Monolaurin Dosage for Herpes: What People Commonly Do (and What Research Does NOT Confirm)
Disclaimer: The research below is offered for information and educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. See Terms & Conditions
Monolaurin & Herpes Dosage
If you’ve searched “monolaurin dosage for herpes”, you’re probably trying to solve a very real problem:
You want a clear, practical number.
You want to know whether a certain dose is actually proven to help HSV-1 or HSV-2.
And you don’t want hype—you want accuracy.
Here’s the most professional way to say it upfront:
There is no clinically proven, standardized oral monolaurin dosage for herpes in humans. [Ref #3]
That doesn’t mean people don’t use it. It means “dosage” discussions are mostly built from:
how monolaurin is described in scientific literature (often lab/mechanistic),
what supplement labels suggest (varies by product),
and what people report in herpes communities (anecdotal).
This article is educational and not medical advice.
What’s proven for herpes management (important context)
When people ask about supplements for herpes, it helps to anchor the conversation in what guidelines actually support.
Major clinical guidance supports antiviral therapy (episodic or suppressive) for managing genital herpes symptoms, and CDC guidance notes that daily suppressive therapy (e.g., valacyclovir in specific contexts) can reduce HSV-2 transmission risk as part of an overall prevention approach. [Ref #1]
WHO guidance similarly provides recommendations for treatment approaches to genital HSV. [Ref #2]
This matters because monolaurin is often discussed online as a “replacement” strategy. Evidence does not support that framing.
What monolaurin is (and why HSV comes up)
Monolaurin is also known as glycerol monolaurate (GML), a monoglyceride related to lauric acid.
HSV-1 and HSV-2 are enveloped viruses, and this is where the HSV conversation usually starts: certain fatty acids and monoglycerides have shown virucidal activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2 in lab settings under specific experimental conditions (concentration, time, and pH). [Ref #4]
That lab finding supports plausibility - but it does not establish an oral supplement dosing protocol for herpes.
Why “monolaurin dosage for herpes” is not standardized
A peer-reviewed review in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine evaluated monolaurin as a dietary supplement and concluded:
Many papers discuss antimicrobial effects in vitro.
Only a small number of peer-reviewed human papers were found, and those were topical (intraoral/intravaginal), not typical oral supplementation.
No peer-reviewed evidence was found for the clinical use of monolaurin as a human dietary supplement other than as a nutrient. [Ref #3]
In other words: even if people share “my dose is X,” that’s not the same as “X is proven.”
So what do people commonly do anyway?
Because there’s no standardized HSV dosing guideline for monolaurin, people usually default to practical patterns—especially the patterns that:
feel tolerable,
are easy to follow consistently,
and match how monolaurin products are typically used.
Below are the most common patterns you’ll see, with examples from publicly available herpes-community posts (anecdotal, not clinical proof).
Pattern 1: “Start low and go slow”
This is the most common approach you’ll hear, especially from people who want to avoid stomach upset or “too much too fast.”
In herpes communities, you’ll see people describe ramping up gradually, often because they’re experimenting and trying to find the minimum routine they can stick to. [Ref #6][Ref #7]
Why this pattern is popular:
When someone changes multiple things at once (diet, lysine, antivirals, sleep, stress), it becomes impossible to know what mattered.
A gradual approach makes it easier to notice tolerance and routine fit.
Professional note: “Start low and go slow” is a behavior strategy, not a medically proven herpes protocol.
Pattern 2: Split dosing (morning + night)
A lot of people choose a twice-daily rhythm simply because it’s easier to remember:
one with breakfast
one with dinner
In HSV community posts, split dosing is frequently mentioned as part of a consistent routine (sometimes alongside lysine or antivirals). [Ref #6][Ref #7] Reddit+1
Why this pattern is popular:
consistency is the real “secret sauce” of any routine,
and twice-daily anchors reduce missed days.
Pattern 3: “Common ranges” people mention (but that research does NOT confirm)
If you’re looking for the ranges that appear most often in community discussions, you’ll frequently see numbers described in the hundreds of milligrams up to a few grams per day, depending on product format and personal preference.
Examples that exist publicly:
One HSV community post discussing “affordable daily supplements” lists monolaurin at “600–3000 mg daily” (user-generated guidance; not a clinical guideline). [Ref #8] Reddit
Another detailed anecdotal HSV post describes taking “two rounded tsp a day” (again: self-report, not medical dosing). [Ref #7] Reddit
Other threads include people experimenting with higher amounts and openly noting uncertainty about what helps (which is actually the most honest stance). [Ref #9] Reddit
Key takeaway: These ranges are what people report, not what’s been confirmed to change HSV outcomes.
Pattern 4: “I’m doing monolaurin + everything else”
This is extremely common—and it’s the biggest reason anecdotes can be misleading.
Many people start monolaurin at the same time as:
lysine,
diet changes (lower arginine foods, etc.),
stress reduction,
better sleep,
antivirals (episodic or suppressive).
So even if someone reports fewer outbreaks, you can’t know which variable mattered most.
If you want your self-tracking to be meaningful, the best approach is:
change one variable at a time, and
track it for long enough to see a pattern.
What research does NOT confirm (and you should be cautious about)
Even with plausible lab mechanisms, current evidence does not confirm that oral monolaurin at any specific dose reliably:
prevents outbreaks,
reduces shedding,
or reduces transmission risk.
In contrast, antiviral strategies are explicitly addressed in clinical guidance and have supporting evidence for symptom management and (in some contexts) transmission reduction. [Ref #1][Ref #2]
So the responsible framing is:
Monolaurin may be something people try as part of a wellness routine, but it should not be presented as a proven herpes dosing protocol. [Ref #3]
A responsible “trial” approach if you’re considering monolaurin (education-only)
If you still want to try monolaurin while living with HSV, here’s the most conservative, practical framework:
Don’t replace antivirals you rely on without clinician guidance. [Ref #1][Ref #2]
Follow your product label (since “herpes dosing” is not standardized).
Start low, increase gradually if you choose to increase.
Track outcomes neutrally (outbreak frequency, prodrome days, big triggers like sleep/stress).
Avoid changing multiple variables at once for the first 2–4 weeks.
If you’re pregnant/nursing, immunocompromised, or taking medications, it’s smart to consult a qualified clinician.
Interested in trying monolaurin?
Consider some of the products located on this external site:
As with any dietary supplement, it is safest when taken under the supervision of a health care professional.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines: Genital Herpes (HSV). CDC. CDC+1
World Health Organization. (2016). WHO Guidelines for the Treatment of Genital Herpes Simplex Virus. Geneva: World Health Organization. (NCBI Bookshelf). NCBI+1
Barker, L. A., Bakkum, B. W., & Chapman, C. (2019). The Clinical Use of Monolaurin as a Dietary Supplement: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 18(4), 305–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2019.02.004. PubMed+2ScienceDirect+2
Hilmarsson, H., Kristmundsdóttir, T., & Thormar, H. (2005). Virucidal activities of medium- and long-chain fatty alcohols, fatty acids and monoglycerides against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2: comparison at different pH levels. APMIS. (PubMed indexed). PubMed+1
Thormar, H. (2007). The role of microbicidal lipids in host defense against pathogens and their potential as therapeutic agents. Clinical Infectious Diseases (overview/discussion of microbicidal lipids; includes enveloped viruses in vitro). ScienceDirect
Reddit. (2024). The miracle of monolaurin. r/HSVpositive (user-reported anecdote). Reddit
Reddit. (2023). My Anecdotal Experience with Monolaurin Supplement (AKA Lauricidin). r/HSVpositive (user-reported anecdote). Reddit
Reddit. (2025). Affordable daily supplements for suppression and active OBs. r/HSVpositive (user-reported claim listing “600–3000 mg daily”). Reddit
Reddit. (2025). Widespread first outbreak (discussion includes reported high monolaurin intake and uncertainty). r/HSVpositive (user-reported anecdote). Reddit