The herpes virus causes both cold sores and genital herpes, depending on where it enters the body. Because there is no cure for herpes, an infected person carries the virus for life. Herbal treatments have attracted attention as a natural, inexpensive option for decreasing the duration or severity of herpes symptoms. However, they do not replace conventional medical treatment for herpes or any other condition and people who consider using them should discuss this decision with their health care providers.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm, also known as Melissa officinalis, is a green leafy herb with a fresh, lemony scent. In the December 2005 issue of "Alternative Medicine Reviews," holistic medicine specialist, Alan R. Gaby, M.D., describes two studies on lemon balm as a topical treatment for herpes. In the first, using cream that contained 1 percent lemon balm four times per day resulted in modest, though statistically insignificant benefits on the severity of cold sores. In the second, more favorable study, 41 percent of people who used lemon balm cream for oral or genital herpes described its effects as "very good," compared to 19 percent of patients who used a placebo cream.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is the sticky, green gel found inside of the leaves of the cactus, Aloe barbadensis. In the 2007 edition of the "Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine," naturopathic doctor, Tori Hudson, claims that aloe vera works especially well on the thin skin of the mucous membranes of the lips and genitals. Hudson says aloe vera inactivates the herpes virus in test tubes. In addition, Hudson cites a clinical trial in men with genital herpes that seems to confirm its beneficial effects. Hudson recommends applying 0.5 percent aloe vera cream between two and four times per day to genital herpes sores. The Academy of General Dentistry offers a similar recommendation -- aloe vera lip balm at least three times per day -- for people with oral herpes.
Astragalus
Astralagus, also known as Astragalus membranaceus or Huang qi, is a flowering herb native to northern China. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine believe that the aged yellow root of the plant supports the health of the immune system against a variety of infections, including the herpes virus. However, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, or UPMC, describes evidence on astralagus and herpes as "preliminary" and cautions that its effects cannot be regarded as proven. People can purchase astralagus in the form of the dried root or a liquid extract. According to UPMC, people who use astragalus for herpes should consume it in the form of a tea made by steeping nine to 30g of dried astralagus root in boiling water. For people who use the extract form, this is roughly equivalent to three to 5 mL.
References
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; The Treatment of Herpes Simplex Infections; Christina Cernik, M.D. et al.; June 9, 2008
- "Alternative Medicine Reviews"; Natural Remedies for Herpes Simplex; Alan R. Gaby, M.D. ; December 2005
- "Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness"; Tori Hudson, N.D.; 2007
- Academy of General Dentistry: What Are Cold Sores?
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Astragalus
- University of Michigan Health System: Astragalus
