You can use a drug, or the herbal Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin.  Several clinical studies showed that Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin safely and effectively decreases and even stops the genital herpes outbreaks*†  

The three leading drugs against genital herpes are acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex).  Acyclovir was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1984, valacyclovir in 1995, and famciclovir in 1994.  All drugs are used in both episodic and suppressive treatment of the disease. In episodic treatment the patient administers the drug during outbreaks.  The main objective of episodic treatment is to decrease the duration of the outbreaks, that is, the time it takes the sores to heal.  Clinical studies showed that episodic treatment with these drugs decease the time it takes a sore to heal by 1–2 days.  In suppressive treatment the patients take the drugs daily, that is, even when there are no outbreaks.   The most common objective of suppressive treatment is to decrease the number of outbreaks.  Clinical studies showed that suppressive treatment with these drugs for a period of 4-12 months decreases the number of outbreaks such that about 50% of the patients have no outbreaks during the treatment, and the other 50% have a 70%–80% decrease in the number of their outbreaks.

Gene-Eden-VIR and Novirin have the same formula, which consists of five natural ingredients: 25 mg of a licorice extract, 150 mg of a quercetin extract, 150 mg of a green tea extract, 50 mg of a cinnamon extract, and 100 mcg of a form of selenium.  The difference between the two products is that Novirin has higher quality, more expensive ingredients. Gene-Eden-VIR was launched at the end of 2009, and Novirin in 2014.

No. Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin is not a drug.

Many, even experts, don’t understand the concept of a drug. For instance, according to the Science Museum website: “A drug is any chemical you take that affects the way your body works. Alcohol, caffeine, aspirin and nicotine are all drugs.” This definition emphasizes the physiological effect of the substance.  However, foods are also chemicals, and they also affect the way the body works.  Since foods are not drugs, this definition is wrong.

The correct definition is different. A drug is a substance that was labeled as a drug by an official authority.  In the USA this authority is the FDA. Note that this is a legal definition, not a physiological definition!  A drug is a substance that was evaluated by the FDA, and was labeled as a drug.  This evaluation officially determined that the substance is safe, and that it has a specific positive physiological effect on a patient suffering from a specific disease.

This definition raises an interesting question.  Is a substance that is safe, and that has a strong positive physiological effect on a patient, but was not evaluated by the FDA, a drug? The answer is “No!” Why not? Because it was not evaluated by the FDA!  It is safe. It works. But … the FDA did not issue a licence to this substance, a licence that (a) allows the seller to call it a drug, and (b) specifies what the seller can say (and cannot say) about it!  In other words, the FDA is a government agency that acts as a censor of words!

Consider the following definition of a censor: “An official who examines material that is about to be released, such as books, movies, news, and art, and suppresses any parts that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.”  Translate this to the case of the FDA: “An official who examines a substance that is about to be sold to the public, and suppresses any words that are considered unacceptable, or a threat to the consumer’s health.”

Let us return to Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin.  Is Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin a drug? No. Does it safely and effectively decrease and even stops the genital herpes outbreaks? Absolutely.*†

P.S. Note that the website includes the disclaimer: “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”  Adding this disclaimer to the label of a dietary supplement is required by the Code of Federal Regulation in the USA.  We argue that this disclaimer is somewhat misleading.  It should say that “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.” The revised disclaimer is consistent with the following requirement: “… it is unlawful under the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 41 et seq., to advertise that a product can prevent, treat, or cure human disease unless you possess competent and reliable scientific evidence, including, when appropriate, well-controlled human clinical studies, substantiating that the claims are true at the time they are made.”  In the Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin case, there are “well-controlled human clinical studies, substantiating that the claims are true at the time they are made.”  It is obvious, that only the revised disclaimer is consistent with both the Code of Federal Regulation and the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 41 et seq.

If we return to the FDA as a licensing agency of words, the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 41 et seq. teaches us that the FDA has no monopoly on this licensing.  Another licensing agency is the scientific community.  As it turns out, according to the FTC act, if the scientific community determined that a substance has “well-controlled human clinical studies, substantiating that the claims are true at the time they are made, than this determination actually constitutes a licence to the seller to legally make disease claims!

On a personal note, we believe that the only disclaimer that all dietary supplements should include on their label is the one saying that “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.” The reason is simple.  A dietary supplement can legally make disease claims without being approved by the FDA, if these claims are substantiated by clinical studies.  This means that FDA approval is not required to legally make disease claims!

The Center for the Biology of Chronic Disease (CBCD) tested Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin in several clinical studies that followed the FDA guidelines. After completing the studies, the CBCD published the results in important medical journals.  

The first clinical study was published in the medical journal Pharmacology and Pharmacy. The study showed that Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin has antiviral properties. According to the study: “…the clinical study showed that Gene-Eden-VIR is a safe and effective treatment against the … Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) (and other viruses), Therefore, health care practitioners should recommend Gene-Eden-VIR as a safe and effective antiviral treatment against these viruses.” *† (Click here to read the full study.)

Another clinical study was published in the medical journal Drug Design, Development and Therapy. This study showed that Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin safely and effectively decreased the number of genital herpes outbreaks. It also showed that Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin is better than acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, the three leading antiviral drugs. According to the study: “The clinical study showed that the natural Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin decreases the number of genital herpes outbreaks without any side effects. The study also showed that the clinical effects reported in this study are mostly better than those reported in the reviewed studies of acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir.” *† (Click here to read the full study.)

Another clinical study was published in the medical journal Clinical and Translational Medicine. The study showed that Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin safely and effectively decreased the duration of genital herpes outbreaks in both severe and mild cases. According to the study: “Based on the results reported in this and our previous paper, we recommend suppressive treatment with Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin as a natural alternative to both suppressive and episodic treatments with current drugs, in both severe and mild genital herpes cases.” *† (Click here to read the full study.)

Many doctors prescribe Gene-Eden-VIR and Novirin to their patients. See, for instance, the following four prescriptions for Gene-Eden-VIR (some information was blacked out to protect the privacy of the people involved).

Many would argue that doctors don’t like herbal treatments. These prescriptions show that this is not true.  Doctors like, and even prescribe, herbal treatments that were properly tested.  

To conclude, if you hesitate, we recommend that you show the clinical studies of Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin to your doctor, and ask for his/her opinion.

As far as we know, Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin is the only treatment that was tested in clinical studies that were published in peer-reviewed important scientific journals. These scientific publications mean that you don’t to have to take our word for it. It also means that you can ignore what fake customers and masked competitors, such as pharmaceutical companies and sellers of untested and unproven natural remedies, write in various forums and message boards.

The publication of these studies mean that now you have real clinical data on Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin, the only kind that doctors and healthcare professionals trust when they make decisions regarding your health.

A clinical study, which was published in the medical journal Drug Design, Development and Therapy, showed that Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin safely and effectively decreased the number of genital herpes outbreaks. It also showed that Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin is better than acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, the three leading antiviral drugs. According to the study: “The clinical study showed that the natural Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin decreases the number of genital herpes outbreaks without any side effects. The study also showed that the clinical effects reported in this study are mostly better than those reported in the reviewed studies of acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir.” *†
(Click here to read the full study.)

Gene-Eden-VIR and Novirin are patented botanical systemic treatments. The Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin formula consists of five natural ingredients: 25 mg of a licorice extract, 150 mg of a quercetin extract, 150 mg of a green tea extract, 50 mg of a cinnamon extract, and 100 mcg of a form of selenium.  

It takes time to see results. Therefore we recommend ordering at least 2 bottles for a 2 month supply without interruption. At the end of 2 months, you will be able to assess the dose that is best for you. Unlike some drugs, the changes with the natural remedy are gradual, and sometimes easily missed. *†

You should not stop taking Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin. If you stop, your symptoms may come back or get worse. As a natural product that was shown to have no side effects, it is suitable for long term use. *†

Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin includes five natural ingredients: a green tea extract, a quercetin extract, a licorice extract, a cinnamon extract, and a form of selenium. The Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin formula is patent protected.

According to Microcompetition discovery, the key to your health is to reduce the number of latent viruses in your body to harmless levels. Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin was designed to target latent viruses. To the best of our knowledge, no other medication or supplement is effective against latent viruses. *†

You should not stop taking Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin. If you stop, your genital herpes symptoms may come back. Note that the product is suitable for long term use. *†

We have no reports of any side effects.*†

No. We do not recommend Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin for pregnant women. Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin was not tested in pregnant women, and the effects of the product during pregnancy in unknown. If you already take the supplement, we recommend you stop taking it before getting pregnant, and start taking again after you deliver your baby.

polyDNA, an Israeli biotechnology company.  The Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin formula is the first product of its Computer-Intuition-Based R&D process. To identify the Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin ingredients, the scientists at polyDNA used Computer Intuition, a proprietary bioinformatics-based computer program developed by Dr. Hanan Polansky, to analyze thousands of scientific papers. The analysis identified safe and effective natural antiviral compounds. 

If the website claims that the dietary supplement “prevents,” “treats,” or “cures” a disease, or it claims that the dietary supplement can be used instead of a drug, or it claims that the dietary supplement decreases a side effect of a drug, then….

…then, this website is breaking the law.

Unless….

Unless the company that sells the dietary supplement possesses “competent and reliable scientific evidence, including, when appropriate, well-controlled human clinical studies, substantiating that the claims are true at the time they are made.” (The quote is taken from the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Act, 15 U.S.C. § 41).

Reliable scientific evidence is evidence found in peer-reviewed papers published in scientific or medical journals. Information found in newspapers, magazines, forums, and other types of general media is NOT reliable scientific evidence. The most reliable scientific evidence is a report of a clinical study that tested the safety and efficacy of the supplement. If the company doesn’t have this type of evidence, then, according to the FDA, the claim made by the company is “falsely claiming to treat or prevent” a disease or a symptom of a disease.

To summarize, without reliable scientific evidence, the claim is false, and you should not believe it

Some companies that sell dietary supplements list studies that tested the ingredients, but not the supplement itself. For example, a dietary supplement may include an extract of Shiitake Mushroom, together with other ingredients. The website lists a scientific study that shows that the Shiitake Mushroom extract has some beneficial effect. This is valuable information.

However, much more valuable is a published clinical study that tested the dietary supplement itself, that is, the entire formula with all its ingredients at the doses taken by the users. A clinical study that tested the treatment itself is the gold standard of the medical community.

To summarize, the relevancy of the evidence should determine the level of trust. More relevant evidence means more trust. Less relevant evidence, such studies on animals, or studies that tested only some of the ingredients, or studies that used much higher or lower dosages, mean less trust in the claims made on the website. The most trusted evidence is a published clinical study that tested the dietary supplement itself.

When a dietary supplement has many ingredients, the capsule includes a very low concentration of each ingredient. After all, a capsule has a limited space. A basic principle, known to every biologist, is that an ingredient has to be taken at a certain concentration to have an effect. At lower concentrations, the ingredient will have no effect (and at a too high of a concentration, it can be toxic!). This means that a dietary supplement loaded with many ingredients will most likely have no beneficial effect.

To summarize, be very skeptical when you see a dietary supplement loaded with many ingredients! Again, before you trust the claims make by the seller, ask to see a published clinical study.

Yes. See main menu.

Many companies post customer testimonials on their website. However, it is important to note that it is illegal to post customer testimonials that use words like “prevent,” “treat,” or “cure” on a company website without supporting relevant scientific evidence.  See discussion above.

It is also important to remember that, in many cases, these customer testimonials, and many customer testimonials found in forums, are fake. Many “customer testimonials,” which recommend the product are written by the company itself, and therefore are fake. Also, many “customer testimonials,” which criticize the product, are written by competitors, and therefore are also fake.

That fact alone should tell you to carefully scrutinize customer testimonials.

Even when you read a customer testimonial that you are sure was written by a real customer, you should still be very skeptical. Consider a case where a customer says that the dietary supplement did not work. Why didn’t it work? Is it because the supplement is ineffective? Or is it because the customer did not follow directions, such as taking it for one month instead of two, taking it every now and then instead of every day, taking it once a day instead of two, etc.

In summary, since there is no way to know who wrote the testimonials and why, we strongly suggest to look for additional sources of information, such as clinical studies that were published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Topical treatments, such as creams, foams, gels, lotions, or ointments, can be effective in targeting the active HSV residing locally in the abnormal growth. However, unlike Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin,*† topical treatments are ineffective against latent viruses. They are also ineffective against viruses elsewhere in your body.

Gene-Eden-VIR was launched at the end of 2009, and Novirin in 2014.

There are a few ways to tell. First, it’s important to differentiate between two types of supplements. The first is packaged supplements sold by a specific individual or company. The second is general advice found on the internet (for instance: “Take one spoonful of garlic a day to prevent the flu”).

Let’s start with packaged supplements. Although natural supplements are not usually regulated by the FDA, there are a few questions you can ask to determine whether you should believe the claims made by the seller of the supplement.

Are there any studies showing that the supplement is safe and effective? If the seller describe certain studies, were the studies done on humans? Studies done in the lab, on cells, or on animals provide valid information.  But you should not conclude based on these studies alone that the product is safe and effective for humans.  In fact, only 1/200 chemicals that passed laboratory testing were found to also be safe and effective in humans. The following are common terms used to describe studies:

• In Vitro: A study done in the laboratory, that is, in the “test tube.”
• In Vivo (or animal studies): A study done on animals.
• Case studies: A study done in one or a few humans
• Clinical study (or clinical trial): A study done in a significant number of humans. It is important to remember that there are different levels of credibility in clinical studies. The most credible clinical studies are those that are done with several controls.  These controls are described in the FDA guidelines.

The ranking of credibility is the following 1. Laboratory testing (test tube, cells, in vitro, etc.) 2. Animal studies (in vivo) 3. Controlled Clinical studies.

Did the study test the product being sold, or just one of the ingredients? For instance, there are many studies that showed that garlic is effective against certain viruses. But, it is wrong to conclude that any product containing garlic is also effective against these viruses. Products can have garlic from different sources than those tested in the studies, in different dosages, etc. Clinical studies of the ingredients provide some indication about the safety and efficacy of the treatment. But they are not conclusive, and therefore should be closely evaluated.

We’re not saying that anything that hasn’t been tested is not effective. If you find a supplement that works for you, you are more than welcome to use it. However, it is much more likely that something will work for you if it has been proven to have worked for many other people with similar problems. 

Also, note that there is a difference between common sense advice, and claims that a certain food can help reduce symptoms. Eating a healthy, varied diet, limiting sugar and processed foods, and getting regular exercise is always a good idea. In fact, many doctors say that this is your most important defense against disease.

However, what about anti-herpes diets, or special types of tea that limit genital herpes breakouts? We call these “home remedies.” They are often not expensive or harmful, but can be a waste of time, and pointlessly frustrating. To know if these home remedies work, you need to read the scientific studies conducted on these remedies.

In the past two decades, elderberry has been studied for its antiviral properties. Most of the existing studies involved various strains of the flu. This does not mean that elderberry is not effective against herpes, it just means that its effect on herpes needs to be studied further. Here is a brief summary of our findings:

In a 1997 clinical study, flu patients (infected with the Type B virus) were given black elderberry (in the form of flu medication Sambucol) to study the effect of the natural supplement on the virus. 93% of the patients were completely symptom free within 2 days, compared to the 6 days it took the placebo group.

Another study conducted by lead researcher Erling Thom, with the University of Oslo in Norway, showed that elderberry (in the form of Sambucol) might be effective on even more strains of the flu. The study was published in the Journal of International Medical Research and showed that 90% of flu patients (this time infected with the Type A virus) given Sambucol showed a complete recovery in 2-3 days. They also showed no signs of drowsiness, a common side effect of many standard flu drugs.

Why does elderberry work against the flu virus?

Erling Thom explains that elderberries contain antioxidants called flavonoids which are believed to stimulate the immune system. In addition, the plant contains anthocyanins which reduce inflammation. This could explain why the extract also relieved the symptoms of the flu. Aches, pains, and fever can all be caused by inflammation.

Ok, so it looks like elderberry works against some viruses. But how can I know if it’s effective against the herpes virus?

In 2005, Sambucol was shown to be effective against four strains of HSV-1 in human cells, not in people! These findings are promising, but, as we said before, they are not enough to determine that Sambucol is effective against HSV-1 in infected people.

Report from China, Greece, and India show that licorice root has been used to treat various afflictions throughout the centuries. However, the first modern clinical study that showed that parts of the licorice plant were effective against viruses took place in 1979. The study looked at the effects of an acid produced from the root of the licorice plant on DNA and RNA strands. The study also found that the substance was able to permanently inactivate HSV particles. This was confirmed by at least one other study in 1980. While these findings appear promising, there still no human clinical studies that tested the effect of licorice root on herpes in infected people.

Why is black licorice effective against the HSV virus?

According to a 1979 lab study, glycyrrhizin acid (and other compounds), found in the root of the plant is key in inactivating the HSV virus. Glycyrrhizic acid is the main component and natural sweetener of the licorice plant, and is already used in a variety of drugs as an anti-inflammatory agent. It is also shown to reduce the harmful effects of free radicals, which can help control the inflammation caused by the HSV virus.

So, what’s the takeaway on black licorice?

While black licorice looks promising, there is still no conclusive, human-based evidence that it can prevent an outbreak of herpes.

A human clinical trial in 2016 has shown that a calendula cream is effective in treating the symptoms of a certain type of vaginal fungus. The cream was compared to a popular antifungal called Clotrimazole, which was shown to be effective in clearing the fungus, but is thought to increase the possibility of a recurrence. According to the findings of the study, both creams were effective, but the natural, calendula cream had better long term effects.

Ok, it’s great that calendula has antifungal properties. But what does that have to do with my herpes outbreaks?

Unfortunately, this is the only human study that we have found which tests the effectiveness of calendula. Studies with rats have indicated that calendula is effective as an anti-inflammatory agent, which can help relieve symptoms of a herpes outbreak. However, until some clinical studies are done, the evidence is inconclusive.

After centuries of garlic being used as a shield against infectious disease, a 1985 lab study showed that garlic was effective against HSV-1. Products containing the highest levels of allicin, the part of garlic responsible for its “hot” taste, were found to be the most effective in inhibiting the HSV virus. A later study on mice revealed that garlic given before exposure to the flu virus was able to protect the animals against the virus. However, the garlic did not help them once they had already contracted the virus. In 2016, a study on humans showed that garlic enhanced the activity of immune cells in humans who took garlic every day for 3 weeks.

Another lab study in 1991 found that garlic was also effective against HSV-2. The study tested both a fresh garlic extract and a high-quality garlic powder and found that the fresh garlic extract was most effective. However, as this study hasn’t been replicated in humans (to our knowledge), it is hard to know if garlic can help humans fight herpes outbreaks.

A 2004 study tested whether taking supplements of echinacea had an effect on how the body reacted to toxins. The scientists who conducted the study gave subjects various toxins, and recorded their reactions. Then, a few days later, the scientists gave the same subjects the same toxins along with an oral dose of echinacea. The scientists used a standard, store bought supplement.

The results varied with each toxin, and were complex. However, it was clear that taking standard store-bought supplements of echinacea does have a significant effect on the body.

Ok, I guess it’s good to know that the store bought supplement actually does something. But, how can I know if it will help my herpes outbreaks?

A 2015 study showed that combining the antiviral drug valacyclovir with echinacea can increase the effectiveness of the drug. The study was done on patients who prescribed long-term valacyclovir for frequent herpes outbreaks.  These patients continued to experience frequent outbreaks that were triggered by herpes, despite being on the antiviral drug. The study found that adding echinacea to the patient’s antiviral treatment successfully reduced the outbreaks.

Why did the echinacea help reduce outbreaks? Is there any way to know that it will help me as well?

A herpes outbreak can indicate a weakness in the immune system. Many times an outbreak is triggered by stress, a poor diet, or another illness. These are all things that can weaken the immune system, and make the body more vulnerable to a herpes attack. Echinacea has been shown to help protect cells against pathogens, like the herpes virus. This may allow the body to fight back against the virus, and reduce the number of outbreaks that occur.

If you experience frequent outbreaks even while taking antiviral drugs, it’s possible that there is a weakness in your immune system, or that you have a resistance to certain antiviral drugs. In this case, echinacea may help you reduce symptoms.

A study published in the Alternative Medicine Review examined the effectiveness of a lip balm containing lysine called Lip Clear Lysine+. The study finds that the median healing time of herpes outbreaks with Lip Clear Lysine+ is 4 days, compared to the 10-14 days it took with no treatment.

Ok, so the lip balm sounds promising. But, would eating more foods with lysine in them also help?

Another study gave 27 herpes patients an oral dosage of 1,000 mg of lysine daily for 6 months. The study found that on average, the patients had 2.4 fewer breakouts, less severe symptoms, and a shorter healing period than the placebo group.

The Canadian government has stated that a diet rich in l-lysine can help protect against oral herpes outbreaks. They have even allowed companies selling l-lysine supplements to market themselves as a cold sore medication. You can find l-lysine supplements at your local drug store. They shouldn’t cost you more than $10 for 60 tablets. If you are interested in increasing l-lysine levels through foods, you can add more of the following foods to your diet:

• Most cheeses (and other dairy products like yogurt)
• Apples, mangoes, apricots, pears (and many other fruits).
• Fish (especially flounder)
• Most poultry and meat

According to the Oregon State University, around 12% of America’s population is thought to be deficient in zinc. Proper zinc levels are essential in helping the body fight against oxidative stress, which can help prevent disease. A study on otherwise healthy men showed that even a minor zinc deficiency can cause DNA damage. The best sources of zinc are in animal products, which might mean that vegetarians are at risk of being deficient. Top sources of zinc include shellfish, beef, poultry, and crab. Yogurt, cashews, and chickpeas also contain lower levels of zinc. If you are already getting enough zinc in your diet, it doesn’t seem like taking a supplement will be able to anything more for you.

Ok, and what about the zinc cream?

Zinc creams, on the other hand, were shown to be effective in a 2001 clinical study. Patients treated with a zinc ointment within 24 of the appearance of symptoms healed around 1 day faster than patients who were given a placebo. They also reported less severe symptoms than the patients treated with zinc. A zinc cream should not cost you more than $10 at your local pharmacy.

Astragalus is actually a group of plants and was used in Chinese medicine to promote healing and treat diabetes. A 2004 study showed that astragalus was able to adjust the immune system and had important significance in healing herpes keratitis (herpes in the eye). This does not mean that astragalus cleared the virus, but indicates evidence that it helps correct specific imbalances found in the immune systems of herpes patients.

First, Vaclovir (generic name: valaciclovir) is not an antibiotic. It is an antiviral drug. Antibiotic drugs target bacteria. Antiviral drugs target viruses, and the herpes virus is a virus. The valaciclovir drug, like every drug, has side effects.  Common include headaches and nausea.  Less common side effects include painful periods (in women), dizziness, joint pain, low energy, loss of appetite, and stomach issues. Rarer, more serious side effects, include coma, seizures, high blood pressure, kidney failure, hives, behavior changes, and changes in blood composition.

If you are looking to a natural alternative to valaciclovir, try Gene-Eden/Novirin. Our supplement is all natural, has no side effects, and has been proven to be more effective at managing genital herpes outbreaks than the leading antiviral drugs, including valaciclovir. *†

Essential oils are compounds which were extracted from certain plants. The oils maintain the plant’s scent and flavor, or its “essence.” These oils are most commonly used in aromatherapy, but many have also been studied for their antiviral effects.  

Some essential oils have been studied for their effects on HSV-1 and HSV-2^[1]. Most of these studies were done on cells, and have not yet been conducted on people. Although the results are not yet conclusive, many of the findings are promising.

Which essential oils have been found to be effective against HSV-1 and HSV-2?

Again, most of the studies we have found are not conclusive. However, promising results have been found with the following oils: juniper, eucalyptus, marjoram, lavender, rosemary, lemongrass, tea tree, and topical basil.

An in vitro study, which was done on cells, ranked the effectiveness of these oils against the HSV-1 virus. The study examined the effect of each oil on reducing plaque generated by a specific strain of the HSV virus. The study also measured the concentration of each essential oil that was most effective in preventing the virus from producing plaque. The study found that the lemongrass essential oil generated the strongest antiviral activity. Although tea tree oil is commonly believed to be the most effective essential oil antiviral, this study showed that lemongrass had a greater effect at a lower concentration^[2].

How do essential oils protect us against viruses?

There are 3 categories of antivirals, the first prevents the virus from entering the cell, the second, prevent parts of the virus in an infected cell from binding to cellular particles, the third, inhibits virus replication in the cell. In vitro studies suggest that essential oils prevent parts of the virus from binding to cellular particles.

^[1] Masato Minami, Masakazu Kita, Takaaki Nakaya, Toshiro Yamamoto, Hiroko Kuriyama, and Jiro Imanishi. The Inhibitory Effect of Essential Oils on Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 Replication In Vitro. Microbiol. Immunol., 47(9), 681-684, 2003.

^[2]Masato Minami, Masakazu Kita, Takaaki Nakaya, Toshiro Yamamoto, Hiroko Kuriyama, and Jiro Imanishi.The Inhibitory Effect of Essential Oils on Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 Replication In Vitro. Microbiol. Immunol., 47(9), 681–684, 2003.

For two main reasons. The first is because many people are worried about the side effects of drugs. The second reason is the antiviral resistance associated with these drugs. Viruses quickly adapt to every environment by mutating.  This means that over time, through mutating, viruses overcome the hostile environment created by the antiviral drugs. This phenomenon is called drug resistance.  Once a virus has evolved to become resistant to a certain drug, this drug can no longer be used in treating this new virus.  In contrast, natural antiviral treatments seem to be safer and resistance free. 

Yes. First, keep in mind that the first few days are always the worst, and the pain will ease up soon. But in the meantime, there are some things you can do to get through this period. You can take an over the counter painkiller, and relax in a warm bath. The warm water will soothe the area, and relax your whole body. Some people claim that adding Epsom salts gives the bath healing properties. While science is still unsure about this, the salt does give the water a silkier, smoother texture that might feel better on your skin^[1]. Be sure to dry the area thoroughly when you’re done bathing, leaving it moist may worsen the infection. If using a towel is too painful, you can try a blow dryer on the coolest setting.

Because some of the pain from herpes is nerve pain, some people find that over the counter painkillers are not effective. You can try asking your doctor for something that is more specific to herpes, like Gabapentin.

You can also try keeping a cool water bottle by the bathroom. Pouring water over your genitals while you urinate can help alleviate the pain of the hot urine. You can also buy a small squirt bottle to stick in your bag for when you need the bathroom away from home. This is a method that doctors recommend to women who experience pain during urination right after giving birth^[2]. Again, it’s important to thoroughly dry the area when you are finished. If wiping with toilet paper is too painful, you can try using a blow dryer. Some people find that wiping with damp toilet paper is less painful than dry, but be sure to pat the area dry after.

^[1]Paul Ingraham.Does Epsom Salt Work? The science of Epsom salt bathing for recovery from muscle pain, soreness, or injury. Taken from: https://www.painscience.com/articles/epsom-salts.php

^[2] http://www.whattoexpect.com/forums/birth-stories/topic/best-way-to-pee-after.html