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Foods To Help With Herpes Outbreak

How To Heal A Herpes Outbreak Quickly

Protecting Against Herpes

This article was medically reviewed by Lacy Windham, MD. Dr. Windham is a board certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist in Tennessee. She attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and completed her residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2010, where she was awarded the Most Outstanding Resident in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Most Outstanding Resident in Oncology, and Most Outstanding Resident Overall.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 94% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 125,951 times.

Herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex. Once the virus enters ones body, it will always remain there by hiding in the nerve roots. When ones immunity is lowered, it will result in outbreak. Sores usually take about 1-2 weeks to heal, but there are some things that you can do to speed the healing process. Things like allowing your sores to be exposed to air, talking to your doctor about medications, and using ointments may help speed healing time. There are also some things that you can do to reduce and prevent outbreaks, such as reducing prolonged exposure to sunlight, reducing friction during sex, and managing stress.

Can Food Trigger A Herpes Outbreak

Herpes outbreaks usually occur after a trigger behavior causes the virus to go from dormant to active.

Theres no cure for herpes, meaning that once youre infected, the virus will remain in your body even if it isnt active. Between outbreaks, herpes lives in the nerve cells of the jaw or the spine .

Common herpes triggers include sunlight, hormonal changes, a weakened immune system and traumatic events such as injury or surgery.

As a general rule, foods are unlikely to trigger a herpes outbreak. However, some foods could potentially increase your risk of experiencing an outbreak if they have negative effects on your immune system.

On the other hand, foods that strengthen your immune system — such as vegetables, fruits and other natural foods rich in vitamins — may potentially reduce your risk of experiencing outbreaks.

While you cant completely prevent outbreaks by switching to a specific diet, any diet thats rich in vitamins, minerals and other healthy nutrients that strengthen your immune system can be a valuable asset when it comes to wellbeing.

Indian Diet Plan For Herpes Infection

Following is a sample diet plan, which can be followed during herpes infection as well as after it, to prevent a recurrence of the disease.

  • Early morning: Warm water + walnut + raisin
  • Breakfast: Paneer/egg sandwich + strawberry smoothie
  • Mid-morning: Fruit salad with roasted seeds
  • Lunch: Spinach chapati / veg pulao + soya curry + any seasonal green vegetable + salad
  • Evening tea: Herbal tea + sprout bhel
  • Dinner: Chapati + soya curry + mixed vegetable

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What Are The Symptoms Of Herpes

The hallmark of HSV infection is a blister or cluster of blisters that often feels tingly and itchy at first, becoming sore later, eventually crusting over and disappearing. An initial episode of herpes may produce fever, malaise, and enlargement of local lymph nodes recurrences are usually milder but may begin with a brief period of general malaise. Once you get infected, the virus is with you for life. It lives in nerve cells where the immune system cannot find it, becoming re-activated from time to time. Common triggers of herpes outbreaks are colds and other viral infections, fatigue, sun exposure, physical irritation of the skin, and emotional stress. Some people are bothered by outbreaks once a year or less, while others may get them every few weeks.

Expect The First Outbreak To Be The Worst

Pin on Natural Remedies

Remember that although herpes lasts a lifetime, the first outbreak typically causes the most pain, while later outbreaks tend to be much milder.

You will always have herpes, and the sores will come and go, but you can decide not to treat the current outbreak. If its not that unpleasant or uncomfortable, some patients will do that, says Gade.

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Summary Of 2 Trials Not Included In Previous Literature Reviews

Wright2 conducted a study of 28 patients with RAUs and 14 patients with herpes labialis using a 500 mg/day prophylactic dose and 4-g treatment dose, followed up by telephone interview after 6 months. All but 1 patient with herpes labialis and 1 with RAUs reported that lysine was effective. Patients were nonconcordant with prophylactic lysine, in some cases due to forgetfulness and in other cases due to believing they had been cured. Starting the treatment dose at onset of herpes labialis, prodrome was effective for only reducing the duration of lesions in 25% of patients. Two RAU patients required 1 g of lysine daily for prevention. One patient found no benefit from lysine but the other 25 patients found 500 mg/day to be 100% effective for prophylaxis.

Recommended Reading: How To Catch Herpes Simplex

Can Coffee Trigger Cold Sores

Foods that worsen symptoms should not be consumed. foods like citrus fruits and tomatoes can worsen or exacerbate symptoms, making them harder to treat. Your doctor might be able to help you relieve or avoid complications caused by your cold sores. One example is the onset of herpes ocular, which can result in the sight being darkened due to HSV-1 exposure.

Recommended Reading: How Do I Know If Its Herpes

Read Also: Will Herpes Go Away Without Treatment

What Are The Best Foods For Cold Sores

Honey, lemon, rhubarb and beyond: many foods are touted for being a cure for cold sores. Unfortunately, there is no magic food you can eat to prevent you from ever developing a cold sore ever again. Likewise, you wont find a food that can make a cold sore disappear immediately. Cold sores are a tricky condition to manage. Sometimes, even with effective treatment, cold sores need additional time to heal.

Luckily, eating a healthy diet can still help support cold sore recovery. As you read above, nutrition helps supports immune health, which in turn can help with cold sore outbreaks. A nutritious diet offers other benefits as well. Eating well can give you energy, improve your mood and help you sleep betterall of which is important when you have cold sore and feel less than 100%.

Some studies report that L-lysine, an amino acid commonly found in food, is an effective treatment for cold sore infections.5 Foods with lysine include chicken, salmon, beans, tofu, and more. You may hear people suggest to eat these foods to get rid of cold sores, but take this advice with a grain of salt. Research is contradictory as to whether or not lysine, either from food or a supplement, can help cold sores. However, talk to your doctor if youre interested in more information. Besides, you may want to eat some of these foods with lysine for nutritional benefits or even great flavorcold sore benefits aside.

Read Also: How To Know If Its Herpes

When Stress Triggers A Herpes Outbreak These Complementary Therapies May Calm It Down

3 At-Home Treatments for Cold Sores

A healthy lifestyle and the right supplements may offer relief from genital herpes.

A healthy lifestyle and the right supplements may offer relief from genital herpes.

Anna Ivanova/Alamy Alamy

A viral infection causes genital herpes, and there is no cure for it. But if you have genital herpes, you can use complementary approaches to reduce how often you have outbreaks. Some alternative therapies can also provide relief from discomfort and pain during outbreaks that do occur.

This kind of viral outbreak , and other viruses, like a cold, is usually related to stress and your immunity, says Lucy Gade, MD, MPH, the medical director at the Center for Wellness and Integrative Medicine at Northwell Health, in Oyster Bay, New York. As a result, an alternative medicine approach to herpes treatment involves making smart lifestyle choices to foster your general wellness. In doing so, you bolster your immune systems ability to fight the two viruses that cause herpes, herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2 .

A healthy diet, appropriate sleep, finding ways to decrease stressors in your life These alone will make your herpes outbreaks less frequent, says Dr. Gade. Such healthy habits will also improve your overall well-being, lengthen your life, and boost your happiness.

But first, make sure you have an accurate diagnosis for whats causing your symptoms.

Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Herpes On Your Lips

Acidic Foods And Drinks

Some people recommend that you avoid all foods that cause acidity to prevent herpes. This includes:

  • artificial sweeteners .

Some say that high acid levels weaken the immune system, making you susceptible to viral infections.

In addition, immune-strengthening herbs can help. Olive leaf, garlic, Echinacea, licorice and Propolis are valuable in boosting your immune system. Astragalus is usually prescribed in Chinese Medicine for those who have oral herpes, and a 2004 study showed its effectiveness . Just check out our list of herbal and natural herpes remedies here.

Best For Online Consultations: Lemonaid

  • Price: $25 for consultation and prescription, cost of medication varies
  • Pros: convenient online appointments and medication delivery
  • Cons: does not accept insurance for consultations

This telehealth company provides prescription medications for herpes.

People must fill in an online health questionnaire and provide a photo ID. Depending on the state a person resides in, Lemonaid may require a video or telephone consultation with a healthcare professional.

The company offers preventive treatment with a prescription that lasts for 1 year or immediate treatment for current herpes flare-ups.

People can choose home delivery or pick up their medication at a local pharmacy.

However, Lemonaid does not offer genital herpes prescription medications for people using the service for the first time. In this case, users must go to a doctor or gynecologist for an initial diagnosis.

The majority of Lemonaid consultation fees cost a flat rate of $25. This fee does not cover the cost of medication.

Also Check: How Long Do Herpes Symptoms Last

Herpes Myths To Stop Freaking Out About

A surprising number of people you know probably have herpes.

Shocked? You shouldnt be, since the virus is very common. According to the World Health Organization, 3.7 billion people under age 50 have herpes simplex virus type 1 thats 67 percent of the global population in that age bracket. Another 417 million people between ages 15 and 49 worldwide have herpes simplex virus type 2 .

Many people consider HSV-1 more benign, but it turns out theres not much difference between the two types of virus. While its true that HSV-2 is a sexually transmitted disease and can cause genital sores or blisters, type 1 can do the same thing.

One big misconception is that cold sores are caused by HSV-1 and genital herpes are always type 2, but thats not always the case, says Sarah Vensel, a physician assistant in San Francisco. Cold sores are so common theyve been normalized at this point. But genital herpes is sometimes the exact same virus just in a different location.

Not only is herpes incredibly common its also totally manageable. Allow us to set your mind at ease and debunk three widespread herpes myths:

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Prevention Of Genital Herpes

Herpes Genital: Best Diet to Consume during Genital Herpes Outbreak

The best protection against STIs is to always use barrier protection such as condoms, female condoms and dams . Because herpes is spread by skin-to-skin contact, condoms will reduce the risk of transmission, but it will not protect sexual partners completely as condoms do not cover the entire genitals.

Using lubricant with a condom during sex will also reduce the risk of trauma to the genital skin. This has been shown to reduce HSV transmission, especially in the first six months of a sexual relationship. Silicone-based lubricants are recommended.

Remember that herpes transmission can occur when symptoms are present , but may also occur even if there are no genital symptoms through asymptomatic viral shedding.

For people who have frequent episodes of genital herpes, antiviral medication, taken daily, helps to reduce transmission of herpes to a sexual partner.

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Upgrade Your Eating Habits

Are you eating a standard American diet, or SAD? That means eating lots of meat, fast foods, and processed foods and few fresh fruits and vegetables. Such habits not only work against living comfortably with herpes, they also raise your risk for many diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Consider upgrading your eating habits through a few, not-so-hard-to-make changes.

Eat more veggies. Try to prepare home-cooked food more often. Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed, says LeeAnn Weintraub, RD, MPH, a registered dietitian based in Los Angeles. She considers these three tips to be the first steps anyone who wants to eat more healthfully should follow.

Reduced Inflammation And Joint Pain

The GLA found in black currants supports eye health but it also promotes joint health. GLA is a type of omega-6 fatty acid that helps to reduce inflammation in the body, particularly in the joints. As such, black currants may help to reduce joint pain, stiffness, and soreness it may even help to repair joint damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

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Recommendations About Diet For Herpes Sufferers

In this section you will be able to read recommendations including which foods to eat and which to avoid in your diet and why.

The list of recommendations is listed first, followed by an explanation of each recommendation.

If you are infected with the herpes simplex virus, you should commit to the following recommendations:

  • Eat a diet high in lysine and low in arginine.
  • Say no to coffee, tea and chocolate.
  • Do not eat moldy food.
  • Avoid alcohol or reduce your alcohol intake to a minimum.
  • Reduce sugar consumption.
  • Eat a diet without processed foods.
  • Avoid dehydration.

Editorial Sources And Fact

Herpes Simplex Virus in Depth / Alynn Alexander, MD
  • Cheng H-Y, Huang H-H, et al. The In Vitro Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 and Type-2 Activity of Long Dan Xie Gan Tan, a Prescription of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Chemotherapy. March 2008.
  • Dai X, Stanilka JM, Rowe CA, et al. Consuming Lentinula Edodes Mushrooms Daily Improves Human Immunity: A Randomized Dietary Intervention in Healthy Young Adults. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. April 2015.
  • Meyers M. Lemon Balm: An Herb Society of America Guide. The Herb Society of America. 2007.
  • Schnitzler P, Schuhmacher A, et al. Melissa Officinalis Oil Affects Infectivity of Enveloped Herpesviruses. Phytomedicine. September 2008.
  • Umadevi M, Rajeswari R, et al. Traditional and Medicinal Uses of Withania Somnifera. The Pharma Innovation. November 2012.
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    If You Have Symptoms Find Out What Youre Dealing With

    With genital herpes, the biggest mistake people make is not seeking medical advice, says Gade.

    People often find the signs or symptoms of a first herpes outbreak confusing, says Gade. You may mistake herpes symptoms for those of a yeast infection and try curing that condition on your own. But if your healthcare provider diagnoses you with herpes, the first line of treatment will be antiviral medications.

    , you can make matters worse by putting things on the herpes sores that you shouldnt put on the sores, she says. People often try using Vaseline, bacitracin, or Aquaphor to soothe the itchy or painful eruptions.

    Honestly, not putting anything on the sores is best, says Gade. Do keep the area clean and dry, though.

    Warm compresses applied to tender or painful areas can help. So can sitting in a warm bath, using Epsom salt.

    Sometimes people have enormous pain with urination, says Gade. For relief, you can urinate in your bathwater or while taking a shower to dilute the urine stream and lessen the sensation. You can also use warm water in a spray bottle to dilute the stream while youre urinating.

    Simple Treatments For The Relief Of Discomfort

    • Wear loose underclothes, preferably cotton , to help minimise discomfort and allow healing.
    • Use plain water or saline solution with cotton wool to clean and soothe the area. To make a saline solution, use 1 teaspoon of salt in 600ml of water or a handful of salt in a shallow bath.
    • Dont use scented soaps, bubble bath, etc in the area, as these may irritate it.
    • Using a hairdryer on its lowest setting to dry the area may be more comfortable than using a towel.
    • Pain relief medication such as paracetamol and ibuprofen may ease the pain. Check with your pharmacist or other health professional whether taking these is suitable for you.
    • Ice wrapped in a face cloth or flannel and placed over the sores for 510 minutes may be soothing. Dont apply ice directly to the sores as this can cause ice burn.
    • If you find peeing painful, try applying Vaseline® to the area or sitting in a warm bath before urinating or using a pump bottle full of water and spraying water on yourself while peeing.
    • You can also try applying a pain relief cream such as lignocaine cream to the painful area. This is applied 5 minutes before peeing and should be used for a maximum of 12 days.
    • Drink plenty of fluids as this dilutes your pee and may help reduce stinging.

    Also Check: What To Do For Herpes Outbreak

    What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor

    You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

    • What is the best treatment for me?
    • What are the side effects of antiviral medications?
    • How can I reduce the risk of future outbreaks?
    • Whats the best way to prevent getting another STI?
    • How can I protect my partner from getting genital herpes?
    • Should I look out for signs of complications?

    A note from Cleveland Clinic

    Millions of people are living with the herpes virus that causes genital herpes. Its a common STI. You shouldnt be embarrassed or put off seeking medical care if you develop symptoms. Treatments can ease symptoms, reduce outbreaks and protect sexual partners from infection. Having the virus shouldnt affect your relationships or sexual health. However, you do need to tell your sexual partners that you have the virus. Your healthcare provider can discuss ways to prevent spreading this STI.

    Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/23/2020.

    References

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