Herpes

 

Home Remedies for Herpes

While herpes is not curable, there are many steps you can take to relieve symptoms, stay comfortable, and enhance your immune system. By using home remedies for herpes, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can keep yourself outbreak-free.

Herpes is an infection caused by herpes simplex virus. It commonly affects the eyes, mouth, skin, genitals, and anal area, which often cause sores near the area where the virus infected the body. These sores turn into itchy, painful blisters before healing. Herpes simplex virus is spread through direct (kissing, sexual contact, touching a sore) or indirect (sharing a drinking glass or cigarette) contact.

Home Remedies for Herpes

While there is no cure for Herpes, there are several simple home remedies that help to treat its symptoms.

1. Soothing Agents

Agent Description

1. Tea Bags

image001

Black tea (Camellia sinensis) contains a high concentration of tannins which have both anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects. Simply make a cup of black tea and after allowing it to cool, place the warm tea bag on the affected area and leave it in place for approximately 5 minutes. Repeat 2-3 times per day.

2. Baking Soda

image002

When applied to skin with a herpes infection, baking soda relieves itching and helps to dry out the sores. Simply dampen a cotton ball or piece of gauze, dip it into baking soda to coat, then apply to the affected area. To avoid contamination, do not re-dip the cotton or gauze into the box of baking soda.

3. Cornstarch

image003

Cornstarch helps to reduce chafing, absorb excess moisture, relieve itching, and dry out herpes sores. Simply apply it to the skin as you would baby powder.

4. Aloe Vera

image004

Pure aloe vera gel soothes itching and helps heal the skin after a herpes outbreak. It also helps treat tenderness or redness that remain after the sore and scab have disappeared. If using a fresh plant, trim the sharp edges, cut a chunk, and rub the inner portion of the plant on the affected area. If using a packaged cream or gel, simply rub onto the affected area. It is especially soothing to chill the aloe vera before applying it to the skin.

5. Manuka Honey

image005

Manuka honey from New Zealand has medicinal properties. It is antibacterial and antiviral, so applying it to the affected area can help accelerate healing. Clinical research has shown that Manuka honey increases the rate of healing of herpes simplex lesions.

6. Essential Oils

image006

Some essential oils have healing and restorative properties. If the skin is red, raw, or damaged after a herpes outbreak, apply vitamin E, rose hip, jojoba, calendula, or hypericum essential oils on the affected area 1-2 times daily.

7. Cold Pack

image007

A cold pack applied to the affected area helps to decrease inflammation, soothe the area, and inhibit the herpes simplex virus. The cold pack can be ice, a gel pack, or a bag of frozen vegetables. Wrap the cold pack in a cloth before applying it to the skin to avoid ice burns.

8. Domeboro Powder

image008

Domeboro powder forms an astringent solution that is applied as a wet dressing or compress. It cools, soothes, and cleanses irritated and inflamed skin. To use Domeboro powder to treat herpes, mix one packet with water per the package directions, soak a cloth or piece of gauze in the solution, and apply it to the affected area.

9. Epsom Salts

image009

An Epsom salt bath is one of the most effective home remedies for herpes, as it cleanses, soothes, and dries sores, as well we relieving itching and discomfort.

2. Smart Eating

Foods to Avoid Foods Foods to Eat Foods
Foods with Excessive Arginine Chocolate, Nuts, Protein Supplements Containing Arginine, Oats Arginine-Rich Food with Lysine Beets, Avocados, Mangos, Tomatoes, Apples, Apricots, Pears, Figs, Papaya, Sprouts, Dairy, Eggs, Fish, Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Brewer’s Yeast
Artificial Sweeteners Saccharin, Aspartame, Sucralose, Sorbitol Vegetables and Legumes Green Leafy Vegetables, Carrots, Broccoli, Kale, Spinach, Cauliflower, Bell Peppers, Parsley, Eggplant, Red Cabbage, Beans, Soy, Lentils, Legumes
White Bread Replace with whole-grain bread Fruits Citrus (orange, lemon, grapefruit), Strawberries, Bananas, Berries, Artichokes, Red Grapes, Goji Berries
White Refined Sugars Replace with whole-grain bread Antioxidant-rich Foods Turkey, Tuna, Salmon, Black Tea, Grape Juice, Whole Grains, Pumpkin Seeds, Wine, Brown Rice, Mushrooms, Barley Grass, Ginger, Garlic, Coconut, Spirulina, Dried Fruit
Alcohol, Caffeine Soda and Processed Foods Cut these back to prevent outbreaks. Avoid fast food, margarine, and frozen meals. Purified Alkaline Water Alkaline water helps fight free radicals

3. Healthy Lifestyle

Having a healthy lifestyle helps to suppress the symptoms of herpes simplex infections.

  • Loose-Fitting Undergarments. Wearing loose undergarments prevents chafing, increases comfort, and allows for greater healing of herpes-related sores. Choose cotton fabric over nylon or other synthetic materials.
  • Regular Exercise. Moderate exercise for 20 minutes 4 times per week helps strengthen the immune system. Pollutants can negatively affect the immune system, so avoid exercising in polluted air.
  • Stress Control. Reducing everyday stress also keeps the immune system functioning at its best. Try meditation, yoga or listening to music to calm yourself down.

4. Remedies for Painful Urination

There are several remedies for painful urination associated with herpes simplex virus.

  • Urinating in the shower with cool running water helps relieve some of the discomfort.
  • By wearing latex gloves and covering the sores with one’s hands, the sting associated from urine contacting the sores can be diminished.
  • Keeping hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids dilutes the urine and decreases the pain caused by urine contacting any sores.