Herpes treatment

Guest author from our community: Ashley

I’ve had herpes for four years now. I take daily suppressive medication (Acyclovir) and that helps to keep outbreaks at bay. Early on, I didn’t have health insurance. I had to find more holistic remedies that didn’t cost me $50 per month. Below are the top herpes treatments that I’ve found and that work for me. There are plenty of others that you can find online, but I can’t speak to their efficacy.

“Here are the top herpes treatments that I’ve found and that work for me.”#1: Tea Tree Oil and Eucalyptus Oil

Tea Tree Oil  and Eucalyptus Oil are essential oils that have antiviral properties when applied directly to a herpes blister. The positive effects of tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil were reviewed in a 2001 study done in Germany. They each help to dry out the blister and speed healing, as well as provide some soothing relief of the pain and burning accompanied by an outbreak. The major con is that there is a very strong odor associated with both tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil, which can be slightly off putting, unless you like the smell. They are both effective, but I prefer tea tree oil. There is no need to use both, using one is sufficient. Make sure to wash your hands before and after application of the oil. I use Q-tips to apply the oil and throw away each Q-tip after use. NEVER dip a used Q-tip back into your bottle of essential oil. I’ve found that using tea tree oil shortens the duration of my outbreaks and helps the sores heal more quickly.

#2: L-Lysine

L-Lysine is an essential amino acid that promotes membrane health. When taken orally (approximately 1000-1200mg daily) it can help to inhibit viral shedding and prevent outbreaks. L-Lysine has antiviral properties and also helps inhibit the effects of L-Arganine, which speeds up viral production. L-Arganine is found in foods like chocolate, red meat, fish, poultry, wheat germ, grains, nuts and seeds, and dairy products. Since L-Arganine is found in so many foods, as well as being produced naturally by the body,L-Lysine is important to take as a daily supplement. L-Lysine is available over the counter at most grocery stores, vitamin shops, or pharmacies. It is often available as an “immune booster” formulary with things like Echinacea or Garlic, which are perfectly fine.

#3: Stress Management

Stress Management is probably the most important of the techniques. In a 2001 scholarly article by JH Gruzelier, a study was cited in which participants in a 6-week self-hypnosis training saw a 50% decrease in herpes outbreaks. Increased stress leads to increased outbreaks. Use of stress management techniques such as self hypnosis, guided imagery, exercise, or deep breathing can help to reduce outbreaks. Things like cigarette smoking should be avoided because nicotine actually triggers the body’s stress response. If you don’t know how to practice self-hypnosis, find a hypnotist in your area and schedule a session. Meditation is also helpful, so a yoga class would be a great alternative. The most important thing is to keep emotional stressors to a minimum and to manage stress as it comes rather than letting it build to an explosive level.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. These are just things that have worked for me over the last four years. If you have another holistic remedy that worked well for you, I encourage you to comment or share it on the Herpes Opportunity forums. The more we can learn from each other, the more we can help each other be the healthiest and happiest we can be.

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