If carotid massage can be safely done, have the supine patient turn the head gently away from the side to be massaged. Gently palpate the carotid pulse just below the angle of the jaw. Massage the pulsation for 3-5 seconds by pushing in and back to compress the artery.
Echinacea is an herb. Several species of the echinacea plant are used to make medicine from its leaves, flower, and root. Echinacea is widely used to fight infections, especially the common cold and other upper respiratory infections.
There is not enough information to know if echinacea is safe for long-term use. Some side effects have been reported such as fever, nausea, vomiting, unpleasant taste, stomach pain, diarrhea, sore throat, dry mouth, headache, numbness of the tongue, dizziness, insomnia, disorientation, and joint and muscle aches. Evidence on the effect of echinacea for the treatment of HSV is unclear. 2  Some research shows that taking a specific echinacea extract (Echinaforce by Bioforce AG) 800 mg twice daily for 6 months does not seem to prevent or reduce the frequency or duration of recurrent genital herpes.