Title:  Method and topical treatment composition for herpesvirus hominis

United States Patent:  6,348,503

Assignee:  Squires; Meryl J. (Barrington Hills, IL)

Filed:  February 12, 1996

Improved topical treatment of active phase lesions resulting from recurrent viral infection by herpes simplex virus which includes the use of two primary agents, namely, an aqueous solution of benzalkonium halide, preferably benzalkonium chloride, and a dry form of the herb Echinacea purpurea, preferably in powder form. Active phase herpes lesions are wetted with the benzalkonium chloride solution and dusted with the powder form of Echinacea purpurea to create a coating on the wetted lesion surface. The coating is maintained on the lesion throughout treatment, and unexpected rapid resolution of the lesions results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a method and composition has been developed for improved topical treatment of active phase lesions resulting from recurrent infection by herpes simplex virus. The present invention includes the use of two primary agents, namely, an aqueous solution of a benzalkonium halide, preferably benzalkonium chloride, and a dry form of the herb Echinacea purpurea, preferably in powder form. In practicing the method of the present invention, an active phase herpes lesion is first thoroughly wetted by spraying or dabbing the benzalkonium chloride solution onto the surface of the lesion. Next, the wetted surface of the lesion is dusted with the powder form of Echinacea purpurea to create a coating. The coating must be maintained throughout treatment until the lesion is resolved. Hence, it is preferred that periodically the coating of Echinacea purpurea powder be replenished through additional dusting of the lesion surface.

As an alternative to the above method, the present invention also discloses the saturation of a powder form of Echinacea purpurea with benzalkonium chloride to create a paste. The paste is applied to cover the lesion surface and, thereby, form a coating. Again, the coating must be maintained during treatment. Frequent replenishment of the coating by reapplication of the paste may, however, be required. The coating is maintained until the active phase of the lesion is resolved.

The present invention can also be practiced by using other alternative methods. For example, the benzalkonium halide and Echinacea purpurea composition can be formulated as a liquid, powder, gel, ointment, or any form of such composition as appropriate for topical application. Regardless of the form of the topical composition, the present invention is applied and reapplied to maintain a coating on the afflicted surface.

Preliminary clinical testing on human subjects for both HSV-1 and HSV-2 strains of herpes simplex virus reveals an unexpected and surprising rapid resolution of the active phase lesions, often within twenty-four hours of treatment initiation. In addition, after treatment, there appeared to be longer latency periods between recurrence of the active phases than had been observed prior to topical treatment with the present invention.

Claim 1 of 5 Claims

What I claim is:

1. A method for topical treatment of active phase lesions resulting from herpes, comprising the steps of:

conditioning and treating an active phase herpes lesion on skin or mucosa of a human by sequentially moistening and powdering said active phase herpes lesion;

said moistening comprising wetting an active phase herpes lesion on skin or mucosa of a human with an aqueous solution of benzalkonium chloride and water, said active phase herpes lesion being associated with herpes selected from the group consisting of HSV1, herpes labialis, keratitis, HSV2, and genital herpes;

said powdering the active phase herpes lesion comprising dusting and coating the wetted active phase herpes lesion with powdered Echinacea to form a coating of powdered Echinacea, benzalkonium chloride, and water on the wetted active phase herpes lesion in the absence of aedurid, sodium hydroxide (Na OH), tea tree oil, lapacho extract, and licorice root extract;

said powdered Echinacea consisting only of powdered Echinacea purpurea;

said coating on the wetted active phase herpes lesion of HSV1, herpes labialis, keratitis, HSV2, or genital herpes consisting only of powdered Echinacea purpurea, benzalkonium chloride, and water; and

resolving the active phase herpes lesion by maintaining the coating consisting of powdered Echinacea purpurea, benzalkonium chloride and water in the absence of aedurid, sodium hydroxide (Na OH), tea tree oil, lapacho extract, and licorice root extract on the wetted active phase herpes lesion of HSV1, herpes labialis, keratitis, HSV2, or genital herpes until the active phase herpes lesion of HSV1, herpes labialis, keratitis, HSV2, or genital herpes is resolved.

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