Can You Rely on Homeopathic Remedies for Herpes Sores?

 

“You have herpes.”

If you recently heard these words from your healthcare provider, you might feel like your life is over.

But don’t panic — you’re not alone. Right now, millions of people are living rich, full, productive lives with herpes. In fact, you probably know some of them.

There are many ways to manage and treat the symptoms of the herpes simplex virus. In fact, there may even be some homeopathic remedies for herpes sores. Let’s explore this approach to treating herpes and determine whether it’s reliable.

What Is Herpes?

The herpes simplex virus, or HSV, is the virus that causes herpes outbreaks.

There are two types of HSV: type 1 and type 2. HSV-1 most often leads to oral herpes, which spreads through oral contact and causes cold sores. HSV-2 generally leads to genital herpes, which spreads through sexual contact and is usually more difficult to manage than oral herpes.

Though HSV-1 generally leads to oral herpes and HSV-2 leads to genital, you can contract oral or genital herpes through close contact with either HSV-1 or HSV-2. In other words, someone with a cold sore can spread the herpes virus to a sexual partner through oral sex, leading to genital herpes, and vice versa.

Before we explore homeopathic remedies for herpes sores, let’s take a look at homeopathic remedies in general.

Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathic medicine was conceived in the late 18th century by a German doctor named Samuel Hahnemann. Known as the founder of homeopathy, Dr. Hahnemann believed the human body is capable of curing itself through the introduction of substances that would cause similar symptoms as a disease when given to a healthy person.

These substances are heavily diluted until there are only very small traces left, then ingested by the sick person. Those who practice homeopathic medicine claim they kickstart the body’s natural healing process, treating conditions like allergies, asthma, high blood pressure, arthritis, and viral infections.

In the mainstream scientific community, homeopathic medicine is often viewed as a pseudoscience because the treatments are not supported by clinical evidence. On the other hand, most homeopathic remedies are harmless, so even a little relief from symptoms — regardless of whether it’s from a placebo effect — may be worth it.

Homeopathic Remedies for Herpes Sores

Because homeopathic remedies for herpes sores are a controversial type of treatment, it’s important to also consult with a medical professional about treating herpes outbreaks and preventing transmitting the virus to your partner.

An important note: You cannot rely on homeopathic remedies to prevent the transmission of the herpes virus during oral or sexual contact. There is no homeopathic remedy that stops the highly contagious nature of the herpes simplex virus, and as of now, there is no cure for HSV. 

With that in mind, here are a few homeopathic remedies that might potentially lead to some relief from the symptoms of an active herpes outbreak:

• Natrum Mur: Made from table salt
• Silica: Made from silicon dioxide
• Causticum: Made from potassium hydroxide
• Medorrhinum: Made from the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Thuja Occidentalis: Made from the arborvitae tree

Keep in mind that there is no scientific or medical evidence that homeopathic remedies for herpes sores offer any value beyond a placebo effect. 

Other Treatment Options

Thankfully, there’s no shortage of reliable, science-backed treatment options for the herpes simplex virus — both pharmaceutical and natural. 

Medications

Your doctor can prescribe an antiviral drug to help treat existing outbreaks, prevent future outbreaks, and slow down viral shedding. 

If you’re looking for quick relief, consider an over-the-counter treatment. Your local pharmacy will have plenty of options for pain relief, including aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen, as well as topical products like Abreva that may expedite the healing process of herpes sores. 

Natural Remedies

If you prefer a more natural approach, researchers have investigated quite a few natural remedies for oral and genital herpes, including:

• Aloe vera
• Coconut oil (specifically, monolaurin)
• Zinc
• Lysine
• Witch hazel
• Certain essential oils

A long-term natural treatment option for both genital herpes and oral herpes is light therapy. Just a few minutes of light therapy per day can help sores heal faster, lessen pain and irritation, reduce the length and severity of outbreaks, and even increase the time between outbreaks. 

You can complete light therapy sessions in the privacy of your own home using handheld LED treatment devices, such as the Luminance RED Genital Sore Treatment Device or the Lip Sore Treatment Device. These class II medical devices are medically optimized to provide pain-free, natural light treatments. 

Multiple studies show that LED light therapy has virtually no known adverse side effects. And since Luminance RED devices come with a six-month, 100% money-back guarantee, what do you have to lose?

Homeopathic Remedies for Herpes Sores: Final Thoughts

While homeopathic remedies for herpes sores aren’t scientifically backed, there’s little harm in giving these remedies a try, as they have virtually no adverse side effects.

At the end of the day, you’re in control of your own life. Whatever you want to do to make living with herpes easier is your decision — as long as you’re not putting yourself or anyone else in harm’s way.