Cold Sores - BHT Experiment

Just a quick update

2008-07-07T12:04:00.001+02:00

Hi guys, still going strong with no outbreaks. I really can't wait to reach that one year milestone! I've got some good news to report on (sorry it's a bit off track regarding herpes and outbreaks). I've been in contact with my local clinic, as you may know, Southern Africa has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. Being a 3rd world country, not many people infected with HIV can afford or get access to ARV's (Antiretrovirals). I've been speaking to doctors and nurses at my clinic about the success I've been having with BHT on herpes, and how it could possibly be very effective in managing HIV as well. They seem very interested, but being a government run clinic, there is a lot of red tape. I was very surprised to hear, one of the nurses there new about BHT. I've spoken to private doctors who have never heard of it. I'm hoping they can maybe start treating people they have had to previously turn away, I will definitately keep you guys posted!

On another note, I'm so glad to see House of Nutrition has updated their website, and can finally reflect the quality products and service they offer. After the nightmare I've had with VRP, double charges and a shipment getting lost, House of Nutrition was a god send. I'm mentioning this as I thought it was an isolated case, me being in South Africa, but recently quite a few people have mentioned they've had similar experiences with them, just to let you know.

Hoping my American readers had a wonderful 4th July enjoying their freedom and liberalization! :)

Warm Regards
Lucky

Just over 100 days till I've been outbreak free for a year!

2008-06-26T10:07:00.004+02:00

Hi Everyone! Once again, I'm sorry for the long delay in my reply. It has been, how do I say, exciting times here in South Africa with all the xenophobic attacks, power outages, and all the drama with Zimbabwe's elections. Hopefully, once this has passed and when we've learnt from it all, it will make us a stronger more united country.

I'm sure everyone is dying to know if I'm still outbreak free, and it is a resounding YES!! I do have a bit of bad news though, I got my test results back from the clinic, and it came back positive for the virus. Honestly, other then by some miracle, I wasn't expecting it be negative! I am still taking a rather low dosage. I've upped it to 500mg per day now for the past 2 weeks, still with no side effects to report.

Thanks for all the replies to what I should take in order to get an outbreak. I know I'm a bit of a coward, but being so close to not having an outbreak for a year, I didn't want to chance it! I went and bought some almond milk. Was even tempted to take a sip, but it felt like that hesitation when you were little, as when you were just about to run into the ocean, on the first day of spring.

I was kinda happy to find myself thinking, were these cold sores really that bad? I had a pimple near my lip recently, during the past if I woke up with something like that, you would never see someone run to a mirror so fast to investigate what it was! However, I just rolled over and went back to sleep. Yes I know it's sad, but it does remind me of how traumatic they used to be for me, and I am so glad I have finally found something that works.

Just to answer a few questions:
Becca, I'm sorry to hear about your 23 month old child suffering from cold sores. I definitely wouldn't recommend giving her BHT orally. However dissolving BHT in some oil, and applying it topically could be very beneficial as others have found. Just make sure that she doesn't ingest any. Other then that, make sure she is on a diet which helps to promote her immune system.

Veritas, sorry to hear about your outbreak. How was the severity of your outbreak compared to when you weren't taking BHT? Also instead of increasing your intake of BHT, try supplementing with St Johns Wart, which contains Hypercin and works very effectively when used in conjunction.

And lastly to Marty, thanks for the feedback, I'm always glad to hear others having positive results!

I'm glad to report the amount of unique viewers per month has surpassed 1000! I was really happy to see that. However, the more people that know, the better chance the big wigs will take notice!

And guys if you have a spare minute in your day and you find this blog interesting and helpful. Please lend a hand by bookmarking this blog. I've added a link in the right column called 'bookmark' for convenience. Every link to this blog helps.

Also to let you know, I'm going to be adding a sponsors section to the right, which will be clearly marked as such. I know, I know, I wanted to put as little advertising on here as possible. But all of the revenue I create I use to push more traffic to this site, and create as much awareness about BHT as possible!

Once again, thanks everyone for the tremendous support! I really do appreciate it. And I'm sorry that it is taking longer then usual to get back to everyone, but I will try my best to reply to each and every email I get at luckyphoswa@gmail.com

Cheers! Lucky

Quick Update

2008-05-19T23:02:00.003+02:00

Surprise surprise, still no outbreaks as of yet. I would like to find out from everyone what their main culprit is for causing outbreaks, I want to start experimenting again with foods known to cause outbreaks, to see if I can actually have an outbreak whilst on BHT!

I've been in to get tested for herpes simplex virus, I'm still busy waiting results. I'm not holding my breath though, as I'm pretty sure the results will come back positive on the low dosage I'm taking (250mg per day). I'm not too fussed, I'm just glad I've been able to prove to myself and hopefully to others that it is possible to suppress outbreaks on a low dosage, without the aid of St Johns Wart, Lysine and any other cold sore 'inhibitors'.

Best of Luck to everyone :)

Long overdue update!

2008-04-23T09:12:00.005+02:00

Hi Everyone!

I know this update has been very long overdue, I'm not even going to make any excuses ;) I do apologize though.

Well, once again, I'm going to start sounding like a broken record, but I haven't had another outbreak, meaning I've been outbreak free for half a year! It's getting to the point where I actually want to have an outbreak, as I've been reading everyones comments on how quickly their cold sores heal, but, I want to see for myself! But I can't complain though.

I don't care if this sounds like one big, giant ad for BHT, but I'm so glad that I stumbled upon it. I donno what I would be doing if I kept on having continuous outbreaks. Not only were these outbreaks making me really depressed, but really angry too. Not having the best self-esteem, how are you supposed to face the world with a smile on your face if it literally hurts to do so!

One of the worst memories I have with my lovely friends on my lip was in grade 9, almost 10 years ago. My Biology teacher, decided the topic of the day was sexually transmitted diseases, and when she got to the part where cold sores was a form of herpes, I had everyone turn around and look at me in disgust! I can laugh at it today, but I think that's one of the biggest reason I hate cold sores so much. People associate them with an STD, as if it never crosses their mind how you actually got it.

I'm glad to see with this blog, hoever small, is starting to make an impact. An if I can just save one person from the humilation, pain and suffering that results from a cold sore. I'm happy.

Here's wishing everyone, as always, the best of luck with your outbreak free journey!

How does BHT work?!

2008-02-29T11:28:00.003+02:00

I’ve been rattling on for the past few months about the success that I’ve had with BHT in controlling my cold sore outbreaks, yet I haven’t fully explained what BHT is and exactly how it works against this herpes virus.

BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoleune) is a synthetically made antioxidant, it was approved by the FDA as a preservative for food only.

How does BHT work?
It is believed that BHT works by interfering with the viruses’ lipid protein; this is a “shield” that protects the virus from your immune system, hence making it very difficult to defeat. Once this shield is gone, the virus is easily destroyed, so BHT doesn’t directly destroy the virus, it enables your immune system to do this.

Using BHT to help curb herpes outbreaks first become popular with the book “Wipe out herpes with BHT” written by Man and Fawkes and this was way back in the 80’s.

Studies have shown that BHT can inactivate the herpes virus in lab conditions, and to this day no formal experiments have been done on humans to test the benefits of using BHT. BHT is suspected of being able to inactivate viruses, from Newcastles disease which affects chickens, to HIV in humans.

Why has nothing come of it?
Each day I get more and more angry as to why this compound isn’t being tested, it is cheap, affordable, and readily available and if it has some effect on even just HSV (which I am living proof of) why is it not being used? But instead of asking why, we can only create awareness!

I think simply because BHT has been approved as a preservative and cannot be used as anything else. Secondly it cannot be patented, and sadly in the world of medicine, cures don’t make money, on going treatment does.

My experiences with BHT

2008-02-14T12:43:00.011+02:00

This is a response to a comment that I received, asking about the experiences I have had prior to my "experiment" and during it.

During last year, I started experiencing the worst cold sore outbreaks I had in my entire life, which I attribute mainly to the stress I was under at the time. These constant outbreaks lead me to looking for other ways to try and control my outbreaks.

In the beginning during the initial stages of an outbreak, I would do the following:

Apply Acyclovir or a generic topical cream very liberally
Use ice to try and keep the swelling down
I would even take anti-inflammatories which I thought helped some what
To dry out the cold sore I would use hydrogen or spirits, which caused a lot of pain
Other things that I have tried, is coconut oil, garlic, various other creams, and the list goes on and on

All of these remedies offered very little and most likely no relief in my battle with cold sores.

Finally, I came across someone stating that BHT might be the new "cure" for Herpes on Earth Clinic after reading many methods people use to curb their attacks, most of them which I have tried. I researched extensively about BHT and its side effects, a lot of it not being too positive. I then spent the next few months trying to find distributors of BHT, for some reason I had it in my head that I had to buy in bulk, as no one here sells it in capsule form, or in small quantities. To buy it in bulk I would have had to buy a minimum of 25 kilograms (55 pounds), which at the rate I'm going now that would last almost 20 years!

After having no luck with local distributors, and luckily so, I found out that almost all of the BHT imported here comes from China, and even though it's been labeled as food grade, I have been warned not to use it as such and only use it for industrial purposes. So don't even think of going the bulk route, your health is way more important then the small saving you'll get.

I managed to find a supplier in the states, and it's been history ever since. I haven't had an outbreak in almost 4 months! Yes, some people only have one outbreak in a year. I tend to get outbreaks when I am stressed, and with last year being a very stressful time, cold sores seemed to be a permanent feature on my face, making me very depressed and selfconsious. But I'm glad to say, I've been through two very stressful times while on BHT, being retrenched, and moving to a new location, and did not receive one outbreak! I was even stressing about the stress I was under, and starting a new job with a cold sore would have just shattered my confidence.

There is very little to report with the side effects I have had with BHT, other then me not having any outbreaks. I can say my mood has improved drastically, as I don't get paranoid about getting cold sores anymore. I actually feel normal! When ever I did have an outbreak, and I'm sure others have felt the same, I feel kind of sub-human, it felt like people were looking at me in disgust. I would never wish cold sores on my worst enemy.

Lastly, just some information on my physical attributes so you can judge how BHT may effect you. I'm 1.78m's (5'9") tall, and weigh 82kg's (180 pounds), my body fat percentage is sitting at around 15%. I'm also asthmatic and I've read reports that BHT can induce an asthma attack, I however have never experienced this, but please keep that in mind. My dosage of BHT has is now at 250mg's.

I don't want to say it but I think BHT is the best bet at getting back at this virus, so if you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me, I love answering your emails. It makes me so happy to help people with this at its best extremely irritating problem. :)

Almost forgot! HAPPY VALENTINES EVERYONE!

First update in 2008

2008-01-21T14:19:00.000+02:00

Hi Guys!

Hope everyone is well and still sticking to their New Years resolutions! I'm back on caffeine, and I've already ordered take-away a couple times this year.. however, I've still managed to stick to one of my resolutions. Today I have quit smoking for 3 weeks!

Regarding my outbreaks, it has been 87 days since I've had an outbreak! Every time I write one of these posts, I keep thinking I'm going to jinx myself and end up with an outbreak the next day.. but surprisingly still nothing!

I hope everyone else using BHT is having the same amount of luck as me!

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T15:02:00.000+02:00

It's been over two months since I started taking BHT to control my outbreaks, and although in this short period of time, I've gone through a stressful move, and being retrenched from my previous job, I'm pleased to say and very surprised myself that I still haven't had an outbreak!

I want to say thanks to all my readers, and all the support that I have received, and I wish all of you a very very happy outbreak free 2008!

If you looking at purchasing BHT, I get mine from House of Nutrition and have been very happy with them.

Best Regards
Lucky

First Month Update

2007-11-29T08:10:00.000+02:00

It has been over a month since I started my little project and I am pleased to announce the only side-effect so far has been no outbreaks!

I know, I'm still in the early stages, but I'm starting to gain confidence and starting not to worry as much as to when an outbreak will occur, which is a big thing for me as I am always paranoid about it. I'm still only taking 350 mg once a day.

Let me know about your results if you are taking BHT, or any other concoction that you are using to help control your outbreaks! :)

What are cold sores?

2007-11-15T20:34:00.000+02:00

Cold Sores are caused by the HSV1 virus (Herpes Simplex Virus 1) and are part of the family that causes sores on the nether regions, they are however not an STD! They reside around the nerves and skin of the infected area. HSV1 is very common and it is believed that over 90% of adults have been exposed to this virus.

Symptoms
There are 5 distinct stages of coldsores:

Prodome (early symptoms) Stage – You will notice the tingling sensation in the infected area, with slight redness and inflammation. I usually skip this stage as I am sleeping and wake up very suddenly running to a mirror to be pleasantly surprised by a group of small blisters!

Blister Stage – Small fluid filled bilsters will form, often clumping together to form one larger blister.

Ulcer Stage – Also refered to as the weeping stage, this is when the blisters burst and they are the most contagious. Generally I don’t wait for my blisters to burst, I squeeze them before and apply alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to dry them out as quickly as possible.

Crusting Stage – Either from leaving your blisters to dry out naturally or FORCING them to dry out, a scab will form and is a good indication that you are over the worst part of the cold sore, until another appears simultaneously somewhere else on your lip! But eventually your lip will heal, as like any other sore. It’s been noted that scarring seldom occurs, I’ve never noticed scarring before, I’m not sure if it is because I’m getting older but I’m starting to see traces of were previous cold sores have occurred.

How contagious are cold sores?
Apparently cold sores are very contagious as almost the entire population has been exposed to them, however there is this 10% that haven’t been exposed to the virus, that if they had could develop symptoms. So therefore you should practice better hygiene when you do have an outbreak, especially around children as they are more susceptible to this virus.

The most common way for this virus to spread is human to human contact, this virus has to be in ideal conditions (the human body) in order for it to survive. The virus on an inanimate object can only survive for a couple seconds, as it is very volatile in oxygen rich environments.

Regarding your partners, he or she will be exposed to this virus regardless of weather you have an outbreak or not, and this happens through shedding, the virus is passed on without any symptoms.

One thing that I am a bit confused about, is that cold sores apparently can be spread to other parts of the body. I’m not saying this isn’t true, but for me personally, I have certain areas on my lip where I get cold sores, the same areas since I was a kid, no where else. I have never had a cold sore on my lower lip. When I do have a cold sore, I’m always touching them to feel how “bad” they are, and have hence gotten into this habit with playing with my lips, cold sores being as contagious as they are I should have definitely spread them?

Cold Sores Triggers
There are many triggers that can cause an outbreak, be it too much sun exposure, weakened immune system, stress. For me the worst triggers are stress, and falling ill with a cold or the flu. With regards to sun exposure, I always try and use lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher.

I will be experimenting with other triggers, such as artificial sweetners and foods high in Arginine while on BHT to to see if an outbreak does occur. Currently I'm still going strong! No outbreaks as of yet.

First Week Update

2007-11-01T20:59:00.002+02:00

It's been almost a week since I've started using BHT to try and control my cold sore outbreaks. I know I've only been on it for a very short while, but I'm happy to report almost nothing!

The other night I did think I was developing a cold sore, I had the usual bump in the corner of my mouth, but, I just left it, didn't apply anything to it and the morning it was gone. So I'm not sure what that was!

Symptoms
As for any weird symptoms, I feel exactly the same as before I started. I'm still only taking 350mg, and only after having something to eat.

Links & Resources

2007-10-30T10:24:00.000+02:00

This is a list of links and resources that I have found extremely useful in my battle of trying to combat my cold sore outbreaks. The more you know about this virus, the better off you will be.

Advanced Health & Life Extension
A detailed look into what BHT is, and how effective it is in treating herpes. The site offers a lot of background information on BHT, a great place to brush up on your knowledge.

MoonDragon's Health & Wellness - Cold Sores
Moon Dragon's Health & Wellness site offers a wealth of information on the herpes virus. Giving you advise and tips on symptoms and prevention, as well as many alternate methods and remedies in treating your outbreaks.

Smart Bodyz
Information on the clinical use of BHT, toxicology reports and also other areas where people are turning to BHT as an alternate form of treatment.

Diagram of BHT Molecule
A 3D look at the BHT compound, with it's formula.

Using BHT to prevent cold sores

2007-10-28T17:42:00.000+02:00

I'm sure most of you viewing this blog have come across claims that cold sores / herpes can be prevented or maybe even cured by using BHT. That is what I have set out to do with this blog, to hopefully prove that BHT can be effectively used to treat cold sores, in an impartial and honest manner.

I am 23 years old and have been suffering from cold sores from around the age of 7, and up until about 2 years ago, I would only get outbreaks around 3 times a year, 1 blister at a time. This year I have had over 7 outbreaks already, but I'm sure work stress and bad diet are contributing to this. I have had enough! I have become so paranoid with every little tingly or itch that I feel on my lips, which is probably fueling my outbreaks even more! I'm sick of applying copious amounts of Activir cream, ice and drying my cold sores out with hydrogen peroxide. Hence I need to try something different.

What I aim to do with this blog
I came across BHT being used to treat cold sores / herpes a while ago, and although not many trials have been done on humans, it does look promising. I am therefore going to be my own guinea pig and yours and will be documenting on my blog the effectiveness of BHT in controlling my cold sore outbreaks. During this time I will not be using any other supplements or drugs like L-Lysine, Indol-3-Carbinol, I want to see how effective BHT is on its own. I have also never taken any prescription medicine to treat my outbreaks. After a while (if I get positive results), I want to experiment and try to induce an outbreak by doing everything that I shouldn't such as eating foods high in arginine, more sun exposure without SPF, and drinking lots of artificially sweetened sodas!

Dosage of BHT
I've only just started my experiment two days ago, I've started on 350mg per day taken in the morning after breakfast. I'm delighted to say, no side effects yet :P I will be continuing this for the next three months noting any outbreaks and side effects that might occur. I know it's been mentioned that you need to take over 1000mg's a day to "cure" yourself of this awful virus, but for the time being I want to see if I can eliminate outbreaks on the minimum dosage. I will also be going for regular check ups with my GP, and be getting liver function tests done to check that I'm not doing any adverse harm to myself.

I will be posting my results often, so check back soon! Anyone that's had any experience with BHT please contact me.