Is Lysine Good For Herpes

Lysine Can Potentially Help Both Types Of Herpes Virus

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Dear Doctor: Are cold sores and herpes the same thing? Ive got both, and finding out theres no cure really stinks. My friends say lysine can help. Is that true?

Dear Reader: Cold sores and genital herpes are caused by different types of the herpes simplex virus, or HSV. Each type is quite contagious.

HSV-1 causes cold sores on the lips and mouth. Its estimated that half of the population in the United States is infected with the oral herpes virus. The majority of genital herpes, which is a sexually transmitted disease, is caused by HSV-2. The infection rate of HSV-2 in the U.S. is estimated to be at least 15 percent and as high as 20 percent.

Youre correct that at this time, there is no cure for either type of herpes infection. Instead, people who have frequent outbreaks seek to manage the condition. Many people infected with HSV-2 rely on antiviral medications, which can shorten or suppress outbreaks of genital herpes and also lessen symptoms when an outbreak does occur. The three main drugs are acyclovir , famciclovir and valacyclovir . Antivirals may also be prescribed to people infected with HSV-1 who are having frequent or severe outbreaks. The over-the-counter cream Abreva, which targets oral herpes, can be useful.

Also Check: Does Abreva Work On Genital Herpes

Top 13 Best Herpes Support Supplements Of 2021 For Outbreaks

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Despite the stigma around herpes, the condition is still relatively common. With over 500 million currently suffering from HSV-2 , the use of supplements can have a profound effect. The companies that make these products provide the body with essential nutrients that can help the immune system.

Some supplements promise to help users eliminate the virus, offering antiviral benefits with the ingredients. The top products on the market will help consumers potentially get rid of herpes entirely. Even though most scientists agree that this is a lifelong condition, reducing the outbreaks and making them much easier to handle.

For some people, these supplements can work, but why? Which ones are the best herpes supplements on the market right now? Thats what this guide aims to reveal.

Recommended Reading: Do Normal Std Tests Check For Herpes

Lysine For Cats Dosage

Oral L-lysine was one treatment option for recurring FHV-1 flare-ups. Veterinarians typically prescribed L-lysine for cats to eliminate respiratory infections because of the assumption that the amino acid reduces the symptoms and prevents future flare-ups. Previously, veterinarians thought L-lysine interfered with the FHV-1 virus replication by interfering with the uptake of the amino acid, arginine.

Recommended Reading: How To Deal With Herpes Type 2

Why Are Lysine Rich Foods Important To Treat Herpes

Most of doctors always tell their patients with herpes should increase lysine rich food intake or prescribe them lysine supplements after treatment. Why lysine is important for treating herpes? In fact, lysine is an amino acid found tin foods, which can reduce the frequency of herpes outbreaks. Also, it works by fighting off the growth of arginine- another amino acid triggers HSV. Lysine also combats against arginine for absorption by infected cells. This helps limit arginine reaches the virus and boost the production of arginase, which can decrease arginine and keep herpes outbreaksat bay. Therefore, you should eat more lysine rich foods to treat herpes. Not only do these types of foods reduce the number of herpes outbreaks, but they can also boost healing process of current herpes infections.

Lysine rich foods are helpful to treat herpes

A Diet High In Lysine

Clinical studies and research suggest a possibility that a diet high in lysine may have the potential to control herpes outbreaks.

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L-Lysine is an amino acid that may cut the occurrence, severity, and duration of herpes outbreaks. Why? Well, it has to do with another amino acid: Arginine.

Back in the 60s, researchers showed that elevated arginine levels in the human diet made herpes outbreaks worse. It turns out the herpes virus needs arginine to replicate .

So what does lysine have to do with it? Simple. Lysine and arginine compete for absorption in the body .

The idea is that you want to consume more lysine in your diet than arginine. Then youve taken a step to reduce the amount of herpes virus that replicates in your system. Once the reproduction of herpes simplex virus is stopped or minimized, it could reduce the duration and frequency of a herpes outbreak.

There is no clinical data proving the effectiveness of dietary lysine for herpes in humans, only small preliminary studies on lysine supplements. Still, it remains a popular and well-known diet change for various types of HSV.

Finally, lysine has been shown in animal and human studies to actually reduce anxiety by boosting serotonin. Since stress is a major outbreak trigger, this is good to know.

Here are some lysine-rich foods:

Recommended Reading: Can You Cure Herpes Type 2

Where Is Lysine Found

Your body cant manufacture lysine, so the only way to get it is through your diet.ii As one of the building blocks of protein, lysine is found in many protein-rich foods such as red meat, fish and dairy products.i If you eat these foods as part of a balanced and healthy diet, your body will get ample amounts of lysine.

What The Research Says

If you eat a balanced diet that includes red meat, fish, and dairy products, you probably consume enough lysine. Its also widely advertised as a dietary supplement. In the body, lysine knocks out another protein building block, or amino acid, called arginine. To boost the effect of lysine, avoid arginine-rich foods such as nuts and seeds.

A large review concluded that L-lysine had no reliable effect on cold sores. In a smaller study that seemed to show an effect, participants took an average of just over 900 milligrams of the supplement daily for six months. At this or even higher levels, L-lysine appears to have no toxic effects.

Whether L-lysine is likely to work on reducing the intensity or duration of shingles symptoms is a separate question.

Theres not a shred of evidence that it works, says Aaron Glatt, MD, chairman of the department of medicine at South Nassau Communities Hospital and spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Its probably not dangerous, but I wouldnt tell someone to spend money on it.

If youd like to explore L-lysine as a treatment option for shingles, make an appointment with your doctor. You can discuss whether its the right treatment for you.

More research is needed to determine the short- and long-term effects of taking L-lysine supplements. A number of side effects have been reported with L-lysine ingestion, although it isnt clear whether theyre consistent.

Possible side effects include:

• nausea
• abdominal pain

Also Check: How Fast Can You Get Herpes Test Results

Using Diet To Control Your Outbreaks

Arginine is an amino acid naturally found in food and is also created within our body. This amino acid is the food source of the herpes virus and when it is in abundant amounts in your body it will strengthen and feed the virus, causing your outbreaks to be triggered and become intensely active. By lessening your intake of Arginine you will be able to have more control over the virus and have the effect of reducing your outbreaks.

Lysine is an amino acid just like Arginine and when it is in sufficient amounts in the body it has the ability to neutralize the effects of Arginine. As Lysine can suppress the virus by starving it from its food source, it will be an advantage to increase the foods in your diet that are high in Lysine as well as taking a good quality Lysine supplement. A highly recommended Lysine supplement is the Combined Lysine Formula.

Eating processed foods expose the body to a range of toxic additives, preservative and chemicals that agitate and compromise the immune system. This type of food is also void of any life or quality nutrition and therefore tax the body of its own reserves in order to digest it. All drugs including alcohol, coffee and prescription medications are going to have a negative result on your overall health and need to be limited if not completely avoided in order to develop a strong and healthy immunity.

Additional Benefits Of Lysine

Lysine is much more than an arginine inhibitor. Theres strong evidence that it can affect many parts of the human biological systems in the body. Lets explore what a supplementation of Lysine can do for you besides its anti-herpes benefits. Its really a win-win supplement that can you get you on the road to good health.

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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 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, , 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 .

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.

Anxiety & Mental Health Benefits

Lysine supports the absorption of calcium in the body. Calcium, along with other important nutrients such as magnesium, B vitamins, and omega fatty acids, all help to relieve the effects of anxiety.

Calcium, with support from Lysine, binds to serotonin receptors to prevent stress-induced anxiety symptoms. Lysine is also showing promising benefits to improve negative and general psychopathology symptoms in chronic schizophrenia.

Also Check: How To Heal Herpes Outbreak

Lysine As A Cold Sore Treatment

Lysine is considered a potential cold sore remedy is because its known to slow down the bodys production of arginine another amino acid that helps the HSV virus to spread.i, iv But while some take this to mean that increasing your lysine intake will help to stave off a cold sore outbreak , the research on this topic is still inconclusive.

Despite several studies on the topic, experts have not been able to say for sure that lysine can prevent, treat or manage an outbreak of cold sores.v, vi To find out if lysine is right for you, consult your doctor.

How Does L Lysine Help With Herpes

4.5/5LysineherpesLlysinelysinehelpherpesHerpes

Also, how many lysine pills should I take for herpes?

BY MOUTH: For cold sores : 1000 mg of lysine taken daily in up to two divide doses for up to 12 months, or 1000 mg taken three times daily for 6 months has been used. For preventing cold sores from recurring, 500-1248 mg taken daily or 1000 mg taken three times daily has been used.

Furthermore, what vitamins help with herpes? Supplements

• Zinc. Taking zinc may reduce how many herpes outbreaks you experience each year.
• Vitamin B complex. Vitamin B complex supplements contain all of the B-class vitamins.
• Lysine. Lysine is an amino acid that your body uses for digestion and healthy cell growth.
• Probiotics.

Similarly, how much lysine should I take during an outbreak?

Dosage for treating or preventing cold soresTo treat a cold sore infection, apply lysine cream to the affected area every two hours for 11 days. To manage cold sore infections, the recommended dosage for oral supplements is 1 gram three times daily. To help prevent them, the dosage is 1 gram daily.

What are the benefits of taking lysine?

4 Impressive Health Benefits of Lysine

• May Protect Against and Treat Cold Sores by Blocking Arginine.
• May Reduce Anxiety by Blocking Stress Response Receptors.
• May Improve Calcium Absorption and Retention.
• Can Promote Wound Healing by Helping Create Collagen.
• Top Food Sources and Supplements.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Find Out If You Have Herpes

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.
• Avoid dehydration.

What Is Lysine Used For

Lysine supplements are used to treat a wide range of conditions, including:

Proponents say lysine supplements can boost the immune system. They are also used to aid in muscle repair and improve muscle strength.

So far, there is not enough clinical evidence to support most of these uses.

A few studies suggest that lysine supplements can be used to treat certain health conditions. Here’s a look at some key study findings.

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Ask The Doctors: Lysine Can Potentially Help Both Types Of Herpes Virus

Thu., April 18, 2019

Dear Doctor: Are cold sores and herpes the same thing? Ive got both, and finding out theres no cure really stinks. My friends say lysine can help. Is that true?

Dear Reader: Cold sores and genital herpes are caused by different types of the herpes simplex virus, or HSV. Each type is quite contagious.

HSV-1 causes cold sores on the lips and mouth. Its estimated that half of the population in the United States is infected with the oral herpes virus. The majority of genital herpes, which is a sexually transmitted disease, is caused by HSV-2. The infection rate of HSV-2 in the U.S. is estimated to be at least 15 percent and as high as 20 percent. Some cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-1, as the virus can be spread from the mouth to the genitals.

Youre correct that at this time, there is no cure for either type of herpes infection. Instead, people who have frequent outbreaks seek to manage the condition. Many people infected with HSV-2 rely on antiviral medications, which can shorten or suppress outbreaks of genital herpes and also lessen symptoms when an outbreak does occur. The three main drugs are acyclovir , famciclovir , and valacyclovir . Antivirals may also be prescribed to people infected with HSV-1 who are having frequent or severe outbreaks. The over-the-counter cream Abreva, which targets oral herpes, can be useful at curbing an outbreak when used at the first sign of symptoms.

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Other Home Remedies For Cold Sores

Unfortunately theres no way to make your cold sores completely disappear overnight. But while home treatments cant prevent or cure the HSV virus itself, some of these natural cold sore remedies may help to ease your symptoms.

• Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil is known to be an antiseptic and may help to prevent further bacterial infection after a cold sore outbreak.vii
• Ice or tea bags: Applying a cold compress of ice or wet tea bags to a cold sore may help reduce redness and swelling.viii
• Lemon balm: Lemon balm has been shown to have soothing, anti-inflammatory effects on the skin, which may reduce cold sore irritation. Experts are also investigating whether it may be an effective antiviral against the HSV-1 virus.ix
• Alcohol, witch hazel and vanilla extract: These are all astringents and may help to dry out cold sores.viii

Dont let cold sores get in the way of life. For a fast and effective over the counter cold sore treatment option, try Abreva Cold Sore Cream. Abreva can help to get rid of a cold sore in as little as 2 ½ days when used at the first sign.*

*Median healing time 4.1 days, 25% healed in 2.5 days.

i. Lysine for cold sores? Berkeley Wellness, University of California. . Accessed 27/01/20.

ii. Amino acids. Medline Plus. . Accessed 27/01/20.

Also Check: How To Decrease Herpes Outbreaks

Herbs For Colon Cleansing

The second step in using herbs to relieve the symptoms of genital herpes is to utilize herbs that are clinically proven to help cleanse toxins out of the body.

Cleansing herbs promote regular and complete bowel movements, strengthen the peristaltic muscular action of the small and large intestines which push toxins out of the body, and vacuum old waste material from the intestinal walls.

It may not make sense to cleanse the colon when the issue is genital herpes on the skin. However, the body will have a much easier and faster healing time if the colon is cleaned out and moving toxins out regularly.