Dealing with herpes, Nutrition Nerd-style (Part two)

(Part two of a two-part series. In part one, we took a look at whatherpes is, exactly, and how doctors treat it. Check that intel out here.) 

Modern medicine is great and all, but in an effort to keep your herpes in check, I think you can do better than popping a pill and crossing your fingers (or your legs, in some circumstances). Being pro-active will go a long way when it comes to dealing with HSV. I suggest a three-pronged approach.

Prong One: Diet and Supplements

HSV sits dormant in your system, waiting for moments of weakness so it can attack. With this in mind, it’s important to keep your immune system in great shape. A healthy diet rich in leafy green veggies and other organic produce, as well as foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, is vital. It should also include adequate protein and B vitamins to help build white blood cells. Keep refined sugars to a minimum. Dial up antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, and selenium. So, basically, a solid, balanced diet filled with fresh produce will work to your advantage when fighting herpes (and it’ll keep you healthy in general).

As I mentioned in part one, white blood cell called T-cells are especially important for fighting viruses. T-cells are made in your thymus gland, so it’s especially important to take care of it. There’s some research showing that supplementing thymus extractmay reduce the frequency and severity of herpes outbreaks. (Keep in mind that thymus extract comes from cows, so it’s not suited for vegetarians or vegans.)

Personally, I recommend eating plenty of carotenes to boost your thymus gland. You’ll find this phytonutrient in orange-colored produce such as carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and apricots, as well as most leafy greens.

If you’re looking to supplement vitamins and minerals, a couple of the aforementioned micronutrients that have been shown to be especially effective against HSV are zinc, which can inhibit outbreaks; and vitamin C, which can increase healing rate. I’d recommend 25mg/day and 2000mg/day respectively.

Probably the most interesting facet of eating to avoid HSV outbreaks is the balance of the amino acids lysine and arginine. Arginine is non-essential (meaning we don’t need to eat it because our bodies produce it) and it promotes the replication of HSV. Lysine is essential (meaning we need it in our diet because we don’t produce it) and has been shown to have antiviral qualities, largely because it inhibits arginine metabolism. Therefore, a diet rich in lysine and low in arginine is a good way to ward off those darn blisters. “Trigger foods” particularly high in arginine and low in lysine include chocolate (sorry, kids), nuts, seeds, coconut, and wheat.

Grains, in general, tend to be high in arginine and low in lysine, so you might want to keep them to a minimum. However, the best of the worst are amaranth and quinoa. Your best sources for lysine are vegetables, legumes, chicken, turkey, and fish. You can also supplement it at 1000mg/3 times a day.

Digging deeper into hippy science, there’s research showing the immunity-boosting herb astragalus not only helps with herpes, but it can have a synergistic effect when supplemented with oral antiviral drugs. And it’s super-benign stuff, so it’s probably worth a shot. Try 1 to 1.5g daily. (Zwickey et al., 2007).

On a final nutrition note, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed that Croton lechleri, the sap of the Euphorbiaceae tree, commonly known as Dragon’s blood, decreased the pain of HSV-related lesions in HIV patients. This is something worth discussing with your practitioner if you’re in this situation, especially considering your potential to develop an anti-viral drug resistance.

Prong Two: Topical Preparations

There are a number of natural topical treatments for HSV. In my research, the one that popped up repeatedly as being effective was Melissa officinalis, or lemon balm, which should be applied 2-4 times a day. I found no research regarding lemon balm’s use for genital herpes, but I don’t see why it shouldn’t be considered—except maybe the sticky underpants thing, but life is full of compromises.

Other options include Glycyrrhiza glabra, or licorice root, which has been shown to be effective in both oral and genital HSV, topical zinc, and topical resveratrol.

Try them one-at-a-time. If you notice a difference, great! If not, try the next one.

Prong Three: Lifestyle Modifications

Finally, there’s the matter of how you live your life. HSV is incredibly stressful. The moment you feel that tingle, it’s hard not to panic. But it’s important not to let stress rule your life. As I mentioned earlier, I have found stress to be a huge trigger in outbreaks.

The link is obvious. Stress can weaken your immune system. When your immune system is weakened, HSV strikes. So find ways to relax. Meditate. Get between 7 and 8 hours of sleep at night. Give yourself days off. Exercise. Some experts suggest avoiding the sun. Personally, as a surfer/cyclist/dog owner, I spend a lot of time in the sun and I’ve never noticed detrimental effects—and outdoor time is a major stress manager for me.

HSV stinks—but you could have it a lot worse. While no one likes a Pollyanna, this is important advice to remember. Be proactive with your diet, your stress level, and your attitude. It’ll only make this annoyance all the less annoying.

Resources

Abascal, K., Yarnell, E. (2006). Croton lechleri (Dragon’s Blood). In Pizzorno, J. & Murray, M. (Ed.), Textbook of Natural Medicine (pp. 887-891). St. Louis, MO: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

Centerfor Disease Control. (2013). GenitalHerpes – CDC Fact Sheet. 

Ehrlich, S. (2011). Herpes Simplex Virus. University of Maryland Medical Center. 

Gaby, A. (2006). Natural Remedies for Herpes simplex. Alternative Medicine Review, 11(2), 93-101.

Mateljan, G. (2007). The World’s Healthiest Foods. Seattle, WA. GMF Publishing.

Morfin, F., & Thouvenot, D. (2003). Herpes simplex virus resistance to antiviral drugs. Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology, 26(1), 29-37.

Murray, M. (2000). Total Body Tune-Up. New York, NY: Bantam Books.

Murray, M., Pizzorno, J. (2006). Herpes Simplex. In Pizzorno, J. & Murray, M. (Ed.), Textbook of Natural Medicine (pp. 1723-1726). St. Louis, MO: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

National Guideline Clearinghouse. (2009). Management of Herpes in Men and Nonpregnant Women.

Parker, S. (2007). The Human Body Book. New York, NY: DK Publishing.

Sabo, E. (2010, May 26) Understanding Genital Herpes. The New York Times. 

Sainz, B., Loutsch, J. M., Marquart, M. E., & Hill, J. M. (2001). Stress-associated immunomodulation and herpes simplex virus infections. Medical hypotheses, 56(3), 348-356.

Stargrove, M., Treasure, J., McKee, D. (2008). Herb, Nutrient, and Drug Interactions. St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.