Q: In regards to treatment of genital herpes during pregnancy, are there any herbs or other preparations that you know of to prevent an active infection "flare-up"? A woman in one of my childbirth classes desperately wants to have a vaginal birth. I would appreciate any information that could help her.
-D. Windover
I have genital herpes, and while I very rarely experience a flare-up, when I do, it is usually at a time of extreme stress in my life. You might make your client aware of the many benefits of staying calm and relaxed, especially in the last few weeks of her pregnancy, as herpes outbreaks are definitely linked with stress.
If your client does experience an outbreak close to her due date, if she takes the following actions as soon as she detects the first signs (tingling, soreness), she can shorten the length of the outbreak: Remove all restrictive clothing (underwear, panty-hose, pants, etc.) so that air can circulate freely to the developing lesion. After peeing, wash and blow-dry the area gently. The goal is to get the wet lesion to crust over, after which it will heal quickly and no longer be a risk to the baby.
-Trudy Noort
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Herpes outbreaks occur, as I understand it, when there is a deficiency of lysine. To treat outbreaks, a woman may take L-Lysine 1000 mg three times a day for 5 days. It is more effective if taken at the first sign of outbreak (tingling or pain). She may then follow with L-Lysine 500 mg four times a day for the rest of the pregnancy for suppression therapy. In our practice, we encourage pregnant women to take lysine as described above for the entire pregnancy. It seems to be very effective and is an inexpensive supplement. Women should also emphasize foods which are high in lysine in their diets.
Liza McKinney, CNM
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Lysine, which is a dietary supplement, helps reduce herpes outbreaks quite well. Lysine is not produced in the body and is ingested normally in vegetables. Another way is lemon balm. It is well known by herpes sufferers to reduce outbreaks and quickly get rid of an outbreak. It can be found in health food stores. Just apply an amount that covers the area 2-3 times a day during an outbreak, or in accordance with the product label if given.
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I suggest that immune-stimulating supplements be taken throughout pregnancy, particularly vitamin C in the mineral ascorbate form (not just ascorbic acid), plus bioflavonoids and rutin. Also try a garlic supplement. I have had great success with 5 Mushroom Extract, which is anti-viral. It contains the Japanese mushrooms Tremella fuciform, Cordyseps sinensis, Ganoderma lucidium, Lentinus edodes, Grifola frondosa. Take 10-20 drops in water 3 times a day. A client of mine developed an outbreak of herpes a week before her due date; after using the extract, everything resolved in about 3 days.
In Australia, 5 Mushroom Extract is marketed by Health World Limited, and their product range is called Metagenics. They are primarily practitioner only products, but can also be purchased through pharmacies here in Australia. Email them at hworld@healthworld.com.au to see if there is an American agent.
-Marianne Idle
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 1 Issue 36, Sep 7, 1999)
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