Natural Remedies & Herbs for Genital Herpes

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) contains antiviral substances and ointments containing related substances are effective in treating herpes infections. While the use of topical licorice preparations to prevent or treat genital herpes has not been studied, some alternative healthcare practitioners recommend applying creams or gels containing licorice three to four times a day.

A double-blind trial found that topical application of a cream containing a highly concentrated extract of lemon balm  (Melissa officinalis) four to five times a day helped heal oral and genital herpes sores faster than use of a placebo.

Aloe vera may also benefit those with genital herpes. A double-blind trial using a 0.5% Aloe vera cream found that applying the cream three times a day shortened the healing time of genital herpes outbreaks. All but 3 of 22 persons in the study who showed healing with the aloe cream had no recurrences 15 months after stopping treatment.

Test tube and animal research suggests that substances found in turmeric, cloves, eucalyptus, and seaweed have potential benefit for topical prevention of genital herpes, but no human research using available herbal products has been performed.