You might already be aware that while developing Herstat, our highly effective cold sore treatment, we decided to include propolis as an ingredient. We did this in order to preserve the ointment and prevent it from becoming contaminated by the HSV-1 virus within the tube after being opened and used for the first time.
According to the NHS Blood and Transplant website Give Blood, more than 25% of people in the UK will require blood from a donor at some point in their lives, and only 4% of adults are currently donating their blood to the cause.
Read more: Can you give blood if you suffer from cold sores?
Typically cold sores will appear on or around your lips after the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) becomes active in the trigeminal ganglion and travels back up the nerve to the skin.
However, one of the complications of cold sores is that they can spread to other parts of the body. When this occurs it is known as secondary infection.
Read more: Can cold sores appear anywhere else other than on lips?
When did humans become infected with the herpes simplex virus which causes cold sores? With 20 to 30% of the UK population suffering from recurring outbreaks, and an estimated 67% of the global population carrying the oral (HSV-1) or genital (HSV-2) variation of the virus, it is certainly a mystery that needed solving.
Read more: New study shows how humans came to suffer from cold sores
Medicinal products should be disposed of according to their expiry date - their shelf life can sometimes be quite short, meaning that you have to buy a replacement if and when the ailment reappears.
Read more: When should you throw away a tube of Herstat cold sore treatment?
