Many opt to take daily anti-herpes medicine to get their dating life back in full swing. There’s no cure for any strain of herpes, but its symptoms can be managed with certain topical and oral medications as well as alternative therapies. Antiviral drugs, like Valtrex (valacyclovir), famciclovir (Famvir), and Zovirax (acyclovir) are the most popular treatment options for herpes, according to K Health. Not only do treatments heal herpes sores faster than other options, but they work to prevent you from passing the infection to your sexual partners. For those with a more severe case of genital herpes, your healthcare provider may prescribe an intravenous antiviral medication, which entails inserting a needle into a vein to administer the antiviral drug straight into your bloodstream.
In some circumstances, doctors may advise adopting acupuncture as an alternative therapy to speed up the healing of sores. A 2022 study published in the Annals of Palliative Medicine on the use of acupuncture to treat herpes zoster (shingles) symptoms concluded that acupuncture was effective in treating herpes zoster, alleviating discomfort, and shortening the length of treatment. At the same time, stick to a balanced, mineral-rich diet independent of foods high in arginine, such as chicken breast, turkey breast, chickpeas, and dairy products during an outbreak of herpes (per Hims). Foods that are spicy, salty, and oily, as well as alcohol, can also exacerbate your herpes symptoms and compromise your treatment results.
