Herpes (cold sores) is a virus that affects the skin and mucus membranes. While there are six type of herpes viruses that infect us, type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) are most often researched and referred to when talking about herpes. Genital herpes is most commonly caused by HSV-2, while herpes outbreaks in other areas such as the mouth and face, are more commonly caused by HSV-1.
Sufferers sometimes use herbs as a means to treat the symptoms of a herpes outbreak. Some are meant to be taken orally, while others are applied to the skin over the infection. It is best to wear gloves or apply any topical preparations with cotton swabs verses fingers. It is also important to wash the hands well after application to avoid spreading the virus from one area of the body to another.
Vitamins
Vitamin C has been studied since the 1930s for its useful effects on all types of virus activity, including herpes. A June 2006 review of natural herpes treatments in "Alternative Medicine Review" revealed the best prophylactic result, which has been repetitively tested and published. This result indicates that a 250mg oral dose of vitamin C, combined with 23mg of zinc, taken twice daily for 6 weeks helped in the prevention of herpes outbreaks. This was especially true for sun exposure outbreaks.
The same article also discussed the benefits of topical zinc, which has also been the focus of multiple similar studies. Not only has zinc been shown to be safe for use on the genitals, but it appears to shorten the duration and severity of herpes outbreaks (see Reference 3). Pure zinc is irritating to the skin, but a dilution of zinc of .025 percent to 1 percent is effective. Diluted with distilled water, it can be used as a compress on the lesions for up to 15 minutes at a time.
Consult your physician about the possible benefits of these vitamins.
Botanicals
Lemon balm, (Melissa officinalis) has been studied for topical use since the 1980s for its effectiveness in fighting the herpes virus. A study published in the September 2008 issue of "Phytomedicine," found that directly placing Melissa officinalis oil on an outbreak (type 1 or 2) "abolished viral infectivity nearly completely." Since this oil is lipophilic (fat loving), it penetrates deep into the skin. Additionally, no toxic side effects have been noted from using this herb. The study concluded that lemon balm might be "suitable in the treatment of herpetic infections."
Chinese Herbs
Huang qi (astragalus root) and fu zheng have been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine for immune and liver support. In March of 2008, the study "Zhongguo Ahong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi," YJ Shi et. al., compared a 3-week trial of huangqi fuzheng to the prescription medication Aciclovir and interferon together. At the end of the study, it was found that patients who took the mix of herbs for 3 weeks had remissions in outbreaks for up to 6 months. This was longer than compared to the prescription medicine control groups. More studies are needed on this combination of herbs, but the outlook is promising. Talk to someone with a skilled background in Chinese medicine before purchasing herbs.
References
- "Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi;" Clinical study on treatment of reccurent genital herpes; Shi, YJ et. al.; March 2008
- "Phytomedicine;" Melissa officinalis oil affects infectivity of enveloped herpes viruses
- "Alternative Medicine Review;" Natural remedies for herpes simplex; Gaby, AR; June 2006
