Hi Alyssa - thank you for this post! I have been experimenting with the essential oils myself. Having had H for over 26 years, it has really reared its aggressive side with me over the past three years - in frequency and duration. Unfortunately not what I had hoped for since most sites say it diminishes over the years. However, I am a warrior and will press on with a good fight! I have always been one to want the natural route, and after succumbing to trying Valacylovir for a year with no added benefit, I am back to assisting my body only naturally. I have used tea tree, oregano, and coconut oil with some minor benefit. I find peppermint oil to be really pain relieving (yay!) but not beneficial in speeding up the healing. I am saving for that bottle of Melissa (lemon balm) $115 from the brand I am buying. Anxious to see what that will do when added to my arsenal and used on its own! :) Other than the H, my immune system is strong - avoiding all the colds and such that my kids and coworkers display. So for now, in addition to the exploration with the oils... I have let the H know that it is no longer welcome in my body ;) and declare that I am superbly healthy vital and strong! I look forward to hopefully hearing more positives about the use of Melissa (lemon balm) from you and others!!!