Tea for herpes
Listed below are herbs,
which made in the form of an aqueous extraction (tea), which have been
clinically proven to help prevent or treat the herpes simplex virus. All herbs
should be labeled as certified organic and come from a reliable, trusted
source.
Infusions for Herpes
Camellia sinensis
Lemon balm
Sage
Rosemary
Thyme
Peppermint
Prunella
Camellia sinensis
(green tea)
Green tea made from
camellia sinensis contains polyphenols called catechins. The catechins found in
green camellia tea are able to inhibit viruses such as HIV, influenza, and the
herpes simplex virus.
While the catechins in
green camellia tea were not readily available by drinking the tea, the medical
journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy reported in 2008 that the green
tea could be applied topically to outbreaks of both herpes simplex- 1 and herpes
simplex- 2 virus strains.
In vitro, HSV- 2 could
be deactivated with the catechins in green camellia tea in as little as ten
minutes. HSV-1 could be deactivated in as little as thirty minutes.
In vitro refers to
experiments done in a laboratory, not on living subjects.
The implications for
this discovery is that green camellia tea could be used as a vaginal
microcidal, especially in pregnant women affected with genital herpes.
Other teas for herpes
In 2006, scientists in
the Department of Biology at the University of Heidelberg, in Heidelberg,
Germany, wanted to observe the antiviral effects of a certain family of herbs
on the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Lemon balm, sage,
rosemary, thyme, peppermint, and prunella were all made into aqueous extracts
and applied to herpes simplex- 1 (oral herpes), herpes simplex- 2 (genital
herpes), and a drug resistant strain of HSV- 1 in vitro.
All of the herbs
performed very well against all three kinds of herpes viruses. In order to find
out how the herbs affected the herpes viruses, the aqueous extracts were
applied at different stages of infection.
Before the infection
stage, each of the herbs were very effective against all of the herpes viruses.
With very strongly concentrated aqueous extractions, the herbs killed more than
90% of both the herpes simplex- 1 and herpes simplex- 2 virus cells.
Strong teas made from
these herbs also killed over 85% of the drug- resistant oral herpes virus.
The scientists
concluded that each of the herbs would be excellent choices for a topical
treatment against recurring herpes outbreaks. This means that the tea would be
applied directly on the skin.
Herbalists might
suggest that a person affected with herpes drink three cups of the tea over the
course of a day on a daily basis. A strong infusion can be made by using a
tablespoon of dried herbs in each cup, then pouring steaming hot filtered water
over the herbs.
Once cooled, the used
herbs could be placed directly on the affected area and wrapped securely with a
gauze bandage.
Lemon balm (Melissa
ofiicinalis)
Lemon balm is a
soothing mint with a distinctly lemon scent. The herb is nicknamed bee balm,
because bees are highly attracted to the plant. Lemon balm is often used in
herbal treatments for the brain, central nervous system, and migraine
headaches.
Sage (Salvia
officinalis)
Sage has been used as
both a culinary and healing herb for centuries. Its peppery flavor makes sage a
favorite for poultry and sausage seasoning. Sage is a favorite digestive herb.
When taken cold, sage
will reduce a fever. When taken hot, it will help force a fever and sweating.
Sage works well as an astringent for skin, and helps relieve itching.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis)
Rosemary, a pungent
mint used to flavor meat, vinegars, and liqueurs, is widely used in herbal
healing preparations for its antioxidant and antispasmodic capabilities.
Rosemary is showing promise in the medical community for Alzheimer’s,
osteoarthritis, and cancer.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Thyme was once worn by
knights in armor when they went into battle as a sign of courage and for wound
care. Ancient Egyptians used thyme as an antibacterial herb when they prepared
mummies for burial.
Thyme is a strong
antiseptic, and is the main ingredient in a very popular mouthwash. It is used
to treat athlete’s food, yeast infections, whooping cough, and asthma.
Peppermint (Mentha
piperita)
Peppermint is the
classic “minty” herb. Not only does peppermint aid digestion, it soothes
irritable bowel syndrome and tension headaches. Peppermint has anti-bacterial
properties and can be used as a pain reliever.
Prunella (Prunella
vulgaris)
Prunella is sometimes
called “heal all.” As the name suggests, prunella is used in traditional herbal
medicine to heal everything from sore throats and minor skin abrasions to liver
disease.
The antibiotic,
antiviral, and antiseptic phytochemicals in prunella make it a favorite “go to”
herb for infectious diseases.
Decoctions for Herpes
Turkey rhubarb root
Garlic
Turkey rhubarb root
Turkey rhubarb root is
commonly known simply as rhubarb. Its purgative action makes the herb an
effective colon cleanser. Traditional herbalists also use rhubarb to treat
stubborn skin infections.
In 2001, scientists at
the University State Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, were experimenting with
the antiviral properties of certain herbs on the herpes labialis (oral herpes)
virus.
The scientists wanted
to compare a prescription topical cream for HSV- 1 with a cream of their own
creation, made from turkey rhubarb root and sage extracts. They compared a
laboratory- made sage cream, turkey rhubarb root and sage cream, and Zorivax.
While a cream or
ointment is not the same thing as a tea, the scientists made the cream with
aqueous (water) and aqueous- ethanol (grain alcohol tincture) extracts of sage
and turkey rhubarb.
The scientists
discovered that it took 7.6 days for the herpes lesions to heal with sage cream
alone, 6.7 days for the rhubarb- sage combination, and 6.5 days for Zorivax.
Overall, the rhubarb-sage cream was just as effective as Zorivax, while sage by
itself was not.
The implication of the
study, as documented by the scientists themselves, was that “a rhubarb root...
and sage extract showed a promising activity.”
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Garlic is a powerful
anti-microbial and anti-parasitic. It has been used since ancient times to heal
any number of infections.
Knowing that garlic had
been clinically demonstrated to possess antiviral chemicals, scientists at
Brigham Young University decided to test it on herpes simplex virus- 1, herpes
simplex virus- 2, and other viruses.
In the study, the
scientists took fresh garlic extract, commonly known as fresh garlic juice, and
applied the extract to all of the viruses. Garlic killed all of them, including
herpes.
Once again, while the
clinical study used fresh garlic extract, garlic can be made into a tea. Since
garlic is a tough substance, using the decoction method of extraction would
garner the best results.
One caution when making
herbal teas for therapeutic purposes
When most people think
of “herbal tea,” they think of a relaxing, delicious cup of chamomile or
spearmint tea. When herbalists use teas for therapeutic purposes, on many
occasions the herbs are quite bitter and taste horrible.
It is perfectly
acceptable to add raw honey to any herb tea for flavoring. However, sugar or
artificial sweeteners should never be used with traditional medicinal herbs.
These sweeteners do more harm than good, and defeat the integrity of the
healing herbs.
Sources
Pubmed.gov, “Antiviral
effect of aqueous extracts from species of the Lamiaceae family against Herpes
simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in vitro “ S. Nolkemper, et al. Planta Medica.
December 2006; 72(15): 1378- 82.
Pubmed.gov
“Epigallocatechin Gallate Inactivates Clinical Isolates of Herpes Simplex
Virus,” Charles E. Isaacs, et al. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. March
2008; 52(3): 962- 970.
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