Balance Body pH and Cold Sore Help

by Sally
(Florida)

Melissa - wow, where to start? I really need some help to balance my body pH.


I am suffering from frequent (I mean FREQUENT every 3 weeks) cold sore outbreaks. I bought the pH testing kit and have tested every a.m. and p.m. and my average is 6.2.

Yesterday I ate something (corn tacos or cashews or cake - one or all of these) that started the outbreak process. By the time I got home, my pH was dropping from my normal of 6.2 down to a 5.8. I frantically drank lemon juice and pH drops to no avail. When I went to bed the pH test showed me at 5.2. The strip didn't even change color I was so acidic!

What can I do to boost my pH during times like this and what can I do to help my immune system fight this virus?

Thanks for your help.


ANSWER


Hi Sally,

First let me say that it is normal for our urine pH and saliva pH to change throughout the day. Our body pH levels are the most acidic late at night and the most alkaline during early afternoon.

Our body pH can also change after we have had something to eat or drink. Even stress can have an effect on our pH levels.

See body pH changes for more information on how and when to test. And of course for what it all means.

So don't test too frequently if it is going to stress you out. It took a long time for your body to get too acidic in the first place and healing will take a long time too (although not near as long thank goodness!).

Stress might also be the reason for your cold sore outbreaks.

A common natural remedy to suppress the herpes virus is lysine. Take 1-3 grams per day to keep the cold sores away. See my page on amino acid supplements for more details on lysine.

High doses of vitamin C can also help prevent cold sores. At the first sign of an approaching outbreak, do a vitamin C flush. That will flood your cells and tissues with enough of the vitamin to stop the virus from replicating.

The lysine and vitamin C are more for managing the outbreak though. If you are looking more toward prevention, get your vitamin D levels checked.

New research is showing that if your body has enough vitamin D, herpes outbreaks will not happen.

Maybe you're thinking there is no way you could be vitamin D deficient. You live in Florida, after all.

But it is highly possible, probable even.

Studies have shown that the vast majority of Arizonans (occupants of our sunniest state) are deficient. If they can't get enough of a vitamin D dosage, then what chance to the rest of us have?

Keep in mind that sunscreen blocks vitamin D production.

So, in summary, be patient with your body pH levels. It can take months to get your body pH balance back on track.

As long as you are eating lots of alkaline forming foods and limiting the processed acid forming foods, you'll get there.

If you are looking for faster results, try these alkaline supplements.

And go to your doctor for vitamin D testing to get your cold sore outbreaks under control. You'll want your vitamin D levels to be over 50 ng/ml.

Wishing you the best of health,

Melissa
Approach Wellness


Comments for Balance Body pH and Cold Sore Help

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Kudos!
by: Anonymous

Can I just say, "Kudos!" I just went to an herbalist today for help with my own cold sore and body acidity dilemma this afternoon. She got me hooked up with exactly what you recommended; Lysine, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D. She told me, too, that Lysine enables your body to absorb Vitamin C; the two have to be taken together in order for the Vitamin C supplements to be effective.

I've heard that yogurt with active cultures (active lactobacilis) is good for cold sore problems. I learned a few days ago that the reason Activia helps "regulate" people is because it is has a laxative in it. It's citric something and sounded like it might be a natural laxative. Natural or not, taking laxatives on a regular basis isn't healthy, so I would avoid Activia as an on-going preventative measure against cold sores.

Thanks for teaching me how/why sunscreen works. I loved your well-informed and documented, politely-firm response to the hater who bashed you for saying sunscreen prevents the body's production of Vitamin D.

On a seemly-unrelated topic, I would encourage anyone with frequent bouts of cold sores to check out the master list of symptoms for Lymes disease. Lymes is a total epidemic that for some insane reason most people something of which most people are largely unaware and/or ignorant. It's a huge problem in all 48 continental states. It is a parasite that thrives in, and helps foster, an acidic environment. They eat up your body's Vitamin C, D, Magnesium, and other vitamins and minerals, and they beat down your body's natural defense (immune) system. Their favored diet consists of simple carbs, so they cause people to crave sugar.

Anyone with a host of weird, seemingly-unrelated health issues, including, but not limited to, frequent cold sores, and anyone who has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, MS, and/or ALS (and all of us carboholics) should definitely check out the Lymes symptom master list at www.anapsid.org/lyme/symptoms/‎

If you identify with the symptom list, you might want to check out the youtube video, "Under Your Skin." In fact, everyone should check this video out. It is a real eye opener!

Great job!
Sunblock
by: Anonymous

Sunblock doesn't block vitamin d, that is a dangerous myth.

RESPONSE

Hi Anonymous,

What is dangerous is spreading incorrect information about something that is so well known.

Do just a little research into it and you will quickly see that you are just plain wrong - and your health may very well suffer because of it.

Sunblock does indeed block vitamin D production as it absorbs UV light and prevents it from reaching our skin. We've known this for decades.

Here's just one study from the 1980's:

Sunscreens suppress cutaneous vitamin D3 synthesis

It finds that properly-applied sunscreen with SPF of 8 decreases vitamin D production by 95 percent - SPF of 15 by 98 percent.

For more info on UV rays, see my page on vitamin D and sun exposure.

Wishing you the best of health,

Melissa
Approach Wellness

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