Herpes is an unpleasant problem, and you can support the healing process with various home remedies. We present you six natural remedies for herpes.
Many people are familiar with the painful blisters on the lips that always appear at the very last moment when you need them: herpes is one of the most widespread skin diseases in the world. Over 85 percent of the world’s population is infected with it, but only a portion of them actually develop the disease in the form of blisters. Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus and the disease cannot be cured. Anyone who has been infected once carries the virus for the rest of their life.
Whether it’s stress, illness, hormonal changes or too much sun: there are many reasons why herpes can break out once the virus is in the body. There’s not much you can do about it, but there are some home remedies for herpes that can help alleviate the symptoms.
Home remedies for herpes on the lip
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / stevepb)
These home remedies for herpes can help the blisters subside and slow down their spread:
- As soon as you feel the first tingling and tightness on your lip, you can cool the area with ice. The cold makes it harder for the viruses to multiply. If the herpes has already broken out, however, ice will no longer help. Important: Never put the ice directly on your lip, but wrap it in a kitchen towel. This will prevent your skin from being damaged.
- If the blisters have already burst and are oozing, zinc ointment can help. Zinc dries out the affected areas and has an anti-inflammatory effect at the same time.
- Dab a little honey on the open areas. However, only medicinal honey is suitable for wound treatment, such as Manuka honey from New Zealand. This is supposed to kill the herpes viruses and close open cold sores. Attention: Do not use conventional supermarket honey. This is not sterile and the bacteria it contains can potentially cause inflammation.
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Garlic is said to have antiviral and disinfectant properties, which is why it is good for treating herpes. Simply chop or press a clove and rub it on the open blisters.
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Tea tree oil has an antibacterial effect and helps with many skin diseases. It is said to be able to partially prevent the herpes outbreak. Important: Never use the oil undiluted as it can damage your skin. Mix it with water in a 1:3 ratio and then dab it on the herpes several times a day.
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Black and green tea are said to have healing effects. Simply pour hot water over a tea bag of your choice, allow to cool and press onto the affected area.
Important: The home remedies presented here will not make your cold sores disappear completely in a few hours. However, you can use them to support the healing process and alleviate the symptoms a little. If you are unsure about how to use them, seek medical help. If home remedies no longer help, you can get advice from the pharmacy about antiviral creams and herpes patches. In May 2024, Stiftung Warentest came to the conclusion in a test of 26 herpes remedies that these only have a moderate effect on the healing time, reducing it by a maximum of half a day to a day. This is because the active ingredients do not penetrate the skin deeply enough. However, they help to spread the viruses further. Also read: How well do herpes remedies really help? Gels, creams and patches at Stiftung Warentest.
Prevent herpes
(Photo: CC0 Public Domain / Pixabay / silviarita)
Basically, you can’t prevent herpes if you’re already infected with it. The pathogens stay in the body for life from the first outbreak and can cause herpes again and again. However, the following can support the body:
- Eat healthy and drink enough water.
- Do sports and integrate exercise into your everyday life.
- Maintain a strong immune system.
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Get enough sleep.
- Don’t stay in the blazing sun and use sunscreen on your lips too.
By the way: Herpes can also break out in other parts of the body, for example in the genital area. However, cold sores are the most common form. The high prevalence of the disease worldwide is due to the ease of transmission: Herpes is passed on through physical contact through smear infection. A handshake, a kiss or sexual intercourse are enough to cause infection.
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Edited by Lena Kirchner