In fact, genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Although there is no specific data regarding the intensity of outbreaks in Indonesia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States has stated that there are about 45 million cases of genital herpes that have attacked residents aged over 12 years. In addition, they also stated that 1 in 6 people between the ages of 14 and 49 years has contracted the disease. Fortunately, nowadays there are various natural methods that can be applied to treat the symptoms of genital herpes. However, before applying the various methods listed in this article, make sure to check with your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. Also see your doctor if you are pregnant and think you have the herpes virus, have trouble emptying your bladder, or suddenly develop symptoms such as fever, headache, and nausea.
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Method 1 of 4: Treating Genital Herpes Symptoms Naturally
Step 1. Use a cold compress
Compressing the injured area with a cold pad is effective in relieving the pain that appears, you know! However, make sure the cold pad has been wrapped with a towel first so that the skin tissue does not die from exposure to temperatures that are too cold. If you want to repeat the process, always use a new, clean towel, and wash the finished towel in hot water.
If those methods don't work, you can also use warm or even hot compresses. To make this, soak a towel in boiling water that has been allowed to cool down a bit, then squeeze out the excess liquid before applying the towel to the painful area. If you want to repeat the process, always use a new towel
Step 2. Take a shower or bath with warm water
To relieve pain and discomfort, try taking a warm bath or bath. In particular, warm water can soothe irritated skin while cleansing it. If you want, you can also add enough Epsom salt to reduce itching and heal open sores that appear. With the help of Epsom salt, the wound will dry faster afterwards.
Step 3. Use baking soda
If the sore is oozing fluid, use baking soda to dry it! In addition, baking soda is also useful for reducing pain and itching that appears. To apply it, you just need to dip a cotton ball in baking soda powder, then apply it to the area around the wound evenly. If you want to repeat the process, always use a fresh cotton swab to prevent the infection from spreading to other areas!
Don't use cornstarch! Remember, cornstarch is a breeding ground for bacteria, so the risk of infection increases, especially if you have open sores on your skin
Step 4. Make an ointment from a mixture of olive oil and lavender
Olive oil is not only good for your skin health, but also contains antioxidants that can help heal wounds caused by herpes infections. To make it, try heating a mixture of 240 ml of olive oil, 1 tbsp. lavender oil, and beeswax in a saucepan over medium heat. Once small bubbles start to appear on the surface, turn off the heat and wait a moment for it to cool down. After the temperature cools down, you can immediately apply it to the injured skin evenly with the help of a cotton swab. If you want to repeat the process, use a different cotton swab!
Don't heat the solution for too long to prevent the olive oil from burning
Step 5. Use propolis
Propolis is a soft resin produced by bees and contains antiviral substances that have been shown to speed up the wound healing process. If you want, you can apply a topical ointment or cream containing propolis to soothe the wound and speed up its recovery. You can easily find such products in various health stores and pharmacies offline and online.
Propolis is generally sold in the form of capsules and tinctures. However, make sure you only use propolis that is packaged in the form of an ointment, cream, or other topical medication
Step 6. Consume the right herbs
There are various types of herbs that can help treat sores caused by herpes infections. For example, lemon balm ointment can relieve pain, itching, or discomfort that appears in the wound. In addition, the combination of Chinese sage and rhubarb packaged in a cream has been shown to be as effective as acyclovir for treating vaginal sores caused by herpes infection in women. Other herbal remedies such as St John's root can also be consumed to prevent the infection from reappearing, you know!
Step 7. Consume seaweed
Seaweed is proven to contain various substances that are able to recover the symptoms of genital herpes. Some types of seaweed, such as red seaweed from South Africa, sea moss, and red seaweed from India can even prevent herpes infections, you know! If you want, you can apply this method by mixing seaweed into lettuce or soup, or taking it as a supplement.
Step 8. Try taking Echinacea to improve your immune system
In addition, Echinacea is also able to reduce the severity of the outbreak that occurs, you know! To consume it, try processing Echinacea into tea, then consume it 3-4 times a day. If you want, you can also take Echinacea in the form of supplements.
Step 9. Try taking supplements
Some studies indicate that taking supplements can help your body recover faster. For example, taking 1-3 grams of lysine daily can shorten the time of outbreak. There are also studies that show its effectiveness in reducing the frequency of outbreaks of oral herpes sores. However, these supplements should only be taken for a maximum of 3-4 weeks.
- Remember, lysine is an amino acid that can increase cholesterol and triglyceride levels in your body.
- Make sure you always consult with your doctor before taking any supplements to avoid the risk of negative interactions with other medications.
Method 2 of 4: Changing Routines
Step 1. Improve your diet
When infected with the herpes simplex virus, one of the things you must do is improve the intake that enters the body. In particular, avoid processed foods, packaged foods, and ready-to-eat foods! Instead, increase your consumption of vegetables, fruits, healthy oils, nuts, and seeds. Limit red meat consumption, and increase your intake of skinless fish and poultry. Also, make sure you always eat complex carbohydrates, which can be found in whole grains, lentils, beans, and vegetables.
Avoid unnatural sources of sugar, such as sugar added to processed foods such as high-fructose sugar syrup. If you want to eat foods that taste sweet, try adding stevia or natural herbs that have a sweet taste 60 times higher than sugar. Avoid artificial sweeteners
Step 2. Exercise
The human body will work most optimally when exercising! Therefore, try increasing the frequency of walking by parking the car further away than usual, using the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator, taking the dog for an afternoon walk, or taking a leisurely walk after dinner. If you want, you can also try lifting weights, doing cardiovascular exercises, practicing yoga, or using the elliptical machine at the nearest fitness center and hire a personal trainer. Choose an interesting sport so you can do it more consistently!
Before trying any exercise, consult with your doctor to find out what you can and can't do
Step 3. Relax more often
Living with the herpes virus can negatively affect various aspects of your life. In particular, life will become more depressing and difficult to live. Remember, stress and frustration won't help you recover! Instead, excessive tension can actually trigger further herpes outbreaks. Therefore, look for ways to relax and relieve the stress that arises. Do various fun activities, such as reading a book or watching your favorite television show. If you want, you can also practice yoga to relax yourself and reduce the tension that arises significantly.
- In addition, you can also meditate anytime and anywhere. Although it takes practice and patience to meditate properly, understand that these methods are very effective at reducing your stress levels.
- Apply guided imagery techniques or guided imagination which is a form of self-hypnosis. To apply it, you only need to imagine one object or moment that feels very calming.
Method 3 of 4: Understanding Genital Herpes
Step 1. Understand the cause
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can be caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2 (HSV-1 or HSV-2). Most cases of genital herpes are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2, but the herpes simplex virus type 1 most often causes sores and blisters to appear around the mouth and lips of sufferers.
Step 2. Understand the process of spreading the disease
Genital herpes will generally be transmitted through direct sexual contact, genital, anal, or oral, with people who are infected with the virus. The true risk of transmission is higher in people who have open sores from herpes, but understand that the herpes virus can still be transmitted even if there are no obvious oral sores. Contraceptives can't protect you from genital herpes infection! In line with this statement, male and female condoms also cannot always protect you because open sores caused by herpes are not necessarily located in the genital area, although using them can indeed reduce the risk of transmission.
- In fact, a person can infect their partner outside of the outbreak period, although the risk of transmission will be lower.
- If you have external wounds, never give oral sex to anyone else. Do not also accept oral sex from people who have external sores due to herpes infection.
- In men, sores or lesions will generally appear around the penis or anus. Meanwhile, in women, sores will generally appear around the genitals, anus, or even inside the vagina. If they appear inside the vagina, the sores will only be visible when the doctor performs an examination, and can cause discomfort and/or trigger the production of vaginal fluid.
- The only way to prevent infection from occurring is to abstain from vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Step 3. Be aware of the symptoms
In fact, many people with genital herpes do not experience any symptoms. The severity of its appearance is different for each person. That is why, a person can transmit the infection without realizing that he or she has genital herpes. If symptoms occur, usually the person concerned will find sores in the form of fluid-filled blisters around the genitals or rectum. The blisters can burst and make the area very painful to the touch. Generally, sores will appear within 2 weeks after infection occurs, and can last for 2-3 weeks.
Other common symptoms include itching, tingling, or burning sensations in the genital or anal area; the appearance of flu-like symptoms, including fever and muscle aches; the appearance of pain in the legs, buttocks or genital area; discharge from the vagina; the occurrence of swollen glands around the neck and groin; and the appearance of pain when urinating or defecating
Step 4. Be prepared for periodic follow-up herpes outbreaks
Remember, genital herpes infection can persist and persist for a long time. In other words, the genital herpes virus can hide behind your system for a very long time without showing any symptoms. Although no clear cause has been found that can make the virus reactivate, further herpes outbreaks tend to occur when you are tired, stressed, or sick. For women, herpes often reappears when the person is menstruating. In general, the average rate of continued herpes outbreaks is about 4-5 times in the first year. After that, the body will usually build a better immune response. As a result, the frequency of outbreaks and even the symptoms may decrease over time.
Method 4 of 4: Knowing the Right Time to Have a Medical Checkup
Step 1. See a doctor to confirm a herpes diagnosis
In fact, various skin diseases are very likely to be misunderstood as herpes. For example, you might think of a pimple or blister on your skin as a symptom of herpes. That's why you should see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis! After confirming your condition, your doctor can recommend the most appropriate treatment.
- To get the right diagnosis, the doctor will ask for information about the symptoms you are experiencing. Then, the doctor will also examine the wound that appears and may also take a sample to confirm the diagnosis. In addition, your doctor may also perform a complete blood count to detect the presence or absence of herpes antibodies, which is an indicator that your body is fighting the infection.
- Ask the possibility of other diseases that can cause the appearance of these sores. Some of these are fungal infections, Singapore flu or hand-foot-and-mouth disease, syphilis, and herpes zoster infection.
Step 2. Get checked regularly if you are pregnant and have a herpes infection
Although people with herpes can still give birth to healthy babies, keep following the instructions given by the doctor because in some cases, herpes infection can be transmitted to the baby or encourage the baby to be born prematurely. To minimize these risks, make sure your condition is always monitored by a doctor.
- The doctor will conduct regular checks to detect symptoms of advanced herpes. In addition, they may also prescribe antiviral drugs to be taken in the final trimester to minimize the risk of herpes reappearing near the time of your delivery. As a result, the health of the baby will be better protected afterwards.
- Your doctor may also ask you to do a cesarean section if herpes reappears when you have to give birth.
Step 3. Call your doctor right away if you have trouble emptying your bladder
Although rare, sometimes herpes can cause inflammation in the urethra and bladder of the sufferer. If you experience it, urine will be trapped in your body and difficult to expel. As a result, extreme discomfort and the risk of severe infection will arise. Check with your doctor if you find these symptoms!
- Because this condition is classified as an emergency, especially because there is a risk of urine flowing back into the kidneys, immediately see a doctor to prevent the risk of kidney or bladder infections.
- To treat these complications, your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce the inflammation, or ask you to wear a catheter to empty your bladder in a shorter time.
Step 4. Get medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of meningitis
Although very rare, sometimes herpes infection triggers swelling of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord of the sufferer. If this situation occurs, meningitis can occur, and the sufferer must immediately seek emergency medical treatment because the impact is very dangerous. In particular, contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- Stiffness in the neck
- Severe headache that feels abnormal
- Headache accompanied by nausea and vomiting
- Confusion
- Difficulty concentrating
- Seizure
- Sleepy
- Difficulty waking up
- Sensitivity to light
- Loss of appetite or drinking
- Sudden high fever
- Rash (does not appear in all cases)
Step 5. Consult the possibility of taking antiviral drugs to relieve symptoms that appear
Although herpes can't be treated, you can actually take medicines to speed up wound healing, prevent it from happening again, and reduce the risk of spreading the virus. In many cases, doctors can prescribe oral antiviral medications to relieve pain and discomfort. if your situation is like that, make sure the drugs are taken according to the instructions given.
- Several types of antiviral drugs commonly prescribed to treat genital herpes are acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex).
- Generally, these drugs will be prescribed after the first appearance of herpes, and taken to control the next appearance of herpes. For example, you should take acyclovir pills at a dose of 800 mg 5 times a day for 7-10 days.
- The most common side effects of antiviral drugs are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fatigue, dizziness, and muscle aches.
Tips
- Always follow the instructions on the supplement packaging!
- Most of the natural remedies listed in this article are intended for topical, not oral use. In general, all of them are very safe and effective if used according to the instructions given. However, some people report rashes and allergic reactions after using it. Therefore, always do an allergy test by applying a small amount of the drug to an area of the skin that is not infected, and then observe the effect for 24 hours. If there are no negative reactions, it means that the drug can be safely used on your skin.
- If you're having trouble finding recommended natural remedies at your local pharmacy, try searching online health stores.
- Another option that you can try is to consult a naturopath or herbal medicine expert to get recommendations for the right alternative medicine.
- Having genital herpes can be a very depressive and difficult experience. However, understand that you are not alone! In other words, you can always find online communities and support groups to talk to, or even share your difficulties with those closest to you. Tell them honestly how you feel and listen to their opinion about the situation.
