Cold Sores vs. Pimples: How to Tell the Difference
Confused about whether you have a cold sore or a pimple? Learn how to tell the difference and discover natural treatments, including H-Balm Cold Sore Extra Strength and our natural Acne Pimple solution, to heal and prevent breakouts effectively
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Kiss Without Worry: 7 Ways to Keep Your Lips Healthy This Valentine’s Day
Stay kiss-ready this Valentine’s Day! Discover essential tips to prevent cold sores, manage stress, and protect your lips from harsh winter weather. Keep your lips smooth and healthy all season long.
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Winter Skin Needs Extra Love: 5 Tips for Soft, Healthy Skin All Season Long
Winter weather can be tough on your skin. Cold air, low humidity, and indoor heating can strip away moisture, leaving your skin feeling dry, tight, and irritated. But don’t worry! With a few smart changes to your routine, you can keep your skin soft, hydrated, and glowing all season long.
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Are Cold Sores and Shingles Related?
By Dr. Peter Klapper Ph.D. When you think of cold sores and shingles, you wouldn’t think that they would be related at first. Cold sores are found on your mouth and lips and shingles can appear anywhere on your body. However, did you know that these two ailments are related? To understand better, let’s dive into the two.Cold SoresMost people are familiar with cold sores and the fact that they appear as a fluid-filled blister or sore on your mouth or lips. These blisters can form together in small patches and eventually will scab over after bursting. Typically, cold sores can last around two to three weeks before fully healing.Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and less commonly herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). These viruses are contagious and affect both your mouth and genitals. You don’t even have to see the sores for it to be contagious and spread.How To TreatUnfortunately, there isn’t a cure for cold sores, but treatments are available that can help an outbreak heal more quickly. Prescription antivirals and creams can treat infections, but if you’re looking for a more natural approach, be sure to check out our H-Balm treatment solution specifically for cold sores.ShinglesShingles is another viral infection that is caused by a virus known as varicella-zoster (the same virus that causes the chickenpox.) It can occur anywhere on your body, but tends to appear as a single stripe of blisters around the sides of your torso.It’s important to know that shingles isn’t life threatening, but it does lie dormant in your nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain after having chickenpox. Shingles then can appear years later when the virus has reactivated and can be a very uncomfortable and painful rash.How To TreatIf you think you have shingles, get in touch with your healthcare providers, so you can discuss treatment options. Shingles can be treated with antiviral medications and are most effective if you take them as soon as possible. Lotions and over the counter medication can also help relieve pain.How They’re RelatedSo, remember how we said cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 or 2, and shingles come from the varicella zoster virus? Well, the two are cousins. They belong the same viral subfamily – Alphaherpesvirinae and have similar treatment options, hence the use of antivirals. (Shingles just tends to need a higher dose.)The same goes for the use of our H-Balm Extra Strength. This product is made up of a powerful solution that fights outbreaks in shingles, cold sores and canker sores. It can be used for emergency care during an outbreak or when you feel an outbreak coming on (prodrome.)Homeopathy has been highly successful in relieving of the symptoms with little to no adverse reactions. Indeed, hundreds of thousands of people have benefitted from the amazing curative power of Homeopathy.Give it a try today!
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What is Thuja occidentalis?
By Dr. Peter Klapper Ph.D.Have you ever heard of the ingredient Thuja occidentalis? If you use any of our products and browse the ingredient list, we actually use Thuja occidentalis in several medications. So, what is it?Thuja occidentalis, also known as northern white cedar, is an evergreen coniferous tree that is native to Canada and most of the north-central and northeastern United States. The leaves and leaf oil from this tree are used as a medicine that can help treat infections such as bronchitis, bacterial skin infections, and cold sores. The plants oils are so effective that Thuja is known to loosen phlegm, boost your immune system, can work as a diuretic, treat skin conditions such as warts, and help with muscle and joint pain.At Forces of Nature, we see the benefit that natural ingredients have on the body. It’s why we have worked with homeopathic doctors to create a new standard in natural, organic medicine. But we were not the first to use it.Thuja occidentalis actually date back to the 16th century. The French explorer, Cartier, learned after stepping foot on North American soil with sick sailors, medicine could be created from nature. Native Americans showed him the powerful healing properties from the tree and its oils. The sick sailors recovered from scurvy using the tree’s foliage and has since been the first documented use of indigenous medicine from North America. How We Approach Natural MedicineWe combine certified organic homeopathic medicines with certified organic concentrated essential oils to treat specific ailments. This one-two combination delivers an incredibly powerful and effective result to safely treat common ailments. Homeopathic medicine works with your body on a systemic level to fight and prevent illness at the root of the cause. Essential oils cleanse and soothe while promoting healthy skin. These two modalities deliver superior effectiveness when combined for fast, therapeutic healing while some medicine just suppress symptoms.Our Thuja is shipped direct from a small organic cooperative high in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. These are pristine growing conditions, far from pollution sources and population sources, with limited production. Per pharmaceutical guidelines, we sent the material to an independent FDA lab which verified our Thuja as pure and authentic via monograph and chromatograph testing.Our Products That Use Thuja OccidentalisSeveral of our products use Thuja occidentalis and are an integral part of the makeup of these medications.Those include:Athletes FootA natural athlete's foot treatment that quickly relieves and cures the itching, burning, and irritation from fungal infestations associated with athlete’s foot and jock itch.Eczema Eczema Control is an advance natural eczema remedy that works on a cellular level to balance your skin’s overactive immune response, ease the itch and irritation. The active ingredients help relieve eczema symptoms naturally, without side effects.GoutOur gout pain medication works quickly to relieve the burning, stabbing, and stinging pain while increasing mobility.H-BalmH-Balm Extra Strength is a powerful solution for outbreaks including Shingles, Cold Sores and Canker Sores. Use it for emergency care during an outbreak or when you feel one coming on (prodrome).Muscle Pain Our natural muscle pain reliever treats both localized and systemic muscle pain, soothing and healing muscles at the source.Rosacea Our natural rosacea treatment features a blend of certified organic homeopathic medicines and certified organic essential oils that safely relieve itching, rashes, and irritation of rosacea, regulating skin tone while reducing redness on the skin and swollen blood vessels.SinusOur natural and organic sinus medicine is made from potent medicinal plants with the demonstrated ability to safely relieve sinus congestion without adverse side effects. Effective to treat congestion, sinus pain, and sinusitis symptoms.Skin TagOur natural skin tag remover contains naturally occurring phytochemicals and antioxidants. Skin tags will gradually flake away or fall of entirely with this remedy.WartOur natural wart treatment is an advanced extra strength wart remover. It safely removes warts on the fingers, face and body. Results have been seen within one week.
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Everything You Need to Know About Cold Sores
By Dr. Peter Klapper Ph.D. If you are one of the millions of people prone to cold sores on your mouth or lips, you probably think you know all there is to know about fever blisters, but there’s likely more to know and do to help keep these painful sores at bay. We’ve got you covered. Here are 10 fast facts about cold sore prevention and treatment.Cold sores are commonThere’s no need to feel embarrassed during a breakout. You’re not alone. As many as 80 percent of American adults are infected with oral herpes (HSV-1), the virus that causes cold sores, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cold sores can be painfulThe blisters may sting and burn. Your first cold sore outbreak is usually the worst and may be accompanied by a fever because your body doesn’t have any antibodies against the virus yet. This is why cold sores are also called fever blisters. These blisters can also spread to the surrounding skin or into your mouth. They may break open when you talk, laugh, or chew and ooze fluid. Fever blisters eventually crust over and scab, and the scabs can also crack and bleed. Cold sores keep coming backMost people develop one or two cold sores per year, but as many as 10% of folks may develop more than five per year, and some never experience any symptoms. The virus lives quietly in a group of nerve cells until it becomes activated again.Cold sores sound warning bellsYou will know when a cold sore is coming. You'll likely feel a tingling or itching sensation in the area. This is known as a prodrome.Cold sores are contagious The virus is spread by skin-to-skin contact. Think kissing and sharing straws, cups, or beverages. It is most contagious when you are actively shedding. This begins with the prodrome period. You are less contagious when the lesion has scabbed over and you don't see active blistering.There is no cure for cold soresThis doesn't mean you are powerless. Many products can help limit the course of an outbreak, relieve any pain associated with the cold sore, and possibly prevent future fever blisters.Cold sores are preventableIf you are susceptible to cold sores, avoid any triggers when and where you can. Cold sore triggers coax the dormant virus out of hiding. They may include stress, sleep loss, sunlight, and trauma to the area. If you get multiple outbreaks per year, talk to your dermatologist about taking antiviral medication daily to prevent outbreaks.There are ways to reduce any painIcing the area with a cold compress or applying topical painkillers with benzocaine, lidocaine, dibucaine, or benzyl alcohol can take the sting out of your fever blisters. Over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen also may help reduce cold sore pain. It’s also a good call to limit acidic foods and drinks like juice or vinegar as these can irritate the wound if your blister is open.There are ways to limit the length of your outbreakAntiviral creams such as over-the-counter Abreva (docosanol cream) or prescription acyclovir cream may shorten the duration of the outbreak if you start using them at the first sign. Oral acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir also can shorten the length of the outbreak.There are natural treatments for cold sores Our H-Balm Control Extra Strength contains homeopathic ingredients such as echinacea, thuja occidentalis, natrum muriaticum, and calendula officinalis to boost your immune system’s ability to ward off cold sores. These plants can penetrate deep into cell membranes. This is crucial as the virus resides in the nucleus of the cell. Essential oils are added to soothe and heal the skin and ease pain. For best results, dab 1-2 drops of H-Balm to an outbreak around 3 or 4 times a day during an outbreak. Your lesion will begin to dry out, often within 24-72 hours if you apply it during the prodrome period.Additional Resources:Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Oral Herpes”American Academy of Dermatology: “Herpes Simplex Overview”American Sexual Health Association: “Oral herpes”
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All About Oral Herpes
Herpes is a common viral infection. It is estimated that over 90% of people in America have some form of herpes whether or not they experience outbreaks.
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Cold Sores, Canker Sores or Fever Blisters
Our H-Balm Control Extra Strength is designed to reduce the pain, burning, itchiness and redness associated with cold sores, canker sores and fever blisters from the very first application. It also aids your body’s immune system, to prevent re-occurrences and outbreaks from appearing in the same location. If you’re already taking prescribed antiviral medications, H-Balm Control Extra Strength will work in conjunction with them, enhancing their effectiveness, rather than hindering it.
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Are Shingles Contagious?
Shingles are caused by the reemergence of the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox. After an outbreak of chickenpox, the virus retreats to the person’s nerve cells, where it lies inactive until something (cause yet unknown) triggers its release.
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What is the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)?
Herpes remains one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, the sexual behavioral characteristics of those infected with herpes have not been well characterized. If you have herpes, please be aware you are not alone. It is estimated that over 90% of Americans have herpes. More than 40,000 new cases of herpes are diagnosed each day in America alone that is over 15,000,000 new herpes infections per year!
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