Hard hitters against viruses?

From what I recall, the following are good for viruses:

Olive leaf - caused mild herx initially (headache)

Monolaurin - didn’t take enough for fear of herxing to comment

Herbal Tincture Combination (equal parts each): Lomatium, Isatis, Licorice
- I have done this combo or Lomatium and Isatis mixed with all my other herbs on numerous occasions and worked up to 30 drops each. Only herxing has been mild fatigue and feeling like a low grade fever even though temp is still sub-normal.
- Felt this helping my underlying shingles virus. I have flares of shingles nerve pain. Often I still have the pain while taking this combo, but when I stop, the shingles flare will go away until something else triggers it again. I take this in 3-4 week rounds or until I run out.
- This combination is is Buhner’s antiviral book. Lomatium is historically known for saving lives during influenza epidemic. It’s also known for causing bad hives that some herbalist think is a detox reaction. Supposedly, taking it with other herbs (like this combo) instead of in isolation can reduce the risk of the hives. I have not gotten hives from using it.
- As for Isatis, I took large amounts before when sick with a cold/sinus infection. I felt it doing something as I had increased fatigue and low grade fever symptoms. It did not help me get over my acute illness any faster.

Houttuynia, Other Herbs - Buhner’s antiviral book lists the best herbs for viruses. Houttuynia is one of them also. My book is sealed up right now, so I can’t get it out. I think Alchornea may be one, but not positive.

If anyone else has Buhner’s antiviral book, can you post the top 5 antiviral herbs here?
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I wanted to comment on my experience trying to use herbs for acute illness while also using it to treat chronic illness. In a nutshell, it hasn’t worked as expected.

For example, when taking antiviral herbs for acute illness, I feel it’s hitting chronic stuff instead on a low grade level and doesn’t do anything noticeable for the acute illness.

I mentioned to my new chiropractor that the elderberry syrup didn’t help anything with my cold. She said when you have chronic illness like Lyme, that herbs take a long time to work - like taking them long term will help the body with chronic stuff, but they won’t work well for acute illness. That’s probably not exactly true in every case. I would think it depends on your underlying chronic load and which type(s) it is - bacterial, viral, parasitic, etc.

My doctors have been big fans of the transfer factor formulas from Researched Nutritionals. You can get a general immune-boosting formula, or you can get antibodies specific to the virus you are targeting (like antibodies specifically for Epstein-Barr, for example). They're so effective that people often end up with fevers at first while their bodies fight the targeted pathogen.

Medicinal mushroom blends are also very well-regarded.

Also maybe try manuka honey (UMF 15 or higher).

Personally I go for olive leaf, vitamin C (liposomal when I can afford it), zinc, and selenium. Elderberry and echinacea are great but sometimes seem to create some autoimmune joint issues for me if I use them for more than a few days. Essential oils (especially oregano) can be helpful as well.

plasma rife , bee venom , st johns and lomatium... and surprisingly alinia is antiviral more than tamaflu

Hey guys I’m taking Houttuynia right now. I have HSV2, do you think by taking Houttuynia daily I’ll be able to lower my viral load of the HSV2 virus so my outbreaks in the future won’t be as bad? Or does it just work while you take it?

Lysine helped me a lot with the virus as well.

If I'm not mistaken, isn't it isatis leaf that is effective for viruses whereas the root is used for bacteria, ala lyme?

I have Buhner's herbal antivirals book and I looked up isatis. He says both roots and leaves are antiviral but leaves much more so and the roots are better for bacteria. Both are effective, though.

Lomatium, houttuynia, licorice and chinese skullcap keep coming up over and over, too