Herpes Simplex/Cold Sores/Fever Blisters

A spreading cutaneous eruption. Any inflammatory skin disease caused by a herpes virus and characterized by the formation of clusters of small vesicles. When used alone, the term may refer to herpes simplex or to herpes zoster.

Herpes simplex, caused by Type 1 virus and primarily spread by oral secretions, usually occurring as a concomitant of fever, but sometimes also developing in the absence of fever or prior illness, and commonly involving the facial region, especially the vermilion border of the lips and the nares; the vesicular lesions are self-limited. Also called cold sore and fever blister.

Herpes simplex, a group of acute infections caused by herpes simplex virus Type 1 or Type 2, characterized by the development of one or more small fluid-filled vesicles with a raised erythematous base on the skin or mucous membrane, and occurring as a primary infection or recurring because of reactivation of a latent infection. Type 1 infections usually involve nongenital regions of the body, whereas in Type 2 infections the lesions are primarily seen on the genital and surrounding areas. Precipitating factors include fever, exposure to cold temperature or to ultraviolet rays, sunburn, cutaneous or mucosal abrasions, emotional stress, and nerve injury.

Naturopathic Approach

A naturopathic approachto treating someone with herpes starts with supporting the immune system and removing all barriers to the immune system doing its job as well as possible. Are you sleeping well? Are you eating well (as in no sugar!)? Are you under a lot of stress? These things must first be addressed to remove the barriers to the immune system doing its best job. L Lysine has been shown in the medical research to help block viral replication. Specific nutrients like vitamin C, mushroom combinations etc. may be prescribed to help boost the immune system to keep the virus under control and the body free of symptoms.