You vs. the Virus
How to keep herpes from wreaking havoc
Stay calm under fire Stress can allow herpes to emerge from its hiding place in your nervous system, say British researchers. It seems that chronic tension can impair the function of your T cells, white blood cells whose job it is to prevent the virus from reactivating. Feeling tense? A 15-minute stroll through a park can cut your level of the stress hormone cortisol in half, according to a Japanese study.
Cover your mouth Think of herpes as a slumbering giant, one that can be roused by sunlight. That's because when UV rays hit your lips, they're thought to stimulate the nerves that run from the site of the original infection back to where the virus sleeps. So cover your kisser with a balm that blocks both UVA and UVB rays, such as Dermatone's SPF 23 Skin Protector ($5, dermatone.com).
Boost T cells with tea When your immune system is battling a cold or the flu, the herpes virus tries to sneak past your distracted defenses. Stop it by downing a few glasses of green tea every day you're sick. Pakistani researchers noted that EGCG, an antioxidant in green tea, may turbocharge your T cells. Try Honest Tea Organic Honey Green Tea; it has more EGCG than 13 other iced teas we had tested.
Disrupt its DNA Antiviral drugs can't kill herpes, but they can stop it from making the DNA it needs to reproduce, says Robert Brodell, M.D., a professor of internal medicine at Northeastern Ohio Universities college of medicine. Talk to your doctor about taking the anti viral Valtrex. If you pop 2 grams at the first hint of a cold sore, and then again 12 hours later, you may prevent an outbreak.