Topical Honey Application vs. Acyclovir for the Treatment of Recurrent Herpes Simplex Lesions

Become a sore loser with this simple herpes solution

Let’s face it: Herpes sores are ugly, usually painful, and always seem to happen at the very worst possible time. Not only that, but they seem to take forever to heal.

Mainstream doctors usually prescribe Acyclovir ointment (and other closely related topical medications) to treat herpes outbreaks. But new research shows that, once again, Nature has a better solution—a remedy that works faster than any of the mainstream treatments, and with fewer side effects, too.

Honey has long been regarded in the complementary and alternative medicine field as one of the best natural wound healers and infection fighters because of its antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Now mainstream medicine is starting to catch on to hundreds of years of real-world proof: In a recent study published in the journal Medical Science Monitor, a researcher treated 16 patients suffering from recurrent herpes sores with topical application of Acyclovir cream for one attack and honey for another attack. The subjects applied the honey by soaking gauze pads in it and pressing the pads into the sore for 15 minutes, four times a day. The acyclovir ointment was applied directly to the sore (and left on) six times daily.

For herpes sores on the lips, overall healing time with honey was 43 percent better than with acyclovir. For herpes sores in the genital region, healing time was 59 percent better with honey than with acyclovir ointment.

None of the volunteers experienced any side effects with repeated applications of honey, although three patients developed local itching with the acyclovir.


Preventing break-outs in the first place

Of course, if you suffer recurrent herpes outbreaks, the best thing to do is prevent them. Sounds easier said than done, but most of the time, it’s very possible.

Recurrences of any infection can be reduced or stopped altogether by removing sugar and refined carbohydrates from the diet, and identifying and eliminating food allergies; Herpes is no exception. Sometimes just these dietary measures will stop recurrences altogether, but if not, they’ll nearly always at least reduce them.


Herpes virus reproduction (which leads to the outbreak of sores) is stimulated by the amino acid L-arginine.L-arginine is found in higher quantities in foods which can, like viruses, reproduce themselves (if you plant them): nuts (especially peanuts), beans, seeds, and grains. Cutting back on foods like these that contain higher levels of L-arginine can help reduce, and, in many cases, eliminate recurrent herpes sores.

On the flip side of that coin, the amino acid L-lysine inhibits the virus reproduction, so supplementing with it can also be helpful; usually 3 to 4 grams daily are necessary.


Selenium and lithium also inhibit different aspects of herpes virus reproduction. Selenium can safely be used for preventive purposes at 400-500 micrograms daily and lithium at 15-20 milligrams daily.


Vitamin C can shorten the duration of any viral illness. Once the virus infection becomes apparent, a bowel tolerance level (as much vitamin C as possible without causing gas or loose bowels) is a good idea.