Cold sores are lesions that develop after a person has been infected with the contagious herpes simplex virus (HSV). Most people who have contracted HSV-1 did so before the age of 10, according to a National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research article. Once infected with the organism, there is nothing that can be done to cure the disease, but natural treatments may be helpful in preventing recurrence and hastening the resolution of an outbreak. All natural treatments should be discussed with your healthcare practitioner before use.
Low Arginine Diet
Many herpes sufferers have been informed that in order for the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) to thrive in the body, a required supply of the amino acid arginine must be ever present. This theory was highly researched in the 1960’s. In one 1968 "Journal of General Virology" study in particular, it was found that in the absence of arginine, the herpes virus could not undergo even one cycle of reproduction.
To prevent recurrent cold sore attacks, one dietary therapy capitalizes on this theory. Foods high in arginine are advised to be extremely limited or even avoided during the prodromal stage of the reproductive cycle of the virus. Limiting arginine during this period attempts to starve the reproductive urge and ability of the organism. Foods that are high in arginine include chocolate, nuts and seeds, according to a 2005 "Alternative Medicine Review" article. All dietary changes should be discussed with your healthcare practitioner.
Lysine
Lysine is a very popular cold sore preventive and treatment remedy. Interestingly, arginine and lysine are intimately related. A 2007 "Journal of Nutrition" article notes that lysine competes with arginine for transport into the cells. This process is called competitive inhibition. By overloading the system with lysine, the use of arginine by the HSV-1 virus is limited, compromising the ability of the virus to duplicate. According to the "Alternative Medicine Review" article, a reasonable range of lysine in the form of food and/or supplements is 500 to 3000 mg per day, with a maximum of 6000 mg being noted as safe. Lysine-rich foods include legumes and animal products, and lysine-poor foods, which should be avoided, include grains and refined carbohydrates. Furthermore, the article notes that while controversial, there is anecdotal evidence that short-term dosing of 1 to 3 grams of lysine in supplement form can shorten the duration of an outbreak. All supplements should be discussed with your healthcare practitioner before use.
Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that is often associated with immune function. Rightly so, zinc is known to assist in the conversion of beta-carotene, a vitamin A precursor, into its active, immune-protecting form. Zinc has been reviewed in the "Alternative Medicine Review" article because of its function in the prevention and treatment of cold sores. The article notes that zinc ions inhibit the replication of the herpes virus responsible for both cold sores and genital herpes infections. Zinc sulfate is the most common topical form of the supplement used in clinical studies of herpes infections. Novitra is a cold sore treatment made by the nutritional based company, Enzymatic Therapy. It uses a homeopathic dose of zinc, and suggests applying on cleaned skin at the onset of tingling, itching or burning at the site of the cold sore every 2 to 3 hours until symptoms resolve. Using zinc topically or orally for cold sores should be first discussed with your healthcare practitioner.
Immune Boosting Vitamins
The immune system is crucial in keeping the herpes virus in its sleeping, or dormant state. Once awakened, the virus sets on a journey to complete a 7 to 14 day cycle of exposure and contagion. Immune-boosting vitamins such as vitamin C and its flavonoids, as well as vitamin E, have been found to help prevent and heal cold sore outbreaks. When the prodromal symptoms appear, vitamin C has been found to be effective in treating an active outbreak by 57 percent over placebo. Six-hundred to 10,000 mg per day, in divided doses for 5 to 10 days, has been clinically observed to treat outbreaks, according to the "Alternative Medicine Review" article. Bowel tolerance as to prevent episodes of diarrhea should be observed. Although the article noted that vitamin C-associated flavonoids were not required to elicit the healing effect of vitamin C, a 2005 "Archives of Pharmacal Research" article found that water-soluble flavonoids are highly antiviral and specifically effective against HSV-1. Topical vitamin E, in 20,000 to 28,000 IU per oz. doses, was additionally noted by the "Alternative Medicine Review" to hasten the healing of cold sore lesions. The addition of any vitamins to your regimen should be first discussed with a certified health care practitioner.
References
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: “Fever Blisters and Canker Sores”
- "Journal of General Virology": Requirement of Arginine for the Replication of Herpes Virus
- "The Journal of Nutrition": Biomarkers of Arginine and Lysine Excess
- "Alternative Medicine Review": Natural Remedies for Herpes Simplex
- Enzymatic Therapy: Novitra
