Safe sex. Everywhere you turn, the message is there: If you’re going to have intercourse, even just once, use protection. Despite the prevalence of that warning, over the years millions of people have ended up with recurring infections, the most common being herpes simplex virus type 2, otherwise known as genital herpes.
Even today, with our vast pool of knowledge, researchers estimate that each year at least 500,000 people in North America contract genital herpes. And once herpes moves in, it becomes a permanent resident. Although dormant most of the time, this infection flares up occasionally to remind you that it’s still there. Fortunately, after the initial infection, which causes flulike aches and pains as well a painful crop of blisters on and around the genitals, recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes are usually not as bad. Unfortunately, outbreaks are usually marked by a small cluster of genital blisters that itch, burn, ooze and generally make life miserable for the week or so that they are around.
No one really knows what triggers recurrent outbreaks, but scientists believe that stress may play a role, along with other factors that challenge the immune system, such as menstrual periods, fever and bodily injury.
Nutrition Might Help
Though researchers are testing a vaccine, there is no cure for genital herpes. But one fairly successful medication is the prescription drug acyclovir (Zovirax). Some studies show that if taken during the initial outbreak, it can help reduce the number of recurrences.
Nutritional therapies for genital herpes do exist, but experts have found them to be less than consistent: Some people have considerable success with them, while others have none at all. “None of these treatments is well-researched, and we can’t recommend them across the board because the success rates are so random,” says Stephen Tyring, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology, of microbiology and immunology, and of internal medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Galveston. “If it’s safe and it seems to help a person, however, then I don’t discourage it.”
That said, here’s what some doctors recommend as potential nutritional treatments.
| Food Factors Along with keeping your stress levels under control, there are a number of dietary approaches that many medical experts say can help prevent genital herpes from recurring. Here's what they say helps. Load up on lysine. Researchers have found that lysine, an amino acid that your body needs in order to function, interferes with reproduction of the herpes virus. And apparently, increasing your intake of lysine just might help reduce your number of outbreaks. Good sources of lysine include fish, chicken, cheeses, potatoes, milk, brewer's yeast and beans. Lighten up on arginine. They say that for every force, there's a counterforce. Well, in the case of lysine, that counterforce is arginine, another amino acid that your body needs. Arginine, which has been linked to herpes outbreaks, is found in abundance in foods such as peanuts and other nuts and seeds as well as |
Boost Immunity with Vitamin C
Since herpes tends to become reactivated when your defenses are down, some doctors recommend upping your intake of vitamin C, which is known to help your body’s infection-fighting white blood cells do their duty.
“There is strong scientific evidence that vitamin C can boost the immune system, and therefore it should help. But people who take megadoses of vitamin C are sometimes helped and sometimes not,” cautions Dr. Tyring. “It’ll probably have the biggest effect if you’re not getting enough in your diet to begin with.”
Doctors who recommend large doses generally call for anywhere from 1,000 to 4,000 milligrams up to 8,000 milligrams, divided throughout the day during the active part of the infection. This is considerably higher than the Daily Value of vitamin C, which is only 60 milligrams, and unpleasant side effects, especially diarrhea, can show up in some people with as little as 1,200 milligrams. So it would be a good idea to discuss vitamin C with your doctor if you’d like to try a higher dose.
If you suspect that you’re among those who don’t get enough vitamin C, you can give your diet a boost of this important nutrient by eating more fruits and vegetables, particularly oranges, broccoli and red bell peppers.
Think Zinc for Relief
The mineral zinc acts as a double agent in the fight against herpes, working both from the inside out and from the outside in.
Like vitamin C, zinc is a frontline player in boosting the immune system, especially the production of T lymphocyte cells, which are important body defenses against viral infections. Though they admit that zinc’s effect against herpes is speculative, doctors who recommend nutritional regimens for preventing recurrent herpes outbreaks often suggest taking zinc supplements.
How much you should take varies depending on whom you ask, but the recommended range is somewhere between 30 and 60 milligrams a day, well above the Daily Value of 15 milligrams. (You should consult your doctor before exceeding 15 milligrams of zinc a day.) And because zinc can interfere with the absorption of copper, doctors also suggest taking 1 milligram of copper for every 10 milligrams of zinc.
If you want to get more zinc through your diet, then soup up your intake of seafood. Just six steamed medium oysters pack about 76 milligrams of zinc.
Also, if you’re a man with genital herpes, some doctors recommend having a topical preparation containing zinc oxide on hand. Applied directly to the blisters, the ointment will ease the burning and dry out the blisters more quickly. Doctors warn women not to use zinc oxide ointments for vaginal herpes, however, because drying agents shouldn’t be used on mucous membranes.
“This doesn’t work as an antiviral agent,” says Dr. Tyring. “But it may numb the pain and itching.”
Keep It at Bay with Vitamin A
Although it’s not a common treatment, some doctors recommend taking high doses of vitamin A to boost immunity and prevent herpes recurrence.
“Vitamin A helps the immune system fight viruses, so the symptoms are less and the number of infections is fewer,” explains Jonathan Wright, M.D., a doctor in Kent, Washington, who specializes in nutritional therapy and is the author of Dr. Wright’s Guide to Healing with Nutrition.
For fighting herpes, Dr. Wright recommends taking 50,000 international units daily, an amount that far exceeds the Daily Value of 5,000 international units, for the duration of the outbreak. If you want to try this, clear it with your doctor first. Vitamin A can be toxic in high doses and can build up in the body.
Taking 10,000 units of vitamin A in early pregnancy has been linked to a high risk of birth defects. If you are pregnant, do not use this therapy. And if you are of childbearing age, be sure to check with your doctor before starting vitamin A supplementation.
| Prescriptions for Healing While there are no guarantees when it comes to treating genital herpes, some people experience fewer, less severe outbreaks by boosting their intakes of certain nutrients. Here's what many experts recommend. Nutrient Daily Amount/Application
Oral
Copper 3-6 milligrams (1 milligram for every 10 milligrams of zinc) Vitamin A 50,000 international units Vitamin C 1,000-8,000 milligrams, taken as divided doses during the active part of the infection Zinc 30-60 milligrams Topical
Zinc oxide As an ingredient in ointment, applied directly to the blisters (for men only)
MEDICAL ALERT: If you have symptoms of genital herpes, you should see your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Vitamin A can be toxic in high doses. Consult your doctor before exceeding 15,000 international units a day (or 10,000 international units a day for women of childbearing age). Women who are pregnant should not use this therapy. Doses of vitamin C above 1,200 milligrams a day can cause diarrhea in some people. You should not exceed 15 milligrams of zinc a day without first discussing it with your doctor. |
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