Strengthen your immune system

No matter what treatment approach you take, your immune system will be one of the most important weapons that you can work with to combat and control herpes simplex symptoms. Your body’s natural immune system is responsible for keeping you healthy and fighting off invading pathogens, including Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2.

build your immune System to fight herpes

Building and strengthening the immune system through a healthy lifestyle, diet, supplements and reduction of stress levels will be one of the most powerful ways to prevent any possibility of asymptomatic viral shedding, as well as cutting down the frequency of your outbreaks (read more about How often do outbreaks occur?).

How can your immune system help you?

Your immune system is your body’s evolved weapon for defending itself against micro-pathogens, such as the Herpes virus. Your immune system may not be able to completely eliminate herpes but it is your body’s first line of defense to:

Heal and manage symptoms
Suppress the virus
Control recurrences

If a person experiences very mild outbreaks (or no outbreaks at all) it can be contributed to their immune system and its ability to deal with the virus. This can be influenced by many things, including what strand of the herpes virus was contracted, the location of the infection, genetics, lifestyle, diet and mental attitude.

Does herpes / hsv weaken immune system?

The herpes virus outsmarts the immune system by interfering with the process that normally allows immune cells to recognize and destroy foreign invaders. Your body’s ability to get on top of the herpes virus and control recurrences is directly related to the state of your immune system. Without a strong immune system the body can become overwhelmed by the herpes virus, sometimes allowing severe and persistent outbreaks to surface.

Your immune system is the very reason why many symptoms (such as fever, headaches and flu-like illness) are usually only experienced during the “primary” outbreak or first exposure to the virus.

During a first episode, the immune system develops antibodies and other weapons against the virus. During a recurrence, then, this “immune memory” can help to fight off infection more quickly. As a result, as time goes on there are usually fewer sores, they heal faster, and the outbreak is less painful. Some people never experience another recurrence.

Many people do not experiencea recurrence until months and sometimes even years after their first primary outbreak. When the recurrence does happen it is often related to a time when the immune system is weakened or under pressure, such as from an illness, vaccination, change in medication, stressful event or period, poor diet or lifestyle, fatigue, surgery, etc.

With a strong immune system, you can expect to have greater control over the herpes virus and any symptoms that go with it. This can mean fewer sores, longer spaces in between each episode and less severe symptoms when they happen.

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How to Build Your Immune System to Fight Herpes

Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.

A proper diet is one of the best ways to keep your immune system healthy and strong enough to keep the herpes virus dormant. Fruits and vegetables contain the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that a healthy immune system needs. To keep your immune system strong, consume between five and nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day. CNN.com recommends that you consume two servings of fruits and vegetables of different colors at each meal, which ensures that you get enough variety to get all of the nutrients your immune system needs to fight herpes.

Consume lean proteins.

Lean proteins have a number of beneficial effects for the immune system. Protein is needed to make more white blood cells, which are critical for keeping the herpes virus in check. Lean proteins also will fill you up without adding large amounts of fat to your diet. A high-fat diet can impair the function of T-lymphocytes, which are a kind of white blood cell that has a pivotal role in fighting infections.

Consume immune-boosting herbs.

Garlic and oregano are two spices that can easily be incorporated into your daily diet to help boost your immune system. Both of these spices are rich in nutrients and compounds which help fight infections, ABCNews.com says. Ginseng, echinacea and licorice root are also thought to have immune-boosting properties, according to Harvard Medical School.

Adopt an overall healthy lifestyle.

The strength of your immune system is partly tied to your overall health. Avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption, as this can also drain your body's resources and weaken your immune system. Regular physical activity can also help keep your immune system healthy, Harvard Medical School says.

Getting adequate amounts of sleep per night

Getting at least eight hours of sleep each night helps your body recharge and regroup. According to 2015 guidelines from the National Sleep Foundation, young adults aged 18 to 25 and adults aged 26 to 64 need seven to nine hours of sleep per night.

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