Avoiding foods high in arginine

Foods that are high in arginine include:

• Chocolate
• Egg white
• Gelatin
• Nuts
• Peanut butter
• Peanuts
• Pumpkin seeds
• Roast beef
• Sesame seeds
• Tofu
• Whitefish

Avoiding these foods won't eliminate all the problems herpes can cause, but one clinical trial found that a low-arginine diet resulted in about 25 per cent fewer skin outbreaks over a period of six months. Foods that are high in lysine include:

• Flank steak
• Lamb
• Parmesan cheese
• Spirulina
• Turkey

(Bacon, egg white, tofu, and whitefish are actually high in both arginine and lysine, but to be on the safe side, avoid them when possible.) Lysine is thought be necessary for the immune system to recognize cells that are infected with herpes so it can eliminate the cells and the virus within them. Lysine also "codes" the virus for direct destruction by the immune system.

Herbs for the Relief of Pain

For fast relief of the pain, the king of home remedies for genital herpes is the herb lemon balm, also known as melissa. German clinical trials have found that the best time to use a cream made with lemon balm is at the very first sign of itching and tingling that usually precedes an outbreak.

Lemon balm is especially useful for preventing the nerve pain that usually comes the day after the first itching and tingling sensation. The herb only reduces recovery time by an average of one day and it will not reduce the frequency of outbreaks, but it greatly reduces tingling, itching, burning, stabbing pain, swelling, and redness.

Aloe vera gel, when applied topically to genital herpes lesions, can provide symptomatic relief. Known for its natural anti-inflammatory and skin-healing properties, Aloe vera helps soothe irritated skin and may aid in faster healing of the lesions. It's important to use pure Aloe vera gel, ensuring it's free from additives that could irritate sensitive skin. While Aloe vera offers a natural, gentle remedy, it's most effective as part of a broader treatment approach, including antiviral medications.

Herbs that Stop Outbreaks

Skin creams made with licorice, on the other hand, can stop outbreaks but do not relieve symptoms if applied after the outbreak starts. A chemical in licorice with the mind-bogglingly complex name 20 beta-carboxy-11-oxo-30-norolean-12-en-3 beta-yl-2-O-beta-D-glucopyranuronosyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid stops the herpesvirus from entering the nerve cells that carry it from place to place on the skin. This keeps the virus confined in cells where it cannot cause inflammation or pain. One popular brand of licorice cream is sold under the trade name Simicort.

Tea Tree Oil, with its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, can be used as a complementary treatment for genital herpes. When diluted and applied to affected areas, it may help reduce the severity of lesions and ease discomfort. However, due to its potency, caution is advised to avoid skin irritation.

Natural Remedies that Accelerate Healing

A combination of citrus bioflavonoids, vitamin C, and propolis may help blisters heal more than twice as fast. At the first sign of an outbreak, take 3,000 mg of acerola USP, a natural vitamin C that includes bioflavonoids. Then take 1,000 mg of propolis (not royal jelly) twice a day.

A study in conducted in Ukraine found that women with genital herpes were twice as likely to healed in just three days when they received this combination of supplements, and that the average healing time was 4.4 days, compared to 10 days without the supplements. This combination, however, does not relieve inflammation or pain.

Natural Remedies that Prevent Infection

Vitamin A may make genital herpes less infectious. Investigators at the University of Washington testing 273 women found that women who had the highest bloodstream concentrations of vitamin A were 50 times less likely to shed herpesvirus, potentially infecting sexual partners, than women who were deficient in the vitamin. A mere 5,000 IU of vitamin A every day may help prevent the sexual transmission of herpes from both women and men.

Three Other Helpful Home Remedies for Genital Herpes

Eleuthero drinks may reduce the frequency of herpes outbreaks up to 50 per cent. Copaiba resin, taken from an Amazon rainforest herb, offers instant relief when applied to a blister by forming a "second skin." Copaiba, should not, however, be applied to the cervix.

And when all other remedies fail, ice reliably relieves pain. An ice pack applied 10 minutes on, 5 minutes off, stops pain, itching, and burning of blisters.