MedlinePlus states that herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. As of 2010, all FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of herpes target the same enzyme, called DNA polymerase. However, the efficacy of these drugs appears to be limited and resistance to one drug usually means resistance to all. According to a 2005 report in the journal "Antiviral Research," herbal remedies used in traditional medicines, like Ayurvedic, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Chakma medicine are a promising source for new herpes treatments.
Licorice Root
Licorice, also known as Glycyrrhiza glabra, has a long tradition of use in Eastern and Western systems of medicine. According to a 2002 report in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" at least two studies support the role of licorice root in the prevention and treatment of herpes symptoms. In one of the studies, the active ingredient in licorice root, glycyrrhetinic acid, decreased the incidence of new herpes infections among mice by enhancing the response of T-cells in the immune system. According to National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), licorice in large amounts can cause high blood pressure, salt and water retention. People who are taking diuretics and people with heart or blood pressure problems should not take licorice root. Also, the safety of taking licorice root for longer than four to six weeks has not been assessed.
Lemon Balm
A 2002 article in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" names the concentrated extract of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) "one of the most widely used topical preparations in the treatment and prevention of herpes." Lemon balm cream has been reported to interrupt the infection, promote healing of lesions, and reduce the number of recurrences of herpes. In one study among 66 people with recurrent oral herpes simplex-1 infections, people were randomly assigned to apply lemon balm-containing cream or placebo cream to the affected area four times daily. By the second day, people in the lemon balm group reported lower symptom severity scores compared to the placebo group. Although NCCAM notes that lemon balm is a common ingredient in sleep aids, as of February 2010, it does not currently offer safety information on this herb.
Hops
Humulus lupulus is the Latin name for what is commonly known as hops. According to the Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plant Products, alcoholic extracts of hops have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of numerous forms of leprosy, pulmonary tuberculosis and acute bacterial dysentery, with varying degrees of success. According to a 2005 study in "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research," xanthohumol, one of the active components of hops, has demonstrated antiviral effects against cytomegalovirus, HIV, and herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2. Although the NCCAM has funded several studies on Humulus lupulus, mainly to investigate its efficacy as a sleep aid and as a reliever of menopause symptoms, as of February 2010 safety information for the herb was not available. According to the Purdue University website, the main side effect is contact dermatitis, seen in pickers of hops.
References
- "Antiviral Research;" Extracts and Molecules from Medicinal Plants against Herpes Simplex Viruses; M.T.H. Khan, A. Ather, K.D. Thompson and R. Gambari; 2005
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology;"Herbal Medicines for Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS; K. Vermani and S. Garg; 2002
- "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research;"Broad Spectrum Anti-Infective Potential of Xanthohumol from Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) in Comparison with Activities of Other Hop Constituents and Xanthohumol Metabolites; C. Gerhauser; Sep. 2005
