Natural Remedies for Epstein-Barr Virus & a recipe for Epstein-Barr Tea (2024)

My husband, likemany people, had mono as a kid. Mononucleosis is actually most often caused bythe Epstein-Barr Virus (or EBV) which is essentially a recurring virus that can remain latent in the body, or can reactive /flare up throughout one’s life.

When EBV does reactivate for some people, thesymptoms can be debilitating. Some of the symptoms include: exhaustion andfatigue (like chronic fatigue syndrome), swollen spleen and/or liver, brainfog, lack of appetite, swollen and sore glands, autoimmune problems, sinusinfections, and more.

With my hubby,it most often flares up when he’s sleep deprived and stressed out. It alsoseems to be a seasonal thing, reactivating when the weather changes in springand fall. Well the weather has changed, and my poor hubby has been tired andhis glands are swollen. That’s usually a sign for us to get on the offensive.

So for anyoneelse out there struggling with this, I thought I would share some of thenatural things we do to prevent his EBV from setting in, and when it does, how weprevent it from becoming a sinus infection or fatigue.

Please note thatthese are just home remedies, and although some of these remedies are doctorrecommended, others are more like trial and error items that we’ve found to behelpful. If you have EBV, you should talk to your doctor about your specificissues. Depending on your situation some medications may be helpful inpreventing more serious side effects of Epstein-Barr.

If you have anyother ideas, I’d love to hear them!

To prevent Epstein-Barr Virus from flaring up:

Essentially theidea is to maintain optimal health and a strong immune system. Eat well, sleepwell, and mediate stress. All of these things will help to keep the immunesystem strong to fend off the recurrence of the virus. Here’s what we do on aregular basis to fend off EBV:

*Go to bedand wake up at a regular time. Routine helps peoplewith EBV to get in to regular sleep patterns. Fatigue can lower the body’simmune defences and make it more susceptible to flare-ups.

* Take timeto exercise and relax. Both regular exercise andrelaxation increase white blood cell count. White blood cells fight offinfection, so maintaining a strong white blood cell count can help fight offEBV flare-ups.

* A balanceddiet with lots of fruit and vegetables. This helpsboost the immune system.

* Stressmanagement. Easier said than done, right? My hubbyis doing his PhD. Stress is a constant state of existence. But exercise,regular sleep patterns, meditation, and a balanced diet can all help managestress.

Natural remedies for managing Epstein-Barr Virus flare-ups

What to do when the glands start to swell? We get on it right away. Here's what we do:

* Lots offluids. The virus is essentially an infection thatcauses inflammation. Liquids, (particularly warm ones, given the painfulswollen glands) can help sufferers stay hydrated and fighting off the virus.

*Epstein-Barr Tea. Well that’s what I call itanyway. This is an antibacterial/anti-viral tea I concocted based around one I make formyself sometimes. As soon as hubby starts feeling like his glands are swollen,I make up a pot of this and he has a couple of cups. If we’re lucky, that alonewill be enough to fend off the virus. The recipe is at the bottom of thispost.

* ChickenNoodle Soup: I always keep a few containers of homemade Chicken Noodle Soup in the freezer for hubby in case of flare-ups.Along with the tea, I usually pull a container out right away to defrost.Sometimes people lose their appetites, or the swollen glands hurt too much toeat solids. Soup is a good way to get nutrients without pain. (The above is a link to my recipe)

* Sinus rinses when the sinuses getreally stuffy. This is mostly if the virus has been active for a couple ofdays. The rinses seem to help drain the sinuses and prevent sinus infections. Nettipots or plastic sinus rinse bottles and the saline solution can be bought at mostpharmacies for about $15-20.

* Sleep and rest. Your body needs to fight off a virus. Let it.

* Light exercise. Exercise can help boost white blood cell count, which can helpfend off the virus.

* Aspirin: can help reduce inflammation of the lymph nodes and reduce pain.

Recipe for Epstein-Barr Tea

The basicingredients are all considered to be helpful in natural medicine. Some studies suggest that ginger has antibacterial properties,[1]and can be helpful in combatting various forms of cancer and nausea as well asreducing arthritis symptoms.[2] Cinnamonis a strong antioxidant and regulates blood sugar levels andsome tests have even shown that the smell alone can boost brain function! Honey is considered by some to be immune building [3] asis lemon juice.

Ingredients for Epstein Barr tea: (makes about 2 cups worth)

3 cups water

1 slice ofginger, approx.. 1" thick, peeled and thinly sliced

1 stick cinnamon

1 tbsp lemonjuice or 1 half fresh lemon, scrubbed and thinly sliced

1 tbsp honey per cup of tea

Method:

Addthe water, ginger, cinnamon, and lemon to a pot and bring to a boil.

Lower heat and simmer 10 minutes.

Removefrom heat and pour into a cup, add honey. Mix until honey is dissolved. Repeat with remaining tea.

Notes:

Both cinnamonand ginger induce sweating, which is very good for detoxifying when you aresick, and is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to warm up people who are“cool.” However, some people may haveadverse reactions to too much ginger, so use in moderation until you arecomfortable with it.

Please share your Epstein-Barr virus stories here! I'd love to hear how you manage it, or if you know someone with it!