Dietary supplements can be a good option to prevent herpes or reduce their severity. In this article, we list some ingredients that can have a beneficial effect on people with labial herpes (with the support of medical research). If you buy a dietary supplement specifically designed for the treatment of herpes, we recommend that you check the ingredients that make up the product before buying, there are a lot of snake oil!
L-lysine
Lysine is an essential amino acid. It has been proven that an adequate daily dose (from 1250 mg to 1800 mg) slows the growth of herpes. Studies have concluded that Lysine can reduce the frequency and intensity of outbreaks. Lysine supplements can be really cheap, but keep in mind that Lysine quality is a bit more expensive (about $ 10 per 100 tablets or capsules).
Astragalus
Astragalus is an extract from the roots of a plant known as Astragalus membranaceus which is a type of bean (legume). The antiviral effect of Astragalus membranaceus broth was investigated by observing inhibition of HSV-1. , Astragalus membranaceus has the apparent effectiveness of inhibiting HSV-1.
Flavonoids (also called bioflavonoids)
Flavonoids have various pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, antitumor, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory. When flavonoids were used at varying concentrations on Vero cells infected with HSV-1 and 2, most flavonoids showed an inhibitory effect on the cells induced by the virus.
Indole-3-carbinol
Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a phytochemical compound found naturally in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, such as fiber and Brussels sprouts. Clinical studies show that this compound can influence how herpes simplex virus (HSV) is replicated.
N-acetyl-L-cysteine
NAC (N-acetyl-L-cysteine) is a form of amino acid cysteine. Its main function is to increase the production of glutathione tripeptide. It is known that glutathione helps in transporting nutrients to lymphocytes and phagocytes, the two main classes of immune cells and protects cell membranes. The data show that glutathione inhibits the replication of HSV-1, interfering with the life cycle of the virus.
Seaweed with a high content of sulfated polysaccharides
The University of California Department of Biological Sciences found that algae are known to help the body's immune system, and regular consumption can reduce the number of virus attacks (including herpes) and their severity. The active agents of algae are carrageenans, a family of sulfated polysaccharides.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a non-flavonoid polyphenolic compound present in many plants and fruits. It inhibits the replication of herpes simplex virus (HSV) by an unknown mechanism. Electric vehicle transfer tests have determined that resveratrol, inhibited activation of NF-kappaB in Vero cells infected with HSV-1, HSV-2, and acyclovir-resistant HSV-1.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Patients who started treatment with lignin-ascorbic acid during the first 48 hours of onset of symptoms did not develop characteristic lesions of HSV-1, while those who started treatment later experienced a shorter duration of early lesions in the area of inflammation and a decrease in symptoms with previous episodes .
zinc
Zinc sulfate, apparently, reduced both the number of episodes and the recovery time of herpes labialis. It is known that zinc strengthens the immune system in the body and, therefore, helps your body fight viral infections.
