Finding the Real Cure for Genital Herpes

Genital herpes. What are the first things that come to your mind when you hear these words?

For a lot of people, genital herpes is something to be afraid of, something to avoid, and something that people should not talk about. However, genital herpes is more common than people think. While there is no exact statistics for people who are afflicted with this disease, some studies show that 1 out of 5 people have herpes, be it hepes simplex virus type 1 (usually affecting the upper body, showing signs in areas such as the sides of the lips, finger, and eyelids) or herpes simplex virus type 2 (usually results in genital herpes). We can also rely on the data of genital herpes patients' initial visit to physicians, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) released, to get good insight. In the said data, it shows that about 306,000 initial visits are made by genital herpes patients in 2009, and that is from the U.S. alone. Just imagine how many more people are suffering from this sexual disease around the world.

That makes us wonder, "Should genital herpes really be treated in secrecy?" The answer is, "No."

Genital herpes may be a disease with no permanent cure right now. However, it is a disease which you can certainly suppress and get freedom from. It is not something you should hide but something you can treat and be free of. It is simply a matter of being positive and understanding what treatment really works and what does not.

Relentless Search for a Cure

Genital herpes can be a very oppressive disease. It is one that burdens you with physical pains in the back, legs, and in other areas of the body. The continuous outbreaks that it entails can be very uncomfortable, sometimes prohibiting you from doing anything at all. The fact is that it is a disease wherein you can't easily predict when the next outbreak will be, making it even more taxing.

Today, however, there are already treatments-cream, pills, and tablets-which are said to help in diminishing the outbreaks and, basically, curing the disease. All these treatments focus on the virus that causes genital herpes. They are clinically proven and even highly recommended by doctors that one would expect them to work well and work right.

The problem is that a lot of genital herpes patients still suffer from the outbreaks even when they are regularly taking treatments and those who do find these creams and tablets to work often find that their high price and various side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, swelling, and even burning are unbearable. Those are depressing, to say the least.

You will be left asking, "Is there really no way to be free of the outbreaks and live a comfortable, normal life?"

The answer is, "There is a way!"

The Solution to Herpes and the Truth Behind Outbreaks

What common genital herpes treatments miss is the fact that different people respond differently to stimuli and medications. That is why the clinically proven treatments still fail to help a lot of genital herpes patients. However, there are some things that do work, and you will be surprised at how easy and affordable they can be. Before we look at the solution, however, we should first understand the nature of herpes and the current solutions or medications being offered today:

Herpes Triggers

What are the real causes of genital herpes-and herpes in general- outbreaks? If you read common medication about herpes or consult a regular, you will be told that it is a virus which causes the outbreaks. While that is not exactly wrong, this generalization misses the fact that the virus is not the only factor. Herpes outbreaks are also brought by fatigue, stress, alcohol, poor nutrition, menstrual cycle, and sickness: these are the real triggers of the outbreaks you are experiencing. Just stop for a moment and think about the times when you had outbreaks. You will find that generally every one of those times directly relates to one of the triggers mentioned above.

Herpes Medications

The thing about common herpes medications is that they are created with the objective of eliminating or suppressing the virus. They are created by chemists who are trying to produce a solution based on how the herpes virus penetrate and affect the human body; they are not actually created by people who have suffered from the disease. That is why while these herpes creams and tablets work for some patients, they produce poor to no results in others.

Alternative Solution to Genital Herpes

If you have already tried creams and tablets to suppress outbreaks to no avail, it will be beneficial to start looking for alternative solutions. Now, you are probably asking, "The medications do not work, so how do you expect me to believe alternative solutions will work?" People's doubt in alternative herpes solutions is understandable. After all, when you have already tried numerous treatments without getting good results, you just end up losing confidence in yourself and in other treatments and programs. Nonetheless, that does not mean that nothing else will work.

New studies show that more and more herpes patients are getting relief from outbreaks through contemporary methods such as suggestive meditation, hypnosis, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). These methods are not only natural but are convenient and affordable. These programs help patients not only in pinpointing the real triggers of their outbreak but also help them develop a brighter, stronger personality.

Getting the freedom you desire from herpes can be achieved with ease. By understanding the triggers of herpes and learning the methods to avoid those triggers, you will find that the solution to herpes is actually easier than you first thought. The Solution to Herpes is exactly the program that can help you accomplish. It has already helped and is continuously helping a lot of herpes patients.

There is nothing to lose when you choose to learn more about this program, so why don't you give it a try? Visit http://www.thesolutiontoherpes.com, and you might just find the solution you have been looking for.

Dating with Herpes

1 in 5 men and 1 in 4 women are living with herpes. Approximately 50 million Americans have been infected with genital herpes? Do not despair. You are not alone. Herpes treatment, herpes research and many herpes dating services link here are out there to assist you to have a happy and healthy love life.

80-90% of people infected with genital herpes don't even realize they have it, either they have no symptoms or they have failed to recognize the herpes symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of Americans infected with genital herpes has increased by 30% since the late 1970's.

Genital Herpes Treatments.

At the moment, there is no cure for herpes. Oral prescription antiviral medications including Acyclovir (Zovirax), Famciclovir (Famvir) and Valacyclovir (Valtrex) can all reduce the frequency of attacks and help the sores heal sooner.

Recently the Food and Drug Administration approved Valtrex for the use in preventing genital herpes spread. The infected person takes the drug continuously once daily to significantly reduce the risk of transmission, although herpes spread can still occur. A visit to your sexual health clinic or local medical practitioner can inform you more fully on this positive news.

Herpes Research.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), who supports research on genital herpes and HSV, studies are currently underway to develop better treatments for the millions of people who suffer from genital herpes. While some scientists are carrying out clinical trials to determine the best way to use existing medicines, others are studying the biology of HSV. NIAID scientists have identified certain genes and enzymes (proteins) that the virus needs to survive. They are hopeful that drugs aimed at disrupting these viral targets might lead to the design of more effective treatments.

Meanwhile, other researchers are devising methods to control the viruses spread. Two important means of preventing HSV infection are vaccines and topical microbicides.

Several different vaccines are in various stages of development. These include vaccines made from proteins on the HSV cell surface, peptides or chains of amino acids, and the DNA of the virus itself. NIAID and GlaxoSmithKline are supporting a large clinical trial in women of an experimental vaccine that may help prevent transmission of genital herpes. The trial is being conducted at more than 35 sites nationwide. For more information, type Herpevac Trial for Women into your browser or go to herpesvaccine.nih.go

Topical microbicides, preparations containing microbe-killing compounds, are also in various stages of development and testing. These include gels, creams, or lotions that a woman could insert into the vagina prior to intercourse to prevent infection.

This information on herpes research was provided by the NIAID and dated October 2005.

Dating with Herpes. . All potential partners must be informed of your genital herpes diagnosis prior to any sexual intimacy. Even the use of a condom does not prevent the spread of disease because a condom may cover not all sores. It is possible for the virus to become active and be transmitted to a sexual partner even when the skin appears completely normal.

How to protect your partner:

1: no sex while you have an outbreak or if you think you are about to have an outbreak. Wait until sores are completely healed before resuming sexual activity.

2: always use a latex condom.

3: use Valtrex daily to minimize the risk of spread.

Revealing your News...It is very important to have honest and open communication with potential sexual partners. Having to tell someone you have genital herpes can be an extremely embarrassing and worrying situation. You need to be able to talk to each other, as they too could be carrying a STD as well.

1: Be knowledgeable... You should be positive about your disease. Your life will go on and you are hoping for support and acceptance. Tell them how common it is, the herpes treatments and the precautions.

2: Select the right time. You should let the relationship develop a little so that you will be able to be comfortable about being honest. Look for an opportunity for the conversation to come up. This chat should definitely happen before you become physically intimate or too hot and heavy.

3: Select a private relaxed place for the talk to take place.

4: Some people need time to digest this sort of news. Give the other person a bit of space if they need it. They might want to do their own research or see their medical practitioner. They may also be among the other 50 million Americans who are already infected.

Herpes Dating Services.

Some singles with herpes find it easier to date exclusively other singles living with herpes. Certainly, the potential for embarrassment and possible rejection and guilt can be avoided in this scenario. If this sounds more like you, there are many herpes online dating sites, herpes personals and even STD singles sites and services that you can join.

Dating with herpes and living with herpes is not the end of the world. . There is a lot happening in herpes research, herpes treatment and herpes prevention. You are among 50 million other Americans who also have the herpes infection Get yourself clued-up and healthy and get out there and find a partner.

Good Luck.

Coco Swan.

Copyright 2007 Author Coco Swan

Coco recommends reading this helpful site which assists with Herpes Dating. For everyone else, If you want a more sensible way to find a new partner than scouring through endless dating sites, you would be best to use special or reviewed dating sites that have been given the once over. Coco writes for and recommends the site 'DatingXLence' for a good outcome. You can see many reviewed online dating services here and it's a free service. If you're a girl looking to improve your chances of getting the guy of your dreams, you can also get instant access to a helpful guide right here at how to get that guy.

Why Herpes Blood Testing?

What's your first reaction when you hear the word herpes? Most of us grimace and recoil at the sound of it, even though many of us have dealt with it in our personal lives. The name herpes can conjure thoughts of visits to STD infested massage parlors or Caligula style orgies, but that's not a very accurate perception of a viral infection that is such a common occurrence in our society.

There are seven different forms of the herpes virus but when discussing herpes as a sexually transmitted disease (STD) we focus on type 1 and type 2. The other five types of herpes cause other illnesses such as the chicken pox or mononucleosis.

Interestingly, many people do not think of herpes 1 as herpes or as an STD. If I mention testing for type 1 herpes they'll say, "You mean cold sores? My Grandma used to get those, I'm not worried about that", or "yeah, my mom and my brother get them, but I don't have it".

The fact is herpes is transmitted through skin to skin contact, at the site of the infection, when the virus is at the surface of the skin, and it is very readily transmittable. It's estimated that over 70 percent of the adult population has type 1 herpes. Most infections are contracted before the age of five by being kissed by a parent or relative.

Symptoms of type 1 herpes are usually fluid filled blisters that become ulcers on the dry part of the lips, between the lip and nose, and even in the nostril. The common name for a herpes 1 outbreak is cold sore or fever blister. Having a cold or a fever does not create the blister, but being sick puts a strain on the immune system which can trigger the dormant herpes virus to become active. It's the outbreak's proximity to illness that give them their name.

The majority of people infected with herpes 1 do not experience cold sores or fever blisters. It's not uncommon to see immediate families that may have one or two members that suffer from reoccurring cold sores or fever blisters, but every member of the family has detectable antibodies to the virus. If antibodies are present in the blood then that person too was infected at some point in the past.

It is usually type 2 herpes that really gets people bothered. Mouth sores are one thing, but genital lesions must mean that you're unclean. No one wants to go through the uncomfortable experience of explaining that they have genital herpes. That's why many people avoid telling partners about their infection all together.

It's estimated that 20 to 25 percent of sexually active adults have herpes 2. The Centers for Disease Control believes that 70 percent of the time that herpes is transmitted the infectious person has no symptoms. Thirty percent of new herpes infections will be asymptomatic, meaning, with out a herpes blood test 3 out of 10 newly infected people may be unaware that they are infected.

Now here's the thing, herpes is not named based on where you contract it. It's not lips equal type 1 and genitals equal type 2. Type 1 herpes doesn't blush and shrink away when exposed to the genitals, just as type 2 herpes doesn't turn down the opportunity to be transmitted to the lips. Remember, herpes is transmitted through skin to skin contact, and that includes mouth to genital contact as well. Type 1 herpes can cause genital herpes and type 2 herpes can be contracted on the face.

That's why learning your herpes status through a type specific herpes blood test is important. A type specific herpes blood test is able gives separate results for both type 1 and type 2 herpes. Knowing your herpes status can help you avoid getting infected or unknowingly transmitting the infection to someone else.

You shouldn't let the social stigma surrounding herpes, or the lack of it, put you or your partners at risk for infection, and you should always feel free to discuss any concerns or questions you have with a counselor. Trained counselors are available to answer your questions at http://www.accesshivandstdtesting.com.

And remember, whenever possible, have new partners tested before having sex, and when it's not possible, use a condom until you do.

Cure For Herpes Info

HERPES BASIC CONSIDERATIONS

Herpes is the source for emotional damages on many persons. 80% of the people worldwide are registered cases of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections, while 20% to 30% of the U.S. population is seropositive for the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Considering also chickenpox and shingles together with the increasing number of HIV and AIDS cases, it is easy to figure out why we are presently dealing with an increased incidence of STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) infections. There are desperate efforts in the medical world for finding a real cure for herpes.

Oral herpes affects areas of the mouth and face. Herpes type 1 (HSV1) is generally the cause for oral type of herpes. However herpes type 2 (HSV2) may also provoke oral herpes infections. In other words, either HSV1 or HSV2 may be responsible for this type of disease. Recurring symptoms or outbreaks may develop as soon as 5 to 10 days after the initial infection. Symptoms consist in painful blisters around the mouth, sometimes accompanied by a cold or fever, hence the term "cold sores" or "fever blisters". Immunity has determinant role regarding outbreaks. When the person is overstressed or the immune system is weakened, the virus reactivates, causing an outbreak.

According to many statistics, over 90% of the US population will test positive for either HSV1 or HSV2. For unknown reasons, HSV2 seems to act towards the genital tract and is therefore the main cause for genital herpes. However, HSV1 can also affect the genital region and cause this disease type. As the infection may be induced by either HSV1 or HSV2, lesions are similar to cold sores. The first outbreak usually reveals its disturbing presence 4 to 7 days after the initial infection.

HERPES SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GENITAL HERPES?

Although genital herpes is more frequent in women, many men experience this type of disease. Here are a few herpes genital symptoms found in men:

Herpes symptoms in genital area occur in the form of bump together with itching and possibly with few rashes on the penis.
It generates difficulties in urinating act.
Red colored painful bumps arise in the vicinity of the genitals of infected males.
These grow in size and rupture if not treated properly.
Cold sores may occur on the penis instead of the mouth.

If these symptoms appear, a physician should be consulted a.s.a.p. even if a total cure for herpes seems to not be yet available in the medical world. If left untreated, the bumps generate open sores with scab which prove to be really painful while urinating.

Some usual signs of genital herpes in women are:

Women experience breakouts or lesions in the genital area. Private parts like urethra, vagina, cervix or inner walls of vulva are affected.
Apart from the genital area, HSV-2 may influence other organs such as buttocks, inner thighs etc.
The initial symptom usually become disturbing in 3 weeks.
Females feel burning sensation while passing out urine.
Severe itching inside the vagina or in the near vicinity are also common signs.
Other disturbing effects may be headache, muscle and joint pains and fever.
Vaginal discharge also may occur in certain situations.
Blisters arise around the exposed sexual organs, buttocks or thighs. These blisters burst for a while causing increased pain.

In some cases prodrome should be handled before an outbreak. It is an itching or painful sensation felt prior to an outbreak. Prodrome symptoms may develop for one to several days. Applying an antiviral treatment during prodrome usually decreases the duration of the outbreak.

IS THERE A REAL CURE FOR HERPES?

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for herpes. However, reliable treatments exist on the market that decrease the frequency and aggressiveness of outbreaks and stop virus multiplication thus allowing the ill persons to control the condition.

Acyclovir is the most popular drug prescribed for herpes. However, the emergence of aciclovir-resistant virus strains has required the necessity for development of new effective antiviral treatment. New anti-herpetic chemical drugs were identified, but they induce important adverse effects, not to mention that HSV has again developed drug resistance to these new compounds.

As new chemical drug options do not represent an acceptable and desirable solution, alternative antiviral medicine is being researched with great interest. Recent scientific studies of medicinal antiviral plant extracts reveal outstanding results, and gave birth to a new methodology for treating the disease. Scientific researches of antiviral extracts have proven the existence of significant anti-herpetic activity. Several of them actually seem to be very efficient in inactivating HSV. These antiviral extracts seem to be the new medical trend as a cure for herpes method.

HERPES PREVENTION

Herpes prevention guidelines mention that a person affected by herpes must not come into direct skin-to-skin contact with another person, should use a latex condom for sexual contact, should limit your number of sexual partners, should be disciplined and have good personal hygiene. All these will really help on controlling the spread of this contagious infection, while waiting for the latest medical achievements to give a permanent cure for herpes.

Andrei Bercia, Crystal Info LTD, Romania

We entitle ourselves as a trustful-health-information-provider company. For more detailed and reliable info regarding the search for a cure for herpes please visit our web page by clicking cure for herpes links in this sentence.

Home Treatment Herpes - Top Home Treatment for Herpes

Herpes is caused by the herpes virus. There are many different variations of the herpes virus. The most common being hsv1 (herpes simplex virus 1) ; and hsv2 (herpes simplex virus 1) .

Hsv1 causes what is commonly known as "Oral herpes" . The most common physical form of hsv1 is colds sores. Statistics indicate that 90 % of adults have hsv1.

Hsv2 is the most common STD (sexually transmitted disease) among adults in the world. Commonly known as Genital Herpes, this disease is believed to be incurable; however there are treatment options available that can suppress the herpes outbreaks .Even though herpes is incurable, with proper medication all herpes symptoms (outbreaks etc) can be cured. This is why some people only experience outbreaks once every several years. And in some cases the herpes symptoms are cured for life.

Home Treatment: Herpes

Conventional herpes medical treatment (I.e. antiviral, OTC Medication) can cost a fortune especially if you do not have medical aid. A much cheaper and at times safer option is Home treatment for herpes.

Home treatment herpes can be sub categorized into food, herbs and others like hygiene.

These are discussed in greater detail below:

Home Treatment herpes: Food

Research has proven that there are certain foods that minimize the re-occurrence of herpes outbreaks. Food high in lysine is one recommendation.

Below are some examples of "lysine rich" foods:

Avocado


Plain yogurt


Milk


Fish


Potatoes


Eggs


Cheese


Beef


Chicken


Broccoli

Some foods that should be avoided:

Nuts


Raisins


Chocolate


Coconut


Peanuts

All the food listed above are high in Arginine, which is an amino acid required for the replication of the herpes virus. Now the reason a "lysine rich" diet may prevent outbreaks is because Lysine slows down the metabolism of Arginine. Resulting in a "slower replication rate" of the herpes virus and which causes fewer outbreaks!

Home Treatment herpes: Herbs

Herbal treatment is another great alternative to OTC medication. Below are some examples of herbal herpes treatment:

Green and white tea - Frequent consumption of tea has proven to speed up the healing process of herpes outbreaks.

Eleutherococcus or Siberian ginseng - Though it has no known effect on hsv1, siberian ginseng has been proven to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms of herpes hsv2.

Other herbal remedies include thyme and lemon balm.

Home Treatment herpes: Other treatment alternatives include the following: .

Warm Baths: Warm baths have helped many and might just work for you. But make sure that you do not use a towel to dry your genital or any other affected areas. Rather use a hair blow dryer to avoid spreading of the sores.

Lose Clothes and underwear: Avoid tight clothes and underwear as these can cause a lot of discomfort and friction against the infected area.

Ice: Placing ice packs on the affected area cause also numb the pain a bit

Cold tea bags - when applied to infected area have proven to have an antiviral effect on herpes symptoms. This method is most effective when used during the early stages of an outbreak.

Each of the above Home Treatment for herpes has been proven to be effective. However not all will be as effective on everybody. The best way is to try them out and discover what works best for you. Consulting your doctor would also be a great idea before trying out any of the above.

Overall Home Treatment for herpes has helped thousands (if not millions) of people living happily with herpes. Remember, herpes is not a death sentence. You can live a normal healthy and happy life with herpes.

About the author:
Learn how you can live happily with herpes with John Martell.
Check Out The All ABOUT HERPES blog here
http://www.all-about-herpes.blogspot.com/

The Ethics Of A Life-Long Herpes Infection

From day one my own personal life-long herpes infection has presented me with several ethical challenges. It has challenged me on the question of who to tell and when. It has challenged me on the issue of what to say and how to others with herpes. It has challenged me on the question of "Do I have any responsibilities towards trying to prevent the people in the community who do not herpes from getting it, and if so what are they"?

On how to tell and when:

When I was diagnosed with herpes the doctors told me that it was safe to have sex with others as long as I avoided having sex during outbreaks and that I would get warning signs of when an outbreak would be coming. Luckily, we are working with much better information these days. A person with herpes is potentially contagious every-single day of the year and safer sex including using a combination of a condom or dental dam and an anti-viral gel is the best way of ensuring that one isn't inadvertently spreading the virus.

I was an irresponsible coward when I first got herpes. Because thedoctors told me that I wasn't contagious without outbreaks and because I was in the habit of using condoms, I decided that I only had to tell someone that I had herpes if and when it seemed like the relationship was turning serious and there would be regular sexual contact. I had justified my cowardice by thinking that the risk to others was too small to stick my neck out and get the rejection due to a herpes leper. Please don't be like me. Not telling someone before you have sex that you have herpes is absolutely the wrong thing to do. There's no real way to justify it. I now tell potential lovers I have herpes even before the first date. It gets the weight of this guilt most herpes people have off my chest and to me it feels like the right thing to do.

Many people tell me that it's okay if you're not going to have sex with someone to wait and see if the relationship becomes serious before telling them about herpes. Sure this is much better than waiting until after sex, but to me it still isn't good enough. If you care about someone, if you respect them , why not tell them as early as possible so they can decide if they want to invest the energy and time in getting to know you better? Isn't it a bit manipulative to allow someone to develop feelings for you without warning them that they risk a life-long viral infection if they get involved with you? Think about it. If you wait until they are already emotionally attached to you, they may feel compelled to continue with the relationship when they may not have if you had told them up-front. It takes more courage and integrity to tell early but it feels better to have the weight off your chest and the person you tell will usually respect you for giving them the choice.

I am especially appealing to men since I believe that men are not as protective of their sex partners when it comes to telling about herpes as women are. Guys, please don't have sex with anyone without telling them about your herpes. And if they don't know the facts don't understate the risks- herpes is a more physically and emotionally devastating disease for women than it is for men and it is much easier for a man to give a woman herpes than it is for a woman to give it to a man.

On how and what to say to others with herpes:

I am a holistic healer- a herbalist and homeopath. My family have been healers for many generations in my native country of Trinidad and Tobago and as far back as Africa. I had little to no interest in treating herpes as a healer until I got herpes myself. Wanting to change a negative to a positive, I decided to make the holistic treatment of herpes the cornerstone of my practice. The bible says "the stone that the builder refused, I will make my cornerstone. Bob Marley and the wailers sing about it too.

It didn't take me long once I decided to become a holistic viral specialist to realize that I was confronted with a daunting challenge. Most professionals including all the herbalists and homeopaths I know rely heavily on referrals to build their client-base. Here I was now working with a client-base that I was never going to get a lot of referrals from. My patients with herpes don't go around telling the world that I helped them with their outbreaks. Some of my patients have yet to tell their significant others that they have herpes, many have not told their closest friends and their family. I am not a company. I don't have an advertising budget. The only way for me to reach out to others with herpes and encourage them to come for me for treatment was to speak out in public about my herpes work and about herpes in general. This forced me to be far more out of the closet than would have been my personal choice.

I seem to always create challenging situations for myself. Speaking to others with herpes is not a task for the faint of heart. Some people like to shoot the messenger- I have the bullet-wounds to prove it. But I can say that speaking to others with herpes has been and continues to be one of the most gratifying experiences in my life. I feel a deep bond with many of the people with herpes who interact with me. I felt this kind of bond when I played team sports. I've felt this kind of bond all my life with other black people. There's something about "us against the world" that can make people tight with other. I love my herpes friends. I love my herpes patients- even the ones who misbehave. I am not grateful for getting herpes, but I don't regret it either. Nevertheless, the truth hurts, and I have some bitter truth to tell others with herpes:

Having a lover who also has herpes isn't a free ticket for unprotected sex. Even if you both have the same strain Even if one gave it to the other. Having unprotected sex with each other can and often will make one or both partner's cases of herpes worse. It's called re-inoculation and it's a message many with herpes don't want to hear.

If you have herpes or cold sores you are potentially contagious everyday and there is no sure way to tell if you are shedding virus. So do consider using a condom/dental dam combined with an anti-viral gel when having sex and do be careful about sharing wet towels or wash cloths with others.

No two people get herpes the same way so you are going to have your own individual experience with the virus and will have to find your own way of dealing with it on all the different levels you will have to deal with it.

A cure for herpes in our lifetime is unlikely and there are no quick-fix solutions for managing herpes. Herpes cannot be managed with a topical agent alone- whether it be creams, lotions, or essential oils. Managing herpes takes changing your diet, managing stress and other triggers, and may also require either taking herbal medicine or drug therapy.

You may not get fewer outbreaks as you get older. While this is often the case, since no two people get herpes the same way, other diseases, menopause, self-abuse, re-inoculation by unprotected sex and other factors can change the pattern of frequency and severity of outbreaks at any point during your life-long journey with herpes.

Cold-sores are just as contagious if not more contagious than genital herpes and you can infect others when there are no signs of sores present.

Having herpes does make you more vulnerable to other sexually transmitted infections including HIV, cervical dysplasia and genital warts.

Daily use of l-lysine is an ineffective strategy for treating herpes and can do more harm than good. There are more effective natural remedies such as garlic for treating herpes without side-effects.

On talking to those who don't have herpes:

The reality check for me is that the mainstream and alternative media do not want talk about herpes. They would prefer to keep us in a ghetto. There is a lot of misinformation floating around and people without herpes have few places to turn to hear the facts about herpes. They don't hear the facts in their churches, young people are not being educated enough about herpes in school. Most parents aren't teaching their children about herpes, older siblings are not passing information down to the younger ones.

It's really up to us who have herpes to try harder to dialogue with those who don't. HIV won't be the last word in human population control from the world of viruses. If we don't learn how to better protect the population from getting herpes and other sexually transmitted infections we are going to be in a lot of trouble. Herpes is a gateway disease it provided easy access through your mucus membranes for any sexually transmitted virus.

It is my unshakeable conviction that those of us in the herpes community need to be more vocal in the media and to also reach out to those around us. Each one teach one. Each one reach one.

Christopher Scipio

Holistic Herpes Treatment Specialist

The Demonization Of Genital Herpes

Those of us who have so-called "genital herpes" are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand we are ostracized by the minority of the population (about 40%) who don't currently have herpes simplex in their body, which is bad enough, but more cruelly we are often isolated by our fellow members of the herpes community who have so-called cold sores (heroes simplex 1 of the mouth and face). Frankly the lack of support form the majority of population who has cold sores bothers me far more than the stigma placed on me by unsympathetic members of the uninfected population. After-all they don't know what it feels like to have herpes so I can cut them some slack. But for those of you who have cold sores and continue pretending that you don't have herpes and who distance yourselves from those who have their outbreaks genitally rather than facially- shame on you. If it wasn't for your unwillingness to come to terms with the reality of your herpes infection, the herpes community would be a more united majority of the population far more empowered to boldly go out into the community and reject the unjust and irrational stigma placed on people with herpes.

Sixty percent of the population has herpes. We are living in a herpes nation. There is no reason for us to be a despised minority. If we were more united and more out of the closet we would be in a so much better position to inspire understanding and support from those who do not have herpes. We would be better able to educate young people on herpes prevention and herpes awareness. We would be better able to reach out to the people with herpes who have had their self-esteem devastated.

So-called cold sores are herpes. I have had too many people in my clinic and through the Internet say to me, "I don't have herpes, I've never had an STD, but I do get these cold sores on my lips".

Herpes is herpes whether you get your outbreaks above the waist or below the waist. It's true that people with type 1 herpes of the mouth and face often have fewer outbreaks than people with herpes type 2 of the genitals, but it is also true that herpes of the mouth and face is just as contagious if not more so than genital herpes. It is also true that many people with type 1 herpes of the mouth and face shed virus without symptoms and are giving many people type 1 herpes on their genitals from oral sex. It is also true that herpes of the mouth and face can spread to parts of the body that genital herpes rarely ever spreads to including the nostrils and into the brain, the hands and fingers, down the esophagus and into the stomach, into the eyes, and elsewhere.

For those who don't have herpes and give people with herpes a rough time, I really have no words for you. If you believe that having genital herpes is an indication of promiscuity or moral deficiency then you are probably too far-gone for anything I say here to reach you. And for the record I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with promiscuity. I got my herpes in the context of a monogamous relationship but I wouldn't feel bad about myself if I had been infected by herpes through promiscuity. How you got herpes is irrelevant. Herpes is a virus. Viruses have different strategies for gaining access to our bodies. A virus that chooses sex as it's preferred method of infection is less scary to me than an airborne virus that indiscriminately devastates huge populations in a matter of days.

Jesus said "let he is who is without sin cast the first stone". I say let he or she who is without a virus cast the first stone. Between the Chicken-Pox virus (a member of the herpes family), the Epstein-Barr virus (another member of the herpes family), the HPV virus (genital warts and cervical dysplasia) and Herpes Simplex there is virtually no adult reading this article who doesn't currently have a virus in their body and except for the HPV virus, these viruses are lifelong infections and that's without even discussing bacteria, fungi, yeast, and protozoa.

Herpes has been around since the time of the dinosaurs and affects akmost every animal with a backbone including cats and elephants and many animals without a backbone. In fact cats and elephants are dying of herpes. I know that cats can be randy but I have never heard of anyone accusing elephants of being promiscuous. If anyone has ever seen an elephant orgy let me know so that I can print a retraction.

When someone has the integrity and courage to tell you that they have herpes they are making themselves vulnerable to you. How you react can often either crush them or help set them free from a prison of shame. I believe that most people are intelligent and compassionate. Please treat people with herpes with the compassion and understanding we deserve. We are the same people we were before we got herpes. We are no less moral, no less attractiv, just as good in bed, just as good of a friend or son or daughter or brother or sister as we were before we got herpes. When someone tells you they have herpes if you treat them unsympathetically it only discourages them for telling others about their herpes in the future, which isn't a good situation for anyone. When someone tells you they have herpes it's an opportunity and challenge to you to show that you are not prejudiced and mean-spirited. It is a chance for us all to create more love and understanding.

For those of us who have genital herpes - don't buy into the lies and myths that make you ashamed and marginalized. You can choose not to let herpes define you and dominate your life. No one can take away your power and dignity except for yourself.

When someone gives you a bad time for having herpes instead of dwelling too long in anger or sadness, just "forgive them for they know not what they do". Embrace all the beauty and love around you and if there isn't enough beauty and love, create it. You are a human being equipped with infinite potential for loving and appreciating the wonders of this world.

Christopher Scipio

Homeopath/Herbalist

Holistic Herpes Treatment Specialist