The invention relates to the application of a combination including all forms of zinc or zinc substances, at least one of an orally applied combination of a free thiol group or a group that is metabolized to a free thiol in a mammal, and as the only pure plant part, glycyrrhicinic acid or the substance from succus liquiritiae, for the production of a medication to fight acute or chronic viral infections. The free thiol group or the group that is metabolized to a free thiol in a mammal is derived from N-acetylcysteine, methionine, cysteine, allylcysteine, alpha lipoic acid, or sulfur.