Vitamins recommended for Herpes Home Treatments:

Vitamin C USP acerola - can be found in supplement form or in Antilles Cherries or Barbados Cherries.

Clinical studies of herpes treatments have found that vitamin c reduces pain and swelling and speeds the healing of scabs by several days.

Bitter Melon - can be taken in whole fruit form or in extract. 

Bitter Melon extracts are two to three times more effective than the popular prescription drug acyclovir at killing strains of herpes virus that are not resistant to acyclovir.  Safety Measure:  Bitter Melon should be avoided altogether by people who have cirrhosis or a history of hepatitis or by individuals with HIV AIDS and a history of liver infection.  All others should use the herb for four weeks and discontinue for four weeks.

Cayenne - capsaician in cayenne acts as a counter irritant causing temporary pain to the skin that depletes the chemical messengers of pain for the joint.  Applied as a cream capsaician permeates the skin enters the nerves and eliminates substance "p" which stops the pain message from reaching the brain.  For external application, use Cayenne in the form of capsaician cream.  For internal application use cayenne powder mixed with starchy foods.  DO NOT apply capsaician cream to broken skin.  Avoid contact with eyes or mouth.

Cloves - Oil of Cloves is an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, analgesic and antifungal. 

Clove oil increases the effectiveness of acyclovir and would likely work with other antivirals as well.

Licorice - Next to ginger, licorice is the worlds most widely used herbal remedy.  It is used to treat ulcers, cold symptoms and skin disorders.   This herb is also used to counteract serious allergic reaction and to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis.  It can be found in supplement form or at traditional chinese medicine outlets.  It is also found in smokeless or chewing tobacco.

Licorice, when used in the traditional Chinese herbal formula minor bluegreen dragon decoction contains chemicals called saponins that affect other viruses particularly influenza virus A.  Laboratory testing shows that licorice has a direct antiviral affect against a number of viruses including those that cause measles, herpes and new castle disease.

Lemon Balm - Available in creams for application to the skin and in tablets and teas to be taken internally.

Lemon Balm has a mild sedative affect and antiviral properties and the ability to relieve cramps.  It is used to heal wounds, ease indigestion, relieve menstrual cramps, fight cold sores, relax nerves and prevent insomnia.  Lemon Balm has been used as an alternative when modern prescription medications have failed. 

Lemon Balm has been used to prevent further spread of the herpes infection on the herpes carrierthis does NOT mean spreading to another individual, relieve the itching, burning, tingling, swelling, stabbing and redness of a herpes outbreak.

Papain - An extract of Papaya.  It is available in the form of linked papain cream for external use and as a single herb capsule and a combined bromelain/papain tablet for internal use.  Or ripe Papaya fruit.

Application of papayan creams to skin affected by herpes outbreaks produced pain relief equivalent to that of acyclovir.  Although the papayan took longer than acyclovir to control redness.

St. John's Wort - Available in a variety of forms and can be purchased at most local retailers and grocers.

Primary compounds in St. Johns Wort inhibits the herpes simplex 1 virus best known as the virus that causes cold sores and fever blisters.  St. Johns Wort has also shown to be affective in acting against various other types of herpesviruses as well. 

Herbs for external use:

Aloe, St. Johns Wort, Cayenne (Capsaicin Cream), Green Tea, Lemon Balm, Papain.