Lowri Morgan Amazon Challenge on Channel S4C Janurary 5,6,7  at 21.00 and on January 9th at 20.30

Lowri Morgan

Wales has so much to offer. For such a small country, we give pride to some of the worlds best talents. Actors such as Richard Burton, Anthony Hopkins and Katherine Zeta Jones. Singers Tom Jones, Shaking Stevens, Katherine Jenkins and Bonnie Tyler. Entrepreneurs Sir  Stanely Thomas, Dr Chris Evans, Gaynor Morgan.

Another superwoman Lowri Morgan faces her fears in the life threatening challenge of the Brazillian Amazon.

Adventure-loving TV presenter Lowri Morgan has played rugby for Wales, competed in numerous marathons worldwide and completed the illustrious Ironman Challenge. She’s even dived down to the remains of Titanic in a submersible – but in a new S4C series, Ras yn Erbyn Amser, she faces her toughest challenge yet.

Not to be missed.

I get cold sores. My wife doesn’t. She loves to make fun of me when I get one …

If you’re not susceptible to cold sore, then you’re probably not aware that they are caused by a viral infection. Likewise, you don’t know that this infection has no cure: Once you get it, you’ll carry it around in your bloodstream for the rest of your life. It won’t make you perpetually sick, but you’ll be subject to periodic outbreaks of painful and annoying blisters on a part of your body where the tissues are especially sensitive – your lips. If this sounds a lot like herpes, it’s because the two viruses are virtually identical. This aspect of the disease adds greatly to the mirth that my wife experiences during my episodic bouts with cold sores. Like it’s not funny enough that I have an enormous, open sore in the middle of my face, there’s the added hilarity of comparing my condition to a venereal disease! Ha!

Scientists aren’t exactly certain why cold sore outbreaks occur, but there are several well-known factors that can serve as triggers, such as acidic foods, or prolonged exposure to the sun. One of the most well-documented of these triggers is stress, and most sufferers can personally attest that cold sores are prone to occur when dramatic events are unfolding in their lives; in other words – at the most inopportune times. If there were a way to document such a thing, I’m sure it would be demonstrated that far more cold sore bearing people have been forced to attend their own weddings or important job interviews than can be explained by random chance.

Like I said before: If you suffer from cold sores, then nothing in this essay will come as news to you. However, if you’ve never experienced the pain, discomfort, and overall “oogy” feeling of having a giant blister on your lip (on your LIP for crying out loud!), then you just can’t imagine the length that victims will go to to obtain relief. The thing about any kind of skin blister is that the area is sensitive, and so you want to avoid touching it. And yet, when you have a blister on the sensitive tissue of your lip, there is a constant, unconscious compulsion to probe it with the tip of your tongue.

A couple of years ago, a pharmaceutical company came out with a topical medication that will decrease the duration of a cold sore outbreak, if not prevent it entirely. The caveat for use of this product is that you have to apply it at the first indication that a cold sore is imminent. If you wait until the blister actually begins to appear – usually only an hour or two after the first, telltale tingling sensation – then it will essentially be too late for the salve to have any effect. This means that you must carry the medicine on or near you at all times; or else you must be prepared to drop everything at a moment’s notice – your Annual Performance Review, for example – in order to rush down to the Rite-Aid and purchase some Miracle Cold Sore Cure.

And speaking of buying this stuff: Be sure to take along your credit card, because it costs approximately as much as antimatter. To compensate for the high price of the medication, its manufacturers have attempted to package the substance in “single-use” apportionments. That is – one container of salve presumably contains enough medication to treat one cold sore outbreak. Although the salve comes packaged in a tube by necessity, the amount of material that the tube contains would be more appropriately handled in one of those microchip laboratories where all the products are manipulated in sealed chambers under electron microscopes. Consequently, there’s a very real possibility of vaporizing your entire dosage by applying slightly too much pressure to the pea-sized tube.

Getting back to the subject of my wife: What explains the transformation of this normally compassionate woman into a malicious fourth grader whenever I get a cold sore? I’ve given this some thought, and I believe that this is her version of “whistling past the graveyard”. The idea of having a festering wound on her lip is so abhorrent that she must utterly reject the mere possibility of such a thing. She accomplishes this in her own mind by ridiculing the object of her fear … me. In her defense, I would note that I’ve observed a similar reaction in many other women in response to another common, feminine fear:

Male pattern baldness.

Got a skin complaint? We want to hear about it. We want to know what remedies you have used to help. Did it help? 

Contact us today with your questions.

Cold Sores - Herpes simplex

 Want to learn more about this, how and why it developes,  and how to get rid of it within 12 hours.

Protect your skin with ginseng nourishing cream. Winter winds and cold climates can damage and age skin quickly.

Using Ginseng nourishing cream will protect the skin and feed the skin cells giving you a healthy look and feel to the skin.

Use Ginseng Care Serum for very dry skin. Use at night and during the day for dehyrated skin. Ideal for cracked, chaffed skin. Great for cold sores.

Don’t suffer this Winter. You deserve better!!

Broad and Informative

Dry Skin: Soothing the Itch in Winter -WebMD

Ouch! Cold Sore Triggers -WebMD

Protesting the Bo-Tax in Times Square -NBC New York

UV Tattoos – Hot Trend or Dangerous Fad? -VietNamNet Bridge

Sunscreen Strength Set for an Upsize -Pharmacy News

Eliminate The Problem That Causes Acne, How To Get Rid Of Acne -Best Sindication

Study Shows Women are More Prone to Facial Wrinkles Than Men -PR Web

Skin Cancer Screening: Save Your Life -PR Web

For Those Who Want Some More Info…

Some Laser Therapy Shown to Encourage Melanoma Growth -SkinInc.com

Ultrasound Patterns Help Doctors Make Predictions for Melanoma Patients -Oncology Nursing News

Equine Hives: Easy Diagnosis, Often an Elusive Cause -The Horse

Wishing you all a very happy festive season where ever you are. May we have peace and health in 2010.

Feel free to leave a comment

!!!

Reading through a few of my recent posts, you must all think I’m a right old Victor Meldrew, who grizzles and groans about anything and everything. I suppose it’s because it’s always easy to criticise things in a negative way. It’s really not the case because I’m actually quite proud of being very positive in my approach to life, work and people.

When I talk to others about the importance of positive attitudes I always think back to my last job in a previous career, where a negative approach simply wasn’t on the agenda. Sometimes, even in the face of adversity, the simple belief that things were possible was enough to ensure they got done. I regularly say to Matthew, my youngest, when he uses the word ‘can’t’ a little too frequently that I think he actually means ‘won’t’. “Don’t say ‘can’t’ unless you’ve exhausted every option available, and even then, don’t shout it from the rooftops” is my frequent response. There might always be that last hidden option there somewhere.

I often think back to when I was a nipper and used to spend a lot of time with my grandparents. I know it’s hard to relate their approach then at that time to the way I remember it now, but I always admired the way they soldiered on regardless of the circumstances. My Grandfather used to have a very philosophical approach too life’s trials. Very little appeared to rattle him. To me, at least, he had an air of calm and control that I recognised, learned from and admire to this day. I have worked with many colleagues who have impressed me so much with their resolve and self-belief that I really have to thank them for the way they have influenced my own attitudes.

Do kids these days approach life in the same way we used to? I remember my own father telling me the merits of being positive and believing in myself and my abilities. Our own kids have all done really well academically and seem to be very self-driven in such disciplines, but I sometimes wonder about their approach to some of the more practical day-to-day challenges that live throws at them. Does perseverance still rank highly in their thoughts I wonder?

Going back to Grandparents again, I smile about it now, but many years ago I held a certain resentment at the fact that at a very early stage in my life, my aforementioned Grandmother quite unintentionally and very lovingly gave me a gift for life when giving me a goodbye Granny Kiss. Something that I would remember her for and something I would keep for ever. I hasten to add that I’m not alone in having received this gift from someone near and dear to them. In fact many reliable sources indicate that over 90% of the population carry it with them, but this isn’t a true representation. Realistically, around 40% of the white Caucasian population of the world at some time or other suffer from a good old-fashioned cold-sore on their lip. Caused by the Herpes Simplex virus, it is a recurrent condition which, once contracted cannot be cured and which rears its ugly head whenever it gets the chance: usually when the immune system is compromised by another factor such as fatigue, illness, dehydration, too much sun.. amongst others. Take my word for it. For those who have never suffered their wrath they are totally unpleasant, at times very painful and cosmetically downright ugly!

For many years I battled with creams, antiseptics, after-shave lotions, old wives’ remedies until the advent of a cream containing a substance called Acyclovir, which at last started to have some real effect on the condition. If applied early enough it actually stops the sore from forming and clears the symptoms really quickly. It was my travelling companion of choice for many years and I am still full of praise for its effectiveness.

Earlier this year though, by pure chance, I was introduced to a product that claimed to be the latest development in the battle against the Cold Sore. Looking rather like a lipstick, it’s called the Herpotherm, and works by simply heating up the area in order to stop the virus developing. There is a very good description of the way it works on their website. So I gave it a go…. and haven’t looked back since! It’s brilliant. Four or five seconds of application at the right moment really does nip things in the bud. Nothing happens! No sore, no suffering, no Mr Ugly. Just a great feeling knowing that it has been averted again. Over the last year I have been aware on several occasions that something was brewing. A hasty application of the Herpotherm made sure that it was just that! It has been successful on so many occasions that I can’t recommend it highly enough. It has been a complete revolution in the way I approach the condition and it has dramatically improved the way I live with the condition.

For those of you who perhaps still suffer in silence, give it a go. You’ll never be the same again!

COLD SORES, common name for Herpes labialis (also known as “Orolabial herpes”) is an infection of the lip by herpes simplex virus. In many cases, it causes small blisters or sores on or around the mouth that are commonly known as cold sores or fever blisters. When the viral infection affects both face and mouth, the broader term “orofacial herpes” is used to describe the condition, whereas the term “herpetic stomatitis” is used to specifically describe infection of the mouth.

The herpes virus, when it is not busy causing cold sores, is hiding in the nerve cells in the nerve ganglia below the surface. This sub-microscopic virus hides so well even the immune soldiers cannot find them. If the cells could be identified, they would have to be destroyed to eradicate the virus.

For most of your life, the herpes virus is hiding in the nerve roots. For facial sores, the virus resides behind the ear, in the nerve ganglia. If the virus stays latent, you will never experience a cold sore.
The herpes simplex virus will become active to produce new virus. Since it lives in the nerves, it can quickly tell when your immunity drops. Stress of any sort can create the right conditions for cold sores to happen.

Basically, every cold sore, oral herpes or fever blister ulcer is caused by the herpes simplex virus – type 1 or type 2. It hides in your nerve root cells. If the herpes virus activates it moves to the surface quickly. It then infects the nerve cells and begins replicating – destroying those cells in the process. Since the herpes virus lives in the nervous system, it can sense the slightest changes in your body caused by the cold sore triggers mentioned above.

The most common remedy which most people resort to for treating their cold sore are ointments and creams for fever blisters.
Though it may sound mundane but whatever remedy you choose will depend on the severity of your problem. If your cold is not that severe but if you have chosen a product that is meant for curing severe cases of cold then you could suffer from side-effects like headache or some kind of an allergic reaction.

You may have heard of the two amino acids – lysine and arginine. These two protein fractions have a big effect on cold sores.
Arginine is the protein required to create new herpes virus. Without it the replication process cannot take place. Your cells store arginine in special receptors inside the cell walls.
Lysine somewhat mimics arginine but cannot be used to make herpes virus particles. If you flood your cells with lysine, the cells will store this protein in place of the arginine. In effect, the lysine pushes the arginine out, creating a shortage.

Many natural remedies are readily available for cold sores. There have been many cases where they have been extremely effective in not only treating the symptoms but also the length and severity of the cold sore outbreak. However, one very important caveat – before starting to use one of these natural remedies it is absolutely vital that you discuss this first with your doctor. If you are currently taking prescriptive medicine, there may be a conflict which could exacerbate the problem. Please check with your doctor first.

Read about Gastritis and also read about Dysentery treatment and Gastritis Solution

…I gave my four-year old son herpes. 

I sucked some guy’s cock, got a raging case of cold sores on my lips, kissed my son (or shared a straw or a towel, or a popsicle, blah blah blah), and now my son has a raging case of cold sores on his lips. 

By “raging,” I mean all over our mouths, all the time, for like a month.  Little Boy and I have been on Valtrex for weeks.   

More later. 

Um…Unknown Mother

Cold sores are not ugly to look at but are also painful and intolerable. While there are several prescription cold sore medications and over the counter FDA approved Aberva to treat cold sores and fever blisters, natural cold sore medicines continue to remain popular among many. This article offers a detailed insight into the natural cold sore medicines that are in vogue today.

Powerful Natural Cold Sore Medicines

One of the effective natural cold sore medicines is lysine or l-lysine. This is one of the essential amino acids that the body needs to keep away from herpes simplex virus type 2 that is the causal agent of fever blisters. It also helps in the synthesis of carnitine, a nutrient that is helpful in converting fatty acids into energy thereby lowering cholesterol. Additionally, it has proven to be utile in retention of calcium within the body.

Lysine is usually found in pork, chicken, cheese, red meat, soya, egg, cod, sardines and tofu. The recommended intake of lysine per day is 50 to 1000 mg. However, as and when you start noticing cold sore symptoms, it is important that your start taking 300mg of lysine per day if you really want to prevent an outbreak of the herpes virus type 1 infection that causes cold sores.

Minimizing the intake of l-arginine rich products is another important cold sore medicine that can help in controlling the spread of sold sores. Arginine interferes with the absorption of lysine and hence avoiding food items like peanut butter and almonds that are rich in arginine is highly emphasized if you want to keep an outbreak of the infection at bay.

Lemon balm and reishi, a mushroom variant have been proven to be remarkable natural cold sore medicines. Clinical trials conducted in Germany have revealed the fact that the lemon balm is powerful in controlling the blisters twice as powerful as the ones who did not opt to resort to this natural medication. Reishi has testified to power up the immune system and battle against the spread of HSV with ease.600mg of resishi is the usual dosage that is recommended. However, if you are habituated to the intake of aspirin or any other drug that interferes with blood clotting, it is imperative to get the advice of your medical practitioner before you opt for the intake of reishi.

Peppermint oil when applied on the blisters has proven to be effective in healing them quickly. However, this essential oil should not be ingested when applied. Excessive usage of this oil might prove to be harmful too. Topical application of vitamin E creams also help in healing cold sores. Resveratrol, a therapeutic compound found in red grapes is really effective in combating the infection of HSV with ease. Propolis and Self heal are the other herbal remedies that are usually prescribed for treating sold sores.

Whatever be the natural cold sore medicine that you take, it is highly recommended that you take the advice of your doctor before resorting to the same.

Are You Sick and Tired of Those Ugly Cold Sores?

“Below You Are About To
Discover What Causes This Terrible Condition And An Amazingly Simple Method On How To Get Rid of Those Terrible Cold Sores In 3 DAYS or LESS!”

If you have this terrible condition of cold sores also known as fever blisters and want to eradicate them permanently then you are at the right place!

Dear Friend,

My name is James Bradly and like so many other persons I used to suffer from ugly fever blisters  How to Treat Cold Sores Fast There are many methods you can try to get rid of a cold sore fast. But before looking through them, bear in mind that using make-up to conceal the fever blisters would only aggravate your problem. It is normal to feel embarrassed, but know that oral herpes is extremely common and majority of the population are constantly exposed to it.

Cold sores usually heal within 10 to 14 days. You can always choose to wait it out, but why do so when you can hasten the speeding process?

 What causes cold sores?

>>>Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex. (Herpes simplex viruses also cause genital herpes.) Most adults worldwide have been infected with this virus, usually when we were children and were kissed by someone with a tiny cold sore that they were not aware of. When a child first gets the infection, there may be no symptoms at all, or there may be a fever and a sore mouth that clears up after 2–3 weeks.
 

>>>After the first infection, the virus often remains. We seem to have difficulty in getting rid of it completely. It travels away from the mouth using the nerves of the face as a pathway. When it reaches the clusters of cells at the end of the nerves (which are called ganglia), it stops. The herpes virus DNA then remains quietly in the ganglia. Fortunately, it does not damage the nerves or interfere with their function.infections.

>>>In some people (about 1 in 12), from time to time, the herpes virus travels back the way it came, along the nerve towards the mouth. This is called activation. But instead of going to the inside of the mouth, it takes a slightly different path and ends up in the skin of the lips or nearby. When it arrives in the skin, it causes a cold sore..

>>>After the cold sore heals, the virus goes back up the nerve to the ganglion again, where it rests. But it can become activated again at any time, and travel down the nerves to the skin to cause another sore. The virus always travels up and down the same or nearby nerve pathways, which explains why cold sores always recur in roughly the same place. 

I Have Been Where You Are At!

If you think that you are alone with this situation then you are wrong. I was plagued with Fever Blisters. I remember when I was so ashamed to go out on a date or even be seen in public. So I started to look for a solution to solve my problem.

I tried every possible cream  you can think of but the cold sores just wouldn’t go away. Even the so-called brand named ones that have big name celebrities pushing them; still did not solve my problem.

How Did I Get Rid Of Fever Blisters?

As strange as it may sound, I did it all natural. That’s right! I didn’t do any form of surgery or any expensive treatments.

There Is Hope!

I used to think that I would have to live with these terrible sores for the rest of my life but now I am so glad that I don’t. There really is hope and I am extremely glad that found this website. And with the expert advice of Dr.Derek Shepton I am really grateful. So if you have a Cold Sore  or Fever Blister problem, you don’t really have to ask the question: “how to get rid of fever blisters” because Derek’s system works. This may sound like hype but it’s only because I am really happy and glad to share my experience. After all that is the reason why I had this website done.

Cold sores become a nuisance at any age. Once you’ve encountered them, they recur as an unpleasant, unwanted guest. Apart from the repulsive presence of sore patches, these cold sores are quite hurtful. The affected person is undeservingly a target of stares and sometimes, ridicule. Hence, these cold sores have psychological implications too.

The cold sore medicines review is imperative for you prior to the selection of the most suitable alternative in treatment. There are different types of medication available for cold sores. Some are applied over the blisters while others are orally consumed. Medicated mouthwashes, toothpastes, solutions, as well as patches are now also available.

Consideration Factors

During any cold sore medicine review, there are three factors upon which all the medications are evaluated: Value for money, side-effects, and effectiveness. Other than these core values, things like their availability, brand, duration for action, etc. are also significant.

Some of the most prominent and extensively sold medicines for cold sores include Abreva, Benzocaine, Docosanol, Zovirax, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen and Lidocaine. Even though these brands are very much successful in their product categories, they have mixed cold sore medicine reviews. Each has its commendable attributes and associated criticisms. For instance, Zovirax is known to be one of the most effective options in the bunch. It works really fast to not only clear the cold sore, but to prevent it from reappearing too. However, its negative aspect is its relative price. The medicine is offered at a premium price. So, if you review it from the budget aspects, it may not be the most appropriate one for you.

Some of the cold sore medicines contain the ingredients that might cause the allergic reactions. Hence, it works for the worse of your existing condition. For example, an Oralmedic cream for mouth ulcers and cold sores consists of sulfuric elements. So, the presence of sulfur can be adversely-reacting on some patients and might make the sores even more painful and itchy. Regard the side-effects and ingredients vigilantly through your cold sores medicine reviews.

Credibility of the brand has to be backed up by some reliable facts and references. Even though many are the non-prescription drugs, you must get a good recommendation from a health professional. Marketing claims can be false, so do your research well and avoid falling for any scams. You are more prone to such activities when you are purchasing online or reading a passionate tale about how someone got the ‘magic beans’ to ‘ultimate success’. Always rationalize their arguments and logically decide the optimal solution to get rid of these cold sores.

The trend and spread of natural cold sore medicines is catching up. People are resorting to nature and herbal sources for the cure of this irksome problem. While some may not trust the effectiveness of such options like lysine supplements, lemon balm, resveratrol, etc., it’s advisable to opt for these medications if they are from a credible source.

With the increase in the number of individuals affected by cold sores, many have started looking for the medications that are widely used for treating cold sores. Amidst the existing over the counter medications, many intend to have an in depth understanding of the prescription medications in detail for that would testify to be relatively safe and secure.

The latest innovation in this regard constitutes Lipsovir, a prescription drug and a new cold sore medicine from Medivir. This new cold sore medicine was approved by the FDA on July 31, 2009 and the launch date is still yet to be out.

What is Lipsovir?

Lipsovir, the new cold sore medication aims at treating recurrent fever blisters and curbs the onset of ulcerative cold sores. It has also testified to shorten the sore healing tenure.

Lipsovir constitutes a combination of hydrocortisone and acyclovir. Acyclovir is an anti viral medication that has proven to combat against the ontogenesis and transmission of herpes virus. Though the medication does not cure the sores and wipe out the virus from the body, it has testified to lessen the symptoms and alleviate the inflammation caused due to the fever blisters. Hydrocortisone is a variant of steroid that helps in battling against the chemicals that cause irritation, inflammation and redness on the skin surfaces.

While it is recommended to use Lipsovir for treating cold sores that are at their starting stage, this drug is intended to treat the fever blisters among adults and children who are over 12 years of age.

Interesting Facts about Lipsovir

Since FDA had categorized Lipsovir, the new cold sore medicine as a category C drug, it might be harmful for an unborn baby. Before taking Lipsovir, it is imperative to tell your medical practitioner if you are pregnant or planning to have a family soon.

It is highly emphasized that you apply the cream as per the dosage prescribed for an excess might prove to be detrimental. Ensure that you make use of a glove and apply the cream using a cotton swab as with other cold sore medications for that would be helpful in controlling the outbreak and transmission to others.

While children under the age of 12 are discouraged from resorting to the usage of Lipsovir, care must be taken and proactive discussion is a must if you are allergic to acyclovir or hydrocortisone.

Cold sore medicine reviews reveal that the side effects of this new cold sore medicine might be mild and can constitute itching, irritation and tolerable pain. However, if you notice allergic symptoms like breathing difficulties and swelling around the area of usage, it is imperative that you get medical help immediately.

While there is ample information floating around the internet about new cold sore medicines, it is vital to understand the top and the most effective FDA approved prescription cold sore medicines for that would prove to be safe and secure whenever used rather than opting for any other treatment for curing cold sores.

This article lists out the top 2 powerful cold sore medicines based on personal experiences. The latest FDA approved Lipsovir is discussed here in detail as the third prescription cold sore medicine option.

Denavir Cream 1%

Generically available in the form of penciclovir topical, Denavir is an antiviral prescription cold sore medication initially approved by FDA in the year 1996. This medication is intended to be used externally and if used near the eyes or inside the nose is likely to cause irritation.

The recommended dosage entails the application of this cream once in every 2 hours during the day. Approximately, it can be used 9 times a day. However, excessive usage of this cream is strictly prohibited and it has to be used during the tingle stage where the individual starts feeling soreness around the areas of prospective infection. Redness or inflammation in the areas of the lips and mouth insinuates the onset of cold sores. It is vital that you start applying this medication at this stage of the inset of the infection for it to be effective.

Zovirax Cream 5%

Commonly referred to as the acyclovir, it works similar to that of Denavir cream. This prescription cold sore medicine is also applied externally. The recommended dosage entails the external application for 4 times a day. It is quite expensive and is recommended that you apply this cream at the onset of the tingling stage of sold sores. However, this cream has proven to be effective in controlling and healing the blisters after they appear.

Working Principle of Denavir and Zovirax

Both these prescription cold sore medications work by managing and limiting the extent of damage caused by cold sores. However, they are neither intended to be perfect cure for cold sores nor are prescribed as the preventive medications for the contraction of cold sores. As such, even after the application of these creams, it is likely that the herpes virus type 1 lingers in the infected patients’ body and remains passive till another infection or outbreak sets in.

Lipsovir

This is the recently FDA approved prescription medicine for cold sores. Being a combination of Acyclovir and hydrocortisone, it helps in preventing ulcerative fever blisters and shortens the healing time of the blisters.

Famvir and valtrex are the other prescription cold sore medicines that are in vogue today. Before resorting to any of these, please make it a point to get your physician’s advice for that would render safe and secure usage of these medicines in the long run.

The abundant information and reviews on the cold sore medicines floating around makes the choice of the best cold sore medicine quite challenging. However, it is important to understand that know-how involved in making this choice for this would prove to be utile when you are forced to make the choice in future for the sake of a beloved one at home.

Points to Contemplate

When it comes to identifying the best cold sore medicine, it is imperative the following pointers are to be considered in detail.

Stage of Infection: This is one of the very critical factors that need to be pondered upon when choosing the best cold sore medicine for you. There are different cold sore medicines that have proven to be powerful at different stages of the infection. For example, Aberva testifies to be effective when used before the onset of blisters and during the tingling stage while zovirax testifies to be powerful when used even after the appearance of blisters.

Principle of Working: Understanding the principle of working and the effects of using the medicine is really worth considering since most of the cold sore medicines aim at relieving the patient from the irritation and inflammation rather than expelling the viruses out of the system. Opting for such medications would result in the viruses remaining in passive state within your system which might get reactivated during a future infection.

Cost: This is one of the very major factors since one can always resort to medications that are financially viable. While prescription cold sore medicines like zovirax prove to be expensive due to the unavailability of equivalent generic medicine, over the counter cold sore medicines like Aberva can be pretty much affordable.

Effectiveness: The capability of the medicine to alleviate the pain and inconvenience is very important. Generic medicines like Tylenol are just plain pain relievers while medicaments like Denavir, Aberva, Zovirax, and Lipsovir are especially meant to being down the soreness resulting from fever blisters.

Side Effects: It is vital to consider the side effects of medications. A few of the cold sore medications are not intended for pregnant and nursing mothers while there are other few that can cause allergy in select people. Hence, when you are choosing the best cold sore medicine, remember to get the details of the probable side effects that they cause in depth.

Making the Final Choice

With the help of the pointers discussed above, you would emphatically be able to list the top 5 out of the myriad medicaments that are in vogue today. However, to make the final choice of the best cold sore medicine for you, it is highly emphasized that you contact your medical practitioner for he is the right person who is well aware of your pre medical conditions in detail.

Suffering from cold sores is not only painful but also unsightly. In reality, there are at least 100 million people who suffer from cold sores annually. In such a scenario, it is good to understand the different types of medications available for cold sores for that would be handy to get treated in case a need arises in future.

Cold sores, other wise known as fever blisters are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1. The infection is not only contagious but also has the capability to remain passive within the body for a very long time.

The Reality behind Cold Sore Medicines

A quick search in the Internet would reveal that a cold sore medicine, irrespective of whether it is an over the counter medication or a prescription drug proves to be very useful for one while testifies to be useless for the other. Such feedback is mainly due to the usage of wrong medication.

Cold sores are generally associated with different stages. The cold sore medications are intended to be used at different stages of the cold sore. A thorough knowledge in this arena is a must before you opt for the cold sore medicines in really if you really want it to be effective and powerful. Aberva might be effective when applied at the tingling stage while the same may prove to be futile if used after the formation of blisters while Zovirax might be powerful even when applied after the formation of blisters.

As such, it is recommended that you discuss the development stage of cold sore with your medical practitioner and resort to the pertinent and the best cold sore medicine to get rid of the same as quickly as possible.

The Types

There are different types of cold sore medicines that are available in the market today. In general they can be categorized as prescription cold sore medicines and over the counter cold sore medicines.

Prescription cold sore medicines constitute Famvir, Valtrex, Acyclovir, Denavir and the recently FDA approved Lipsovir. While Lipsovir belong to category C drugs that are likely to harm even an unborn baby, Valtrex and Denavir belong to category B drugs that are unlikely to harm the fetus in the womb. These prescription drugs however work towards healing the lesions quickly and bringing down the replication of the virus infection. None of them guarantee a complete cure or ejection of the virus from the human body.

Popular over the counter cold sore medicines include Abreva, a moisturizer and Viroxyn, an inhibitory agent. While there are several other OTC cold sore medicines in vogue today, it is highly recommended that you seek your doctor’s advice before you resort to any medications to be completely safe in the long run!

It’s that time of year again – flu season is upon us. With that in mind, it’s good to remember the saying, “Forewarned is forearmed.” Prepare immune system – and your pantry – to make sure you’re ready, so you can prevent or minimize the effects of the flu….by cutting it off at the pass!

First of all, make sure you’re getting enough rest, and that you’re eating right. Colorful foods, such as fruits and veggies, provide many of the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. Beyond that, nature has also provided a wealth of anti-flu warriors in many herbs, such as Echinacea, which are natural immune boosters.  

How does that work? The herbs’ immune boosters help increase the production of cells (macrophages, phagocytes, T-cells, and white blood cells) that fight and digest viruses, fungi, and some bacteria. They also stimulate the production of defense substances (such as interferon), which protect your non-infected cells from viruses.

As for me, I’ve been able to combat anything that comes my way with a number of products that Arbonne provides, including:

• Arbonne’s Get Well Soon Dietary Supplement has a Triple Shield Echinacea blend that is standardized to be four times stronger than a simple herbal supplement. The Herbal Vapor Soak and Vapor Rub also help respiratory symptoms associated with the flu, like stuffy nose and chest congestion.
• The new Clear Advantage Dietary Supplement contains CoEnzyme Q10, and Reservatrol in addition to Vitamin C and E. Reservatrol comes from plants that produce it to fight off bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
• Arbonne’s Protein Powders are a perfect food source, with an expiration date of about two years (making it great to keep in store, just in case). Protein is essential to support the immune system. This product also has Omega 3 essential fatty acids, Coenyzme Q10, alpha-lipoic acid and more which all boost the immune system and help fight the flu. 
• Go Fizz Energy Tablets will make you feel almost human, even when you’re down with an infection! They contain the Vitamin B complex as well as green tea extract and guarana extract for energy. If you’re sick and there’s an errand that cannot wait until you feel better (though in reality, you should really just stay home), you can fizz up on energy with these energy tabs to get you through!
• The Herbal Lip Ointment and Dietary Supplement help provide relief from cold sores and fever blisters as well.
• The Sea Source Detox Spa line increases your immunity by increasing circulation that can help your body heal more quickly.
• The Detox Tea is great for sore throats, and it helps eliminate toxins (including those from fever-reducing drugs) in the kidneys and liver. This is a wonderful product to use after taking Motrin (metabolized in the kidney) or Tylenol ( metabolized in the liver).

So do your best to keep yourself in top shape, and if you still get sick, then know that when you’re feeling blah and just can’t muster enough energy to go to the grocery store, have your armory ready so you can sit back, rest, and kick that bug as quickly as possible!

A. Cold or viral sores are very common and often times manifest themselves when the mouth’s balance or homeostasis is altered. The use of yogurt daily in the diet or taking acidophilus tablets are very helpful. Often adding the amino acid lysine to the diet is beneficial. Antiviral medications are available for frequent breakouts. Immediate relief can occur by passing the laser light “magic wand” over the lesion. The pain is instantly removed and immediate healing is promoted. It is magic. Click here to schedule an appointment.

 Here is a little video Kelly Pettit  and I made.
It’s a mixture of the “Really Bad Things” series with a bunch of new ones thrown in too!

 note: a very very very very special “thank you” to Kelly Pettit  who did all the work on this one: director, producer, cinematographer, sound engineer, and most especially editor. I really couldn’t have done this with out his expertise in things I know nothing about.
He also carried half the pool table around with me looking silly for a few hours.
Kelly rocks!!!!

double note: I should have smiled more in this video.

triple note: Really Bad Things, More Really Bad Things, and Still More Really Bad Things are still being bad.

notes to myself #10

When you are 9 years old do not do Morris’ paper route for him. He’s not going to pay you; and him and his dad are douche b … oh! … you don’t know those words yet! … they are jerks.

Why is it that we now seem to see the sun as something dangerous? Is it something to be feared and avoided at all costs? Will age you, give you cancer and cause your immune system to go into free-fall? A quick look through the blog posts coming out of the northern hemisphere would lead you to thinking that we are waging a war against the sun. I wanted to find out how something once revered is now vilified. Care to come outside?

The sun is massive its diameter is about 218 times larger than the earth and with temperatures on the surface reaching 6000C it is hot. Consisting mainly of hydrogen (73%) Helium (25%) it is actually a burning ball of gas that is constantly moving, reacting and radiating heat. The charged plasma surrounds the sun like a massive magnetic force field, occasionally spewing out as solar flares towards the earth. We see this as the beautiful and spectacular northern and southern lights.

The earth takes receives almost all of its energy from the sun and without it, life would not exist. Out of the 386 billion billion megawatts of energy that the sun produces, around 89000 terawatts reach the earth – a terawatt is one trillion watts (1012) (Universe Today)

The sun gave us life and the sun sustains life on this planet so, why do we need sunscreen?

Our fear of the sun is not totally irrational. Excessive sun exposure can lead to skin cancer, indeed 85% of melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma’s cite the sun as a major trigger. In addition to our health, there are the effects that the sun has on our looks. A quick look at the ingredient list of any of the top anti-ageing brands confirms that sun protection is an anti-ageing priority. Skin damaged by the sun displays more wrinkles, looks thickened or leathery and may also end up with pigmentation problems. Not an attractive proposition in an era when forty is the new twenty, sixty the new thirty and ninety the new sixty!

Third on the “anti-sun” agenda is the suns immunosuppressant power. If like me, you get cold sores as a memento from your day on the beach you would tend to agree that the sun is definitely putting your immune system under stress but is it? Immunosuppresing is actually a good thing. If our bodies didn’t turn down our immune reaction when out in the sun, a small sunburn could turn into an anaphylactic shock rather than just a prickly rash. I know what I would rather have! And the cold sores? Well, for those who harbor this virus in the body, the immunosuppressing action of the sun leaves the gate open just enough for the cold sore virus to kick in. Unfortunately, that is the pay off.
Things are looking bleak out here and we haven’t even mentioned global warming!

But are we being fair? Is the sun really so bad and are our bodies really so ill equip to deal with our daily dose? And what about Vitamin D? To answer some of these questions we decided to look at plants – after all, I have never seen a cactus reach out for the factor 30. What do they have that we don’t?

When I mention the cactus, I automatically think of those huge, western style plants but the truth is that cactus come in all shapes and sized. They belong to the succulent family and while some are adapted to the arid deserts of Arizona, others are more at home in more temperate climates. Try planting a mountain dwelling cactus in the desert and it will get sunburn. Take a desert dwelling cactus to the rainforest and it will get foot rot! It seems that people and plants are not so different.

Desert dwelling cacti have evolved to deal with the suns full force. They have no leaves to preserve water and use hairs, spines and sometimes wax to protect them from the sun. So, it would seem that plants do indeed wear sunscreen.
The problem that people have is our desire to explore. We invented boats, trains then planes to take us everywhere. While this travelling has proved to be of great benefit to humankind, it has contributed to our sun-hate relationship!
Take me for example. I have a skin type of 1 according to the Fitzpatrick scale – just call me burney! I chose to move to Australia with my family five years ago and while the intensity of the sun did lead me to think “is this wise for someone so melanin deficient?” I, along with my equally white family decided to come anyway. Now if I were a plant I would have shriveled and died by now without lots of care, as a person I have managed to live in near perfect harmony with the sun until now. BUT to do that comes with strings attached.

My skin is perfectly adapted to the place that I came from. I am not sure exactly where that is as us Europeans had a liking for cross border travel but let us say that I am more Anglo-Saxon than Greek or Roman. Fair skin is quite useful in dark and gloomy England. There is no need to go to the trouble of making lots of melanin, as there is very little sun to protect against. In addition to sun protection, a study by anthropologist Nina Jablonski showed that skin colour is important in vitamin synthesis. For your body to make vitamin D, a vitamin that helps the body to absorb calcium, the skin needs the sun.

Light skin seemed to have been developed to enable the body to synthesize vitamin D even when there is only low levels of UV light. The darker the skin, the more sun is required to make the vitamin D. This is one reason why darker skinned people living in cooler, darker climates can be at risk of having low Vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D is not the only vitamin to have a sun relationship. Jablonski also showed that foliate can be broken down by too much sun. This may be the main reason why people living nearer the equator developed darker skin – especially as it has been found that you can’t overdose on vitamin D! Foliate is required for neural development and UV radiation has been found to reduce foliate levels in the body.

So, finding myself in a hot, dry climate where the sun’s rays are intense leaves me with a problem. My skin is not adapted to this environment. I need help! It seems that the sun is not the problem. The problem is me.
Of course, those of us who are lucky enough to have a passport reserve our right to travel and make our home base wherever we choose. I have no intention from my new homeland and I doubt that I can get my skin to evolve any quicker by frying it. Therefore, I have to be sensible.

People often ask me “what is the best sunscreen on the market” and my gut reaction is to say “your brain”. Our bodies have been designed to work with the sun; we need to sun to keep us healthy both mentally and physically. Anyone who has visited Sweden in the winter will know the problems that Seasonal Affective Disorder brings on. Ultra-Violet light makes us tick.

There really is nothing to fear with going outside and enjoying a safe, healthy dose of sun. How much is enough? Everyone is different. We carry around the best sunscreen on the market every day – our skin. We just need to read the label and apply common sense frequently.

So, does that mean that commercial sunscreens are defunct? Of course not, but nothing is as broad spectrum and as personally prescribed as your own skin. A commercial sunscreen, however good will still let some sunlight through. This is OK if you are paying attention and listening to your body as you enjoy your day on the beach. We run into problems when we hand over responsibility for our skins safety to the sun lotion. The two need to be used together.
A good broad-spectrum sunscreen and some behavior modification will ensure that going outside is not only safe, it is fun and life affirming. As for the immunosuppressant – nothing suppresses the immune system faster than a depressed person who is depriving their bodies of the good things that nature has to offer and that include the sun.
Come outside.

Amanda Foxon-Hill

We continue this week’s discussion of amino acids…

The next four on the list are isoleucine, leucine, valine and lysine.
 
Isoleucine, leucine and valine are crucial in the formation of hemoglobin, the protein molecule in red blood cells. Leucine and valine also improve energy levels and muscle efficiency by expending themselves into energy in muscles being used for physical activity.

Lysine, like most essential amino acids, becomes an integral part of muscle tissue. It also aids in calcium absorption, helps fight cold sores and herpes viruses.

Cold sores are not brain surgery. When representatives detail pharmacists on products, cold sore creams get short shrift.

Here are my ideas for getting reps excited about their market:

Microsite

1. Deliver a microsite (see rep engagement) to involve community

- Instead of emailing reps training, videos, initiative info, competition, it is all uploaded onto this

- Facebook group/ WordPress blog, for example

2. Produce a video (for microsite and/or emailing) 

-         Video aligns the values of the reps with the product values (Zovirax is more bioavailable than many cheaper creams because it contains the optimal amount of vehicle)

-         Sections like: More available (always around to do calls); More credible (Great selling skills); More hardworking (how many hours the team’s put in so far this year…)

-         Would include clips of the reps/ interviews

-         At the end, clips of reps giving their top tips on getting more out of the new detail aid

3. Competition: “Reach the masses” 

1. Reps tasked to produce a “viral” relating to cold sores/ Zovirax, that could eventually be posted on YouTube

4. Charity drive: “You can do more”

-         Send an email out to announce what the new campaign is all about (at the same time as sending the new detail flow/training) – that Zovirax “does more”

-         Get each salesforce team to choose a charity, institution, refuge . 

-        Give them a day off to do something cool for charity e.g gardening OR allow them to donate salary to remote charities.

Cold sores are often known by the name fever blisters. This occurs in the form of small wounds which appear on your mouth and lips.  Cold sores are not only give a painful experience to the infected but also embarrassing as its random appearance looks bit ugly.  Herpes Simplex Virus is responsible for the cause of cold sore.

Herpes Simplex Viruses are generally found in two types. These viruses though possess some characters in common, are different from each other in its effects. They are found in two types – HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is responsible for the cause of cold sores.  They are commonly found.

HSV-1 virus is easily communicable and spreads in many ways. It emits along with coughing, sneezing and spreads when come in to contact while kissing or by a simple bodily contact. A child can get this virus from an infected parent during parental contacts.

A cold sore usually will not last for more than ten days.  It will naturally go away less than in two weeks time or in one week.  Usually it will not reoccur for many years.  When infected it will grow in to cluster of blisters and burst open after a few days and leaving a clear fluid secretion. Soon after it will dry up forming a crust and will disappear then.

Some people may need treatment for their cold sore infection. They might feel it embarrassing appearing with cold sore. They are also painful.  For the healing of cold sore OTC and prescription medicines are highly resorted. Once infected with cold sore it is not easy to prevent it, but one can speed up the healing process with the medications.  One should use the medication for this way. There is a great deal of effective natural treatment for cold sores. To learn more about the subject, click the following link: Learn how to get rid of cold sores fast.

Cold sores are easily contagious disease.  There are many ways to keep off this disorder infecting your body and variety of medications is available. Petroleum based  protective products applied on the area with cold sores can help in faster healing of the infection and also prevent the further infection.  For the tremendous pain that cold sores cause, pain killers like aspirin and ibuprofen and found to be effective. Once infected the patient should reduce the intake of salty and acidic food.  It may tend to irritate the cold sore and there by will increase the pain. Another very effective treatment is the Herpflor solution, read more about it by reading this herpaflor review.

Always keep you lips protected from cold sores induced by sun heat. Use sun cream for lips to protect it from sunlight. Always try not to become a carrier of this disease. As it is highly contagious, stay away from kissing or common use of toiletries and belongings.  Always keep hygienic habits. Consult a doctor if there is a frequent attack of cold sore. Warm drinks may activate the virus of cold sore. Try to stick on to fruit juices as it will feel you better and also helps in reducing pain.

Treating your cold sore applying ice is proved to be a good solution.  It will keep dormant the virus and prevent spreading. Use of hand sanitizer will helps to kill the germs and bacteria instantly as most people know. Tannic acid is found to be good for faster healing process. Aleo Vera is a natural medication for the cold sore treatment. It contains a lot of vitamin B-12 and B which help to keep away the cold sore attack. These are just basic but usefull tips to help you with your infections. In order to find out how to control this infection and prevent future outbreak you need to learn how to get rid of cold sores. Take action today!