Helpful Options for Shingles and Herpes Relief

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Helpful options for shingles and herpes relief is a topic I know from personal experience.

These ideas will help you heal faster and reduce reoccurrences. None of these options conflict with medications, if you still feel you need them.

Are Shingles and Herpes the Same?

Both Shingles and Herpes are in the large “retrovirus” family, which includes Chicken Pox, Epstein Barr, Hepatitis C and others.

The HHV Viruses

Shingles and Herpes are part of the Human Herpes Virus subset (HHV). Here are various types.

1. HHV1 – HSV1: Herpes Simplex 1, oral or genital herpes
2. HHV2 – HHV2: Herpes Simplex 2, genital herpes
3. HHV3 – VZV: Varicella Zoster Virus, chickenpox or shingles
4. HHV4 – EBV: Epstein Barr Virus, commonly known as mono
5. HHV5 – CMV: Cytomegolo Virus

How Do You Get Infected with Shingles or Herpes?

• Herpes Simplex – spread by contact with blisters or “asymptomatic shedding” without active lesions. Many people are carriers but never experience an outbreak.
• Chickenpox (Herpes Zoster) – can be spread by contact or by breathing in the virus after an infected person coughs or sneezes. Shingles can be spread from someone with Shingles, but the newly infected person would break out with Chickenpox, not Shingles if they never had Chickenpox.
• Shingles – can occur anytime after having Chickenpox. The virus can cause severe pain during infection and recurring long-term issues.

Does Stress Cause Herpes?

Following contact with the virus, your immune system may fight it off. Success against your first infection is in large part governed by the health of your body and immune system at the time. Meds may be useful for first infection.

“Stress” includes persistent or short-term anxiety, anger, exposure to heat or cold, physical traumas or injuries, poor sleep and chronic fatigue, steroids, immune-suppressing drugs, health challenges (such as the flu or chronic illness), death of a loved one, and nutrient status.

All can cause a Herpes or Shingles flare.

The Effect of Cortisol on the Immune System

Stress causes an elevation in the adrenal hormone Cortisol. This acts as an immune suppressant.

We evolved by perceiving “stressors” in our environment as life-threatening. Shortage of food, exposure to cold, and attacks by predators raise cortisol so we can run or fight. In modern times, everything around us seems to be a potential threat to a sensitive or exhausted nervous system.

When we mobilize cortisol for “fight or flight,” immune cells are turned off until peace resumes. There’s no point wasting resources on an infected arm or fever if you’re busy fighting a bear!

If the adrenals are fatigued, we’re less able to handle stress and are more prone to recurring infections.

Stress support

I use the following products with Clients:

• This high-grade blend of Adaptogen herbs helps the body “adapt” to mental and physical stress, making it less susceptible to illness and anxiety.
• Systemic Formulas Ga-Adrenal is effective in restoring tired adrenals.
• Lifestyle changes are essential
• Better sleep enhances immunity
• Passion Flower tincture (either glycerin based or alcohol based) 

Hormones Affect Shingles and Herpes

Progesterone and Herpes

Women are more susceptible to herpes outbreaks around PMS time. Chronically low progesterone and elevated estrogen affect the immune system, although it’s not known exactly why estrogen dominance tends to be linked with herpes.

If you tend to have outbreaks at the same time of the month, or they have worsened since menopause, do a salivary hormone test and check cortisol and hormone levels. Blood tests are not very accurate even though many doctors run them. Here’s a short article on saliva testing for hormones. Complete your test on Day 21 of your cycle when progesterone is supposed to be much higher than estrogen.

I run Salivary Testing on all Clients. 

Helpful Options for Shingles and Herpes Relief

My 90-minute Herpes Relief Guide contains detailed information on what to eat for herpes, what to avoid, and the best supplements to help manage it. $77 and life-changing. 

I have never used antiviral medications. I focus on the causes of my susceptibility and use diet, supplements and complementary therapies to reduce herpes outbreaks.

Monolaurin, Lysine, and Systemic Formula’s VIVI are all helpful to me.

Reduce Arginine in Your Diet to Reduce Herpes Outbreaks

Shingles and herpes are often brought on by an excess of the amino acid Arginine.

If you have herpes or shingles, avoid nuts, seeds, collagen, chocolate, and coconut (coconut oil is okay). If you have one outbreak and never have another it’s ok to eat these foods, but avoid if stressed, sick, or fatigued.

Other foods relatively high in Arginine are gelatin and bone broth. 

Grains have much more Arginine than Lysine. Meats and seafoods have more Lysine.

Read more about the Best and Worst Foods for Herpes in this article. Check this Lysine to Arginine Food Chart.

Lysine for Herpes

Lysine is the amino acid opposite to Arginine. It is an Essential Amino Acid, meaning we cannot make it, so we must get it in food (or by supplements).

When experiencing stress, take Lysine once or twice daily between meals. 500 – 1000 mg one to two times per day works for me if I feel herpes prodromal symptoms of tingling, itching, or burning. You can take several grams a day when needed, but reduce the amount when you can so you do not create other imbalances.

Lysine is an important bone nutrient, so is safe several times a day. It is found primarily in animal protein, so vegetarians and those eating a grain-based diet (like most Americans) will tend to be deficient.

Anti-Infective Herbs for Shingles and Herpes Relief

Olive Leaf Extract, Monolaurin (Lauric Acid concentrate from Coconut Oil), Green Tea Extract and Systemic Formulas VIVI are excellent natural treatments for shingles and herpes infections.

These are all in my Herpes Control Pack.

Here’s a Lysine + VIVI combo in my online store.

Topical Pain Support for Herpes or Shingles

Walkabout Emu Oil is anti-infective and soothes pain and inflammation of all kinds. This article on our unprocessed Emu Oil for Skin and Vaginal Health explains more. Not all brands of emu oil will work. I specifically recommend Walkabout Emu Oil.

 If you have a local clinic, ask about Ozone by IV therapy. 

Vitamins for Herpes and Shingles

Vitamins D and K2

Vitamin D is a truly essential nutrient that we commonly lack. We evolved to be in sunshine and our bodies require significant levels of Vitamin D to support our immune system. Be sure to take Vitamin D with K2 to avoid the risk of gallstones, kidney disease, and calcium in the arteries.

Check out this article and podcast for more on Vitamin K2. 

Vitamin D3 Complete with A, D & K2, Systemic Formulas DV3 & Immune Support, and OrthoMolecular Vitamin K2 are in my online store.

Fatty Acids and Calcium for Herpes Support

Herpes and shingles attack cell membranes to enter and infect RNA. Keeping cell membranes flexible helps them repel viral invaders. Fatty acids like Cod Liver Oil (or gel caps), Perque Triple EFA Guard Essential Fats, and Walkabout Emu Oil help do this.

I also recommend OrthoMolecular Omega Select DHA. It’s a proprietary high-DHA product from Chile. The fish are fresher than other company’s oils and the oil is less processed.

Calcium plays a role in flexible cell membranes, as well, but never take calcium without Vitamin K2.

Medications such as Valtrex for Herpes and Shingles

If you currently have a new Shingles outbreak, follow my advice, but also ask your doctor about medications.

Contact Me for a Consult

Would a consultation help clarify everything? I offer them locally or virtually. Contact me here to arrange a time to meet.