Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (Coxsackie Virus)
Answered by: Conrad Richter
Question from: Whitney
Posted on: August 15, 2000

I have something called hand and foot disease. Is there any herb that can make it go away?

Hand and foot disease, also known as hand, foot and mouth syndrome, is caused by a a strain of the Coxsackie virus. Children and young adults get it, developing sores in the mouth and small blisters on the hands and feet. A fever occurs during the initial phase 2-4 days after infection, and later the sores and blisters appear. The disease is communicable during the active stage when sores and blisters are present.

According to a New York State Health Department fact sheet on this disease, there is no specific treatment except symptomatic treatment for fever and "good oral hydration."

There are several herbs that can be used for fever such as boneset, blue vervain and yarrow. A sage tea gargle may help ease the mouth sores. Because most patients eventually develop some immunity to the disease, echinacea may help to speed up the immune response because echinacea is known to have an immunostimulatory property.

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