Genital Warts - Natural and Alternative Treatment Remedies
by S.A. Smith
Have you ever been diagnosed with genital warts caused by the HPV virus? If so, your physician has probably advised you of the more conventional treatments available such as pharmaceutical ointments, cryosurgery (freezing), electrocautery (burning) or laser treatment. While many people undergo these types of treatments, some opt for a less invasive natural solution by visiting a Naturopathic doctor. While there is no cure for the HPV virus, there are specific natural treatments that may help reduce and eliminate the warts over time.
TOPICAL TREATMENTS
Before resorting to medically invasive treatments many people are choosing to try alternative treatments that may naturally help reduce or eliminate genital warts. Many holistic treatment resources advise that different remedies will work for different individuals so it may take a little trial and error to find one suited to your needs. Experiment with applying the following directly to the infected wart areas:
Goldenseal: considered to have natural antibiotic properties and may destroy many types of viral infections.
Tea Tree Oil: strong anti-viral and anti-bacterial aromatherapy essential oil.
Aloe Vera: healing and soothing properties.
Garlic Oil: or even raw garlic is believed to promote white blood cells ability to fight infection.
Sour Apple Juice: it is believed the beneficial effect is from the magnesium in the apple
Most of these topical treatments have not been clinically proven as an effective treatment for genital warts, but have shown to have positive benefits is related studies or in fighting other types of viral infections. Other notable mentions for natural topical remedies also include; cabbage juice, banana skin, chickweed, dandelion juice, rubber plant, and pineapple juice.
HERBAL IMMUNE BOOSTING SUPPLEMENTS
Antiviral herbal remedies taken internally to boost the body’s natural ability to fight viral infections include the following supplements:
Echinacea: known for its ability to boost the immune system, is important in the treatment of genital warts.
Astragalus: used in Chinese herbal medicine for over 2000 years, Astragalus is known to improve the body’s ability to fight off viral and bacterial infections, such as the Human Papilloma Virus, by boosting the body’s immune system. Astragalus has been taken as a supplement by people undergoing chemotherapy to help restore their tired immune systems.
Garlic powder tablets: Once used in 1550 BC by Egyptians as an external treatment for tumours, garlic has long since been recognized for it’s medicinal values. Of the many benefits garlic has on the human body, it promotes the ability of white blood cells to fight infection. A natural antibiotic, garlic is effective in countering bacteria, fungus and viral conditions.
Vitamins: Supplementation with high doses of vitamin A, B complex, vitamin C, E, zinc, lactobacillus acidophilus and the amino acid L-cysteine have shown to have immune boosting benefits.
In addition, other noted antiviral herbal supplements include dandelion, greater celandine (cheilidonium), mullein, thuja, houseleek, goldenseal, calendula, lomatium, pau d'arco and wintergreen.
DIET AND LIFESTYLE
It is also suggested that you take a proactive approach in improving your health through lifestyle. By reducing sugars and refined foods, reducing red meat, increasing vegetables and fruit, taking the necessary vitamins and minerals, drinking plenty of water, regular exercise and getting proper rest, you will boost your immune system which will help in fighting off the virus.
EMOTIONAL STRESS
Because genital warts are considered a sexually transmitted disease, diagnosis will often have an emotional impact on the sufferer. Many people will experience a whole gamut of feelings including guilt, fear, rage, isolation and helplessness. HPV is one of the most common viruses in the world with an estimated 20 million sufferers, so as you can see you are not alone. It is believed that emotional health has a direct impact on your physical health. Therefore it is important to work through these feelings. Contact your local STD clinic for a list of support groups available in your area, or there are countless support groups and message boards available on the internet. Through seeing other people’s experiences, you will see HPV is a very manageable virus.
Since most of these natural remedies are considered reasonably safe, they may be worth investigating before turning to invasive and costly medical treatments. Ensure to discuss any alternative treatment strategies with your health care practitioner before starting them. To learn more about conventional treatments for genital warts that have shown to be effective you can visit: http://www.genitalwartsherpes.com/genital-warts-treatment.htm
About the Author
S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, correspondent, and contributing editor of the HPV Genital Warts Herpes resource site and can be reached at http://www.genitalwartsherpes.com
Back to Top Back to Article List
OUR COMMENT:
Great article. See our additional recommendations for boosting yourself and your immune system. Click here.
The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which causes genital warts, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S.
There are many different kinds of human papilloma viruses (collectively referred to here as HPV), only a couple of which can cause genital warts.
Genital warts is a dreadful topic of conversation, but it's definitely something that needs to be discussed.
You see, HPV transmits easily from one person to another, and it is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. however, almost three-quarters of us have never heard of it!
HPV is also responsible for those annoying and ugly warts that sometimes pop up on your hands or feet. But let's stick to the sexually transmitted warts for now - the ones that can lead to genital warts.
Detecting Warts and Transmission of Genital Warts
HPV is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. So, it can be transmitted through any type of sex play, including unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex with a partner who has it. But, just like herpes, if your partner has the virus, she or he can pass it on to you whether or not warts are present at the time you have sex play. Many people who have HPV don't even know it, because they don't have warts. Frightening, isn't it!
So what do genital warts look like?
Unlike herpes, which often have painful, blistery sores, genital warts are usually painless, although they may be a little itchy. They usually start off as small bumps and grow into larger warts that look sort of like cauliflower. (don't avoid eating this vegetable now!) They can be single warts or break out in clusters of ugly warts.
External Genital Warts
External Genital Warts (EGWs) are a troubling and depressing problem for both men and women. They are caused by the same virus, HPV (human papilloma virus,) that causes warts throughout the body.
Genital Warts are frequently mistaken as a more serious sexual disease (STD) and the resulting anger and confusion frequently causes severe anxiety and emotional trauma to sufferers and their sexual partners and family.
Although caused by the HPV virus, external genital warts can be highly contagious and spread rapidly around the thighs and genitals. Immediate steps must be taken to strengthen the immune system against the virus and to destroy the virus before it grows and replicates.
WHERE DO WOMEN GET WARTS?
Women usually get them on the vulva, the vagina, the cervix, or the anal area.
WHERE DO MEN GET WARTS?
Men get genital warts on the foreskin, head or shaft of the penis, the urethra, the scrotum, or the anal area.
WHAT ABOUT WARTS IN THE THROAT?
Women and men can also get genital warts in the throat as result from having oral sex. That can cause problems if warts in throat decide to grow real large! Imagine eating with a marble stuck in your throat!
Genital warts aren't deadly, but they are super-contagious. I'd suggest you think twice before you have unprotected sex with someone who's infected, since there's a 30-to-60 percent chance you'll catch the virus. Remember- even if you don't see the warts on your partners penis or vulva (little chance you can go hunting in the vagina with a flashlight...) your partner may still be a career of HPV!
At present, like herpes or AIDS, there is no cure for HPV infections. The good news is that most genital HPV infections go away by themselves within six months.
Treatment and Prevention of Genital Warts in Men and Women
Basically, what can you do if you're infected? Not much. Treatment for genital warts focuses on controlling future outbreaks, through prescription creams that you apply to the warts or by removing the warts with surgery (ouch). Try boosting your system with healthy foods, Noni juice, EFT Click here for EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) - the Physical Symptoms Section. And PLEASE- have protected sex to prevent catching genital warts in the first place!
So how can you prevent genital warts?
Condoms don't eliminate the chance of you contracting genital warts entirely, but they do reduce the risk. It's important to avoid direct skin-to-skin contact with anyone you know has an outbreak of genital warts. But there is only 100 percent way to make sure you don't catch genital warts, and that is abstinence. Avoid sex! Read a book instead! Watch the telly! Write an e-book! Anything!
Attention! Keep in mind there are some other types of HPV - besides the actual warts - that can put a woman at risk for cervical cancer or men at risk of cancer of the penis. The changes in the cells of the cervix caused by certain HPVs that could lead to cancer are easily detectable by a Pap test. Early treatment of precancerous growths can prevent cancer from developing. So it's very important to see a clinician once a year for a gynaecological exam and Pap test if you're sexually active (and haven't taken my advice to stay solo) or over 18 years old.
Back to Top Back to Article List
OUR COMMENT:
The following factors put you at higher risk for getting genital warts and other complications of HPV:
- Multiple sexual partners
- Not knowing if someone you had sex with had STDs
- Early age when you start to be sexually active
- Tobacco coffee and alcohol use
- Stress and other viral infections (such as HIV or herpes) at the same time
- Low immune system, combined with bad eating habits. (Check out Dr. Mercolas' fantastic site. He gives great information about all health risks, foods, diet etc)
If a child has genital warts, you should suspect sexual abuse as a possible cause.
Attention: Read this man's account of how he got rid of his 6-year warts. Want to get rid of Your stubborn skin moles, warts, plantar warts, genital warts, and even skin tags?
LIVE your life without the ugliness, fear and low self-esteem moles, warts, and skin tags create...
Click here to read his report!
