Home Remedies for Genital Herpes

Herpes is a viral infection caused by herpes simplex virus. It is a contagious infection.
There are two types of herpes simplex. One type of the virus is the oral herpes such as cold sores or fever blisters (HSV1) that can lead to cold sores around the mouth. The other type is the genital herpes such as genital sores or sores below the waist (HSV2). That is a sexually transmitted disease that causes blisters and pain in the genital area.
Both types of the virus can be transmitted through direct contact, such as kissing, sharing eating utensils or having intimate contact.

Do’s and Don’t for Genital Herpes Relief

1. Hygiene is important to avoid spreading infection. Do not touching the sores. Wash hands frequently during the day. Fingernails should be scrubbed daily.

2. Drink plenty of water. This will eliminate toxin from the body and keeps inside clean and hydrated.

3. Keep sores or blisters clean and dry with cornstarch. Simply apply a coating of the cornstarch to the affected area and leave on to dry out the sores and relive itching.

4. Avoid tight-fitting clothing, which restricts air circulation and slows healing of the sores. Wear cotton underwear, rather than synthetic materials.

5. Avoid sex during both outbreaks and prodromes (the early symptoms of herpes), which include tingling, itching, or tenderness in the infected areas. Even oral sex can spread the virus from one place to another.

6. Infected people should take several steps to avoid transmitting the virus to others. It is almost impossible to defend against the transmission of oral herpes simplex virus since it can be transmitted by very casual contact.

Home Remedies for Genital Herpes

1. Cook one cup of olive oil in a pot, add some bee wax and lavender oil. Cool and smear on the herpes. This is one of the common home remedies for genital herpes.

2. Salt baths can clean, soothe and dry the sores. Wash areas below the waist in a warm, shallow bath and use Epsom salts (you can buy epsom salts from most supermarkets and drugstores). This will help to dry out and clean the sores.

3. Take analgesics or pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen or paracetamol to relieve pain. If your outbreaks are very painful, you will need to talk to your doctor about this option.

4. Baking soda is another useful home remedy for genital herpes. Slightly dampen a cotton ball or tissue, dip it in Baking Soda (Bi-Carbonate Soda) and coat the infected area. Leave on the sore to dry out the infection and to help relieve itching.

Do not re-dip the tissue or cotton ball after you have applied it to the infection as this could contaminate the remaining soda in the box.

5. Local application of ice packs may alleviate the pain. Ice will soothe the area, as well as lower the temperature of the infection, helping to inhibit the virus.

6. Application of cold tea bags to the infected area every hour may be beneficial. This is because tea bags contain tannic acid which is thought to have antiviral properties, best used at the first sign of an outbreak.

7. Aloe vera is also used as a home remedy for genital herpes. It cools down the itching and redness. It is safe and gentle, so can be applied on and inside the genitals.

Aloe vera gel feeds the skin with nutrients, including the amino acid Lysine, to help repair the infection and allows it to breathe naturally and to remain dry. Aloe vera is a common plant and may even be growing in your own garden. To prepare the fresh plant it is best to trim the thorny edges on both sides and cut the Aloe stick into chunks (roughly 2.5 inches long or so works well).

Chill the chunks that you have cut in the fridge or freezer for an hour and then use them. The coolness is really soothing and the gel will absorb quite rapidly.

You may like to apply it after you have had a shower so that the Aloe vera can settle in without being washed off. It is also a little sticky which is why an evening application is sometimes best, allowing you to relax and be comfortable.

Although above home remedies are helpful for pain relief, they are not anti-viral and so should not be used solely to treat the condition. They are intended to help relieve the discomfort, heal the scab and/or soothe the itching that is often present with an outbreak. Please refer to the genital herpes treatment page for remedies that are intended to treat the actual infection.

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