Have you ever spent a morning sitting on the bathroom floor after finding a mysterious new bump on your vag, scrolling through WebMD to find a diagnosis, and trying not to think the worst, oh no… it couldn’t possibly be… herpes?!

Don’t fret, girl! Herpes isn’t as taboo as society makes it out to be. It’s way more common than you might think, and there’s a natural solution that may help with outbreaks. In a study done in 2018, the CDC estimated there were 572,000 new cases of genital herpes in the U.S. alone between people aged 14 to 49. The study also says 11.9% of people in this age group have had a genital herpes infection, and 1 in 5 individuals in the U.S. have or have had a sexually transmitted infection, or STI.

So why don’t we talk about it? Because it's f*ckin’ embarrassing!  STIs are definitely a taboo subject; but we can take steps towards improving our health by recognizing it’s okay to talk about these things, they are solvable, and they do not spell out doom. 

One great natural solution for herpes is l-lysine, an essential amino acid that helps our body lower cholesterol, absorb calcium, and form collagen. Lysine helps to slow or prevent herpes infections by preventing arginine from being absorbed into the bloodstream. This makes the amino acids in the bloodstream unavailable for the virus by telling it “There’s no room for you here! See ya!”

Lysine is available as an oral supplement and a cream that can be applied to the affected area every two hours for an eleven-day period. For an oral supplement, it is recommended to take 1 gram of lysine a day. Lysine won’t necessarily cure these infections, but it can reduce the recurrence and help slow the spread of the infection to get it under control. 

Lysine is also effective in preventing herpes outbreaks before they’ve begun. Lysine occurs naturally in foods such as meat like pork and poultry, cheese, eggs, soybeans, and certain fish. A lysine-rich diet is a great way to support your immune system and give it the fighting power it needs to defend your body from harmful viruses or infections. 

Other studies have shown that lysine works as a great protein supplement, and can be especially beneficial to athletes. It can also aid in the repair of muscle tissue caused by stress, and may help prevent bone loss from osteoporosis. Lysine has also proven to block stress-response receptors, lower cortisol, and aid in schizophrenia symptoms when combined with other medications.

Lysine truly is our supplemental superhero, with plenty of benefits to help our body, mind, and sexy bits. It can be easily incorporated into your diet as a way to prevent infections, or used as treatment to ease an infection that’s already there. It’s important to remember that herpes (and WebMD) doesn’t spell out eternal doom. Our health problems are usually treatable, and can sometimes be treated with healthy and natural solutions. However, we can only treat them if we address them. Your unusual bumps and spots are nothing to fear, and can actually become more harmful if left untreated. So do your research, talk about your health like it’s your new favorite coffee spot, take your lysine supplements, and listen to your body so you can give it what it needs. 

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