Lysine and Herpes: The Truth!
By Nathalie Foy | August 27, 2010
Many of you have told me you felt lysine was really great. I have received testimonials saying things like “I take lysine and things are good”. But others say “lysine used to work fine but it doesn’t anymore. Why?” or “Why does Lysine hurt me?”
I will try and explain when is the best time to take lysine, in what dosage and why. I will also tell you why I believe taking lysine for a long period may be detrimental to your health.
But first let me remind you what lysine is and why it is deemed important for herpes treatment. Lysine is an amino-acid. Research suggests that lysine hinders the ingestion of arginine, another amino-acid, when absorbed. In other words the more lysine you take, the less arginine you get.
Herpes is a virus. Research has demonstrated that herpes needs arginine to replicate, so it seems only sensible to believe that taking lysine may slow herpes replication down. Indeed, if herpes lacks one of the substances it needs to spread then it cannot. That, at least, is the theory behind the use of lysine in herpes prevention.
More than 200 studies about lysine and oral herpes were conducted during the 1980’s. One found that the frequency of herpes fever blisters was reduced when taking 1248 mg/lysine per day, but that a daily dosage of 624 mg per day had no impact on oral herpes recurrence.
Another study researched the effect of lysine on herpes cold sores when taken immediately in massive dosage after the first signs of an outbreak. No particular benefit was perceived by patients.
The relationship between genital herpes and lysine has been scientifically studied. One study conducted by Griffith and colleagues showed patients taking 1000mg of lysine three times daily experienced fewer genital herpes outbreaks, shorter healing time and milder symptoms. This study included genital and oral herpes patients and was conducted over a six month period using 136 volunteer patients. The study results indicate that taking 1000 mg of lysine three times daily could prevent, or at least diminish the frequency and severity of genital herpes symptoms.
Previous studies had shown that lysine to have little effect on genital herpes outbreaks, but had used a lower dosage.
I think it is best to use 4g of lysine per day for 4 days at trigger stage. That’s why I insist on having you identifying your triggers. If you tend to have mild symptoms, this should be enough. You may say “Yes but there was a study that said that massive dosage did not help as a treatment.” – and you would be right. However, I know that if you can sense your symptoms very early, it will work.
These days, however, I don’t especially recommend lysine. I present it as an extra option in Herpes Antidote because it is really cheap and can be found easily and can help if used very early on.
I know lysine works best for prevention though. So why. unlike Kevin Trudeau, don’t I recommend lysine for long-term use? Simply because if lysine efficacy is based on the disruption of arginine absorption, using lysine over a long period of time will create a chronic arginine deficiency.
Let me explain that again. If you take a lot of lysine for a long period of time, you will inevitably decrease the supply of arginine in your body.
Arginine helps lower blood pressure, eliminate ammonia and toxic wastes from the body, maintain immune functions and promote wound healing. It may also improve symptoms of clogged arteries and erectile dysfunction, increase blood flow to the heart and promote relaxation of blood vessels. So my question is – do you really want to increase toxic waste in your body, harden your arteries, slow down your body’s wound healing capacity and weaken your immune system just to prevent herpes outbreaks? I know my answer.
The long-term lack of arginine can explain why lysine stops working after a while in some people or causes some unexpected side-effects. Besides, there are much more efficient remedies to prevent herpes that don’t have these side-effects.
I hope this lysine report has helped you understand the dangers and benefits of lysine for herpes.
Enjoy 
Topics: Talk Herpes with Nathalie Foy | 12 Comments »
February 12th, 2011 at 7:39 pm
I would just like to be able to access this blog here regularly, to read Nathalie’s feedback. Is there some sort of a mailing list that I can be placed on? Thank you.
Nathalie says: Yes, there is. You can subscribe to it at http://herpes-antidote.com You will first receive the course and any updates I place here after that. Enjoy
.
October 13th, 2010 at 3:14 am
thanks
September 3rd, 2010 at 1:32 pm
i have had a strong, negative reaction to valtrex–immediate swelling of hands, arms, limbs, rapid heart beat, rapid breathing–the medical info doesnt mention it..anyone have anything
similiar. I took off the blue coating, but will got the reaction. lasts for about an hour.
September 1st, 2010 at 8:57 am
,thank you for all your info,i also appreciate it in word ,as i can go back and check it again.
I did get L-Lysine and am at the moment taking it for 4 days,as im going away on friday and always get an outbreak with travel.
what i would like to know is,what happens after the 4 days,if i sill feel prodrom?many thanx
Nathalie Says:
You can take lysine up to a week but as I have explained here, lysine is better for prevention. There is no point in taking it after sore stage. Prodrome usually do not last a week.
If you tend to have constant outbreaks, then lysine is not a good solution for you as you will feel that you are in prodrome stage pretty much all the time. As you can see lysine is not a healthy long-term option so it is not suitable (nor needed) for people who have constant outbreaks.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:09 am
so what are the much more efficient remedies to prevent herpes that don’t have these side-effects?
September 1st, 2010 at 3:22 am
Natalie,
2weeks ago i bought a cream name virless that also content acyclovir, but it’s not working..i also ate the pills to reduce it, but i can see now it getting worse..but the outbreak, its not yet occur..is there anything i can do beside the lysine?
Nathalie says:
Acyclovir cream has been scientifically proven to have little effect on genital herpes. I don’t understand why doctors still prescribe it. Why don’t you try pure organic tea tree essential oil, one drop four times a day at the first signs of symptoms instead. Discontinue after four days or if you reach blister stage. It is cheap and should last you several months.
August 31st, 2010 at 9:35 pm
I don’t think your information is helpful. You haven’t answered any of my questions. How do i know that your therapy really works. I’ve read your testmonies how does that do me any good.
I just want some answers and i ain’t gettin any from you.
You haven’t given my any good advise at all.
Nathalie Says: It seems you want personal support from me. I am not going to share with you the 22 thank you emails I have received about this particular post and share with you that someone actually said it helped her understand why one of her over condition was getting worse from taking lysine but I am going to say that I cannot give personal support for free any more.
I sometimes do. Some people write to me and I find their story touching so I reply but I just cannot guarantee that I will. That does not mean that the information I share with you has no value. I feel quite sad that you reject it on the basis of not getting support from me.
I do give personal support to people who have bought my books. I don’t advertise it but I do. If you have, please just contact me through our support system and I will reply. I understand you might think it is not fair but at some point I had to make a choice. I was just getting too much support requests for one person to handle. It was hard but I made my decision and I am not going to change my position because you say my information is bad. I know herpes is a frustrating matter but please don’t take it out on me. I am doing my very best to help you.
Love,
Nathalie Foy
August 30th, 2010 at 9:11 am
In our country Uganda, most of the pharmacies don’t have most of the herpes drugs. We only have acyclovir of which it has 2 types,from India and Europe.The one of Europe seems to be more effective but so expensive.The cream is not effective at all. We don’t have those other drugs like Lysine.
August 29th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Natalie:
I was recently diagnosed with having genital herpes. I am so thankful to have found your site. Very informative! Thank you for all you have done and continue to do in educating others about this virus.
L
August 28th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Thanks for the lysine info. I had taken it regularly a few years ago, haven’t in quite awhile … although my outbreaks are few these days …. but great info to have on hand.
Thanks for all you do to get info out there, Natalie. I think it’s great that you’ve taken a life situation and turned it into something helpful for others.
August 27th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
When I took lysne,I developed herpes zosta.If herpes zosta had developed in my eyes,I would have become blind. So I fear taking it again.
August 27th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
I have a question for you? What are the right vitamins i could take for my immune system. I just got over an outbreak but then i feel like a burning down there what does that mean? How can i catch it before it turns into sores? How can i catch it before it gets worse?
Please help me?
I don’t know a whole lot of things to try. I need some advise?