Natural Supplement Treatments for Herpes
The hallmark of herpes infection is a blister or a group of blisters. The affected skin feels initially itchy and tingly, then becomes painful and the blisters become filled with a clear or straw colored fluid. The first episode of skin eruption may also be associated with fever, fatigue and enlarged lymph nodes. The virus will stay in a latent state in the nerves and will occasionally reactivate throughout your life, sometimes triggered by sun exposure, emotional stress or a viral infection.
There are several ways to treat herpes naturally, including Transfer Factors, Monolaurin, coconut oil, olive leaf extract, grapefruit seed extract and vitamin D have been researched and have been proven to be effective for managing herpes and also have an excellent safety profile.
Transfer Factors
Transfer Factors, or TFs, are chemical compounds derived from human or animal blood cells that already have immunity to the herpes virus. They contain three substances called inducer, antigen specific and suppressor fractions which help the immune system of an individual with herpes to recognize the virus, fight the infection and accelerate the recovery process. TFs act fast (optimizing the function of the immune system within 24 hours) and are suitable at any age, being used in healthy adults as well as infants or debilitated individuals.
Monolaurin
Monolaurin is another great natural supplement, which may have the potential to permanently destroy the fatty coat of the virus and thus promoting the inactivation and disintegration of herpes virus. Monolaurin is sold under the brand Lauricidin®, created by the Dr. J Kabara, the physician and researcher who discovered the benefits of this supplement. Monolaurin is found naturally in colostrums, the mother’s milk produced in the first days postpartum.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil contains healthy fats such as lauric acid that helps convert and utilize monolaurin in the body. Researchers have found that coconut oil composition is the closest to mother’s fat and possesses strong antimicrobial and antiviral qualities. Besides lauric acid, coconut oil also contains capric acid. Both acids have been found to kill the herpes family of viruses by destroying the fatty envelope surrounding the herpes virus.
Olive leaf extract
Olive leaf, scientifically known as Olea europaea, was first used for medicinal use in ancient Egypt. Current research indicates that the key active ingredient responsible for its therapeutic benefits is oleuropein. Olive leaf extracts may help manage not only human herpes types 1, 2, 6, 7 and shingles (herpes zoster), but also the common cold, yeast infections, hepatitis B, and surgical infections. This supplement is primarily used for viral infections because it appears to specifically and selectively block the virus-specific system in the infected host.
Grapefruit seed extract
Grapefruit seed extract can be used to fight a variety of infections from cold sores, to bacterial and yeast infections. This supplement contains significant amounts of antioxidants and works primarily by boosting the immune system, increasing the pH of the body and detoxifying it.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D also boosts the immune system, thus enhancing the body’s ability to fight viral infections from colds and flu, to herpes infections. While vitamin D is produced naturally in your skin when exposed to the sun, in herpes infections, you should consider getting this vitamin in a supplement form because sun exposure is a well known trigger for reactivations of a herpes infection.
References:
http://www.herbwisdom.com/
http://www.progressivehealth.
http://www.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/