Posted on September 13, 2012
Taking good care of yourself is a big step to reducing herpes outbreaks. If you have tried more than one treatment for herpes and still experience regular outbreaks you may need to assess all areas of your life to determine where your health might be affected. For example, have you been under an unusual amount of stress or anxiety? Are you getting adequate sleep? Have you been affected by another health issue, such as flu, painful or irregular menstruation, menopause, or another illness? Are you on a medication that may have unforseen side-effects? All of these things can have an effect on herpes, and if you do have other health issues you should address them.
Taking good care of yourself is a big step to reducing herpes outbreaks. If you have tried more than one treatment for herpes and still experience regular outbreaks you may need to assess all areas of your life to determine where your health might be affected. For example, have you been under an unusual amount of stress or anxiety? Are you getting adequate sleep? Have you been affected by another health issue, such as flu, painful or irregular menstruation, menopause, or another illness? Are you on a medication that may have unforseen side-effects? All of these things can have an effect on herpes, and if you do have other health issues you should address them.
Over the years we have noticed that the following medications may potentially aggravate herpes symptoms:
# Steroid based medications, including cortisone and hydrocortisone
# Depo provera birth control shot
# Fluticasone nasal spray
# Nasonex nasal spray
# Flu shot or vaccinations, in rare cases
# Any medication which could compromise or weaken the immune system
# Protein shakes (not technically a medication, but worth mentioning)
# Steroid based medications, including cortisone and hydrocortisone
# Depo provera birth control shot
# Fluticasone nasal spray
# Nasonex nasal spray
# Flu shot or vaccinations, in rare cases
# Any medication which could compromise or weaken the immune system
# Protein shakes (not technically a medication, but worth mentioning)
Do not underestimate the effect of stress on the body. Stress can be a big contributor to outbreaks and anything that may relieve this pressure can be helpful, such as deep breathing, taking a vitamin b group supplement, herbal teas, reducing caffeine, meditation and yoga. Sometimes stress and late nights are unavoidable.
If you know something is affecting your health and you are having trouble putting a stop to it, one approach that may help is to take a small daily dose of Panax ginseng or a B vitamin complex. Ginseng is a powerful herb which can help to rejuvenate the body from stress and sleep deprivation. It can also help your body recover from a previous or recent illness, as well as counteract the effects of toxins, such as alcohol and recreational drugs.
You may want to consider taking a B vitamin complex, or Panax Ginseng, if you:
# Have suffered from an illness, either now or in the past which may have had a profound effect on the body
# Are under a lot of stress or pressure
# Drink too much alcohol, smoke cigarettes or take other toxins regularly
# Do not get enough good quality sleep
# Regularly work your body to the point of exhaustion
# Have suffered from an illness, either now or in the past which may have had a profound effect on the body
# Are under a lot of stress or pressure
# Drink too much alcohol, smoke cigarettes or take other toxins regularly
# Do not get enough good quality sleep
# Regularly work your body to the point of exhaustion
Pay attention to your diet! Research has found that certain foods can trigger an outbreak for some people because of the high concentration of Arginine that they contain. Some of these foods include nuts, chocolate, gelatin, brown rice and lentils. Because this is an important factor, research the effects of Lysine which can be very helpful in reducing outbreaks. Eating a lot of junk food and not enough fruit and vegetables can also affect your outbreaks. It is a good idea to eat a healthy and nutritious diet to help keep outbreaks away.
Taking supplements is also a great strategy. There are some herbs and nutrients that have been shown to help slow down viral replication and reduce herpes activity in clinical trials. By incorporating these into your daily routine you could discover a safe and natural way to reduce your outbreaks and possibly the incidence of viral shedding too. Once you know that a particular supplement for herpes agrees with you and your body, the recommendation is to stick with it for a certain period of time and take it consistently according to the label dose. Most natural compounds require some time before they will work to their full potential and may not be able to prevent an outbreak if you only take the supplement occasionally.
There are a handful of products available that are well-rounded supplements and act as a solid treatment for herpes when used regularly. However, do your own research online and figure out what will work best with your lifestyle.
Taking supplements is also a great strategy. There are some herbs and nutrients that have been shown to help slow down viral replication and reduce herpes activity in clinical trials. By incorporating these into your daily routine you could discover a safe and natural way to reduce your outbreaks and possibly the incidence of viral shedding too. Once you know that a particular supplement for herpes agrees with you and your body, the recommendation is to stick with it for a certain period of time and take it consistently according to the label dose. Most natural compounds require some time before they will work to their full potential and may not be able to prevent an outbreak if you only take the supplement occasionally.
There are a handful of products available that are well-rounded supplements and act as a solid treatment for herpes when used regularly. However, do your own research online and figure out what will work best with your lifestyle.
