Curious about how to naturally protect yourself and your family from Mpox? Read on to discover powerful antiviral herbs that are effective against viruses, including Mpox!
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Mpox virus has symptoms similar to smallpox, although they are less severe. It has recently become a cause for concern. It can spread from human to human and is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin, internal mucosal surfaces such as in the throat or mouth, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects.
People who get Mpox may be asymptomatic for two to five weeks and recover without any treatment. Some initial symptoms may be fever, fatigue, headache, muscle soreness, back pain, and asthenia before rash eruptions. Although it may resemble measles, chickenpox, and smallpox, it can be distinguished by lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes) (Chandra et al., 2023).
Although many people are worried and anxious because they do not want to get it, the good news is many herbal remedies have antiviral properties and are effective against a wide range of viruses. With these remedies, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from many viruses, including Mpox.
Effective Antiviral Herbal Remedies Beneficial For Mpox
Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica)
This highly medicinal plant has been used for various diseases because of its diverse medicinal properties. Widely marketed for its uses in shampoos and other hair products to treat dandruff, its potent antiviral properties make it effective against many viral skin diseases. Its antioxidant properties add to its effectiveness.
Hence, it has been used in some parts of the world today to treat smallpox, chicken pox, and warts traditionally. Neem extracts significantly inhibit HSV-1 (Herpes simplex virus) and has also shown virucidal activity against coxsackievirus (Alzohairy, 2016). You can use neem bark extract orally or neem oil or paste on the skin.
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Ginseng (Panax ginseng)
Ginseng, also known as "the king of all herbs," has been used for infectious diseases for thousands of years. It has proven effective against rotavirus, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), hepatitis virus, and HIV infections (Chandra et al., 2023). Historically, ginseng powder was used in China against smallpox, which is in the same family as monkeypox!
It boosts the immune system in multiple ways, which makes it beneficial for fighting viruses, especially when combined with vitamin C (Kim et al., 2016). Hence, it is an excellent remedy to have on hand to help protect yourself and your loved ones against Mpox.
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Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
Widely known for its immune-boosting benefits, it has been used for the prevention and acute treatment of respiratory infections. Additionally, due to its antiviral properties and ability to boost the immune system, it has broadly inhibited coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2, and other viruses (Nicolussi et al., 2022). So, it is a must-have in the medicine cabinet or on hand just in case of exposure to Mpox!
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Garlic (Allium sativum)
Garlic has been used traditionally for centuries to treat many viral and other infections. It has shown antiviral activity against many viruses, including influenza, coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome, RSV, measles, HIV, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis, etc.
It also has a prophylactic effect against these and multiple other viral infections (Rouf et al., 2020). Therefore, incorporating more organic garlic into your meals may be all you need to boost your immune system and protect yourself and your loved ones against Mpox.
Pawpaw leaves (Carica papaya)
The different parts of these plants have medicinal benefits. The seeds eliminate parasites from our gut, and their leaves can be used against multiple viral infections. Due to their antiviral properties, the leaf extracts have been proven effective against dengue and chikungunya viruses (Patil et al., 2022). Hence, drinking tea made from fresh or dried papaya leaves or tinctures will help protect our immune system from viral infections.
What To Remember
Herbal medicines have been used since the beginning of time to fight against illnesses and diseases. In times of uncertainty, we must remember to "fear not" and reach for these remedies given to us by the creator to heal and protect ourselves from foreign invaders of the body. Many of these herbal remedies possess multiple medicinal properties, making them effective against various diseases.
Some herbs/plants, such as neem, ginseng, echinacea, garlic, and papaya leaves, have been proven effective against multiple viral infections. It is a good idea to stock up on these herbal remedies and start using them gradually. At the same time, we should eat good, nutritious foods, stay hydrated, exercise, get adequate sleep/rest, and implement our spiritual practices, such as praying.
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We would love to hear from you! If you have tried these remedies, share your experience with us in the comments or by emailing us!
References
Alzohairy M. A. (2016). Therapeutics Role of Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Their Active Constituents in Diseases Prevention and Treatment. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2016, 7382506. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/7382506
Chandra Das, R., Ratan, Z. A., Rahman, M. M., Runa, N. J., Mondal, S., Konstantinov, K., Hosseinzadeh, H., & Cho, J. Y. (2023). Antiviral activities of ginseng and its potential and putative benefits against monkeypox virus: A mini review. Journal of ginseng research, 47(6), 687–693. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2023.03.002
Kim, H., Jang, M., Kim, Y., Choi, J., Jeon, J., Kim, J., Hwang, Y. I., Kang, J. S., & Lee, W. J. (2016). Red ginseng and vitamin C increase immune cell activity and decrease lung inflammation induced by influenza A virus/H1N1 infection. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology, 68(3), 406–420. https://doi.org/10.1111/jphp.12529
Nicolussi, S., Ardjomand-Woelkart, K., Stange, R., Gancitano, G., Klein, P., & Ogal, M. (2022). Echinacea as a Potential Force against Coronavirus Infections? A Mini-Review of Randomized Controlled Trials in Adults and Children. Microorganisms, 10(2), 211. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10020211
Patil, P., Alagarasu, K., Chowdhury, D., Kakade, M., Cherian, S., Kaushik, S., Yadav, J. P., Kaushik, S., & Parashar, D. (2022). In-vitro antiviral activity of Carica papaya formulations against dengue virus type 2 and chikungunya viruses. Heliyon, 8(12), e11879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11879
Rouf, R., Uddin, S. J., Sarker, D. K., Islam, M. T., Ali, E. S., Shilpi, J. A., Nahar, L., Tiralongo, E., & Sarker, S. D. (2020). Antiviral potential of garlic (Allium sativum) and its organosulfur compounds: A systematic update of pre-clinical and clinical data. Trends in food science & technology, 104, 219–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2020.08.006
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