Genital Herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease that is caused by two types of viruses (herpes simplex virus), HSV-1 and HSV–2.
There was one study in which is said that about one out of every six people between the ages of fourteen and 49 in the United States of America suffer from genital herpes [1]. This kind of infection can affect every single person, but it is known that women have an increased risk of getting it compared to men. Also, if you have multiple sexual partners, then this can increase your risk of getting genital herpes.
The most common symptoms of genital herpes are painful urination, sores in the genital area, small red bumps or tiny white blisters, itching, and pain. Fever, body aches, and headaches are other symptoms of genital herpes. But also, there are some people who suffer from this condition, but they do not have any kind of symptoms.
Mostly, this infection spreads through sexual contact. After the initial infection, this virus can remain dormant in your body, and it can reactivate after some time. The signs and symptoms of genital herpes can recur or not for years. Recurrences are usually less painful than the original outbreak, and the sores can heal more quickly. There are some home remedies that can ease the symptoms, and they can reduce the risk of infecting other people.
9 Natural cures for genital herpes
Contents
Lysine
Lysine is an amino acid that can help shorten the length of an outbreak of genital herpes.[2]
You should follow a diet that is high in lysine, but it is low in arginine. You should eat more Greek yogurt, green vegetables, most fruits, fish, beef, and beans. You can take lysine supplements. You can take 3000 – 9000 mg of lysine, which will be divided into doses for an outbreak, and 1000 mg, 3 times per day to prevent the recurrence. But you should always talk with your doctor before you start taking this supplement. If you suffer from high triglycerides, heart disease, or high cholesterol, then you should take lysine under the supervision of your doctor.
Baking soda
This is one of the best natural treatments for genital herpes. It is very effective against oozing sores, and also it helps them dry up [3]. This, in turn, will promote faster healing. This natural cure will also help to get relief from the pain and itching. You should dip a cotton ball in the water, and then you should dip it in some baking soda. You should dab the cotton ball on your sores, and you should be sure that the sores get thoroughly coated with baking soda. You should let it stay there for one hour, and then you should rinse it off with lukewarm water. You should do this natural treatment two times per day.
Hydrogen peroxide
This is one of the most popular home remedies you can use for genital herpes. Hydrogen peroxide has extra oxygen molecule which chemically reacts with harmful (anaerobic) bacteria and viruses and destroys them. This will speed up the healing process. You should use a cotton ball to apply this home remedy to the affected areas. Dab it in 3% hydrogen peroxide and apply it to the affected areas. You should let it stay there for a few minutes and then wash it off using lukewarm water. You should repeat this natural treatment every few hours for a period of a few days. Also, you can crush a lysine tablet and mix it with hydrogen peroxide and apply this natural cure to the affected areas. You should rinse it off after ten minutes with lukewarm water. You should do this natural treatment once per day.
Aloe Vera
This natural cure is a natural antiviral agent, and it can be used as a natural treatment for all types of herpes. Also, it can help with lesions, and it will give you relief from itching, inflammation, and pain [4].
You should thoroughly rinse an Aloe Vera leaf and extract the gel from it. You should apply this gel to the affected area. You should allow this natural cure to dry on its own. You should wipe it off with a washcloth soaked in warm water. You should do this natural treatment three or four times per day for a period of several days.
Also, you can drink Aloe Vera juice once per day to promote healing. You should blend two tablespoons of fresh Aloe Vera gel along with one cup of orange or any other type of citrus juice. You should not take more than two tablespoons of Aloe Vera gel per day because it has a laxative effect.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil has healing potential and medicinal properties, which make it one of the best home remedies for genital herpes. Also, this oil has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. Coconut oil has capric acid, lauric acid, and medium-chain triglycerides, which can destroy the virus which is causing the outbreak [5].
This natural cure can reduce inflammation and itching.
You should apply extra–virgin coconut oil to the affected area before you go to bed. You should let it stay there throughout the night and rinse it with lukewarm water the next morning. You should repeat this natural treatment every day.
Also, you can make a salve by mixing equal amounts of extra–virgin coconut oil and raw honey. You should rub it liberally onto the skin where there are open sores two or three times per day. Also, you should include two to three teaspoons of extra–virgin coconut oil in your daily diet.
Epsom salt bath
This type of bath can speed up the healing time of sores or blisters due to a genital herpes outbreak. It does so by drying up the blisters faster. Also, it can give you relief from the pain, and it can reduce itching.
You should fill a bathtub with lukewarm water. You should add one to two cups of Epsom salt. You should stir the water to make sure that this salt will dissolve completely. You should soak your lower body in this water for ten to thirty minutes for maximum skin absorption. When it is done, you should dry the genital area with a blow–dryer on a warm setting for lukewarm air. You should use this natural cure one or two times a week.
Cold compress
You can use a cold compress as your natural treatment for getting relief from the itching sensation and pain which are associated with this condition. The cold temperature helps contract the blood vessels underneath the skin, which in turn will reduce inflammation and pain. Also, it helps shrink the size of the sores to accelerate the healing process. You should wrap some ice cubes in a thin towel. You should apply it directly to the affected area for ten minutes, and you should take a break for a few seconds from time to time. You should repeat every three to four hours to reduce the discomfort and pain.
You should be sure that you will use a fresh towel every time, and you should wash the used towel in hot water. Also, there is another option, and that is to chill a used teabag in the refrigerator for thirty minutes and apply it to the affected area. You should hold it in place for ten to fifteen minutes. You should do this natural treatment several times per day. Also, you can wash the affected area with cold water from time to time to keep it clean.
Garlic
This natural cure has allicin which is a component that has antiviral properties [6]. This element helps destroy the virus which is responsible for the herpes outbreak. Also, this natural cure is rich in Vitamin C, which stimulates the production of interferon, which is a natural virus-fighting substance.
You should apply minced raw garlic or garlic oil to the affected area. You should let it stay there for fifteen minutes. In the beginning, there will be a burning sensation, but soon it will stop. You should rinse it off with lukewarm water. You should repeat this natural treatment two times per day. Also, you can eat one or two crushed garlic cloves every day on an empty stomach because, in this way, you will boost your immune system.
Apple cider vinegar
This is also a very effective home remedy for treating genital herpes. It is rich in antiviral properties, which means that it can destroy the virus which is responsible for genital herpes.
Also, this natural cure has anti-inflammatory, astringent, and disinfectant properties that can help to reduce the severity of symptoms and also it can prevent recurrence [7].
You should dip a cotton ball in raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar and dab it on the affected areas. This natural cure will sting a bit, but you should avoid washing it off. You should do this natural treatment three or four times per day. Also, you can add one tablespoon of raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar and a small amount of raw honey to one cup of water. You should drink it two times per day to help fight the infection.
References
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Genital herpes – CDC fact sheet. 2017. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes.htm.
[2] Mailoo VJ, Rampes S. Lysine for herpes simplex prophylaxis: A review of the evidence. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal. 2017;16(3):42-46.
[3] Beauman JG. Genital herpes: A review. American Family Physician. 2005;72(8):1527-34.
[4] Rezazadeh F, Moshaverinia M, Motamedifar M, Alyaseri M. Assessment of anti HSV-1 activity of aloe vera gel extract: an in vitro study. Journal of Dentistry. 2016;17(1):49-54.
[5] Arora R, Chawla R, Marwah R, et al. Potential of complementary and alternative medicine in preventive management of novel H1N1 flu (swine flu) pandemic: Thwarting potential disasters in the bud. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011;2011:586506.
[6] Bayan L, Koulivand PH, Gorji A. Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects. Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine. 2014;4(1):1-14.
[7] Uyangaa E, Choi JY, Ryu HW, et al. Anti-herpes activity of vinegar-processed daphne genkwa flos via enhancement of natural killer cell activity. Immune Network. 2015;15(2):91-99.
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