Visit the Forum on Herpes

Let’s look at the 8 distinct cold sore
stages, and what you can do now to lessen
the severity, discomfort and length of your
cold sore event.

Usually 3 to 4 weeks is the average life-
span of a cold sore. Much depends on your
health and choice of treatments for each of
your cold sore stages.

COLD SORE STAGES: #1 - LATENT - Here the
cold sore herpes simplex virus is hiding in
the nerve ganglia near the back of the jaw
on the same side as your cold sore usually
appears. The cold sore virus may “sleep”
for weeks or years without incident. Your
body’s defense “soldiers” keep them in
check. When there is stress in another part
of your body, your defenses may drop at
this location. Then the cold sore virus can
escape and travel to the surface to
reproduce - beginning the active cold sore
stages.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 2 - PRODROME - The cold
sore virus reproductive cycle begins here.
The cold sore virus travels down your nerve
fibers to the surface. This movement causes
your cold sore target area to itch or
tingle. You may notice a burning or dryness
sensation. This stage could last a few
hours to a few days before entering the
more intense cold sore stages.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 3 - INFLAMMATION Your
cold sore virus has now arrived at the
surface and begins it’s reproductive cycle
by entering the cells at the end of the
nerve. This causes a lot of swelling and
redness at the cold sore site as your cells
react to being invaded by the herpes cold
sore virus .

COLD SORE STAGES: # 4 - PRE-SORE - Cold
sores at this stage are defined by the
appearance of cold sore vesicles. A full
blown cold sore is not one big blister but
a grouping of small blisters called
vesicles. You will notice these vesicles as
tiny, hard pimples or red bumps that are
painfully sensitive to the touch.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 5 - OPEN SORE - Your
most painful and contagious of the cold
sore stages. All the vesicles break open
and merge to create one big open, weeping
sore. Depending on the severity, you may
develop a fever and swollen lymph glands
under the jaw.

The weeping fluid is teaming with newly
born cold sore viruses. Touching this
fluid, you could easily spread the cold
sore virus to another part of your own body
or to someone else - either by direct touch
or shared objects such as hand towels,
telephones, and faucets.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 6 - CRUSTING - A cold
sore will develop a yellowish crust or scab
as it begins to finally start the healing
process. Your cold sore is still painful at
this stage. More painful, however, is the
constant cracking of your cold sore scab
when you move or stretch your lips, as in
smiling.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 7- HEALING - Cold
sores, once scabbed over, begin healing
from the inside out. As new skin forms
under the crust, you will experience
continued itching, irritation and some
pain. Your cold sore virus is now
retreating back to the nerve ganglia area
where it will sleep until the next
opportunity.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 8 - POST SCAB - Cold
sores at this stage no longer have a
visible cold sore scab and your skin has
totally healed. Under your new skin,
healing is still taking place as the
destroyed cells are regenerated. This
produces a red spot that may linger for
another 2 to 14 days - depending on your
personal healing speed. You are still
contagious until this red spot disappears.
This waiting is the most frustrating of the
cold sore stages.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW -

Cold sore over-the-counter medications,
experts agree, are primarily comfort
treatments for the cold sore stages. Some
contain numbing agents that greatly reduce
your pain. Some cold sore medications
contain an anti-bacterial to prevent
secondary infections. None of these cold
sore medications have been shown to
actually shorten the life-span of any of
your cold sore stages.

Medical science has been working feverishly
on a cure for the herpes virus but have
not, as yet, had any real success in
developing an effective cold sore remedy.
Prescription anti-virals, both the oral
versions and the topical salves, have been
a dismal failure for the most part.
Vaccines are being tested but are 3-4 years
out yet. New breakthroughs could be just
around the corner however.

But you don’t need to wait!

More and more doctors now agree. There are
times when natural science just seems to be
the best choice. Often our ONLY choice.
This is certainly true - right now - for
herpes cold sores.

Data studies have shown natural science
remedies can reduce the cold sore events by
as much as 79%.

Yes! And, in fact, actually prevent your
cold sores from taking place altogether.

The great news - these remedies are
available to you today.

If you are a cold sore victim, you would be
well advised to look into these powerful
natural remedies without delay for
shortening or preventing your cold sores.

About the Author:

Denny Bodoh is a newspaper publisher and 33
year veteran research writer on alternative
health and nutrition. If you would like to
know more about herpes and cold sores, and
what you can do about them, visit his
popular site at: http://www.be-cold-sore-free.com

Although many people believe that eczema
and dermatitis are separate conditions,
they are actually one and the same. The
most common form of this skin condition is
atopic eczema. Depending on what study you
read, there are between 18 and 34 million
people that exhibit symptoms of eczema.
Atopic eczema is often genetic and can be
associated with a family history of
environmental sensitivities and allergic
conditions like asthma or hay fever.

What are the symptoms?

One of the most common symptoms associated
with eczema is extreme itchiness. Speaking
from experience, once you start scratching
it is hard to stop. You can rub your skin
raw trying to get rid of the unbearable
itch. Other common symptoms include:

Rash on the legs, arms, hands and neck
(most common but other areas can be
involved) General dry skin even when eczema
is not active Blisters with oozing and
scabbing Redness and inflammation around
the blisters What causes eczema?

There tends to be a general consensus that
eczema is caused by a combination of
genetic and environmental factors. If a
person has atopic eczema there will usually
be another family member with an atopic
condition, such as eczema, asthma or hay
fever. Many environmental factors are
associated with a flare-up and may include
the following:

· Wool clothing that scratches and rubs
against the skin

· Taking long hot showers or frequent baths

· Activities that involve dust and soil
contact

· Extremes in temperature (both hot and
cold)

· Contact with chemicals such as bug spray,
paint thinner, air fresheners and even
certain scented toilet paper

· Scented soaps, detergents and perfume

In addition to the above-mentioned factors,
stress and diet can play a role in
activating an eczema flare up.

Stress

Staying calm and keeping a positive mental
attitude can be an excellent way to keep
eczema flare-ups to a minimum. Personal and
work related stresses are potent triggers
for eczema. Feelings of anger and
frustration can also increase the chances
of a flare-up. My personal battles with
eczema have been at there worst during
periods of increased stress at work.

Diet Certain foods have been known to
provoke the onset of eczema. Foods on this
list include peanuts, milk and milk
products, soy, fish, eggs and wheat. It’s
not a bad idea to keep a journal of what
you eat and write down the effects it has
on your body. The journal will help you
identify and avoid foods that provoke an
eczema attack.

Is there a cure for Eczema?

There is no complete cure for eczema.
However, there are a variety of natural
treatments and routines that can be
followed to help reduce eczema flare-ups.
Treatments are very individual and work
better on some people than others. If these
tips don’t offer some relief then it is
best to consult your healthcare
professional. Various natural healing
experts recommend the following for
controlling eczema:

GLA - Evening primrose oil is a great
source of the essential fatty acid known as
GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). GLA is hard to
come by in the diet so it is best to get
thru supplementation. Typical dosage is
between 3 and 6 grams daily, taken with
food. Studies for Primrose oil have been
mixed but some patients do claim that the
oil has helped to reduce symptoms of
eczema.

Herbs – There are a variety of herbs that
have had some success in treating eczema.
These include burdock root, red clover,
goldenrod, roman chamomile, German
chamomile and yarrow. A great recipe that
can be applied to the affected area (2x a
day) is the following:

German chamomile 12 drops

Goldenrod 6 drops

Tagetes 6 drops

Dilute this solution in the following:

Almond oil 2 tablespoons

Jojoba oil 25 drops

Evening primrose oil 10 drops

This natural remedy has offered excellent
results for numerous people with eczema.
For your first application, treat a small
area to insure that your skin is not overly
sensitive to the oils.

Ice- placing an ice pack on the aggravated
areas can offer a natural way to relieve
itching. A good ice pack can be made from a
solution of 50% water and 50% rubbing
alcohol. The alcohol will prevent the
solution from hardening and allows you to
mold the pack to the contours of your body.

Moisturize – It is very important to
moisturize every day with a hypoallergenic
moisturizer free of perfume. I have found
sweet almond oil and apricot kernel oil to
be excellent moisturizers. Make sure to
apply immediately after every bath or
shower. When drying, make sure to pat your
skin dry and do not rub.

Relax – As I have already mentioned, stress
has been shown to have an active role in
many an eczema flare-up. It is important to
involve yourself in regular stress reducing
activities. This can include daily
meditation, yoga, walking or a few minutes
of deep breathing exercises. Pick an
activity you will enjoy and that you can do
consistently.

Conclusion

Remember that eczema is a chronic condition
that is most likely the result of your
inherited genetics. Learning your flare up
triggers and making the appropriate
lifestyle changes is of prime importance in
controlling eczema. Keeping a regular
journal will go a long way in helping to
identify your trigger foods and activities.
I would encourage you to learn as much as
possible about your condition. This will
give you a sense of control and empowerment
while helping you in your self-management
of this chronic condition. Successful
management of eczema can be achieved
provided you commit yourself to the
process. I wish you well!

About the Author:

Mike Brooks has been a life long follower
and proponent of the fitness lifestyle.
Through his avid research, Mr. Brooks has
come to the realization that being healthy
is a choice and encompasses not only proper
diet but also a fitness regimen that
includes the mind, body and soul. Mike
Brooks is the publisher and editor-in-chief
for the health information site
http://www.Ultimatehealthreport.com.

Have Herpes? Visit the Forum on herpes

In the past ten years recent studies and
research with alternative treatments for
shingles has shown it is possible to
recover in less than one week and to reduce
outbreaks of lesions and pain in three
days.

Shingles is a serious health condition and
it is important to follow your doctor’s
recommendations. Traditionally, most
doctors prescribe painkillers for the
temporary symptomatic relief of the pain
and an antiviral drug to suppress the
virus. This form of treatment with drugs
reduces the severity and frequency of
outbreaks but does not eliminate it from
the body. This course of treatment can take
six weeks or more and does very little for
the patient. The pain associated with
shingles can continue long after the
initial outbreak.

Some doctors prescribe steroids or itch-
relieving creams that contain steroids.
Recent studies question the effectiveness
of steroids in relieving shingles and
suggest avoiding any treatment with
steroids. Monitoring by your doctor is
recommended, if steroids have been
prescribed. It is best to find alternative
treatments with your doctor and to seek out
natural remedies.

The virus herpes zoster causes shingles and
is the same virus that causes chicken pox.
Shingles is an infection of the central
nervous system and may affect the elderly,
those with a compromised immune system,
anyone under severe stress or those who
have been exposed to the chickenpox virus
again. Symptoms may include burning,
itching, or pain in one part of the body. A
few days later, blisters and a rash appear.
The infection may run along a nerve path
and look like a branch of a tree. Shingles
usually appear on the trunk area and the
chest but can also be found on the face.
Shingles can cause blindness if it affects
the eyes. If an outbreak occurs on the face
the patient should get immediate medical
care.

Natural Remedies For Shingles

A good starting point for treating shingles
is a diet full of fresh fruits and
vegetables. A good diet and reducing daily
stress will help boost your immune system

A simple remedy for lesions is to apply a
cool or cold wet washcloth or towel to the
affected area. A wet towel can be put into
the freezer for a while after wetting it to
make it colder.

Eliminate sugar from your diet and add
these important nutrients to your daily
diet - vitamin E, vitamin B12 and vitamin
C.

* Vitamin C is suggested with an initial
diagnosis of shingles. You may start with
1,000 mg. (+)

* Vitamin E taken daily before meals may
reduce the pain of shingles (Study
published in the Archives of Dermatology)
(+)

* Vitamin B12 injections may reduce the
pain of shingles (Study published in the
Journal Geriatrics) (+)

(+) It is recommended that you consult with
your doctor before starting any vitamin
program.

* E capsules can be squeezed directly onto
lesions.

* Avoid heat as well as tight clothes and
itchy fabrics like wool.

* Calamine lotion may relieve the pain and
help dry the lesions.

Shingles is a serious illness and before
starting any treatment program you should
consult with your doctor. Shingles is the
same virus as chicken pox. You cannot catch
shingles from someone else unless you’ve
never had chicken pox. If you have shingles
you should use caution being around
pregnant women who have not had chicken pox
- you could infect both the woman and her
unborn baby.

About the Author:

Wayne McDonald is a health care
professional and public speaker for safe
natural treatments of annoying and
burdensome health challenges. Learn more at
http://www.OurFamilysHealth.com/shinglestreatment.html