Herpes Simplex

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

Eliminate foods that cause an allergic response or to which there is a sensitivity (fast, use an elimination diet, or allergy test to isolate such foods)
Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates
Eat a diet which avoids arginine - rich foods while promoting lysine- rich foods
Avoid during active outbreak: whole wheat, soy, lentils, oats, corn, barley, carob, eggplant, tomato, squash, fruits and berries with seeds.
Include: fish, brewers yeast, potatoes, yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese
Avoid: chocolate, peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, filberts, pecans, brazil nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, gelatin
Avoid immunosuppressants: alcohol, drugs, caffeine, tobacco
Eat lots of garlic

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

Vitamin B12: 2,000 mcg. every other day during outbreaks
Vitamin B-Complex with 100 mg. of Vitamin B6
Vitamin C: 1 - 3 gm. TID (to bowel tolerance)
Vitamin E: 400 - 800 I.U.
Zinc: 25 mg.
Copper: 2 mg.
Lithium Succinate: Topically

Supplements: (references)

L-Lysine: 3 - 6 gm. for outbreak, 500 - 1000 mg. for prophylaxis
Thymus Glandular: 2 tablets TID
Citrus Bioflavonoids: 1 - 3 gm.

Botanicals: (references)

Liquid Extract - Echinacea , Hypericum , Hyssopus , Lomatium , Spilanthes , Thuja : 1/4 tsp. every hour during outbreak

Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

General herpes simplex:
Ars., Bov., Calc., Calc-S., Carb-S., Clem., Con., Dulc., Graph., Lyc., Med., Merc., Nat-M., Rhus-T., Sep., Sil., Sulph., Tell., Thuj.
Herpes in clusters:
Dulc.
Herpes during menses:
Petr.

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)

Other Therapies: (references)

Antiviral IV therapy: 3/week for 1 month
Ice compress: 10 minutes on, 5 minutes off during initial phase
Decrease stress and anxiety
The following precautions should be taken during an attack:
Wear underwear to bed
Wash hands before touching other body parts
Avoid sexual contact
Do not share food, clothing, utensils
General prevention:
Protect face and lips from sunlight
Practice safer sex

Recommended Labs:

Check for herpes: Skin Culture
Rule out allergies: IgG Food Allergy Antibody, IgG and IgE Inhalent Allergy Antibody
Rule out benign vulvar lesions (Lipschutz's): Skin Swab, Biopsy, Woodlamp Exam
Rule out chronic aphthae: Exclude Systemic Disorders with CBC and Chemistry Panel
Rule out Fifth Disease: CBC with Diff, Parvovirus
Rule out HIV: ELISA, Western Blot
Rule out psoriasis: Skin Biopsy
Rule out small-vessicle impetigo: Skin Culture
Rule out syphilis: VDRL, Darkfield Microscopy, RPR, MHA-TP
Rule out systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): CBC with Diff, Blood Chemistry, Urinalysis, CRP, ANA with Reflex, Quantitative Immunoglobulins, Tissue Biopsy
Rule out tinea infection: Skin Culture using KOH

* The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.