Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is an incurable virus that lies dormant in the brain stem after the initial infection. There are two types of HSV, namely HSV-1 and HSV-2. Oral herpes is known to be caused by HSV-1, while genital herpes can be caused by both HSV-1 and HSV-2.

The herbs in this list won’t fully eradicate the virus from the brain stem (for that you would need one herb to facilitate access to brain stem and one extremely virucidal herb which is an impossible feat), but they might help you clear the virus from skin or mucosal membranes after its outbreak. Some of these may even stop the virus from getting to your brain stem, so they are perfect for when you think you might have been infected by someone.

Some of these herbs are only active against HSV-1 or HSV-2, so it’s important to know which type you have. In my opinion, the best kinds of herbs are those that are active against both types as it demonstrates their antiviral potency.

Herbs with low or no toxicity

  1. Houttuynia cordata {excellent in early infection}
  2. Sida acuta
  3. Astragalus membranaceus
  4. Ocimum sanctum
  5. Juniper spp.
  6. Prunella vulgaris/asiatica
  7. Anthyllis vulneraria
  8. Hamamelis virginiana
  9. Verbascum densiflorum
  10. Zingiber officinale
  11. Boswellia serrata
  12. Moringa oleifera
  13. Nelumbo nucifera
  14. Panax notoginseng
  15. Tinospora cordifolia
  16. Ortosiphon stamineus
  17. Coptis chinensis
  18. Passiflora edulis
  19. Bidens pilosa
  20. Punica granatum (juice)
  21. Phellodendron amurense / chinensis
  22. Patrinia villosa
  23. Smilax glabra

Toxic herbs

  1. Melissa officinalis
  2. Scutellaria baicalensis
  3. Phyllanthus niruri
  4. Artemisia annua
  5. Andrographis paniculata {excellent for suppressing outbreaks}
  6. Cordyceps sinensis
  7. Ganoderma lucidum
  8. Glycyrrhiza glabra
  9. Isatis tinctoria
  10. Centella asiatica
  11. Terminalia chebula
  12. Juglans regia
  13. Chelidonium majus
  14. Tabebuia serratifolia
  15. Humulus lupulus
  16. Hypericum perforatum
  17. Camellia sinensis
  18. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
  19. Fucus vesiculosus
  20. Senna alexandrina
  21. Polygonum multiflorum
  22. Aloe vera
  23. Curcuma longa
  24. Inula helenium
  25. Phyllanthus emblica
  26. Ocimum basilicum
  27. Rheum palmatum
  28. Tanacetum parthenium
  29. Rhamnus frangula
  30. Acorus calamus
  31. Hyssopus officinalis
  32. Olea europaea
  33. Rosmarinus officinalis
  34. Salvia officinalis
  35. Geum japonicum
  36. Syzygium aromaticum
  37. Gardenia jasminoides
  38. Thymus vulgaris
  39. Azadirachta indica
  40. Usnea spp.
  41. Sophora flavescens
  42. Pulsatilla chinensis

Grey area (may or may not be toxic)

  1. Cryptolepis sanguinolenta
  2. Echinacea spp.
  3. Geranium sanguineum
  4. Geranium maculatum
  5. Veronica persica
  6. Ficus carica
  7. Alisma plantago
  8. Luffa cylindrica
  9. Prunus persica
  10. Actinidia chinensis
  11. Caesalpinia pulcherrima
  12. Carissa edulis
  13. Pinus massoniana
  14. Ranunculus sceleratus/sieboldii
  15. Tripleurospermum maritimum
  16. Chondrus crispus
  17. Litchi chinensis (flower)
  18. Agrimonia pilosa
  19. Artemisia anomala
  20. Boussingaultia gracilis
  21. Byrsonima verbascifolia
  22. Crossostephium chinense
  23. Distictella elongata
  24. Limonium brasilense
  25. Lindera strychnifolia
  26. Ocimum americanum
  27. Pithecellobium clypearia
  28. Pongamia pinnata (seed)
  29. Psidium guajava
  30. Pyrrosia lingua
  31. Rhus aromatic / chinensis / javanica
  32. Sargassum fusiforme
  33. Serissa japonica / foetida
  34. Stephania cepharantha
  35. Taraxacum mongolicum
  36. Scoparia dulcis
  37. Tripterygium hypoglaucum
  38. Camptotheca acuminate
  39. Rhamnus purshiana
  40. Cassia obtusifolia
  41. Ventilago denticulate
  42. Strobilanthes cusia
  43. Euphorbia fischeriana
  44. Thymus capitatus
  45. Phaleria macrocarpa (fruit)
  46. Clinacanthus nutans
  47. Berginia ciliate
  48. Echium amoenum
  49. Bryophyllum pinnatum
  50. Cenchrus biflorus
  51. Euphorbia jolkini
  52. Crataegus sinaica/aronia/monogyna/pseudoheterophylla
  53. Aloe barbadensis
  54. Melia toosendan
  55. Gracilaria corticata
  56. Bostrychia montagnei
  57. Nothogenia fastigiata
  58. Pterocladia capillacea
  59. Grymnogongrus griffithsiae
  60. Cyrptonemia crenulata
  61. Quercus persica
  62. Aloysia gratissima
  63. Securigeras ecuridaca
  64. Swertia chirata
  65. Chrysanthenum boreale
  66. Spatholobus suberectus
  67. Nervilia fordii
  68. Ilex brevicuspis/theezans
  69. Maytenus ilicifolia
  70. Glechon spathulata/marifolia
  71. Baccharis erioclada/megapotamica/uncinella

References to come later or upon request