Reviewing the Top Herbal Cold Sore Treatments

Given that herbal medicine is so incredibly fashionable, and its proponents feel that it is able to alleviate virtually any illness, it isnt surprising that there is no shortage of herbal cold sore remedies being offered by various internet sites. Sifting through each of them is virtually impossible for any regular person, but with a bit of homework, it is possible to recognize several kinds of substances that appear to have some merit.

Black Walnut

Because of its substantial levels of natural iodine, black walnut is an extremely popular herbal treatment for oral herpes symptoms. Iodine has a demonstrated history of beneficial use as an antiseptic, but there exists an expanding mound of data that verifies its potency as an antiviral agent. The extract may be either ingested in dried form as a means to suppress outbreaks, or applied topically to treat fever blisters and cold sores.

Natural Aloe Vera Gel

One of the more versatile herbal treatments for any range of skin problems, Aloe Vera is also considered a highly effective means of reducing discomfort and swelling from herpes fever blisters, and speeding up their healing. It is suggested that you use Natural Aloe Vera Gel as opposed to lotions or creams containing Aloe for optimum results.

Rhubarb and Sage

The natural herbs sage and rhubarb appear in a number of over-the-counter creams, and the mixture of the two is scientifically proven to reduce discomfort and help in the treatment of fever blisters and cold sores. As a matter of fact, recent research in Switzerland discovered that creams that contain both sage and rhubarb were equally effective at healing HSV-1 episodes as prescription drugs containing acyclovir.

Natural Licorice Root

Many people are acquainted with licorice candy, but real, organic licorice root can do more than soothe your sweet tooth according to a great many herbal medicine proponents. In the opinion of its advocates, taking 50 grams every day of a licorice root nutritional supplement inhibits the HSV-1 virus enough to result in a dramatic drop off in the frequency of outbreaks.

Researchers have led support to this idea as well, by observing that the glycyrrhetinic acid present in licorice root significantly decreases the presence of herpes virus in test tubes during laboratory experiments.

Reishi and Astragalus

Chinese doctors have recommended ingesting the Reishi fungus in conjunction with the plant astragalus as an antiviral treatment for hundreds of years. The mixture is usually consumed in dry, or tablet form, as an everyday herbal dietary supplement.

While there has not been any definitive scientific data to support Reishi and Astragalus’ targeted success in treating herpes, initial studies show that the two plants support and strengthen the bodys immune system as a whole.

Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)

Definitely among the most-widely recognized herbal cold sore remedies, Melissa officinalis, or lemon balm, possesses a lengthy history as a cold sore treatment in the western world. Unlike the majority of herbal remedies, lemon balm cream, in particular, has been studied thoroughly by scientists and has been shown to possess antiviral characteristics that make it useful for controlling the herpes simplex virus.

Peppermint

Even though peppermint has long been known to be very effective at treating digestive ailments, the plants oil has now been found to also be of assistance with HSV-1. Peppermint can be either ingested as a tea, or used topically in oil form.

One Final Word on Herbal Cold Sore Remedies

As is true with most issues associated with the herpes simplex virus, herbal cold sore remedies have ranging levels of success in each person. Whereas some herpes afflicted people find that utilizing one of the aforementioned substances thoroughly eliminates their blisters, other people may see no effects at all. Solely through experimenting on your own will you be in a position to establish if any of them work for you.

If youd like to find out more about herpes symptoms in men, be sure to stop by Devin Brindinshires blog where you can also find out about issues related to oral herpes, including cold sore remedies.

ADHD Causes: Phthalates

You are probably aware that chemicals and environmental pollutants are among the environmental causes of ADHD. The nervous system of young children has not yet reached a point where the developing brain can be protected from the toxins and chemicals in the environment. In other words, children are more sensitive to the effects of environmental pollutants than adults and should be protected from harmful chemicals as much as possible. These chemicals include those found in pesticides, cleaning agents, and cigarette smoke. Now it looks like the use of plastics should be reduced or avoided if you are to protect your child from ADHD. A new study from Korea shows that a chemical called phthalates is positively related to the presence of ADHD-like symptoms in school-aged children.

Phthalates are an important ingredient in plastic consumer products such as toys and food containers. Phthalates are also found in household cleaning materials and personal care products marketed to babies and children, such as shampoo, baby powder, and body wash. There are already several studies on the effects of phthalates on health, with some evidence that this chemical causes reproductive problems due to hormonal disruptions, birth defects, and asthma. Other studies, however, show no significant relationship between the two.

In a Korean study, researchers measured the amount of phthalate present in urine samples of school-aged children. At the same time, symptoms of inattention and impulsivity were evaluated through computer tests and teacher report scales. Upon comparing the data, the researchers discovered a statistically significant positive association between ADHD symptoms and phthalate exposure. The higher the amounts of phthalates present in urine, the more intense the ADHD symptoms and test scores were.

Although these findings do not necessarily mean that phthalates cause ADHD, this emerging relationship lends support to the theory that environmental chemicals affect the cognitive development and behavior of children. More studies need to be done to further explore the relationship, but do you really want to wait for more evidence before deciding to reduce phthalate consumption?

Avoiding phthalates can be very challenging because they are often not listed in the ingredients of personal care products. Under current FDA ruling, phthalates can be labeled as "fragrances" and other euphemisms, even though they can make as much as 20% of the finished product. When buying products, be on the lookout for the following acronyms, the chemical names of phthalates:

· DEP (diethyl phthalate) and DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate) are often part of personal care products like perfume, hair gel, hand lotion, and shampoos

· DMP (dimethyl phthalate) is used in food containers and insect repellants

· BzBP (benzylbutyl phthalate) is sometimes found in personal care products, but is more common in car products and flooring

When buying plastic bottles or containers, choose only those with the recycling codes 1, 2, or 5. Avoid plastic with recycling codes 3 and 7 as they contain the highest concentrations of phthalates.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is ADHD.