Tea tree oil and herpes – a natural effective remedy
So what is herpes and how can tea tree oil help?
Herpes is a common viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. Symptoms usually include bouts of painful blisters and open itchy sores that usually take up to 14 days to heal. The symptoms are recurring.
Tea tree oil can help reduce the severity of the sores due to the oil’s antibacterial and antifungal properties. The oil can be applied directly on the skin, although care must be taken when using tea tree oil on the mouth or genitals.
Along with helping to treat the sores, tea tree oil can help lessen the severity and the frequency of future outbreaks of herpes.
Please note: Tea tree oil will not cure the herpes disease – it only helps to treat the symptoms, so all care must be taken to not spread the disease to others.
Tea tree oil shouldn’t be used in place of regular medical treatment, it should be a complementary treatment as part of your overall herpes management plan.
Users may experience side effects with the use of tea tree oil, such as skin irritations or allergic reactions – if this happens please consult with your doctor.
Treating herpes with tea tree oil
Here’s how you can use tea tree oil for herpes sores:-
Step 1: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry using a clean towel.
Step 2: Pour a small amount of tea tree oil onto a cotton swab.
Step 3: Gently apply the tea tree oil to the herpes sores. (If this is your first time using tea tree oil, apply to one sore only to determine if you have any skin irritation before applying it to others.)
Step 4: Discard the cotton swab.
Step 5: Wash your hands again with soap and water and dry thoroughly with a clean towel.
Repeat the above process 3-4 times per day.
Tea tree oil – does it really treat herpes?
Yes, you can use tea tree oil for herpes. Whilst the oil will not cure the herpes virus, it will most likely lessen the severity and the frequency of future breakouts. Some antiviral medications may cause nasty side effects, so tea tree oil provides an alternative all-natural treatment for herpes sores.
Tea tree oil contains antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it the ideal treatment to help heal nasty sores from the herpes virus.
Whilst there have been no scientific studies on using tea tree oil for herpes sores to date, there have been many forum postings to indicate many people have had success using this treatment.
Using tea tree oil for herpes
Here’s how a lot of herpes sufferers use tea tree oil:-
- Apply directly on the sores – never ingest or swallow.
- People with sensitive skin can use a diluted tea tree oil solution. Take a Q-tip and dip in water, then add a few drops of tea tree oil before applying to the herpes sores.
Some common outcomes of users’ experience with tea tree oil:-
- tea tree oil lessened the severity of the herpes outbreak
- tea tree oil dried up the lesions and reduced redness
- tea tree oil sometimes prevented lesions from breaking through the skin.
Always remember to test an area using tea tree oil first, and if you experience any tingling or ‘heat’ sensation use a diluted solution instead.
Tea tree oil and herpes simplex
Another method of using tea tree oil for herpes is to soak in a bath to relieve symptoms – here’s how:-
- Fill your bathtub with warm water (not too hot).
- Add about 10-15 drops of tea tree oil and mix into the water.
- Soak for about 20 minutes to relieve any itching or burning sensations.
Always remember that tea tree oil is not a cure for herpes, so precautions must always be taken to prevent transferring the virus to another person.
