The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Avoid Antibiotics
Posted by Marcin (Toronto, Canada) on 03/06/2015
I wish I had known about this website when I was sick with mononucleosis two years ago!
It took the doctors feeding me 3 series of antibiotics before they realized I had mono. That must have killed my intestinal bacteria which caused a yeast infestation. Not to mention that antibiotics do not kill viruses. Never agree to take any antibiotics before you have a diagnosis.
Avoid Antibiotics
Posted by Cindy ( Illinois) on 12/05/2015
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Responding to Marcin, my 15 year old was diagnosed with mono, I agree with you 100% should not take antibiotics without knowing first...my son was first tested and they said no he did not have mono, so they treated him with an antibiotic the first and second time, and then finally they tested him for the second time and it came back positive, now we are having problems with his liver and his kidneys ..
Avoid Antibiotics
Posted by Marcin (Toronto, Canada) on 12/08/2015
I am sorry to hear that. Make sure he eats lots of probiotic foods, like fermented cabbage, and fibrous foods (switching to whole grains) to rebuild the intestinal flora that was partially destroyed by the antibiotics. Supplementing with milk thistle will heal the liver, but it has to be done over a long period of time. The herb is safe to take for extended periods but it may be nauseating if the dose is too high.
When I was ill with mono back then I have not yet known about herbal remedies, but now I would try the herb neem because it is said to destroy the viruses (viruses being a thing antibiotics are useless for! ), mono being caused by a virus.
Immune Support Remedies
Posted by Car (Richmond, Va) on 02/17/2015
I wanted to comment on the assumption that you can only get mono once in your lifetime. I have just been diagnosed for the 4th time with mono (by a doctor through a blood test). Mono weakens your immune system and stays in your body. It can become active again if your immune system is compromised. I loved all the suggestions for home remedies because doctors have nothing to suggest but bed rest. I will start immediately with the coconut oil, the ACV, and salt gargle. I'll take my L-lysine as well. Read on another site that supplementing your immune system with Echineaca is important. They suggested 2 of the frozen capsules twice a day. Also loved the reminder to stay off caffeine and to focus on fresh fruits and vegetables...drink lots of fruit juice. Since I've now had this 4 times, I think it is important for anyone who has ever had it to pay close attention to supplementing their immune system throughout their lifetime. It's no fun to get this stuff as you age.
General Feedback
Posted by Lori (Psl, Fl USA) on 08/04/2013
Mono: Frustrated with being told it's going to have to run its course. Not used to seeing my child laying around. Found this website and giving coconut oil a try.
Coconut Oil, Vitamin C
Posted by Maureen (Liberty Twp, Ohio) on 06/20/2012
★★★★☆
My son Age 21 just graduated college has mono also. Last week he went to my husbands doctor for a sore throat. They did a strep and blood test and he tested positive for mono and possible tonsillitis. Anyway they gave him a Zpack and told him to rinse with salt water advil etc. 3 days later we took him to the emergency room, he could not swallow and was in a lot of pain, and fever we couldnt get a hold of his doctor. Once there they gave him a steriod shot and vicadin. He came home with more steroids. Also Vicadin. I was desperate to help him.
I found this website and did try coconut oil. I first mixed 2 TBS with applesauce. Then I mixed it with tea. He has also had 2000mg of vit C per day. Lots of water and poweraid. He didnt have a lot of the coconut oil, but I still think the total combination of everything we used is working. A few days he barely ate. Now it is 1 week later and he is eating a regular sandwich today- amazing. He still needs a lot of rest. He can't do any sports for a month. He has lost 15 lbs. I was wondering about coconut milk will that help does any one know? Anyone try it? Thanks for all the info everyone. Maureen
Colloidal Silver
Posted by Boogiedowntown (Atlanta, Georgia, United States) on 02/17/2012
★★★★★
Colloidal silver works wonders for a mono patients. I highly recommend gargling one dropper full once a day everyday. It will go away within a couple days.
Milk of Magnesia
Posted by Greta (Kamloops, BC) on 05/29/2021
Do you gargle with it or swallow it? How many times? Where do I look for an answer?
MMS, Acidophilus
Posted by Gean (Salina, KS) on 12/11/2008
★★★★★
A friend (in her 40's) was very ill for a couple of weeks, and was even hospitalized for a few days. Dr.didn't know what she had. They sent her home, but after another week, was not getting any better, but could only sit in the chair for 15 min., otherwise lie in bed. Then results came back for Mono. She took MMS (Miracle Mineral Solution, 1-2 drops every hour the first day for a few hours. By the next morning she was feeling better. After a couple of days she dropped down to twice a day. A week later she is in town shopping. Doesn't have to lie down at all during the day, just sit and rest occasionally. She is up to 8 drops twice a day and plans to increase to 15 three times a day for one week. She is also taking Acidophilus, 8 billion a couple times a day.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Carol (Boston, MA) on 08/13/2008
★★★★★
I am so grateful for this home remedy website and forum! My daughter has Mono and over the last 2 days has had an unbearably sore thoat. We tried everything (salt water gargle, steriod solution gargle, advil, codiene...) and nothing was working. She couldn't even swallow her saliva. It was preventing her from sleeping, and when you have mono, thats all you want to do. I happened upon this website and she gave it a shot. Using the 3 tablespoons of ACV and Honey in warm water was not particularly appetizing, but after drinking it, she was able to sleep 4 hours and now says that her throat is so much better. I am now a believer in home remedies!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 08/15/2008 490 posts
★★★★★
Mono is a virus and every virus I have tried L-lysine on has been susceptible to it. If your daughter is l2 or older, 2000 mgm. mealtime and bedtime is the dosage, if younger decrease to l000mgm. or less at the same times. With a sore throat you will probably need to crush or dissolve for her to swallow them.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kimberly (Hackettstown, New Jersey, Usa) on 09/23/2010
If you feel the need to call in a prescription, I highly recommend prednisone. I'm a 17 year old girl who is suffering with mono at the moment. Prednisone is a low dose of steroids which is great for badly swollen glands. I prefer this option more than any of the remedies. The steroids last all night, and all day. 12 hours to be exact.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Osteopathic (Columbus) on 01/24/2014
I am a physician and love homeopathic and naturopathic remedies but I had to comment on the use of steroids. Steroids, like an medication (including herbals), don't come without risk or side effects.Steroids can cause hypertension, osteoporosis, etc with high doses but mostly prolonged, greater than a month use. The acute use for someone with mono for possible inflammation and obstruction from the tonsils is okay.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Debra (Wilmington, Nc) on 09/30/2014
As far as the lysine...the dosage for over 17 years is 2000 mg with each meal and at bedtime? I have 500 mg Lysine and the recommended does is only 2 capsules per day. I just want to be clear on the dosage. Thank you.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Cassiem (Mn) on 05/12/2015
While this girl maybe shouldn't be suggesting man-made steroids on a holistic type site, using low dosed of prednisone for situations like this is relatively low risk. Definitely only to be done under doctor's guidance and tapering off may be required. But you are not doing to get a buffalo hump or moon face or severe osteoporosis in a couple weeks time.
Vitamin C
Posted by Richard Morgan (Edgewater, Florida) on 07/09/2008
★★★★★
Oral vitamin C therapy as recommended by Dr. Robert Cathcart was employed to resolve within 14 days a case of mononucleosis contracted by my 17-year-old grand-daughter.
Procedure:
1st 24 hours, 7000mg ascorbic acid powder in orange juice every hour.
Subsequent days: 1000mg every hour until bowel tolerance syndrom; thereafter, an amount of the vitamin every three hours just short of bowel tolerance syndrome.
Vitamin C
Posted by Anna (Philadelphia, Pa, Usa) on 05/17/2010
I was very happy to find "scientific" information about taking huge amounts of vit. C (to bowel tolerance). Saturating your body with it was said to detoxify it - and maybe it did as I felt really lousy! I took it for a week, mostly 26-30 grams/day, except one day when my bowels felt tolerant and l just stopped at 40 grams. I felt like I was dying! Terrible muscle cramps would not let me sleep. Desperately I tried calcium-magnesium-zinc supplement and could literally feel the muscles relaxing. Run out of it and got another brand-not working! I checked the bottles: the working supplement had COPPER! At that time-fortunately-I started taking 1000 mcg of vit. B 12/day and in a month I was ok.
LATER I read that vit. C interferes with the absorption of vit. B-12 and copper! That information should be posted every time someone talks about taking huge amounts of vit. C!
Vitamin C
Posted by Marie (Nyc, Ny) on 01/23/2011
★★★★★
I had great results from using the coconut oil pills. After just 3 days I am feeling like I am back to normal! Thank God!
Seaweed
Posted by Sean Stevens (Fort Worth, TX) on 03/16/2008
★★★★★
I found that after giving my child this really great stuff called SeaVegg which you can only find at www.itvventures.com/sams that my child no longer had mono after 1 week. It was very good for my babys too. I gave this to them because they started to have a cold. I gave 1 to them and they were not sick the next day. I have not been sick for an entire year and have been taking this for an entire year. I dont give this my children everyday just because I dont believe that they should develope their own immunities unless they get sick and then allow their bodies to heal themselves with a little bit of natural remedies. I am also a big believer in Hydrogen Peroxide for ear infections.
Baking Soda and Salt Gargle
Posted by Mike (Baltimore, Md) on 11/04/2011
★★★★☆
It was very helpful to find this site. I am a non believer until I try things out myself. I just found out that I had Mono based on everything symptom. Home remedy baking soda rinse with warm water followed by salt did get me to improve. After the remedy, I was able to take a 4 hour nap, and then again I just was the remedy again. So far my this Mono has taken away 5 days from me. I need this to go away bad. This is one of the worst feeling. Wow...
Garlic
Posted by Maria ( Mass) on 05/15/2015
★★★★★
I too eat Garlic everyday and take garlic capsules and I feel so much better. My 17 year old gave me mono and Garlic along with rest and lots of water plus a multi vitamin has improved my health! I juice too almond milk strawberries blueberries spinch bananas and flax seed. Try it! It works...
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Donna (Yellow Springs, OH)
★★★★★
Years ago my mom gave me molasses when I was bead ridden with mono.I remember the doctor telling her I recovered in 1/2 the normal time! I am interested in giving it to my dog who has a non cancerous lipoma tumor.How much should an 85lb dog take without adverse effects?
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Jonna (Pittsburgh, PA) on 09/05/2008
As kids we had a chiropractor "prescribe" blackstrap to us. We were maybe 10 and 7 and we each took a Tablespoon 2x per day so I'm sure the 2 Tablespoon dosage per day for your puppy would work also. Good Luck!
