What is L-lysine?

L-lysine is an amino acid. What this means is that is an essential building block for life and health. It is not a product that can be manufactured in the human body – the only way that we get lysine is by ingesting and absorbing it through the foods we eat or the supplements that we take.  For general health, lysine is needed in much higher quantities when we are infants than when we are adults. This is because when we are infants we are growing so rapidly. As we get older we require less and less lysine, and there is more than enough in the food that we eat as long as we are eating a healthy, well-balanced diet.  Recently, lysine has come to gain a great deal of attention in the medical journals because research has shown that it is a valuable tool in the battle against the common cold sore, also known as the herpes
simplex virus one.

Why is Lysine Effective for Treating Cold Sores?

Cold sores are the common name for the manifestation of the Herpes Simplex Virus One, a widespread virus that most people are first exposed to when they are young children. It is a highly contagious virus that can be spread through kissing or sharing utensils, and once a person has the herpes simplex virus one it stays with them for the rest of their life. Although the first outbreak that a person experiences is
usually the worst one, the virus can show up an unexpected times, causing tremendous embarrassment and discomfort, as it forms painful, oozing, crusty scabs that are extremely evident – they form along the lips, mouth and nostrils.

There is no cure for herpes simplex virus one. The virus remains latent in the cells of the nervous system and becomes reactivated for any number of reasons, including stress, illness, exhaustion and trauma. Even having your menstrual period can cause an outbreak of herpes simplex virus one.  

Recent scientific studies have shown that lysine, an essential amino acid that is found in many of the most basic foods that we eat, can have a positive impact on herpes simplex virus, reducing the duration of an outbreak and even preventing it if taken prophylactically. The reason that the lysine works is that it counter balances the actions of another essential amino acid, arginine, which contributes to the replication of the virus. People who have persistent problems with herpes simplex virus one have taken to taking lysine supplements on a regular basis in order to prevent frequent outbreaks.

User Reviews of Lysine

People who had previously suffered from constant outbreaks of cold sores report that by taking one thousand to two thousand milligrams of lysine every day, they have completely eliminated the incidence of cold sore outbreaks and made a dramatic improvement in the quality of their lives. Many people have reported success by upping their dosage when they feel the telltale tingling beginning in their lips that usually
is predictive of an outbreak coming on, and they also report that adding on a dosage of two thousand milligrams of Vitamin C also cuts down on the duration of an outbreak. Lysine is available in pill form for internal use, and is also available topically in the form of lip balms that treat outbreaks. It is also available in the form of a cream to be used topically.

Side Effects of Lysine

Lysine has a history of being generally harmless and has shown no major side effects. There are some research studies that have shown that people who are prone to gallstones may find themselves developing them with more frequency if they are taking high doses of lysine, and there have also been studies showing that cholesterol levels may be raised from taking high doses of lysine, but for the most part the benefits of taking this essential amino acid far outweigh the minimal risks.

How to Find Lysine Products

Whether you are searching for lysine in pill form, in a powder to be dissolved in water, as an extract that can be mixed with hot water and drunk as a tea, or as a topical ointment or lip balm, lysine is available from a myriad of different manufacturers in different strengths and at different prices. It is widely available both in brick and mortar stores and online, and it is very affordable.

You can also increase the amount of lysine that you take in through a variety of food sources simply by making yourself more aware of which foods are good sources of this essential amino acid. The richest sources of lysine are fish, meat, eggs, and poultry, but it is also available from a variety of plant-derived sources such as legumes or beans, seeds, and nuts. You can actually get more than 600 milligrams of lysine just from eating half a cup of lentils, so it is entirely possible to take in enough lysine to have a profound affect on your herpes simplex virus  through food sources.