow. Taking into account the fact that my outbreaks have gone up and down in severity at different time of my life, he has tried to identify what may make me more susceptible. He has also identified certain things that for me are almost definite 'triggers'.
In short, here is the plan:
My diet must change so that I avoid (as much as possible) nuts, hard candy, chocolate, grapefruit, and bitter oranges. The citric fruits are a contact problem.
I must use a suncream of at least spf 20 at all times outside, and stronger in bright sun.
I have a sleep programme to follow which means bed by 11pm, and proper rest. I wont go into details, but its the kind of sleep advice thats commonly in health articles.
Prolonged Muscular stress should be avoided. This is not the same as normal,healthy muscular use. He means bad posture, and muscular strain caused by repetitive work or habits. Apparently this has put a strain on my nervous system by creating times of chronic aches and pains that literally wear down the bodies ability to fight illness.
He has also recommended that I have aciclovir tablets to hand, and start taking 400mg five times a day whenever I notice the signs of a new outbreak.
All of this was worked out after 5 interviews with him, and a lot of questions and hard work. I even have a 'map' of my history, where all the possible factors are mapped against outbreaks over the years, and it does seem as though certain factors play a large part in my problem.
I have no idea wether any of this helps anyone here, I am only just beginning this plan myself, so I don't even know if it works yet.
The reason I am posting this here is because the plan he has given me makes sense. By mapping all the things I can remember about my past, and matching it to outbreaks I can see what he is getting at.
I'll re-post in a few weeks and let you know how I am getting on. If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask.
Cold sores have been the bane of my life since the age of 7-8. For the last 5 years my outbreaks have got worse, and worse. I am sitting here now with two sores, one on either side of my mouth, just under my lips. they stretch down almost as far as my chin, and almost meet in the middle. They are 6 days old. They hurt like hell, and look like hell spawn. The previous two weeks before these I had a similar sized one on my left cheek. Before that, on my right cheek, before that, in my nose, ears, and around my lips.
I have tried just about everything in the past. All the anti-virals, tea tree oil, lavendar oil, lemon oil, garlic, L-Lysine, herbal cures, blue-green algae, topical alcohol, etc, etc;
None of it works.
Today I sat down with a doctor who specializes in immunology, and has a good deal of knowledge about the herpes virus in all its guises. He has put together a very sensible sounding plan of action for me to follow. Taking into account the fact that my outbreaks have gone up and down in severity at different time of my life, he has tried to identify what may make me more susceptible. He has also identified certain things that for me are almost definite 'triggers'.
In short, here is the plan:
My diet must change so that I avoid (as much as possible) nuts, hard candy, chocolate, grapefruit, and bitter oranges. The citric fruits are a contact problem.
I must use a suncream of at least spf 20 at all times outside, and stronger in bright sun.
I have a sleep programme to follow which means bed by 11pm, and proper rest. I wont go into details, but its the kind of sleep advice thats commonly in health articles.
Prolonged Muscular stress should be avoided. This is not the same as normal,healthy muscular use. He means bad posture, and muscular strain caused by repetitive work or habits. Apparently this has put a strain on my nervous system by creating times of chronic aches and pains that literally wear down the bodies ability to fight illness.
He has also recommended that I have aciclovir tablets to hand, and start taking 400mg five times a day whenever I notice the signs of a new outbreak.
All of this was worked out after 5 interviews with him, and a lot of questions and hard work. I even have a 'map' of my history, where all the possible factors are mapped against outbreaks over the years, and it does seem as though certain factors play a large part in my problem.
I have no idea wether any of this helps anyone here, I am only just beginning this plan myself, so I don't even know if it works yet.
The reason I am posting this here is because the plan he has given me makes sense. By mapping all the things I can remember about my past, and matching it to outbreaks I can see what he is getting at.
I'll re-post in a few weeks and let you know how I am getting on. If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask.