Personal experience: THC/CBD tincture seems to stop my outbreaks at the prodrome stage (HSV-1 + HSV-2)

I have both HSV-1 and HSV-2. For a while now I’ve been using a homemade THC/CBD tincture (made with Everclear) and it’s been the most effective thing I’ve found for keeping outbreaks from fully developing. I’m sharing this only as my personal experience in case it helps someone else experiment carefully or talk to their doctor about it.
What I do:
• I take it sublingually (under the tongue). I used to also use it topically when I had active sores.
• When I feel the early prodrome (tingling/aching in my butt and legs), I take a dose. I’ve also been taking it more regularly and have increased the amount over time.
• Big trigger for me is too much sugar — if I overdo sweets I almost always start feeling the warning signs.
What I’ve noticed:
Since using it this way I haven’t had a full outbreak. I still get the prodrome feelings, but they don’t progress into sores. It feels like the virus starts to wake up and travel, but something stops it before it can fully take over the skin.
From what I’ve read, this matches the idea of an “abortive” reactivation — the virus leaves latency and moves down the nerves (which is why you feel the early symptoms), but gets shut down before it causes lesions. That’s basically what prescription antivirals aim for too. In my case the tincture seems to be helping push things in that direction.
Important disclaimers (please read):
• This is only my experience. It is not medical advice, not a proven treatment, and not a cure.
• The scientific evidence on cannabis/cannabinoids for HSV is limited, mixed, and mostly lab or animal studies. Some research even suggests THC can sometimes make things worse by affecting the immune system. CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects may be more relevant for some people.
• Homemade Everclear tinctures carry their own risks (high alcohol content, unknown exact dosing, irritation, etc.).
• Please talk to a doctor before trying anything new, especially if you take other medications or have health conditions. Standard antivirals (valacyclovir, etc.) have far stronger evidence behind them.
I’m posting this because it has genuinely helped me manage symptoms and I know how frustrating and isolating this virus can be. If anyone else has tried CBD, THC, or full-spectrum cannabis products for outbreaks (topical, oral, or sublingual), I’d love to hear what happened for you — good, bad, or nothing at all. The more real-world reports the better, even if they contradict mine.
Take care of yourselves.