Genital Herpes

Share:

Also indexed as: Herpes Simplex 2

What Are "Star" Ratings?

Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Aloe	Apply a 0.5% cream three times per day	[2 stars] One trial found that aloe cream shortened healing time of genital herpes outbreaks. Learn More
Close Aloe Apply a 0.5% cream three times per day Aloe vera may also benefit those with genital herpes. A double-blind trial using a 0.5% Aloe vera cream found that applying the cream three times a day shortened the healing time of genital herpes outbreaks. All but 3 of 22 persons in the study who showed healing with the aloe cream had no recurrences 15 months after stopping treatment.¹⁰ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?
Lemon Balm	Apply a cream containing 1% of a standardized 70:1 extract four to five times per day	[2 stars] One study found that topical application of a cream containing a highly concentrated extract of lemon balm helped heal oral and genital herpes sores faster than a placebo. Learn More
Close Lemon Balm Apply a cream containing 1% of a standardized 70:1 extract four to five times per day A double-blind trial found that topical application of a cream containing a highly concentrated extract of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) four to five times a day helped heal oral and genital herpes sores faster than use of a placebo.¹¹ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?
Lysine	1,000 mg daily	[2 stars] Taking lysine may speed healing and help prevent future outbreaks. Learn More
Close Lysine 1,000 mg daily Most research on lysine has been done on people with cold sores or on groups that include both cold sores and genital herpes sufferers. However, some evidence exists that supplemental lysine may be effective in the prevention and treatment of genital herpes. In one preliminary survey, 81% of people with HSV infections (including genital herpes) reported lysine was effective for reducing recurrences and shortening healing time in amounts averaging about 1,000 mg per day.¹² A small double-blind trial of people with oral and genital herpes examined the effects of 1,248 mg or 624 mg of lysine daily versus placebo.¹³ The study found that 1,248 mg per day of lysine, but not the lower dose, was effective in reducing the recurrence rate of herpes outbreaks by 57% to 65%, while neither dose helped reduce the healing time. Another small double-blind trial found that using 3,000 mg per day of lysine in divided doses led to a decrease in severity of symptoms and a reduction in healing time of both oral and genital herpes.¹⁴ One preliminary report found no benefit of lysine for a group of patients with either oral or genital herpes.¹⁵ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?
Propolis	Apply a 3% propolis ointment to the lesions four times per day	[2 stars] One study found that an ointment containing propolis was almost twice as effective against herpes as topical antiviral medication or a placebo ointment. Learn More
Close Propolis Apply a 3% propolis ointment to the lesions four times per day A test tube study found that flavonoids present in propolis are responsible for the supplement’s antiviral action.¹⁶ A controlled study found that an ointment containing propolis, used four times daily, was almost twice as effective as topical antiviral medication or a placebo ointment.¹⁷ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?
Zinc	Apply a topical preparation containing 0.025 to 0.9% zinc several times per day	[2 stars] Applying zinc topically may help prevent outbreaks and has been shown to stop the pain, burning, and tingling of a herpes outbreak. Learn More
Close Zinc Apply a topical preparation containing 0.025 to 0.9% zinc several times per day In a test tube, zinc is capable of inactivating the type of herpes virus responsible for the majority of genital herpes cases.¹⁸ Topical zinc may therefore help prevent outbreaks of genital herpes. One preliminary study treated people (four of whom had genital herpes) with a 4% zinc sulfate solution applied to the site of the initial outbreak.¹⁹ In all cases, the pain, burning, and tingling stopped within 24 hours of beginning the topical zinc therapy. The use of lower concentrations of zinc (0.025–0.05%) has also been shown effective against oral and genital herpes outbreaks.²⁰^{, 21} While topical zinc has been shown to be helpful, there is no convincing evidence that oral zinc offers the same benefits.²² What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions
Cloves Topical	Refer to label instructions	[1 star] Research suggests that substances found in cloves have potential benefit for topical prevention of genital herpes. Learn More
Close Cloves Topical Test tube and animal research suggests that substances found in turmeric, cloves, eucalyptus, and seaweed have potential benefit for topical prevention of genital herpes, but no human research using available herbal products has been performed.²³
Eucalyptus Topical	Refer to label instructions	[1 star] Research suggests that substances found in eucalyptus have potential benefit for topical prevention of genital herpes. Learn More
Close Eucalyptus Topical Test tube and animal research suggests that substances found in turmeric, cloves, eucalyptus, and seaweed have potential benefit for topical prevention of genital herpes, but no human research using available herbal products has been performed.²⁴ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?
Licorice	Refer to label instructions	[1 star] Licorice root contains antiviral substances, and ointments containing related substances are effective in treating herpes infections. Learn More
Close Licorice Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) contains antiviral substances²⁵ and ointments containing related substances are effective in treating herpes infections.²⁶^{, 27} While the use of topical licorice preparations to prevent or treat genital herpes has not been studied, some alternative healthcare practitioners recommend applying creams or gels containing licorice three to four times a day. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?
Turmeric	Refer to label instructions	[1 star] Research research suggests that substances found in turmeric have potential benefit for topical prevention of genital herpes. Learn More
Close Turmeric Test tube and animal research suggests that substances found in turmeric, cloves, eucalyptus, and seaweed have potential benefit for topical prevention of genital herpes, but no human research using available herbal products has been performed.²⁸ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

References

1. Cohen F, Kemeny ME, Kearney KA, et al. Persistent stress as a predictor of genital herpes recurrence. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:2430–6.

2. Cohen F, Kemeny ME, Kearney KA, et al. Persistent stress as a predictor of genital herpes recurrence. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:2430–6.

3. Rand KH, Hoon EF, Massey JK, Johnson JH. Daily stress and recurrence of genital herpes simplex. Arch Int Med 1990;150:1889–93.

4. Cohen F, Kemeny ME, Kearney KA, et al. Persistent stress as a predictor of genital herpes recurrence. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:2430–6.

5. Longo DJ, Clum GA, Yaeger NJ. Psychosocial treatment for recurrent genital herpes. J Consult Clin Psychol 1988;56:61–6.

6. Koehn KA, Burnette MM, Stark C. Applied relaxation training in the treatment of genital herpes. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 1993;24:331–41.

7. Gould SS, Tissler DM. The use of hypnosis in the treatment of herpes simplex II. Am J Clin Hypn 1984;26:171–4.

8. Tankersley RW. Amino acid requirements of herpes simplex virus in human cells. J Bacteriol 1964;87:609–13.

9. Algert SJ, Algert SJ, Stubblefield NE, et al. Assessment of dietary intake of lysine and arginine in patients with herpes simplex. J Am Diet Assoc 1987;87:1560–1.

10. Syed TA, Afzal M, Ahmad SA, et al. Management of genital herpes in men with 0.5% Aloe vera extract in a hydrophylic cream: a placebo-controlled, double-blind study. J Dermatol Treat 1997;8:99–102.

11. Wolbling RH, Leonhardt K. Local therapy of herpes simplex with dried extract of Melissa officinalis. Phytomedicine 1994;1:25–31.

12. Walsh DE, Griffith RS, Behforooz A. Subjective response to lysine in the therapy of herpes simplex. J Antimicrob Chemother 1983;12:489–96.

13. McCune MA, Perry HO, Muller SA, O’Fallon WM. Treatment of recurrent herpes simplex infections with L-lysine monohydrochloride. Cutis 1984;34:366–73.

14. Griffith RS, Walsh DE, Myrmel KH, et al. Success of L-lysine therapy in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Dermatologica 1987;175:183–90.

15. Simon CA, Van Melle GD, Ramelet AA. Failure of lysine in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Arch Dermatol 1985;121:1678 [letter].

16. Debiaggi M, Tateo F, Pagani L, et al. Effects of propolis flavonoids on virus infectivity and replication. Microbiologica 1990;13:207–13.

17. Vynograd N, Vynograd I, Sosnowski Z. A comparative multi-centre study of the efficacy of propolis, acyclovir and placebo in the treatment of genital herpes (HSV). Phytomedicine 2000;7:1–6.

18. Arens M, Travis S. Zinc salts inactivate clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus in-vitro. J Clin Microbiol 2000;38:1758–62.

19. Wahba A. Topical application of zinc solutions: A new treatment for herpes simplex infections of the skin? Acta Derm Venereol 1980;60:175–7.

20. Finnerty EF. Topical zinc in the treatment of herpes simplex. Cutis 1986;37:130–1.

21. Brody I. Topical treatment of recurrent herpes simplex and post-herpetic erythema multiforme with low concentrations of zinc sulphate solution. Br J Derm 1981;104:191–4.

22. Eby GA, Halcomb WW. Use of topical zinc to prevent recurrent herpes simplex infection: review of literature and suggested protocols. Med Hypotheses 1985;17:157–65.

23. Bourne KZ, Bourne N, Reising SF, Stanberry LR. Plant products as topical microbicide candidates: assessment of in vitro and in vivo activity against herpes simplex virus type 2. Antiviral Research 1999;42:219–26.

24. Bourne KZ, Bourne N, Reising SF, Stanberry LR. Plant products as topical microbicide candidates: assessment of in vitro and in vivo activity against herpes simplex virus type 2. Antiviral Research 1999;42:219–26.

25. Pompei R, Flore O, Marccialis MA, et al. Glycyrrhizic acid inhibits virus growth and inactivates virus particles. Nature 1979;281:689–90.

26. Csonka GW, Tyrrell DA. Treatment of herpes genitalis with carbenoxolone and cicloxolone creams: a double blind placebo controlled clinical trial. Br J Vener Dis 1984;60:178–81.

27. Partridge M, Poswillo D. Topical carbenoxolone sodium in the management of herpes simplex infection. Br J Oral Maxillfac Surg 1984;22:138–45.

28. Bourne KZ, Bourne N, Reising SF, Stanberry LR. Plant products as topical microbicide candidates: assessment of in vitro and in vivo activity against herpes simplex virus type 2. Antiviral Research 1999;42:219–26.

Natural treatment options for Genital Herpes

Read what others are saying about these natural treatment options for Genital Herpes.

LarreaRx by Larrea Biosciences
"I've stopped using Valtrex completely and just take the LarreaRx instead, one a day. One outbreak in over a year - no more than I had with Valtrex. I did have an outbreak within a week or two of starting it but that seems to be a common reaction to the change. No side effects that I've been..."

LarreaRx by Larrea Biosciences
"This product works very well. It clears up canker sores within 2 days. I recommend this product...."

LarreaRx by Larrea Biosciences
"Incredible product. I had very large blisters come up on my lip and this product stops these from happening. If I don't take it for a while and get a blister it stops it's growth and dries it up fast! The cream is a wonderful product also. It dries up the blister fast too! I will continue to buy it ..."

Clear Shingles, Herpes & U.T.I.'s by Clear Products
"Clear Shingles, Herpes & U.T.I.'s took away all the discomfort associated with genital herpes outbreak. The pain of the the blisters, internal and external, disappeared along with the itching. Also the shooting pains in the stomach and legs went away. It worked fast within an hour. I would also..."

More Weight Loss Supplements

More Bodybuilding Supplements

More Bath & Beauty...

More Herbal Supplements

More Pet Care

More Sexual Health

More Kids Vitamins

Genital Herpes

Aloe

Lemon Balm

Lysine

Propolis

Zinc

Cloves Topical

Eucalyptus Topical

Licorice

Turmeric