Vitamin Deficiencies Might Affect Herpes
Scientific data shows that certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies can have a negative effect on your immune system. For example, deficiencies of micronutrients like zinc and selenium show a correlation with a weakened immune system in some studies.
This means that if youre deficient in a certain vitamin or mineral, theres a risk that your immune system could be weakened.
The herpes virus usually begins as an initial outbreak, which can last for several weeks. As your body launches its immune response, the virus retreats into the nerve ganglia, where it remains in a dormant state between outbreaks.
A weakened immune system makes the risk of the virus resurfacing greater, increasing your risk of experiencing an oral or genital herpes outbreak.
This makes it important to focus on maintaining a healthy immune system if you have HSV-1 or HSV-2, especially if you experience symptoms of the virus.
What Does Lysine Have To Do With Herpes
One other function of lysine well, not so much a function as an effect is that it competes with another amino acid known as arginine for space in our cells. Each of our cells has little tiny doors on them through which certain substances may pass.
Think of those little doors as the holes in the childs toy where the objective is to put the round object through the round hole and the square object through the square hole. The round object will not go through the square hole and vice versa.
Lysine and arginine are like two different colored square blocks. They are both competing to get through the square doors on the cell walls. Only one can pass at a time, so if there are tons of lysine blocks and only a few arginine blocks duking it out at the cell door trying to be the one that gets through, by simple probability there will be more lysine blocks that will make it in than arginine before there is no more room.
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Potential Risks And Adverse Effects Or Long
Arginine deficiency may occur with kidney or small bowel pathology, sepsis, sickle cell disease, burns, trauma, or surgery. It is essential for growth, wound healing, endothelial function, and nitric oxide production. Lysine should, therefore, be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disease, impotence, gallstones, asthma, or immune dysfunction.18
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How Does Lysine Work
There are two amino acids that have been found to significantly influence herpes , these are Lysine and Arginine.
Lysine can be a valuable weapon in reducing outbreaks and in healing the infection quickly, whereas Arginine can provoke outbreaks and is required by the herpes simplex virus to replicate and cause symptoms. Learn more about this relationship in the Blog Article Herpes Diet Questions and Answers.
Tissue culture studies show that Lysine works by repressing the metabolism of Arginine, an amino acid that is essential for the herpes virus to replicate and become active.
For more information about the safety of taking Lysine supplements please read the article Is Lysine Safe? which addresses some commonly asked questions.
Lysine Can Potentially Help Both Types Of Herpes Virus
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.
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Lysine And The Immune System
L-Lysine plays a predominantly important role in the immune system. However, since it cannot be produced by the body you must get lysine through your diet.
Many foods contain lysine, but if you have allergies or eat a vegan diet you may need to supplement your lysine intake. Consuming both lysine with arginine will give you the full effects of boosting your immune system.
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Reduces Herpes Breakouts And Severity
Researchers at the Department of Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana undertook a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial of oral L-lysine monohydrochloride to see if the amino acid would reduce the severity of HSV-1 and HSV-2 breakouts. At the end of the study, the researchers found that it did significantly reduce the severity and duration of outbreaks.
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How Does L Lysine Help With Herpes
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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.
Also, 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.
Consequently, 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.
Herpes And Your Immune System
The strength of your immune system plays an important role in your ability to fight off HSV infection. “The herpes virus hides in your nerve cells, and when your immunity is lowered, the virus comes out of your nerves and starts to replicate,” Dr. Frey says. “The viral replication causes your immune system to set off a full-blown attack swelling and blistering are a result of your immune system’s inflammatory response.”
Although you can’t be immune to herpes, it’s possible to be infected without experiencing symptoms. “There are some lucky people who have been exposed and yet never have an outbreak because their immune system is really good,” Dr. Frey says. “A lot of that has to do with genetics.”
Meanwhile, other folks’ immune systems aren’t so great at recognizing HSV. “Although you can’t change that, you âcanâ make sure your immune system has everything it needs to mount a response against the herpes virus,” Dr. Frey says.
The more efficiently your immune system is working, the higher the chances that herpes will stay dormant. “These are some ways to make sure your immune system is functioning optimally,” Dr. Frey says. To keep yours in tip-top condition, she suggests eating a nutritious diet, getting enough sleep, exercising, avoiding stress and doing your best to remain healthy.
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Get Plenty Of Sleep For Better Physical And Mental Health
Americans are notoriously sleep deprived, but if you have genital herpes, buck this unhealthy trend. Getting plenty of quality sleep affects every aspect of your life your physical and mental health, performance at school or work, and appearance.
To improve your sleep hygiene, follow some quick tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Adverse Effects And Interactions
In the last 10 years, the FDA has become concerned over the safety of AA supplements in the wake of 24 reported deaths in 1988 from eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome linked to a contaminated batch of L-tryptophan.18 In 1992, the Life Sciences Research Office did not reach a conclusion on the safety of lysine, but stated that its use for HSV suppression was not associated with adverse effects.3
Multiple animal studies suggest that large doses of oral LMH have no adverse clinical, hematologic, or pathologic side effects.3 Some studies done in rat pups have shown that lysine-rich and arginine-poor diets cause growth retardation.3 Intravenous lysine has been associated with renal toxicity and death in rats at doses greater than 4 g/kg of body weight.3
Human studies of LMH have not reported any significant toxicity. At the highest doses of 3,000 mg/d, only a few cases of dyspepsia were noted.10 However, there is one report of tubulointerstitial nephritis which could have been caused by long-term use of 3 g LMH daily.19
There are no reported adverse interactions with LMH. Animal data suggest that LMH is safe in pregnancy and lactation.3 However, there are no human safety data on LMH in pregnancy or lactation.
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What Is The Herpes Simplex Virus
Herpes Simplex Virus, also known as HSV or herpes, is a virus that causes an infection that remains within the body for life. It most commonly manifests in sores surrounding the mouth or genitals . There are two different types of HSV: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Though both can cause either genital or oral herpes, HSV-1 typically causes oral and HSV-2 is primarily responsible for causing genital herpes. Herpes, or HSV infection, is incredibly common worldwide – in the United States, around 50% of the population has oral herpes and nearly 17% have genital herpes.
Monolaurin Dosage And Protocols
Monolaurin is generally regarded as safe by the Food and Drug Administration , and some individuals choose to take it as a dietary supplement.
A monolaurin dosage will generally be separated into three stages, as explained below. For more detailed dosing information, see the Monolaurin Dosage Guide.
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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.
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Check Your Vitamin Levels
A healthy diet can buoy your body’s ability to defend against the herpes virus. “If you are deficient in certain vitamins and nutrients, you will see issues with your immune system,” Dr. Frey says.
An essential one is vitamin D: “It’s important to make sure your vitamin D levels are intact,” Dr. Frey says. A May 2021 study in âSAGE Open Medicineâ found that vitamin D has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties, which helps regulate the immune response. Yet an August 2016 study in âThe American Journal of Clinical Nutritionâ reported that up to 18 percent of people were vitamin D deficient. And keep in mind that for people living in the northern hemisphere, D plummets during the winter.
Another biggie is vitamin C. “It is an antioxidant, and building up your antioxidants is key to helping your immune system function properly,” Dr. Frey says. A November 2017 study in âNutrientsâ also points out that vitamin C supports the immune system.
Other potentially helpful nutrients include vitamin E , folic acid, iron and zinc, an element with antiviral activity that is essential to maintaining a healthy immune system and keeping inflammation in check, per an April 2015 study in âAutoimmunity Reviewsâ.
Just be sure to talk to your doctor before popping a supplement they can advise you on how much to take and how long to take it for. “Some vitamins, including D and E, are fat-soluble,” Dr. Frey says. “So you don’t want to overload your body with those.”
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Hope For Herpes Sufferers
Posted by Karen Jensen, ND | Jan 19, 2021 | Living & Culture |
Herpes viruses are widespread. At least half of all adults have cold sores, and most people have had one form or another of this virus. Herpes simplex 1 causes oral herpes, commonly called cold sores, and HSV-1 and HSV-2 are the sources of genital herpes. Varicella zoster, another member of the herpes family, is directly linked to chickenpox in children and can cause shingles later in life.
Most people get HSV-1 as an infant or child, and it is common for a parent or loved one to lovingly share the virus with a simple kiss. Herpes simplex viruses can spread skin to skin by salivary contact with someone who already carries it. Symptoms are very similar for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. There may be an early stage fever, irritability, swollen lymph nodes, or muscle pain, and outbreaks can also be preceded by itching, tingling, burning, and blisters, and if left untreated, the lesions may take up to three weeks to heal.
When it comes to shingles, this little virus can be very nasty and extremely painful. Anyone who has experienced this virus would agree. The most common areas affected are the trunk, face, and scalp and can be dangerous if located on the face. If you suspect a shingles outbreak, seek medical attention as this virus can be severe, and most cases need to be treated with antiviral and pain medications. The shingles vaccine is also available.
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Into An Epsom Salt Bath
Epsom salts aren’t just for sore muscles. “Salt is good for wounds, including herpes lesions, because it can help keep the area clean and clear of bacteria,” Dr. Frey says. This reduces the risk of contracting a superinfection, caused by bacteria entering the open sore.
“That said, Epsom salts won’t hasten the resolution of a herpes outbreak,” Dr. Frey says. It’s not a cure-all, but more of a helpful tool in your arsenal.
How To Treat Genital Herpes
There is no cure for genital herpes. It lays dormant in the body for long periods, then reappears as an outbreak of sores.
However, doctors can prescribe medications that reduce the likelihood of recurring outbreaks. These medicines may also lower the risk of transmitting the virus.
When a person has a genital herpes outbreak, they may be able to promote healing and lower the risk of transmitting the virus by:
- avoiding sexual contact with another person until the sores have healed
- keeping the sores clean and dry
- refraining from touching the sores whenever possible
- washing the hands immediately after touching the sores
- using barrier protection during sexual contact until told otherwise by a doctor
The first herpes outbreak is usually the worst subsequent outbreaks tend to become less bothersome.
Genital herpes does not typically cause serious health complications. However, it can make a person more vulnerable to contracting HIV.
If a person has genital herpes sores, viruses and bacteria, including HIV, have more opportunity to enter the body. Avoid scratching the sores, as this can lead to bacterial infection.
Also, having HIV can make genital herpes outbreaks more severe.
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How Long Do Outbreaks Last
Because the virus stays within the body for life, outbreaks are characterized as any time the symptoms manifest. The first outbreak of either type of herpes is typically the most severe and lasts the longest. The first outbreak of herpes can last anywhere from two to four weeks but then each outbreak is usually progressively shorter and less painful.
Lean more about Herpes Simplex Virus in the Complete Guide to HSV.
L-Lysine
Research
Lysine Deficiency Herpes Diet
Failure to get enough lysine can lead to reproductive disorders, slow growth, agitation, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, anemia, and blood shot eyes. People who may not get enough lysine are burn patients , athletes , and vegans who do not eat enough legumes .
Although a vegan diet can be much healthier than a diet containing animal products, lysine is one thing that is not very prevalent in vegan foods. If you are a vegan who does not watch his or her nutritional intake closely , then you might just opt to take a lysine supplement. The other nutrient vegans may wish to supplement is B12. Like lysine, it is scarce in the vegan diet, but both can be obtained in vegan form for supplementation.
As you will see, making sure that you have enough lysine is critical to avoiding herpes outbreaks. Call it the Herpes Diet.
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