Do you know that half of the people effected with Herpes do not know it? Herpes is a deadly disease that is caused by either HSV – 1 and HSV – 2 virus. It is very important that people affected by Herpes have to treat it with more caution. There are many kinds and approaches towards treating Herpes. Using essential oils for Herpes treatment is considered one of the best ways.
Essential oils have proved to minimize the symptoms caused by Herpes and give you the extra resistance to deal with this deadly disease.
Essential Oils for Herpes
1. Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil is obtained from the leaves of the trees belonging to the family of Myrtaceae. This oil has widespread usage not only for medicinal but also for industrial purposes. Also, it acts as a cleansing and purifying agent, and thus it is excellent for your skin.
Why use Eucalyptus oil for herpes?
Owing to its anti-inflammatory property, this oil helps you deal with cold sores which often appear as the most common symptom of herpes. It assuages the duration and severity of cold sores.
How to use Eucalyptus oil?
Eucalyptus oil should be diluted before its use to avoid any allergic reaction. Limit its application to no more than four times a day.
2. Tea Tree oil
Many people turn to this oil when afflicted by severe wounds as this oil does a great deal to mitigate the pain characterized by such wound sowing to its antiseptic properties. Besides this oil addresses several skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis and also soothes skin irritations as well.
Why use Tea tree oil for herpes?
Tea tree oil is among the best ones out there that have proven its effectiveness against the fight with herpes. Its antiviral, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties prove quite useful when it comes to dealing with cold sores.
How to use?
Apply this oil topically onto the affected site in diluted form. You can dilute it using carrier oils such as coconut or jojoba so that it may not harm your skin.
[ Read: How to treat herpes with the Help of Natural Remedies? ]
3. Geranium oil
Obtained through the process of steam distillation from stems leaves and flowers of geranium, this oil offers numerous health benefits as it turns your life for the better by boosting your immunity and improving your metabolism.
Why use Geranium oil for herpes?
It is a great antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal oil by nature and it safeguards your health by rescuing you from the otherwise debilitating cold sores or fever blisters that agonize those affected by herpes.
How to use?
Regular application of this oil on the area afflicted due to cold sore brings in the significant result as it dries out faster.
4. Peppermint oil
Peppermint has been in usage since times immemorial, and one only needs to realize how positively this oil can transform your life. Few of a great many benefits which this oil has to offer are inhibiting bad breath, mitigating stomach pain and help to deal with stress.
Why use Peppermint oil for herpes?
The antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, due to the presence of menthol, qualify this oil as a useful weapon to deal with cold sores brought about by herpes. This oil could help calm the symptom of an activated herpes strain.
How to use?
Peppermint oil should be applied directly onto the affected site even at the slightest onset of cold sores to get rid of it in a time bound manner.
5. Oregano oil
Oregano oil comes in handy when dealing with dangerous situations such as high cholesterol levels and yeast infection such as candida. Obtained from the leaves and shoot of the oregano plant, this oil improves your gut health too.
Why use Oregano oil for herpes?
This oil is jam-packed with anti-bacterial, antiviral, anti-infection and anti-fungal properties that make it a powerful tool against herpes. It is the reason behind its popularity as it is the go-to oil for many under the grip of cold sores.
How to use?
Rubbing this oil on the affected area using a sterile piece of cotton gauze can bring in the desired benefits. It will get rid of inflammation and also hasten the healing procedure.
How do these oils benefit?
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts and are proven to be quite beneficial as they promote physical, mental as well as emotional wellbeing of a person. They are highly potent.
These concentrated extracts can be trusted as they have got your back when dealing with innumerable problems that are wrought with severe complications. The antioxidant as well as antifungal properties of the essential oils ensure that they inhibit and any bacterial or viral growth in out body.
Anti-inflammatory elements of certain oils help soothe irritate skin like that on out outer body as well as the lining in our throat and intestines. Also, these oils when diffused through the air can help boost our mental health by elevating our mood. A good mood can play an important role in bettering out immune system.
Why use these oils for Herpes?
Those afflicted with herpes(1) know it’s not a pleasant situation to be in as it brings along with it variety of uncomfortable situations such as itchiness, redness, burning and loads of embarrassment. Once you catch herpes, it becomes ineluctable, and you are stuck with it for the rest of your life.
But what can be done is keep the symptoms that agonize your life at bay. It is where the role of essential oils comes into the picture as they save you just in the nick of time by keeping such symptoms of herpes in a dormant state. The anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti- inflectional and antiseptic properties of these oils help put at ease the severe cold sores and also hasten the recovery.
[Read: Home Remedies to Treat Herpes]
How to use these oils for herpes?
Essential oils such as Tea tree, peppermint, lemon balm, thyme, oregano, etc. should be applied on to the site of cold sores, caused due to herpes virus in diluted form. Care should be taken to dilute these oils with adequate amounts of carrier oils such as coconut oil, olive or jojoba oil.
One can also use alcohol to dilute essential oils. Once diluted, they should be applied to the affected area with a sterile piece of a cotton swab to assuage their severity and diminish their duration.
DIY essential oils
1. Lip gloss for cold sores
Ingredients
10 drops of geranium oil, 8 drops tea tree oil, 5 drops German Chamomile oil, six drops lavender essential oil and three drops lemon oil.
Gloss base- 2 tbsp jojoba oil, 6 drops carrot seed oil, a bit white beeswax and 2 tbsp sweet almond carrier oil.
Directions
Blend all the essential oils in a bowl. Melt the beeswax and then mix it in an almond carrier oil. Mix them vigorously and in the process add your carrot seed and jojoba oil. Add these ingredients to your essential oils bowl. Blend it all and allow it to cool.
2. Geranium Q tip action
Ingredients
2 drops of geranium oil and coconut oil and Q tips.
Directions
Place three drops of geranium on one side of Q tip and coconut on the other. Apply on cold sores, first geranium and then coat using coconut.
Dos and Don’ts
Dos
● Consult your healthcare expert to find out the suitability of oil as per your conditions.
● Always dilute your oil before applying topically
Don’ts
● Do not boil or heat your essential oils.
● Do not store them in plastic containers as they are highly concentrated.
● Do not expose these oils directly to the sun.
Precautions
One should exercise utmost caution when dealing with essential oils as these volatile extracts of nature are highly concentrated and they ought to be used in the prescribed manner lest things should go awry.
For this proper consultation with healthcare, experts are of paramount importance as their skills and expertise are required to ascertain the best route possible for you to handle these oils.
One should undergo a patch test to find out for any sensitivity that may cause allergic reactions. These oils should be avoided under certain medical conditions such as diabetes and other respiratory and heart problems to be on the safe side.
Side Effects
● As these oils are photosensitizing in nature, they may cause certain skin irritations as well as allergic reactions in some people.
● Internal consumption of these oils may be toxic and cause severe situations and in rare cases even death. Thus, internal consumption should not be done unless told so by healthcare expert.
● It may cause harm to pregnant and breastfeeding women.
● These oils may trigger an asthma attack and other respiratory issues such as shortness of breath.
● These oils can exacerbate the already prevailing medical conditions.
Other Home Remedies
1. Aloe Vera
History of Aloe Vera dates back to thousands of years before for its therapeutic as well as medicinal purposes. Topical application of Aloe Vera can be useful to treat symptoms associated with genital herpes. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties due to the presence of polysaccharides can help control herpes on the penis.
2. Green Tea
Green tea is highly abundant in oxidants which in turn make sure to mitigate the severity of herpes symptoms as well as stop them from recurring. To achieve this end, steep the tea following which strains and drink the decoction. Add a bit of honey and drink this around three times a day.
3. Ice
Ice also works an effective treatment to keep symptoms of herpes at bay. Fill a plastic bag with ice and cover it with a sheet of paper to apply to the affected area.
Conclusion
Life ends up in chaos when one comes under the clutches of Herpes. The itchy and uncomfortable symptoms become a cause of vexation in life as they never let you be and tend to strike at the worst of times which becomes a cause of great embarrassment and misery for the hapless sufferers.
These potent plant extracts are just what you have been seeking and rest assured you can bid farewell to recurring and persistent troubles of herpes when using them.
The only thing that is expected of you is to be cautious enough to use them wisely and appropriately. So it depends upon you to either be a lamb to the slaughter and suffer relentlessly or choose the smart way and place your trust in essential oils.
