As any herpes outbreak begins to heal, the addition of Vitamin E (administered orally and/or applied directly to the sore) can be extremely helpful and dramatically speed up the healing process.   One of the more significant components of this vitamin is alpha-tocopherol which acts as an antioxidant in the human body.   This supplement can prevent cell damage by inhibiting the oxidation of fats and the formation of free radicals.  Bottom line:  IT WORKS.

Vitamin E as a genital herpes treatment:

Very Important:   You will often find this vitamin sold in a synthetic form which is only 67% as active as it’s natural form.   As Vitamin E is already an inexpensive addition in your genital herpes treatment toolbox, it is imperative that you purchase the best you can afford and seek out only the natural form of the oil.   If the bottle does not specifically state:  100% potency or 100% naturally sourced (and be careful because unscrupulous producers will mix 20% natural with 80% synthetic and call it “natural Vitamin oil”) you can always tell by the ingredients.   The completely natural version will be listed as d-alpha-tocopherol while the synthetic will be listed as dl-alpha-tocopherol.

You can purchase the capsules and take them internally (as in swallow them) which will be beneficial for your whole body – not just your herpes outbreaks – and then you have the option of cutting the capsules open and applying to oil on the healing outbreak.   Alternatively, the oil is sold in a bottle with a dropper to dispense it.  Even just a few drops of the natural d-alpha-tocopherol form applied directly to the herpes blisters can increase healing by 50%.

Should you choose to add Vitamin E to your diet through food and not supplementation, you can find significant amounts of in avocados, cold-pressed vegetable oils, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

I cannot recommend more highly the addition of this supplement (either orally or topically) to your medicine cabinet as a highly effective treatment for herpes.

Update:  The body needs zinc in order to maintain the correct amount of Vitamin E in your blood.   Any Vitamin E that has worked to oxidize a free radical in your body can be revitalized by the addition of Vitamin C.    Accordingly it would be wise to add both Vitamin C and Zinc with any oral vitamin E supplementation you are taking.

Vitamin/Mineral Treatment for Genital Herpes:

Treating your genital herpes is important for many reasons. First and foremost, you will feel much better about yourself if you do not have constant outbreaks. Also, decreasing the number of outbreaks you have each year – or eliminating them entirely – will greatly reduce the chances of passing the virus to a partner.

Currently, the only treatment approved by the FDA are the (3) antiviral medications: Zovirax, Famvir, Valtrex. Valtrex is essentially next generation Zovirax (better absorbed by the body, requires signficantly less dosage, but the cost is much higher. The good news is that generic Valtrex is now available). Famvir is similar to both Zovirax and Valtrex with only slight differences (it is actually a next generation of the antiviral penciclovir). At any rate, Zovirax, Famvir, and Valtrex are the three name brand drugs studied and recommended to treat herpes outbreaks. The good news: They do work. And I recommend them. But you do need to consider what your long-term plan will be for herpes suppression.

In my opinion the best treatment for herpes is to boost your immunity so that the HSV2 can and will remain dormant in your system. There is no cure for herpes. Even with 100% successful episode suppression, you will still be positive for the virus and need to tell potential partners that you are infected.

So how to you boost your immune system?

I’ve already written about the importance of sleep and stress reduction, and here I would like to talk more about Vitamin C and Zinc: What I believe to be the two most important tools in your arsenal to keep the herpes virus dormant.

Vitamin C enhances immunity by acting as an antioxidant, antihistamine, antiviral and antifungal. It may also enhance white blood cell activity and promote production of interferon-specific immunoactive proteins released by blood cells in response to viral infections. To help your immune system, doses of up to 4000mg a day would be acceptable.

Zinc has been shown in several clinical trials to reduce the frequency and severity of herpes outbreaks. It may inhibit the ability of the herpes virus to reproduce itself. Zinc supplementation in the form of 60-90 mg daily (taken in divided doses of 15-30 mg at a time with food to prevent nausea from developing) appears to enhance cell mediated immunity and help the immune system identify and fight the virus. This large dose may be continued for a month or two, then reduced to 30 mg daily as immune function improves and outbreaks decline.

These are two realistic and inexpensive methods to greatly reduce or eliminate your herpes symptoms. As with any health product, I would recommend purchasing the highest quality, standardized products you can afford. Purchasing an unrecognized brand that is packed with fillers and potentially less of the product than stated will not help you at all and will only leave you feeling less in control of your genital herpes outbreaks. I will not recommend one over the other here because there are many excellent vitamin companies on the market. If you found this website, you can find an excellent brand of both Vitamin C and Zinc.

There are many questions regarding the new antiviral medications available.   Below you will find a herpes FAQ regarding the difference between generic and name brand.

I can fully recommend Valtrex as a valuable tool in your efforts to control genital herpes outbreaks.

What is the difference between a Generic and Name-Brand Drug?

A Name-Brand drug is marketed under a specific trade name by a pharmaceutical manufacturer. In most cases, Name-Brand drugs are still under patent protection, meaning the manufacturer is the sole source for the product but in many Countries around the world this is not the case and a generic alternative is readily available . A generic drug is made with the same active ingredients in the same dosage form as a brand name drug.

Are These Drugs as Effective as Brand-Name Drugs for controlling genital herpes?

Generic valtrex contains the same active ingredients in the same dosage form as a brand name drug. The strength and purity of generic medications are strictly regulated. The FDA requires all manufacturers to demonstrate that a new  drug will have the same medical effect as its Name-Brand equivalent by measuring the rate and extent of drug absorption. The generic drug should treat your illness or condition with the same effectiveness and safety as its brand name equivalent. Generics have to meet the same rigorous requirements as Name-Brand drugs.

Are Generic Drugs as Safe as Brand-Name Drugs?

These drugs have been used billions of times by millions of patients, demonstrating again that Name-Brand and generic name drug have the same effect in the body.

Are Generic Drugs Less Expensive than Brand-Name Drugs?

In most cases, YES. The cost of researching, developing and marketing a new drug- including the money spent advertising the product- are factored into the price of the branded drug.  Manufacturers spend considerably less on development and promotion, and therefore can afford to sell their product for less money.

Is the More Expensive Name-Brand Drug of a Better Quality?

No, the quality is the same. Both have to meet the same rigorous requirements.

Who Makes These Drugs?

Some are manufactured by the same pharmaceutical companies that make brand drugs; others are produced by pharmaceutical companies specializing in the manufacturing of these medications. All prescription drug manufacturers must meet rigid FDA, WHO and GMP approval.

As the costs of generic versions can be significantly less, I would highly recommend a generic anti-viral to add to your cabinet for herpes treatment.

You can always find a tremendous amount of further information at the blog: http://www.theherpesblog.com

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