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.