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alternatives to medication for treating an OB

Posted , 6 users are following.

Nicki.J
Nicki.J

has anyone had any success with any vitamins for prevention of OBs?

I am on my second outbreak in 3 months and have a very MILD case of it. I read up on the L-Lysine supplements and saw all good reviews. I know none of that stuff is "proven" to work by doctors and all that but i really dont like to take prescription medications if i dont have to.

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • noelle2212
    noelle2212 Nicki.J

    Posted

    I wouldn't even try random things. Honestly just try and keep your immune system up. I've had this for 3 years almost and had one outbreak... started out a rash but only had lesions once after surgery.
    • Nicki.J
      Nicki.J noelle2212

      Posted

      did you take a prescription when you got an OB or just let it run its course?
    • noelle2212
      noelle2212 Nicki.J

      Posted

      My first and only outbreak she gave me medication and I took that and haven't taken any medication since... its been 6 months
    • Nicki.J
      Nicki.J noelle2212

      Posted

      my first outbreak was 3 months ago and i didnt take anything. it went away in 2 weeks. This time i decided to take the medicine since i knew what it was for sure. i just really want to try and avoid as many future outbreaks as possible
  • jlb824
    jlb824 Nicki.J

    Posted

    Hi, I have had it for 16 years with only a few outbreaks, but I usually will get a RX from the Dr. I have been wanting to try Olive Leaf Extract. I have read good reviews about it helping!!
    • Nicki.J
      Nicki.J jlb824

      Posted

      how long after you start an RX do you noticed sympton relief? i have a very mild case. the first outbreak was 3 months ago and i didnt take anything for it. it went away on its own within 2 weeks.  this time i decided to take something and im on day 2 of a 3 day presciption and so far, nothing seems to be getting better.
  • Oddity
    Oddity Nicki.J

    Posted

    I saw a naturopath Dr. and she has me taking 1000 mg 3 times a day of lysine.  She also has me on PhytoMultivitamins 2 a day, thymus 1 x day, Vitamin D, Probiotic 2x day, and L-Carnatine 3x day.  I am off the Valcyclovir to let my body build antibodies.  She also has me on some type of tincture 3 x day.  I think it has tee tree oil or lemon balm oil in it.  You can watch Youtube videos of people making tinctures.  Fairly easy to do.
    • Oddity
      Oddity

      Posted

      Oh, and no chocolate and no nuts.  I have also cut back on all sugars and no coffee for now.
    • Nicki.J
      Nicki.J Oddity

      Posted

      i refuse to change my diet! lol but i am thinking of doing the Lysine supplement. i bought a bottle of 1000mg lysine so im going to start taking one a day at least. right now i am taking 2 a day cause i currently have an OB
    • Nicki.J
      Nicki.J Oddity

      Posted

      So if youre not on Valcyclovir everyday, itll help build antibodies for the virus?
  • FelizCastus
    FelizCastus Nicki.J

    Posted

    There are several things out there that people swear by, but I think its very individual as to what maybe works and what doesn't. Even our triggers can be quite individual, and significantly vary from person to person, so probably similar the other way around, I'm guessing.

    I refuse to change my diet for herpes, and don't believe the whole lysine/arginine thing (besides, both are found in nearly everything!), so prefer herbal teas that are supposed to be good against herpes (lemon balm, p. vulgaris, liquorice root), general multivitamins, and am trying bee propol!s as well. Mind you, I've had a couple of (albeit very mild) possible recurrences of late, so maybe they're not working, lol.

    Just remember that natural alternatives don't effectively reduce shedding, so are not useful in minimising transmission.

    • Nicki.J
      Nicki.J FelizCastus

      Posted

      i am not worried about the transmission part of it cause i am married and we both have it but i just want to make sure i get as few OBs as possible. and yes, i agree with not changing my diet. i drink coffee daily, eat chocolate pretty frequently, etc. I am not sure what triggered this OB tho.

      i think im going to try the Lysine supplement thing. it cant hurt anyways. lol

    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus Nicki.J

      Posted

      Oh, in that case, youre lucky! Not having to worry about the transmission issue, I mean. I'm single, so that's not an issue for me either, and probably won't be for some time now!

      Yeah, lysine certainly doesn't hurt, so worth a shot. It supposedly works for some. Just don't take more than the recommended dosage, as too much can apparently interfere with mineral/vitamin absorption.

      Sometimes, I think the virus just reactivates. No obvious reason necessary. Maybe it reaches a threshold or something, lol. As for the others who replied, I wonder what HSV type they have, as that makes a big difference. Type 2 recurs a lot more than Type 1, but supposedly it lets up after the first year and is supposed to become less frequent over time by itself.

    • Nicki.J
      Nicki.J FelizCastus

      Posted

      yeah it really must be different for everyone cause my sister has had it for about 4 years now and still gets frequent OBs but hers was very severe the first time so maybe it depends on the severity of it too.
    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus Nicki.J

      Posted

      I have read that the severity of the first outbreak is not related to frequency (which seems true - Type 1 outbreaks are usually worse, but then almost never again), but read somewhere once that the duration of the first outbreak might be (long first outbreak, more recurrences). Not sure how proven that is. I have also read that genetics might play a role.
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