Two amino acids have a significant impact on both herpes simplex (mouth or genital herpes) and herpes zoster (shingles).
Lysine reduces the strength of a herpes outbreak, while Arginine can actually increase the intensity and duration of the outbreak. You can take lysine as a supplement to prevent outbreak, or eat foods containing lysine and avoid foods containing arginine, before and during the outbreak to shorten the duration.
You can also take the formula Long Dan Xie Gan Tang for herpes outbreaks either externally or internally. It usually takes 2-3 days for the formula to work (edited based on Liana’s comment).
Foods with Lysine: add before/during outbreak (in order from most lysine to least)
- Fish
- Chicken
- Beef
- Goat milk
- Cow milk
- Lamb
- Pork
- Cheese
- Beans (especially mung beans, lima beans, and soy beans)
- Cottage cheese
- Brewer’s yeast
- Sprouts
- Crustaceans
- Eggs
Foods with Arginine: avoid! (in order from most arginine to least)
- Hazel nuts
- Brazil nuts
- Peanuts & peanut butter
- Walnuts
- Almonds
- Cocoa powder
- Sesame
- Cashews
- Carob powder
- Coconut
- Pistachios
- Buckwheat flour
- Garbanzo beans or chickpeas
- Brown rice
- Pecans
- Whole wheat bread
- Oatmeal
- Raisins
- Sunflower seeds
- Corn
All information in this blog is for educational uses only. Always consult your doctor before taking any herbs or supplements, or changing or discontinuing your medications.
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Check out long dan xie gan tang for herpes outbreaks – topically if it’s not constitutionally right for you to take internally. Works on damp heat in the liver/gallbladder (which is what TCM considers to be herpes outbreaks). Usually takes about 2-3 days for the outbreak to subside with long dan xie gan tang powder.
Thank you! I’m adding this to the article.