# Genital Herpes: Useful info for those looking for answers like me! **URL:** \ **Category:** Sexual health\ **Tags:** Genital herpes simplex\ **Created:** [20 October 2015 08:10 UTC](https://community.patient.info/t/genital-herpes-useful-info-for-those-looking-for-answers-like-me/482438 "2015-10-20T08:10:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 9
**Author:** ![anon53727290](https://community.patient.info/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@anon53727290](https://community.patient.info/u/anon53727290)\ **Post date:** [20 October 2015 08:28 UTC](https://community.patient.info/t/genital-herpes-useful-info-for-those-looking-for-answers-like-me/482438/9 "2015-10-20T08:28:33Z")
**Natural treatments for genital HSV** Many websites and people claim that certain foods/supplements are good/bad for genital HSV. For example, lysine-rich foods and supplements are "good", while coffee, chocolate and nuts are "bad", etc.  **However, none of these claims have been scientifically proven, or cannot be replicated in subsequent studies.** It is therefore unnecessary to change your diet, provided you already have a balanced one and remain well hydrated (especially if taking HSV antiviral meds), unless you strongly feel that certain foods/supplements are helpful or triggering. Instead, anything that diminishes your body's immunity should be reduced or avoided, like stress, insufficient sleep, alcohol, [steroids](https://community.patient.info/health/steroids), etc. Having said that (and being a tea lover!), I quite like the idea of drinking therapeutic herbal teas, and for genital HSV the following are \*supposedly\* beneficial: lemon balm, licquorice root, St. John's wort, echinacea. Turmeric is supposedly another good one, but I prefer to use the powder form as an additive to certain meals. For topical relief/treatment, it's best to keep lesions dry, but \*diluted\* tea tree oil is both antibacterial and very soothing/cooling. Many people also swear by soaking in an Epsom salt bath. There is a wealth of other information out there regarding natural treatments, but remember that it may not be backed by research/studies and there is presently NO cure for HSV no matter what any website, product or person claims! [https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/herpes-treatment](https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/herpes-treatment)/ [https://www.herpes.org.nz/living-with-herpes/complementary-treatments](https://www.herpes.org.nz/living-with-herpes/complementary-treatments)/ Herbal treatments for skin conditions (see GH section) - [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92761](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92761)/ Tea tree oil - [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11338678](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11338678) --- _[View the full topic](https://community.patient.info/t/genital-herpes-useful-info-for-those-looking-for-answers-like-me/482438)._