Well, wouldn’t you know it?  Tomorrow, you have an important business presentation in the boardroom at your office.  You will be meeting several potential new clients.  You can’t believe that Mount St. Helens is erupting on your lips!!!

This morning you woke up with a tingly sensation on your lip and now it has turned into a painful cluster of blisters. Cold sores are small, painful, fluid filled blisters that are caused by the herpes simplex virus 1.

Once you are exposed to this virus and infected with the herpes virus you are infected for life. Exposure to HSV-1 and the infection commonly occurs in childhood. The virus enters the body through a break in the skin in and around the mouth area. It can spread if someone touches the cold sore or the infected fluid.

Herpes viruses lie dormant in certain nerve cells of the body until something like stress, strain, a cold or excessive exposure to sun causes them to manifest. In the case of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 it shows up on the lips and the sores will last anywhere from seven to fourteen days.

There are no cures for cold sores, however, treatment for cold sores will help decrease the discomfort.

1. Try using a wet teabag (black tea)  and apply for a few minutes as soon as you feel the tingling. If applied soon enough it may prevent a cold sore from forming or help reduce its size.
2. Apply ice on it to slow the growth of the virus. This lessens the severity of the outbreak. Wrap the ice in a wet towel and apply to sore for five to ten minutes every hour.
3. Apply moisturizing ointments which have antiviral agents and analgesics in them.  Try lemon balm, phenolic acid, salicylic acid or benzocaine. Treatment for cold sores with these products will lessen the pain and the severity of the cold sore.
4. One study showed that zinc oxide cream reduced the duration of an outbreak
5. As Sun exposure can trigger outbreaks you will want to prevent cold sores by using a lip balm with SPF 15 and reapply every hour.
6. Cold, windy weather is also a trigger so be sure to bundle up and protect your mouth with a scarf or ski mask.
7. Avoid salty or acidic foods as these can irritate the cold sore and add to the pain.

Cold sores are very contagious so while you have a cold sore avoid kissing, sharing cups, towels or other items. Wash your hands frequently.

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Are you embarrassed to take off your shoes in front of company? When you take off your shoes do you get the same reaction as lifting the lid from a garbage pail?

Foot odor usually occurs because your feet are overheated, sweat pours from the sweat glands just under the skin and then the bacteria acts upon the sweaty secretions. The best way to stop the smell is to reduce perspiration and get rid of the bacteria.

The first foot odor remedy is to wash away the bacteria with deodorant soap followed up by drying your feet well.

• For extra sweaty feet soak them in a drying solution such as tea (black tea). Place two to four tea bags in a pint of boiling water for fifteen minutes. Pour the brew into a pail filled with two quarts of cool water and soak your feet for twenty to thirty minutes. Do this daily for a week to ten days and after that use only as needed. The tannins in the tea block the pores and choke off the sweat.
• Another foot odor remedy is to soak your feet in half a cup of kosher salt added to a quart of water. After soaking don’t rinse your feet, just let them air dry. Salt has an antiseptic effect as well as a drying effect on the skin.
• Use your antiperspirant or deodorant on your feet. Deodorants contain antibacterial agents that can kill the bacteria and will eliminate the odor but they won’t stop the sweat.  Antiperspirants stop the sweat and eliminate the odor.
• Make sure your socks are made from natural fibers such as cotton or wool which breath and help to keep your feet dry. Likewise, choose shoes that breathe such as leather or canvas. Avoid shoes lined with rubber or synthetic materials.
• Dust your feet, socks and shoes with absorbent powders that contain cornstarch or talc. Deodorize shoes by sprinkling one to two teaspoons of baking soda inside to absorb moisture and hide odors.
• A simple foot odor remedy is to wear shoe inserts containing activated charcoal to help absorb moisture and odor. Change these inserts often.

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