| Melissa Essential Oil and the Herpes Simplex | | | | feeling for a few days, then my tongue would |
| Virus - A Personal StoryThe Herpes virus is a | | | | get what seemed like individual taste buds |
| difficult little bug; a so-called 'incurable' | | | | that would feel as though they were burnt |
| infection with painful skin lesions. The | | | | (and yes, I have had medical confirmation as |
| sores come and go, more frequenly for some | | | | to their cause). I also had lesions on my |
| individuals than others, and often flollow | | | | lip, but not as often. So I began the Melissa |
| stressful life conditions where the immune | | | | oil program - just one drop in my mouth a few |
| system may be weakened. Allopathic medicine | | | | times a day - and thankfully I actually liked |
| doesn't yet have a cure for this disease, | | | | the taste!It turns out I wasn't one of the |
| only pills and creamse that must be used | | | | few with a complete remission occuring with |
| regularly to keep outbreaks from recurring | | | | the first application - though I didn't |
| and to lessen their duration. Incurable, | | | | really expect it. The essential oil did help, |
| painful, sort-of ugly, and with great names | | | | however - the outbreaks were shorter and less |
| like 'oral-labial' or 'genital', this can be | | | | intense. Then, after perhaps 5-7 times, the |
| one challenging illness.This is a personal | | | | outbreaks stopped all together. And life has |
| account - I had herpes outbreaks for several | | | | certainly been no less stressful or physical |
| years, and had to deal with painful sores in | | | | - perhaps even the opposite! But I've had no |
| my mouth and on my lips - sometimes so bad I | | | | more oncoming flu symptoms or sores on my |
| thought my teeth were falling out! I've been | | | | lips or in my mouth - even after heavy sun |
| through those internal struggles on how to | | | | exposure. I can't remember the last time I've |
| break it to an intimate partner - thankfully | | | | had an outbreak now.For individuals who may |
| their response was never as sever as I | | | | have more sensitive skin than I, or have |
| expected - hough it still seemed like a big | | | | outbreaks in more sensitive places, Melissa |
| deal to me. I regularly had those telling | | | | essential oil can be diluted in a vegetable |
| days of feeling a flu was about to hit, with | | | | or nut oil (Hazelnut oil or Rosehipseed are |
| several days of lesions to follow. What | | | | commonly used) to 1/10th or even less of the |
| seemed the worst, being an athlete, was that | | | | total volume and be just as effective (some |
| training really hard tended to cause | | | | say that even 1% will work). It is important |
| outbreaks almost for certain.I tried | | | | to note - and repeated many times in the |
| prescription medicines as well as some | | | | literature - that taking any essential oil |
| natural routes. Lysine, a singular amino | | | | orally, or appliying undiluted to the skin, |
| acid, helped somewhat, but not all the time. | | | | should be done with extreme caution - whatch |
| I used significant amounts of lip balm, as | | | | your own reaction closely and proceed |
| sun overexposure also tended to cause | | | | accordingly. I do not have experience with |
| outbreaks as well. I thought "I've got a lot | | | | application to the genital variety of Herpes |
| of years left - will I always have to deal | | | | simplex, but the texts do not make a |
| with this?"Then someone introduced me to | | | | distinction - this may be where a carrier oil |
| essential oils, and I learned a little about | | | | could come in handy. But whatever way it's |
| their studied antiviral activity. I stumbled | | | | used, the system should be followed closely: |
| onto research performed with a certain oil | | | | apply Melissa 2-3 times a day to the affected |
| known as Melissa. Melissa essential oil is | | | | area when an outbreak is on the way, and use |
| distilled from Melissa herb, a plant with a | | | | it until the sores have healed completely. |
| long history in natural medicine. The plant | | | | Follow this method for the next several |
| yields a relatively small amount of oil | | | | outbreaks; there are no guarantees, but this |
| compared to other aromatic varieties, so it's | | | | may work for you or someone you may know - |
| cost seems a little high. But formal | | | | and what a wonderful thing it can be!For |
| investigation has been being going on in | | | | sufferer's of Shingles, another Herpes virus |
| Europe for many years applying the oil to | | | | variety causing lesions of the skin, |
| herpes lesions, with very promising results. | | | | Ravensara (Ravensara aromatica, or 'True' |
| One company has even extracted a component of | | | | Ravensara) oil has been used. Individuals |
| the oil and sold it in a prescription form | | | | have found relief using Ravensara in a 50-50 |
| (though I have not read of any evidence | | | | blend with Tamanu Nut oil. The Tamanu Nut |
| showing the extract works better than the oil | | | | sooths the skin during the healing process |
| itself).The most encouraging statement | | | | and keeps the Ravensara in contact with the |
| regarding the use of Melissa on herpes was | | | | sores. I have not heard of this offering a |
| made by Dr. Dietrich Wabner, a professor at | | | | complete cure, but I have heard of this blend |
| the University of Munich: he stated that a | | | | really helping relieve discomfort of this |
| single application of Melissa may lead to a | | | | condition.If you decide to try these natural |
| complete remission of the disease. A possible | | | | methods, when buying essential oils, buy from |
| cure! I'd figured I had nothing to lose, so I | | | | a trusted source - Melissa oil particularly |
| tried a little bottle of the oil.Searching | | | | has been adulterated due to it's high cost. |
| further, I found a regimine for the oils' | | | | The 'fake' mixture - a blend of Lemongrass |
| use. Melissa might not lead to a complete | | | | and other essential oils oils - do not |
| remission in just one application - other | | | | contain the same antiviral components. True |
| healers were finding success when the oil was | | | | Melissa is typically found in the range of |
| applied to the affected area when an outbreak | | | | $10 - $20 per milliliter, with organic |
| felt 'imminent'. The oil was applied perhaps | | | | varieties costing a little more. There are |
| three times per day during the outbreak; this | | | | nearly twenty-five drops in one milliliter, |
| was repeated the next several times the user | | | | and because only one drop is typically used |
| thought an outbreak may be coming on, and | | | | for each application, a few milliliters (1/4 |
| through the duration of the skin healing. My | | | | to 1/8th ounce) can go a long way. If you try |
| outbreaks were usually on my tongue at that | | | | this natural healing oil, or to recommend it |
| point (though they started on the palate of | | | | to those in need, I wish the best of success! |
| my mouth). I would get a very fatigued | | | | |