2023/06/02 by Jane Chang, Curt Balch, Joseph A. Puccio +1 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Medicine · #Bee Products Chemical Analysis #Herbal Medicine Research Studies #Insect and Pesticide Research
paper · pdf · doi:10.3390/v15061314
openalex publication_date 2023/06/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
for over 300,000 years, having developed numerous immunoevasive mechanisms to survive the lifetime of their human host. Although in the continued absence of an acceptable prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine, approved pharmacologics (e.g., nucleoside analogs) hold benefit against viral outbreaks, while resistance and toxicity limit their universal application. Against these shortcomings, there is a long history of proven and unproven home remedies. With the breadth of purported alternative therapies, patients are exposed to risk of harm without proper information. Here, we examined the shortcomings of the current gold standard HSV therapy, acyclovir, and described several natural products that demonstrated promise in controlling HSV infection, including lemon balm, lysine, propolis, vitamin E, and zinc, while arginine, cannabis, and many other recreational drugs are detrimental. Based on this literature, we offered recommendations regarding the use of such natural products and their further investigation.