Healing HPV Naturally

What is HPV?

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses that that can cause warts on the body. It is mostly spread through sexual contact or any intimate skin-to-skin contact. Some types of HPV can lead to cancer. Warts can appear, while other times they will not be visible. The majority of HPV infections go away on their own and do not cause cancer. HPV is detected when warts are visible or through a pap smear. Because early stages of cervical cancer are asymptomatic, regular pap smears are important for the detection of HPV or any abnormal changes in uterine cells. Nearly all sexually active people are infected with HPV. Some people’s immune system can naturally fight it off. The body can produce antibodies against the virus and naturally clear it within 1-2 years. Many people contract HPV and clear it without ever knowing they were infected. (Mayo Clinic)

Western Medicine Treatments

Photo by Anastasia Ilina-Makarova via PEXELS

Many people who have HPV are told to continue regular visits in order to monitor for precancerous cells and allow it to go away on its own. Warts can also often go away without treatment. Other options for treating warts are: cryosurgery - freezing with liquid nitrogen, burning warts with electrical current, laser or other surgical options. There is no treatment for the virus itself. (Cleveland Clinic).

In about 80% of HPV cases, the immune system will clear the infection on its own within a year. However, for the remaining 20% of people, the infection can last longer than a year. This allows the virus to integrate into the host's genome and can lead to the development of tumors. Persistent HPV infections are a significant medical challenge because they showcase the virus's ability to survive and are a major cause of tumor formation. If these persistent infections, particularly those caused by high-risk types like HPV16 and HPV18, are not detected and treated, they can lead to almost all cervical cancers. (Grandi et. al 2023)

HPV Vaccine and Prevention

Since 2016 Gardasil 9 has been the only HPV vaccine being administered in the US. It prevents infection for 9 types of HPV that are known to lead to health conditions. There are over 100 types of HPV but most are not known to cause problems and many will resolve through the body’s natural immunity. (National Cancer Institute) It is important to weigh the risks and benefits of vaccination for your unique situation with your primary care provider.

Prevention is focused safer sex practices and education by using condoms and dental dams. Because certain strains of HPV are can lead to cervical cancer, early detection by getting regularly tested and being openly communicative with sexual partners is also important.

Dietary Considerations

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Moffitt cancer center in Florida recommends “a plant-based diet that consists primarily of fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. These foods contain a variety of beneficial chemical compounds that can be easily incorporated into daily meals.” Some of the foods suggested are apples, black beans, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, soy, spinach lettuce, cranberries because they contain flavonoids. Folate rich foods such as avocados, chickpeas, strawberries, lentils and orange juice. Additionally, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and squash as they contain carotenoids.

A 2003 case-control study looked at women living in Hawaii who were confirmed with having confirmed high and low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix. This study resulted in data showing that there was an increased risk in those who ate a low nutrient diet and was more pronounced among drinkers and smokers. The study showed evidence that thiamin, riboflavin, folate, and vitamin B12 might be helpful for those with cervical cancer. (Hernandez et. al)

Another case-control study, examined the association with cervical cancer and dietary intake of women in Iran. Those who eat more fruits and vegetables had a significantly lower rate of cervical cancer while those who had a diet low in dairy, vegetables and fruits were more likely to be associated cervical cancer. (Hajiesmaeil, et. al)

Clinical evidence shows that high levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid may help prevent high-grade lesions from developing into tumors. Additionally, having high levels of folic acid in the blood seems to protect against HPV infection, reducing the risk by 73%. (Grandi et. al 2023)

Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine is a comprehensive system of care. In the US it is most well known for acupuncture and in some Asian American communities, it is known for its herbal medicine. Both modalities can be useful when dealing with HPV because they are safe treatment options when practiced by trained professionals.

Huang Qi, Astralagus

Acupuncture is well-known for its ability to reduce chemotoxicity in cancer patients. A 2013 systemic review in the Journal of Clinical Oncology concluded that it is helpful for nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. (Garcia et. al)

A 2017 meta-analysis, examined the use of acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue and determined it as an effective treatment (Zhang et. al)

Lu cha or green tea was studied as an extract as a topical ointment and as capsules in patients with cervical lesions caused by HPV. The result of the study showed overall improvement in 69% of patients. (Ahn et. al 2003)

In the Chinese herbal materia medica, Huang qi or Astragalus is known for its ability to strengthen the spleen, stomach and overall digestion. It strengthens the lungs and immune functions. It is also known to help with healing ulcerations and sores.

A 2023 study looked at the mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharides on cervical cancer and concluded that it can be used as an effective treatment. (Liu et. al)

A 2017 systematic review by Lin et. al, examined the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat HPV infections and related diseases, based on clinical findings. It also examines herbal ingredients and mechanisms of TCM using lab methods and animal studies. TCM has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in treating cervical cancer and genital warts. The effectiveness may be due to its ability to encourage apoptosis, control viral gene activity, influence cell signaling pathways, and boost immune function.

In 2021, a systemic review and meta-analysis looked at astragalus containing Chinese Herbal medicine which showed a positive response to tumor growth. The study suggests that Astragalus-containing herbal formulas are effective in treating cervical cancer while also reducing toxicity of chemotherapy. (Shen et. al)

Washes, steams and baths are another method of administering herbs to treat topical skin and viral infections. Vaginal steaming or washes can also be effective treatment for HPV.

This post is for educational purposes only. Please work with well trained providers when you are considering acupuncture, herbal medicine or pelvic steaming for any condition.

Written by Dr. Emily Siy, DACM on 7/8/24

You might also be interested in reading: 5 Benefits of Astragalus, 5 Benefits of Echinacea, 5 Reasons Vaginal Steaming Might Be Good For You

Sources:

Ahn WS, Yoo J, Huh SW, Kim CK, Lee JM, Namkoong SE, Bae SM, Lee IP. (2003) Protective effects of green tea extracts (polyphenon E and EGCG) on human cervical lesions. European Journal Cancer Prevention Oct;12(5):383-90.

American Dragon Website, Huang Qi

CDC, mayclinic, medline plus

Garcia, M.K., McQuade, J., Haddad, R., Patel, S., Lee, R., Yang, P., Palmer, J.L., Cohen, L. (2017) Systemic Review of Acupuncture in Cancer Care: A Synthesis of the Evidence Journal of Clinical Oncology Volume 31, Number 7

Grandi, G., Botticelli, L., Di Fraia, P., Babalini, C., Masini, M., Unfer, M. (2023) The Association of Four Natural Molecules—EGCG, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, and HA—To Counteract HPV Cervical Lesions: A Case Report Journal of Personalized Medicine Mar; 13(3): 567

Hernandez, B.Y., McDuffie, K., Wilkens, L.R., Kamemoto, L., Goodman, M.T. (2003) Diet and premalignant lesions of the cervix: evidence of a protective role for folate, riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin B12 . Cancer Causes Control. 14, 859–870

Hajiesmaeil M, Mirzaei Dahka S, Khorrami R, Rastgoo S, Bourbour F, Davoodi SH, Shafiee F, Gholamalizadeh M, Torki SA, Akbari ME, Doaei S. Intake of food groups and cervical cancer in women at risk for cervical cancer: A nested case-control study. Caspian J Intern Med. 2022 Summer;13(3):599-606. doi: 10.22088/cjim.13.3.599. PMID: 35974932; PMCID: PMC9348217

Lin J, Chen L, Qiu X, Zhang N, Guo Q, Wang Y, Wang M, Gober HJ, Li D, Wang L. (2017) Traditional Chinese medicine for human papillomavirus (HPV) infections: A systematic review. Biosci Trends. Jul 24;11(3):267-273

Liu WZ, Yu MM, Kang M. (2023) Study on the Mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharides on Cervical Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen. 26(8):1547-1559.

Moffitt Cancer Center website Do Certain Foods Fight Cervical Cancer?

National Cancer Institute (2021) Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccines https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-vaccine-fact-sheet

HPV Infection Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hpv-infection/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351602