These tried-and-true home remedies can be a great alternative to heavy medication and may help 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 holistic 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, whereas 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). Bek Antonucci, the host of the Raw, Real and Vulnerable podcast, shared her experience of getting her herpes diagnosis and the painful symptoms she experienced the first time. She said, “I started experiencing intense pain in my stomach. It’s causing me pain to urinate (i).” A survey conducted on 9,544 US adults found the prevalence of HSV-1 was 47.8% and HSV-2 was 11.9%. Further, the prevalence of both types of herpes increased with age from 27% among those between 14 – 19 years to 41.3% among those between 20-29 years of age.
Home Remedies For Herpes
While there is no specific cure for herpes, doctors administer antiviral medications, topical creams, ointments, and pills to prevent its intensity and recurrence.
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 discomfort and 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 therapy (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 may help dry the skin surface quickly and heal the sores (6). Baking soda also soothes the skin and is a natural antiseptic, which may help manage herpes on the skin (7).
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 (8).
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 (9). Echinacea also works indirectly on the herpes infection by stimulating the body to produce a strong antiviral effect on the virus (10).
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 (11). It will also dry out the sores because of its hygroscopic nature (12).
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 (13).
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 (14). 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 (15, 16).
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 (17).
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 (18).
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 (19, 20). 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 may help in prevention of the outbreaks and recurrence of the herpes virus outbreak. 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 (21).
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 (22). You should ideally opt for the standard variant over the de-glycyrrhizinatedi Processed licorice that does not have glycyrrhizin, a beneficial chemical compound that can heal stomach ulcers and fight infections. 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 lesionsi Skin areas different from the skin surrounding them, caused mainly due to injury, which may be cancerous or non-cancerous. . It also relieves the pain and itchiness (23). Herpes sores are among the most common and defining symptoms of the condition. Learn more about them below.
How Long Do Herpes Sores Last?
The duration of the sores vary from individual to individual. Generally, the first outbreak can last anywhere between 2 to 4 weeks in most people. In this period, the sores build up, break open, and release the fluid. The lesions usually become crusted and heal without leaving any scars (24). Once you contract this condition, you may experience recurrent episodes due to certain triggers. Find out more about them below.
What Triggers Herpes Outbreaks?
Repeated herpes outbreaks are signs that the dormant virus is getting active. They can be triggered by a compromised immune system, hormonal fluctuations, stress, or alcohol abuse (25), (26). The sores could also be a side effect of certain drugs, diet, or UV exposure that weakens the immune system. 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. Since both conditions fall under the herpes infection, knowing how to get rid of cold sores may help you manage genital herpes as well.. 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 (1) 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 (27). 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 stress management measures like yoga and meditation and take adequate rest to stay stress-free as much as possible.
Illustration: Effective Home Remedies For Herpes & How To Use Them
Learn about natural remedies for herpes to reduce pain and itchiness. Watch this video to know about dietary changes, supplements, and lifestyle modifications to follow to manage the symptoms.
