Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a virucide (antiviral). It can help to ease herpes-related symptoms naturally because it is a powerful immune booster. It also helps to regulate histamine in the body. Histamine is released in response to stress, inflammation, and infection and is known to trigger the herpes virus (and vice versa). Because of this, a vitamin C deficiency can cause more frequent and severe herpes breakouts, colds, and flu. However, avoiding taking typical vitamin C supplements containing ascorbic acid (especially in high doses) is essential when living with the herpes virus.

Vitamin C supplements made from ascorbic acid are highly acidic and don't work to signal an alkaline response. Instead, they trigger an acid response (poor pH balance) in the blood. Why? Because they lack the synergistic nutrients that are present in fresh citrus fruit. Poor pH contributes to inflammation, increased histamine, and more frequent and severe herpes infections.

If you don't eat much citrus fruit (some are HSV triggers) and decide to supplement vitamin C, your supplement should be buffered and contain bioflavonoids. You could look for a supplement that says "acid-free". However, most agree on the buffered variety. 

If you'd like to take an alternative supplement that provides vitamin C, rose hips are a natural alternative. The seed pod roses grow out of is full of natural vitamin C. There's also camu camu, a fruit containing more natural vitamin C than any known source (30 times more than oranges). See The Tarotpothecary for resources. 

You can and should take vitamin C in higher doses during viral infections. Some say there are no limits on vitamin C dosages. However, symptoms of vitamin C toxicity include heartburn, headache, nausea and vomiting, intestinal pain and diarrhea, fever, kidney stones, fatigue, insomnia, and hair loss.

On herpes-free days, take 200-500 mg of vitamin C with bioflavonoids daily (up to 5000 mg in divided doses throughout the day). This total should include the amounts of vitamin C eaten with your meals. During the onset of a breakout (day one) and three days after that, it's safe to take the higher dose of 5,000 mg in divided doses for these four days.

Foods Containing Vitamin C

• Oranges and orange juice
• Honeydew or watermelon
• Red bell and green bell peppers
• Broccoli (fresh or frozen)
• Papaya
• Brussels sprouts
• Strawberries
• Cantaloupe
• Mangos
• Onions
• Dandelion greens
• Radishes
• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Pineapple
• Watercress
• Collard greens
• Kale
• Kiwi
• Lemons
• Pink grapefruit 

Is vitamin C worthy of being a natural remedy? You bet! I made a serious mistake in avoiding citrus fruits and vitamin C supplements and ended up suffering from severe herpes breakouts every two weeks for several years.

Vitamin C also helps guard against colds, influenza, and COVID-19. However, you'll want to ensure the foods you eat, which contain vitamin C, are not HSV triggers.