We know that something out of the ordinary is going on around our lips when they start to tingle and feel a little numb.   Sometimes, we do not pay much attention to it until the lip starts to throb. At first we may think that it is a zit because it is red and tender, but then it blisters and opens up. Now you know it’s not a zit but  a cold sore or a fever blister — different names  the same presentation.

 Cold sores are very common — if you have it, chances are you picked it up when you were a kid. Most people who are infected with the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) got it during their preschool years, most likely from close contact with someone who has it or getting kissed by an adult with the virus.

 These  painful blisters may manifest:

 ~ On or around the lips

 ~ On the face,

 ~ In the mouth and

 ~  Inside or on the nose.

 These places are the most common, but sores can appear anywhere on the body, including the genital area.  Genital herpes isn’t typically caused by HSV-1; it’s caused by another type of the herpes simplex virus called herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) and is spread by sexual contact.

 How does the virus “wake up”?

 After you got infected, the  herpes virus “sleeps” in a group of cells in your body called ganglion. The virus may “wake up” when your immune system is compromised,  like when you get a cold or when under stress.  Sunlight, cold weather, hormone changes in menstruation or pregnancy, tooth extractions, and certain foods and drugs also carry the potential to re- activate the virus.

 Helpful hints to prevent herpes break-outs

 As soon as you start to get the “tingling” sensation or when you feel like you are about to come down with a cold or after being exposed to some of the conditions mentioned above you may want to consider the following protocol:

 L-Lysine: take up to 6,000 mg/day until the tingling disappears.

 Garlic Supplement: take up to 3 caps/day.  I recommend Allicillin form Designs for Health, it’s the strongest that I have found thus far.

Chinese herbal formula Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentiana combination): dosage depends on individual presentation.

 Dietary adjustments: during a herpes break out it is important to cut back or avoid foods that contain the amino-acid argenine.  Tree nuts rank first in the foods to avoid.  For a complete list of foods containing argenine please, follow this link

You can also take a look at this article regarding how Vit D excess may be a contributing factor for a herpes outbreak.

 As always, please follow your intuition as for what feels like the right course of action at this particular time and place in your life!