Herpes overview
Literary meaning ‘creeping’, the greek word, herpes in our everyday life in a viral infection. The herpes simplex virus has two types: HSV-1 and HSV-2. We are familiar with two kinds of herpes: the oral herpes, and genital herpes. The oral herpes is the most known kind of herpes, and presents cold sores, or infections on the mouth. Genital herpes, the second common form of this virus is just known as herpes. As the infection appears in our body, the immune system fights against it, so the balance is disturbed. In order to win the battle against this virus, you have to keep in under control.
Treatment
We cannot say that is a cure what eliminates the herpes simplex virus from the body, but herpes treatment can reduce the appearance frequency, the duration and acuteness of its outbreak.
There are some ways for herpes treatment, like antiviral, tropical and alternative treatments.
Antiviral herpes treatment is a medication based fight against the herpes simplex virus. For herpes outbreak control the treatment prescribes the use of aciclovir, valaciclovir, famciclovir and penciclovir. The aciclovir medicine is marketed under the name of Cyclovir, Herpex, Acivir, Acivirax or Zovir, Zovirax. The valaciclovir drug is maketed under the name of Zelitrex or Valtrex by GlaxoSmithKline and Ranbaxy Laboratories. Famciclovir, the drug used in most common herpes infection is marketed under the Famvir trade mane by Schering-Plough. Penciclovir proved its poor absorbing capacities when given orally, so nowadays it is used as an ingredient in Denavir, Fenistil and Vectavir.
The tropical herpes treatment involves the use of docosanol, known as behenyl alcohol. This saturated fatty alcohol is used in cosmetics like the FDA-approved Abreva, approved for its efficient fight against the duration of signs of the oral herpes, the cold sores. The tea tree oil – obtained from the leaves Melaleuca alternifolia – has also a role in herpes treatment. A group of scientists revealed in a limited research the use of the tea tree oil in the fight against the cold sores.
Of course other drugs are used also in herpes treatment like Cimeditine, marketed by GlaxoSmithKline under the trade name of Tamaget or Tamaget HB.
Herpes can be treated in alternative ways also. Beneficial alternative herpes treatment are dietary supplements and adjustments. These herpes treatments used along with antiviral therapy or just alone helps you getting rid of the infection. Common alternative herpes treatments are: lysine addition, aloe vera, available in two forms: gel or cream, lemon balm, carrageenans, echinacea plant extracts, resveratrol, prunella vulgaris, lactoferrin, and butylated hydroxytoluene (food preservative).
Before we end this herpes treatment tips we have to say a few words about the Resveratrol. This is a naturally produced phytoalexin, what means that it is a natural antimicrobial substance which fights against infections. This substance is present in red wines, red grape juice and the peanuts also present a concentration of resveratol. Of course the resveratrol is produced by a chemical synthesis and it is sold as a supplement gained from the japanese knotweed.