These tried-and-true home remedies can relieve the swelling, itching, and stinging produced by outbreaks. Additionally, you may be able to reduce inflammation, irritation, and other symptoms by combining lifestyle changes and dietary supplements. Everything you’ll need for these treatments is probably already in your kitchen cabinet or medicine cabinet. However, it would help if you ideally used these remedies along with a clinical treatment plan. This article takes an in-depth look at herpes and the remedies that can help you with the condition. So, dive in.
What Is Herpes?
The name of this infection is eponymous to the virus that causes it – the Herpes simplex virus (HSV). When the herpes virus comes in contact with your body, it can easily enter the lower layers of your skin or even the bloodstream and cause infection. Oral herpes is characterized by sores on the mouth or face, where as genital herpes causes sores on the genitals and anal areas. Other parts of the body can also be affected by this infection and can develop sores, but this is not as common as the oral or genital forms of herpes (1).
Home Remedies For Herpes
While there is no specific cure for herpes, doctors administer antiviral medications and pills to prevent its intensity and recurrence. However, using some natural remedies can also help you deal with the symptoms and live in comfort. Listed below are the best natural remedies for herpes:
1. Lysine For Herpes
Lysine capsules Take 500mg dosage of lysine thrice a day. Continue taking the capsules thrice a day until the infection clears. After that, take one capsule every day for three months to prevent recurrence. This simple treatment works excellently, even for recurrent HSV infections. Lysine stops the virus from replicating and infecting the human cells. It has been shown to reduce the severity and healing time of herpes (2). Please keep in mind that this remedy does not work for genital herpes.
2. Tea Tree Oil For Herpes
Tea tree oil Cotton ball Eye dropper
Reapply the oil thrice a day. Tea tree oil has been used since ancient times to treat numerous skin problems. It can be used to alleviate the pain caused by herpes sores. It is also an antiviral agent and will kill the virus (3).
3. Oregano Oil For Herpes
Oregano oil Cotton ball or eye dropper
Apply a drop or two of this essential oil with a cotton ball on the affected area. Leave it to air-dry. Repeat this twice or thrice a day until the herpes infection subsides. The carvacrol component of oregano oil is responsible for its antiviral activity. This remedy has been proven to work even for herpes viruses that have developed a resistance to the aciclovir, a commonly used antiviral for herpes treatment (4). Oregano oil also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties (5).
4. Baking Soda For Herpes
1 tablespoon baking soda 2-3 tablespoons water Cotton balls
For genital herpes, you can also add a medium-sized cup of baking soda to warm water in your bath tub and soak in it for 10 to 15 minutes, twice a day. Repeat this three to four times in a day. If the herpes sores on your body are oozing, you may resort to using baking soda to dry them up. This ingredient can dry the skin surface quickly and heal the sores (6). Baking soda also soothes the skin and is a natural antiseptic (7, 8).
5. Lemon Balm For Herpes
2-3 ml lemon balm tincture A cup of warm water Cotton ball
You can also brew some lemon balm tea and drink it twice a day. Apply this twice or thrice a day. Lemon balm is extremely soothing for the skin, and at the same time, it exerts antiviral effects on the herpes virus. It also reduces the healing time for both oral herpes and genital herpes (9).
6. Echinacea For Herpes
Echinacea tea bag or dried herbs A cup of hot water
Drink up to four cups of echinacea tea in a day. The herpes virus is susceptible to the antiviral activity of this herb (10). Echinacea also works indirectly on the herpes infection by stimulating the body to produce a strong antiviral effect on the virus (11).
7. Epsom Salt For Herpes
1 cup Epsom salt Warm water Bath tub
Repeat this twice a day. This is one of the best home remedies for herpes that works well for genitals. The salt soak will soothe the itching and pain caused by the sores (12). It will also dry out the sores because of its hygroscopic nature (13).
8. Aloe Vera Gel For Herpes
Fresh aloe vera gel You can also use organic aloe vera gel that you find in the market. Do this thrice a day. Aloe vera has more than 70 potentially active components that exert multiple beneficial effects on the skin. Application of this gel will reduce inflammation, soothe and moisturize the skin, have antiseptic and antiviral effects, and also quicken the healing process (14).
9. Olive Oil For Herpes
A cup of olive oil 10 drops of lavender oil 2 tablespoons beeswax Cotton ball
Apply this twice or thrice during the day. This herpes home remedy will give immense relief from the pain and itching that accompany the sores. Olive oil has proven antimicrobial and antiviral properties (15). It is not only good for cardiac health, but can also be used to treat herpes infection. Lavender oil will soothe the inflamed skin, while beeswax will moisturize it (16, 17).
10. Cornstarch For Herpes
Cornstarch Moist cotton ball
Dab the cornstarch on the herpes sores using the moist cotton ball. Reapply every few hours. Cornstarch will dry out the sores and reduce the itching and chaffing (18).
11. Goldenseal For Herpes
Goldenseal tincture Q-tip
With the help of the Q-tip, apply the tincture directly on the sores and leave it on. Do this thrice a day. Like echinacea, goldenseal is an immune-boosting herb. Its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties will give long-term relief from the herpes infection (19).
12. Herbal Tea For Herpes
A few sage leaves A few thyme leaves A cup of boiling water
Drink two to three cups in a day. Sage is an antiseptic and an astringent, and thyme is an effective antiviral that was tested and tried against the herpes virus (20, 21). This is a potent herbal combo to eliminate the herpes virus from your body.
13. Green Tea For Herpes
Green tea bag or leaves A cup of hot water
Drink three to four cups in a day. Green tea has profound health benefits. Its active antioxidants help prevent outbreaks and recurrence of the herpes virus. Studies suggest that green tea also has antiviral properties, and hence, naturopaths recommend a cup of green tea instead of coffee to patients suffering from herpes (22).
14. Licorice Root For Herpes
Licorice root powder Water
Apply this twice a day. Licorice root is useful in treating herpes because of its antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties (23). You should ideally opt for the standard variant over the de-glycyrrhizinated one for maximum benefits.
15. Domeboro Powder For Herpes
Domeboro powder sachet Water Clean cloth
Repeat this every few hours. Domeboro powder is a commonly used astringent in hospitals, especially for ulcers, sores, and lesions. It also relieves the pain and itchiness (24). Let us now take a look at a few frequently asked questions regarding herpes. Are cold sores the same thing as herpes? Yes. Cold sores are the same thing as herpes because they are caused by the herpes virus. However, when it comes to genital herpes, it is a different subtype of the herpes virus that causes it. Both of these fall under the herpes infection. What are the symptoms of herpes? The symptoms of oral herpes are: • Mouth ulcers • Sores around the mouth or on the face • Swollen glands • Pain during swallowing • Itching and burning sensation of the lips and/or mouth area (25) The symptoms of genital herpes differ from oral herpes and are as follows: • Painful blisters containing a clear or straw-colored fluid in the genital and anal area • Painful blisters on other parts of the body like the tongue, mouth area, eyes, fingers, etc. • Tingling and burning sensation around the genitals • Swollen lymph glands in the groin • Feeling ill • Fever • Muscle pain in the lower half of the body like the thighs, lower back, knees, etc. (26) What does genital herpes look like? Genital herpes infection starts off with a red, itchy spot in the genital area that develops into a blister in a few hours. These blisters or lesions soon swell up to form small vesicles, which contain either a clear or a pale yellow liquid that can ooze out. If these blisters burst, they can easily form scabs and scars. How do you keep herpes dormant? Strengthening your immune system and taking the required vaccines may help keep herpes dormant as studies have shown that immunocompromised individuals are at the highest risk of developing herpes (25). Does herpes come back in the same spot? Yes, it is common for herpes to reappear at the same spot or at least along the same nerve region. Does herpes weaken over time? Anecdotal evidence suggests that recurrent outbreaks of herpes gradually decrease in terms of the severity of the symptoms and the frequency of the outbreaks. Drink plenty of fluids and follow a healthy diet. The herpes virus attacks people with a weak immune system. Try to keep the elements of stress at bay as stress can induce acid levels in the stomach and impact your immune system in a negative way. Try measures like yoga and meditation and take adequate rest to stay stress-free as much as possible. Tell us how this post has helped you. Comment in the box below.
