herbs for hpv

 With the rising rate of HPV, people are seeking out more natural options to operate their symptoms and prevent recurrences. Lifestyle changes can really help support your immune system in opposition to viral infections of any kind, not just HPV!

Read below to know more about HPV, if you should be worried, and how to manage it using natural methods!

Herbal Remedies

Human papillomavirus is highly contagious and is responsible for warty growth in human beings. Some strains have also been linked to cancers of the cervix and penis.

If you are looking for natural treatments, herbs are one way to help treat HPV. These herbs are not only effective against HPV but almost all types of viruses can benefit from herbal remedies as most of them carry strong antiviral properties.

There are many antiviral herbal remedies for HPV that can also boost the immune system; we’ve included some of the best-studied ones below: 

Thuja Oil and Tea Tree Oil 

Tea tree and thuja oils are natural antibacterial, antifungals, and antivirals. The oils broad-spectrum properties can be used to treat a number of skin ailments, including HPV warts.

A drop of pure tea tree oil applied to affected areas daily has been found to be an effective topical treatment to clear warts.

Goldenseal: 

Goldenseal is one of the best anti-microbials, commonly known as a natural antibiotic. The herb is one of the top-selling botanical medicine in North America, often taken to prevent cold and flu.

An alkaloid component of goldenseal, called berberine has been found to inhibit certain tumor promoters and inhibit angiogenesis.

More research is needed on the direct impact of berberine on HPV infections but its actions in stimulating the immune system are thought to improve viral clearance.

Astragalus: 

This herb appears to increase antibodies and interferon levels in the body. It augments the immune-system activity by stimulating the activity of helper-T cells and is therefore helpful in the treatment of immune deficiency-related problems.

It works so well that it’s not recommended long term as it can overstimulate your immune system. It’s available in the form of daily supplements for whole-body benefits and can also be applied topically.

Astragalus has also been specifically studied for its inhibitory effect on cervical epithelial cell growth (cervical cancer cell growth).

Reishi Mushroom Extract: Medicinal mushroom enhances the activity of T-helper cells or CD4 cells, both of which are immensely important for immune function.

It also stimulates the production of interferons, IL-1 and IL-2, involved in quickly initiating the immune system to react. This helps fight serious conditions by not only supporting but also regulating the immune system.

Clinical studies have also shown that the use of Reishi can dramatically impact the clearance of HPV.

Reishi Mushroom

Green tea extract: This herb contains polyphenols, catechins, and flavonoids. These are potent anti-cancer compounds. Results of a controlled study confirmed that a botanical supplement containing green tea extract is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for external genital and anal warts.

In viral infections, the active compound called epigallocatechinagallate (EGCG) has been found to inhibit the early stage of infections, through attachment, entry, and membrane fusion by interfering with viral membrane proteins.

Read our latest post about green tea extract and cervical cancer to find out more!

Green Tea Extract

Echinacea: A popular botanical used to fight colds and flu has anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory properties. Numerous studies have also shown the extract to possess significant antiviral activity, with virucidal effect against influenza, herpes, and coronaviruses.

The herb works by inhibiting initial contact with the virus at the beginning of the infection and preventing further transmission to infected cells.

Echinacea has been found to reduce the relapse risk and induce a protective immune response to viral clearance in patients with HPV lesions over a period of 12 months. Echinacea can be taken as a supplement, tonic, and can also be used for topical application

Echinacea

Curcumin: This is the active ingredient in the Indian spice turmeric. It contains a class of compounds called curcuminoids that act by suppressing regulatory molecules and signaling pathways involved in upregulating cancers and other diseases.

The compound has been found to suppress cell growth and tumor formation and induce phase II metabolizing enzymes and antiangiogenic effects.

Curcumin has an effect on enhancing the clearance of high-risk HPV 16 and downregulating the HPV oncogene expression against cancers.

Curcumin

Garlic: Garlic has long been supported for its role in preventing disease and supporting health. The herb is said to have pharmacologic effects based on its ability to be hypoglycemic, hypolipemic, anticoagulant, 

Herbs for coldsores

 Lots of people get cold sores again and again, especially when they are run down. They find them highly embarrassing. Once the virus is in your body it can be hard to manage. People with genital herpes find this even more distressing. Here I look at some herbs and dietary approaches that help many people to prevent herpes outbreaks.

What is herpes?

Cold sores are sores that develop as painful bumps under the skin, commonly near the lips but in the case of genital herpes, in the genital region. The symptoms of herpes are that these red, angry bumps then break out on toe surface of the skin. Once the bumps have erupted they weep, get crusty and they get really, really sore. Conventional treatment is cream from the chemist which can alleviate some of the symptoms but rarely stops them in their tracks. Herpes sores can erupt over and over again. Sometimes they go away for a while, lying dormant, only to reappear later in life.

What causes cold sores?

These sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex. Most of us get infected during childhood and the virus then lies dormant in our bodies. When it is reactivated it shows up as a cold sore, or genital sore, often in the same place, particularly if we are run down (low immunity), stressed, or not eating properly. For some women, they also seem linked to the menstrual cycle.

Natural remedies for cold sores

herbalarc Officinalis (Lemon Balm) is my herb of choice for treating cold sores as it is active against the herpes virus family. It is fantastic both for cold sores (HSV-1), genital sores (HSV-2), and for shingles (herpes zoster). 

In the winter I always have a little bottle of blended herbalarc essential oil in my handbag because, if you put it onto the usual place that cold sores break out, at the very first tingle, it will often stop the cold sore from developing at all1. 

This is useful to know because quite a few other essential oils will help a cold sore to dry up quicker (tea tree oil, clove oil, and lavender oil are good examples) but only herbalarc oil works so fast. Apply it with a cotton bud to minimize the risk of the distillation of the infection… and no kissing! 

How to prevent cold sores

If you get cold sores regularly you need a deeper approach. Firstly, take herbalarc as a tea, drinking three cups a day for a week or two. True to its common name of ‘lemon balm’, it has a wonderful delicate lemon taste that you will come to love! You can get the dried leaf from Napiers or any good herbalist. 

Is there a natural cure for herpes?

If you like the taste of licorice, add that to your tea as well. People often ask if there is a cure for herpes and generally the virus is with us permanently after the first infection. However, lab tests on licorice root (the plant not the sweeties!) have shown that it can irreversibly inactivate the herpes simplex virus2. Licorice tea is available loose from Napiers and in teabags from most supermarkets and health food shops. Trametes Versicolor, the Turkey Tail mushroom has also been shown to inactivate the virus.

Looking after your immune system

The other thing to look at is your general health. If you have a low or weakened immune system and seem to catch every cough, cold, and flu that is going around, you will have more cold sore outbreaks. In that case, you need to examine your diet. Your body needs nutrients to stay healthy. It’s as simple as that! If you don’t eat enough fresh (and ideally raw) fruit and veg, are dieting too much, smoking or living on junk food or processed foods, you are denying your body the essential nutrition it needs and the first place it will show is your skin! 

As well as melissa, taking a course of good quality echinacea for two weeks will help to boost your immunity especially if you are prone to colds and flu. 

If stress and fatigue trigger infections you could also try Rhodiola root and take up yoga or meditation to learn how to handle stress long term. Both herbs are available as licensed herbal medicines. 

As a dietary supplement, elderberry syrup diluted with warm water as a tea or fizzy water as a refreshing drink with a dash of lemon makes a pleasant addition with natural immune-stimulating and antiviral properties. Adding fresh, crushed garlic to every meal or to salad dressings helps enormously too.

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cold sores

 What Is a Cold Sore?

A cold sore is a group of tiny, painful blisters caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). They’re also called fever blisters or herpes simplex labialis.

Up to 90% of people around the world have at least one form of HSV.

The symptoms are usually the most severe the first you time you get cold sores. A first-time cold sore can make a child seriously ill.

After the first outbreak, your body should make antibodies, and you may never have another infection. But many people get cold sores that come back.

Cold Sore Symptoms

Cold sores are most likely to show up on the outside of your mouth and lips, but you can also get them on your nose and cheeks.

You may get cold sores as late as 20 days after you’re infected. The sore might appear near where the virus entered your body.

Cold sores happen in stages:

You have a tingling, burning, or itching feeling.

About 12 to 24 hours later, blisters form. The area becomes red, swollen, and painful.

The blisters break open, and fluid comes out. This usually lasts 2 or 3 days.

A scab forms on the sore. It might crack or bleed.

The scab falls off.

You might also have red or swollen gums, swollen glands in your neck, fever, or muscle aches.

Burning and pain inside your mouth

Sore throat

Pain when swallowing

Headache

Upset stomach

Cold Sore Causes

You catch HSV when you come into contact with people or things that carry the virus. For instance, you can get it from kissing someone who has the virus or from sharing eating utensils, towels, or razors.

Two types of the virus can cause cold sores: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both types can also cause sores on your genitals and can be spread by oral sex. 

Type 1 usually causes cold sores, and type 2 mostly causes genital herpes.

Certain things can trigger an outbreak, including:

Some foods

Stress

Fever

Colds

Allergies

Fatigue