Use of tartrates in treatment of herpes

A herpes treatment found effective in quickly healing lesions includes a tartrate, such as potassium bitartrate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Herpes viruses, particularily those members of Class 4 (Herpes Simplex Type 
I (labialis) and Herpes Simplex Type II (genitalis)), have now caused a 
major U.S. epidemic problem. Government estimates suggest that between 5 
and 20 million Americans may be affected by the Herpes Simplex virus with 
as many as 500,000 new cases reported each year. Some experts say as many 
as 20% of young adults may have herpes. 
Herpes genitalis is the second most common venereal disease and it is 
predicted to soon become the most prevalent. Estimates show that herpetic 
infections will double in the next few years. The lesions appear as 
crusted vesicles on the genitalia of either sex, which often are painful, 
transmittable and usually take about two weeks to disappear. 
Herpes labialis ("fever blisters", "cold sores") infections usually start 
out with a prodroma characteristically felt as a tingling sensation on the 
lips or face. Within a short time, vesicles are noted in the affected area 
which subsequently can expand to cover fairly large orofacial areas. These 
vesicles usually break and can cause secondary infections leaving an 
ulcerated area which scabs and heals in about two weeks. 
The applicant has been bothered with herpes labialis infections for about 
25 years. He has tried a host of medical remedies, all with no success. 
These include: UV-dye inactivation of the virus, smallpox injections, 
ingestion of large doses of lactobacillus casei tablets, "Blistex", ether 
compresses to the lesions, etc. He has also tried many "home remedies" 
including use of baking soda, chlorine bleach, yogurt compresses, 
watermelon, seaweed, earwax, etc., with no success. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Through trial and error, however, I have found an agent that markedly 
decreases the time required for healing of herpetic lesions. This involves 
the simple application, topically, of a common food spice (cream of 
tartar) to the lesions at the outset of any feeling of prodrome, which is 
usually a tingling, burning, and/or itching sensation in the area to be 
affected. I have tried this treatment on my own last seven outbreaks in 
the past year, with a marked reduction in the time required for healing. 
The lesions, in the past, have generally taken at least fourteen days to 
heal. However, with the liberal and frequent daily application (at least 
five times a day) of the treatment according to my invention, the lesions 
usually cure within three days. In addition, the lesions are not nearly as 
large, uncomfortable, or unsightly as they were in the past. 
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The treatment comprises cream of tartar, most advantageously mixed in a 
base such as coconut oil, preferably in a 1:1 weight ratio, for ease of 
application. 
The active ingredient of cream of tartar is potassium bitartrate KH(C.sub.4 
H.sub.4 O.sub.6); the potassium acid salt of tartaric acid. Tartaric acid 
is a reducing agent and it is conceivable that it might in some way react 
with the nucleic acids of the herpes simplex virus to inhibit its 
activation or replication. Cream of tartar preparations have been used in 
the past for other, unrelated medical purposes.

EXAMPLE I 
Small herpetic lesions were noted on the left corner of the lower lip of a 
patient one morning. Subsequently, straight cream of tartar was applied to 
the affected area at least four times each day. The vesicles never grew 
any larger and were completely gone within four days after they were first 
noted. 
EXAMPLE II 
Herpetic lesions were discovered starting to form on the right corner of 
the same patient's upper lip on another occasion several months later. 
Cream of tartar was applied liberally. The next day the lesions covered an 
area approximately 3/4 cm. in diameter. On the evening of the next day 
following, the lesions had disappeared and at no time did they cause any 
significant disfigurement or discomfort. 
EXAMPLE III 
Several months later, after a full day's exposure to the sun, the same 
patient felt a tingling sensation (the usual prodrome) all over his lips. 
He immediately applied a treatment comprising cream of tartar and coconut 
oil in a 1:1 mixture, and no hepetic lesions ever developed. 
EXAMPLE IV 
Ten days after the previous episode of Example III, the same patient noted 
the onset of a few vesicles on the left corner of his lower lip. He 
immediately applied the herpes treatment used in Example III. The lesions 
disappeared by the next day. 
As shown by the examples, the herpes treatment of the invention is highly 
effective against herpes labialis, and will undoubtedly also be effective 
against the very similar herpes genitalis virus and other herpetic 
viruses, i.e. Epstein-Barr virus, varicella zoster virus (shingles), and 
cytomegalic virus. 
It is believed that the tartrate moiety may be responsible for the healing 
effect of the herpes treatment of the invention. Thus, in place of cream 
of tartar the herpes treatment may include tartaric acid, sodium 
bitartrate, or other salts and esters and derivatives involving the 
tartrate moiety. 
The inactive carrier included in the herpes treatment of the invention may 
be coconut oil as disclosed above, which is beneficial cosmetically and 
aids in the application of the treatment. Other inactive carriers may be 
used alternatively. Preferably an oily carrier is used, but the carrier 
may be non-oily. Alternative carriers include, inter alia, water, alcohol, 
lanolin, almond oil, cocoa butter, pork lard, glycerine, mineral oil, 
petroleum jelly, hydrophilic base, aquaphor, and eucerin. 
The embodiment described is for illustration of the principles of the 
invention and is not intended to be limiting of the invention's scope. 
Variations to the preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled 
in the art and may be made without departing from the scope of the 
invention as defined in the following claims.