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Herpes is quite a common viral infection that can affect people of any age or gender. While the sexually transmitted form of this condition is more predominantly known around, it can even be spread around through normal contact. But, the question is, do the home remedies for herpes even work?
Owing to the fact that herpes is a viral bound infection, there is no proper cure to mitigate the condition from relapsing but certain herpes home remedies can help in relieving the condition associated.
In this article, we are going to be discussing about the effective natural remedies for herpes that can help in getting rid of symptoms effectively.
What is Herpes?
Herpes is a form of viral infection caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and hence the name. The condition can either be induced via direct contact or can even be contracted via sexual means.
In this form of infection, the travels down to the superficial layers of the skin or even travel down to the bloodstream and cause an infection there.
The oral herpes is characterized by the formation of sores near the mouth region while the genital herpes is characterized by the appearance of sores around in the genitalia of the one infected.
How to Get Rid of Herpes?
When it comes to treating herpes, the process can be quite extensive. It is necessary to ensure for the best results that you adhere to the natural remedies to treat herpes because they actually do show results.
The best way to get rid of herpes is to practice cleanliness. Keeping your surroundings clean and sanitized is one of the best ways to get rid of the condition. Apart from that, ensure to practice safe sex to prevent the disease from spreading.
Home Remedies for Herpes
As mentioned before, it is not possible to prevent the virus from recurring but these range of home remedies are capable of soothing the condition to keep its impacts to a bare minimum.
Let’s look at some of the effective remedies, shall we?
1. Apple Cider Vinegar for Herpes
Apple Cider Vinegar and its efficacy in treating infections don’t need a separate introduction. The combination of the antiviral (R), as well as the anti-inflammatory (R) properties of the vinegar, is what helps heal herpes sores.
What to do?
- Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with three tablespoons of warm water
- Using a cotton pad, apply it on the infected area
- Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and rinse it off with water
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
2. Lysine for Herpes
The effects of lysine in herpes natural treatment are still a topic of extensive research. More and more scientists are working to find the conclusive answer to how it positively impacts in treating the infection of herpes.
Scientists (R) have found that lysine prohibits the proliferation and replication of the virus, thus arresting the spreading of the infection. This helps in healing the condition faster.
Side note: It isn’t effective for genital herpes.
What to do?
- Consume 500 mg of lysine capsules on a daily basis
How often?
- 2-3 times daily
3. Warm and Cold Compress for Herpes
Yet another one of the effective home remedies for herpes is the application of warm and cold compress on the infected site.
Warm compress (R) is quite beneficial in relieving the inflammation and pain that accompanies the sore. It is best to be proactive and apply the compress right when you start feeling a sore forming.
Often times, the application of warm compress induce irritation and burning sensation in the infected area. If you have been experiencing the same thing, switch it up with a cold compress.
What to do?
- Use dry warm compress by filling a sock with some uncooked rice and warming it up in a microwave
- For cold compress, fill the compress with ice cubes and press over the infected area
How often?
- Multiple times throughout the day
4. Baking Soda for Herpes
Yet another one of the effective natural remedies to treat herpes is with the aid of baking soda. Not only does it act as an effective antiseptic (R), it is also quite beneficial in getting rid of the discharge of fluid or pus from the site of infection.
The topical application of baking soda helps heal and dry the skin and get rid of the further spreading of the infection.
What to do?
- For oral herpes:
- Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with some water to make a solution
- Using cotton balls, apply the same on site of the infection
- Make sure to use different cotton balls each time to prevent further spreading of the infection
How often?
- 3-4 times daily
For genital herpes:
What to do?
- In a bath filled with water, add 1 cup of baking soda and let it dissolve
- Soak yourself in the bath for 15-20 minutes
- Rinse your body under the shower
How often?
- Once every other day
5. Epsom Salt for Herpes
Much like baking soda, even Epsom salt has a very amazing impact in the treatment for herpes. Not only does it help dry out the infection, but it is also quite impactful in getting rid of the pain and the irritation (R) that accompanies the condition.
The composition of magnesium sulfate (R) is quite beneficial in getting rid of the signs of the infection by drying out the site of the infection.
It is one of the most effective remedies for someone suffering from genital herpes.
What to do?
- Fill a bathtub with warm water
- To that, add 1 cup of Epsom salt and dissolve it completely
- If needed, add a few drop of essential oil
- Soak yourself in the bath for 15-20 minutes
- Rinse off under the shower
How often?
- Once every other day
6. Aloe Vera for Herpes
The usage of Aloe Vera in the home treatment for herpes is quite useful, not just in getting rid of the pain and irritation but to also fight off the inflammation caused by the problem.
The combination of the healing, antimicrobial (R), analgesic and the anti-inflammatory (R) properties of the Aloe Vera is what help to get rid of herpes and heal the condition from within.
What to do?
- Cut an aloe vera leaf and scoop out the gel
- Apply this over the infected area
- Leave it on and let it seep into the skin
If you are short on time, use aloe vera gel available in the stores and apply it directly.
How often?
- 3-4 times daily
7. Vitamin C for Herpes
Studies (R) have found that the inclusion of Vitamin C in the diet can actually help in speeding up the healing process of the Herpes infection.
Not just that, Vitamin C is also quite beneficial in prolonging the time between the induction of the infections and its recurrence. It prolongs the outbreaks.
What to do?
- Start with consuming more and more fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C like oranges, lemons, berries and the whole lot
How often?
- Snack on them throughout the day
8. Echinacea for Herpes
Echinacea extract is quite beneficial and effective in curing the strains of herpes, the both variants quite effectively.
The combination of the antiviral (R) and anti-inflammatory (R) properties of the flower is what helps act as a potent cure for herpes.
What to do?
- Pour a few drops of the Echinacea extract on a cotton
- Apply this over the sores
- Leave it on
How often?
- 2-3 times daily
9. Ginger for Herpes
Yet another one of the effective home remedies for herpes is ginger. Ginger, especially ginger oil, is quite beneficial in the treatment of herpes, owing to its effective and wide range of medicinal properties.
The topical application of the ginger oil helps in drawing out the infection and even studies have showcased the potency of it in inhibiting the functions of the Herpes virus.
The research concerning the efficacy of the ginger in the treatment for herpes still needs to be done more but for now, the topical application has been found to be effective enough for the treatment of herpes.
What to do?
- Dilute the ginger oil with some carrier oil
- Apply the same on the herpes sores
- Leave it on
How often?
- 2-3 times daily
10. Neem Oil for Herpes
Neem oil is yet another potent home treatment for herpes. Owing to its effective antivir (R) properties, Neem oil is considered to be an effective remedy for treating the condition of herpes.
Not just that, Neem oil also has beneficial medicinal properties which further help in speeding up the healing process even further. Make sure to not apply Neem oil concentrated or directly on the sore because that can cause irritation and enhance the pain.
What to do?
- Dilute the Neem oil with some kind of carrier oil
- Apply it on the sores and leave it on
- If it starts to burn or pain, wipe it off immediately
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
11. Lemon Balm for Herpes
Lemon balm is not the typical ointment that you are mistaking it for. Lemon balm is a type of herb which has amazing healing properties for treating the sores and the irritation caused because of the infection.
Apart from imparting an amazing soothing effect on the skin, it is also quite beneficial in imposing the antiviral effects on healing herpes from the root.
What to do?
- Dilute the lemon balm tincture with some water
- Using cotton, apply this on the infected area and on the sores
- Leave it on and let it seep into the skin
How often?
- 2-3 times daily
12. Olive Leaf Extract
The olive leaf extract is yet another one of the amazing home remedies for herpes. Owing to the amazing antiviral and effective antimicrobial properties (R) of the olive leaf extract, the application of it on the infected area prevents the proliferation and the growth of the viral infection to the adjoining areas in the body.
What to do?
- Pour 1-2 drops of the olive extract on a cotton ball
- Apply it over the affected area of the infection
- Let it seep into the skin
- Leave it on
- If it starts causing any kind of irritation, rinse it off immediately
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
13. Licorice Root for herpes
The candies that you liked to munch on also have amazing remedies in the cure for Herpes. The amazing medicinal and the healing properties of the licorice root is what helps in curing the infection caused because of the interaction with the herpes virus.
Licorice root is predominantly loaded with antimicrobial, antiviral (R) and anti-inflammatory (R) properties which combined have amazing benefits in getting rid of the condition of the herpes and the infection that many often complain about.
What to do?
- In a bowl, add 1-2 tablespoon of licorice powder and add some water to make a paste
- Apply this over the infected area of the sores and infection
- Let it dry completely for 20-30 minutes
- Rinse it off with some water once dried
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
14. Coconut Oil for Herpes
Yet another one of the amazing herpes home remedies is the usage of coconut oil. Not only does the coconut oil help in healing the sores, they also impose beneficial impacts to prevent the recurrence of the virus.
The amazing combination of the antimicrobial (R) and anti-inflammatory (R) properties of the coconut oil help to get rid of herpes by arresting the proliferation of the infection and also aiding in getting rid of the irritation and inflammation that often accompany the condition.
What to do?
- Apply a thick layer of coconut oil on the site of the sores and infection
- With clean hands, gently massage it into the skin
- Leave it on
How often?
- 3-4 times daily
15. Cornstarch for Herpes
As weird as it might sound, cornstarch actually does work wonders in the treatment for Herpes. The application of the cornstarch on the infected area has been found beneficial in getting rid of the infection and the lesion caused because of the same.
More predominantly, cornstarch is quite beneficially in drying out the sores and getting rid of the pain and irritation that does accompany the condition of herpes.
What to do?
- Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with some water to make a solution
- Using cotton, apply this on the infected area gently
- Leave it on for 10-15 minutes
- Wash it off with water
How often?
- 2-3 times daily
16. Honey for Herpes
The combination of the antimicrobial (R), anti-inflammatory (R) and healing properties of the honey is quite beneficial in getting rid of the unnecessary pain and irritation that accompanies the condition of herpes.
What to do?
- Take a pea sized amount of honey and apply it on the sores
- Leave it on the sores for 10-15 minutes
- Rinse it off with some water
How often?
- 3-4 times daily
17. Essential Oils for Herpes
When it comes to the home remedies for herpes, essential oils work magic for healing the condition of herpes. The combined benefits of the antiviral, as well as anti-inflammatory properties, actually do contribute to the cure for herpes effectively. The combination of the amazing essential oils like that of tea tree oil, oregano oil as well as the chamomile oil has amazing benefits in getting rid of the condition of herpes for good.
Owing to the fact that essential oils are very concentrated, ensure to dilute them out with the carrier oil and then apply it on the area of the sores.
What to do?
- Mix a few drops of either tea tree oil or chamomile oil with coconut oil
- Apply that on the site of the sores and leave it on
How often?
- 3-4 times daily
Causes of Herpes
When it comes to discussing the causes of herpes, the possibilities are quite easy to decipher. Some of the common causes of herpes include:
When it comes to HV-1 virus
- Eating from the same kind of utensils
- Sharing personal hygiene products
- Kissing
When it comes to HV-2 virus
- Sexual intercourse with any infected people
Signs and Symptoms of Herpes
When it comes to the signs and symptoms, the most common ones include:
Formation of sores in the site of contacts like upper lips or even genitalia
- Burning sensation during urination
- Discharge of fluids from the site of the sores
- Constant itching and irritation in the site of the infection
When it does come to the overall aspect of treatment of herpes, not many rely on the home remedies for herpes. While it may not guarantee it not coming back, it provides with temporary relief from the pain and irritation which is definitely what majority of the people seek.