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

Get Rid of Genital Herpes For Life - My Top Four Herpes Treatments to Eliminate Herpes

Is it possible to get rid of genital herpes for good? The sad truth about herpes is that once it infects you, you carry the virus for life. But carrying the virus for life doesn't have to mean you carry herpes symptoms for the rest of your life too. Yes, getting rid of herpes for life is possible - well, you cannot really get rid of the virus - but you can definitely get rid of the signs and symptoms associated with it.

There are many people with herpes who are living their lives the way they want to because they have learned how to manage their herpes symptoms. You can get rid of genital herpes by preventing its signs and symptoms from appearing.

Here are some vital points you need to know in order to get rid of genital herpes symptoms permanently:


Herpes Diet: following a strict diet is helpful in managing herpes symptoms. There are some food choices, especially those high in arginine, which can aggravate your herpes and cause symptoms to appear. These foods include nuts, raisins and chocolate. Citrus fruits and processed foods should also be avoided.

Natural Herpes Remedies: there are plants which act as natural medicines for herpes, such as licorice root and garlic. These two plants have antiviral properties. Using naturally occurring remedies to get rid of genital herpes is often more beneficial than using highly potent drugs that may have too many side effects.

Herpes Supplements: taking vitamin and mineral supplements along with specific anti-herpetic remedies is also a smart alternative in managing your herpes symptoms. These supplements can sometimes consist of a combination of several antiviral ingredients and therefore produce a greater effect in managing your symptoms.

Homeopathic Remedies: the use of homeopathy in treating herpes is most effective. I have experienced remarkable results using it. Unfortunately, many purveyors of homeopathic brands out there just don't seem to know what they are doing. They are either trying to turn homeopathy into a non-existent cure (with no virus left in your body) or just selling so-called blended remedies, which are far from efficient, at a highly inflated price.

As it stands today, there is no known cure for herpes. That's why it is impossible for me to say that you can completely get rid of genital herpes virus with this treatment regime, but what you can surely do is to eliminate its symptoms.

To control your genital herpes symptoms, all you have to do is to modify your lifestyle and diet. Unless you survive on junk food and sodas or beer every day, it does not have to be too drastic a shift. A drastic herpes diet is only necessary at very specific times. However, a healthy lifestyle with no recreational drugs or heavy smoking or drinking is a must. With reasonable adjustments to you diet, lifestyle and the supplements you take - you will get rid of genital herpes for the rest of your life.

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General Information About Genital Herpes

Common Characteristics of Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is among the many diseases caused by herpes virus, a family of viruses with five different strains afflicting humans with a variety of diseases that include chicken pox, shingles and mononucleosis. The most common strain, herpes simplex, has two variations: Type 1, which is usually associated with cold sores or fever blisters around the mouth; and Type 2, which generally infects the genitalia, buttocks and thighs with painful sores and blisters. The two types are not confined to these areas, however; studies have found Type 1 herpes virus in genital sores and Type 2 viruses in mouth and throat infections. Other parts of the body also may be affected, including the hands, eyes, brain and spinal cord.

Although herpes viruses cause a wide variety of illnesses and have been studied extensively for the last few decades, they remain a medical enigma. Once they invade the body, herpes viruses remain for life although they may be dormant most of the time. some, such as the varicella-zoster strain, may have different manifestations. This variety causes chicken pox in children, after which the virus remains dormant in the nervous system. In most people, the virus never again becomes active, but for unknown reasons, in others it may erupt into painful attacks of herpes zoster, more commonly known as shingles. Similarly, herpes simplex also goes through recurring cycles of infectious activity and dormancy.

The new "Scourge"

Genital herpes, although an ancient disease, was relatively uncommon in the United States until the late 1960's. Spread primarily through sexual contact, the disease has become the most common venereal disease in this country, afflicting an estimated 20 million Americans, with 500,000 new cases occurring each year.

The disease is spread most commonly by direct contact, meaning that to get herpes, uninfected skin must come in contact with an active herpes sore. Oral sex is believed to explain the presence of Type 1 herpes sores in the genital areas or Type 2 infections of the throat and mouth. Recent studies have found that the herpes simplex virus can survive for short periods on toilet seats, towel and other such items, but most experts doubt that the disease is very likely to be contracted from these sources. It is highly contagious through direct contact, but in order to pass herpes to another person, there usually must be an active herpes sore or blister, although there may be a shedding of the virus without suffering symptoms of an attack. Also, since herpes sores may be hidden in the internal parts of the female genitalia or may not be painful, one may unwittingly infect others.

Typically, the herpes virus multiplies rapidly once it has penetrated the skin. The first symptoms are usually an itching or tingling sensation, followed by the eruption of sores or blisters that are unusually painful. In fact, the pain usually exceeds the actual medical seriousness of the disease. In the first attack, the sores customarily appear two days to two weeks after exposure and last two to three weeks. Subsequent attacks, which may occur in a few weeks or not for years, generally last about five days. Fever, general malaise and headaches may accompany the first attack; these symptoms as well as the pain of the sores are usually milder in recurring attacks.

Once an attack subsides, the virus becomes dormant, raveling along the nerve fibers until it reaches a resting place. In rare cases, the herpes virus may travel to the brain causing a serious, often fatal, form of encephalitis. More commonly than it infects the brain, herpes may infect the cornea of the eye; if untreated, a herpetic eye infection can lead to visual damage and even blindness. About 500,000 such eye infections occur each year in the United States. Type 2 virus may invade the spinal cord, causing a type of meningitis. None of these complications, however, is as common as recurrences at the original site of infection.

Other Complications of Genital Herpes

The most serious complications of genital herpes affect infants born to women who have active infections at the time of birth. About 50 to 60 percent of newborns who contract disseminated heres infections die and half of those who survive may suffer brain damage or blindness. Many doctors recommend that the baby be delivered by cesarean if the mother has an active infection near the time of delivery. The decision of whether to have a cesarean should be made early in labor, since cesarean becomes a less effective preventive measure the longer the membranes have been ruptured. Women who have had genital herpes also are advised to have frequent examinations for active infection during the last three months of pregnancy.

There have been reports of an increased incidence of cervical cancer among women with genital herpes, but the evidence is not conclusive.

Treatment of Genital Herpes

As noted earlier, the herpes virus remains in the body, and as yet, there is no cure for genital herpes. However, a new drug, acyclovir, has been developed and recently approved for use in the U.S., that will shorten the length of symptoms with the first attack, which is generally the most severe. It works by interfering with the replications of the virus, thus speeding the healing process in the first episode, but it does not prevent recurrence. Tests are now being conducted on an oral form of the drug. An intravenous form, recently approved for use in the U.S., appears to be the most effective in severe cases.

Other types of treatment include the use of lasers to "vaporize" the herpes sores.

Prevention of Genital Herpes

The surest way of preventing herpes is avoiding all sexual contact with an infected person. Use of a condom and spermicidal agent will reduce the risk, but this is not absolutely foolproof, particularly when the lesions are on the skin of the perineum and not on the penis or in the vagina.

Psychological Factors

Although genital herpes itself is not usually a medically serious disease, it can lead to depression and other emotional problems. Many victims tend to resent the sex partner from whom they contracted the disease, leading to divorce or the breaking up of a relationship. Others consider themselves "unclean" or damaged for life, fearing that they are unfit for marriage or a lasting relationship. A number of herpes counseling centers and groups have been formed throughout the country to lend support and help to victims of the disease.

Summing Up

Genital herpes has become the most widespread sexually transmitted disease in this country. While not as medically serious as syphilis or gonorrhea, it is very uncomfortable and can recur at any time. It also can be life-threatening to infants who are exposed to the herpes virus at the time of birth. A new drug has proven effective in easing the symptoms and speeding the healing in patients with the first episode. Although other treatments are in the experimental stage, no cure exists as yet.

I am the owner and author of Hoodia Gordonii Side Effects. You can find the original article here: Genital Herpes. If you'd like to read more of my articles, please visit my site!

Herpes - The Love Bug 2010

If you're like many of my patients who are old enough to remember when "The Love Bug" (what the media termed the herpes virus), reached near epidemic levels back in the 70's, you may wonder if a cure has been found in the last 40 years or if it's still a problem as a sexually transmitted disease.

Well, no, a cure hasn't been found, and yes, it is still a problem as sexually transmitted diseases go. In fact, some 80 million people in the United States alone have HSV (herpes simplex virus)-2, the "below the waist" type of herpes, a statistic that includes both adults and teenagers between the ages of 14-19!

What you also may not know is that, despite lack of a cure for herpes, there are some natural ways that you can prevail over a herpes infection, perhaps resulting in long-term remission. First, for those of you who are not familiar with what herpes is, how it is transmitted, treated, etc, let me give you the same basic facts that I share with my patients.

What Is An HSV-2 Herpes Infection?

Plain and simple, herpes is a viral infection transmitted by sexual contact with a herpes-infected person. Herpes is transmitted most frequently to another person when the infected person is actively shedding the virus from herpes sore on either their genital region or their mouth.

However, the virus may also be shed at other times when there is no sore present in what's called asymptomatic transmission. However, this doesn't occur in all cases. It depends a lot on how strong your immune system is whether you will contract a herpes infection from another person. In addition, an infected person can spread the herpes virus to another part of their own body, like their eyes or mouth, by touching sores when they are present, forgetting to wash their hands, and then touching a part of their body.

Many people do not know that they have a herpes infection because they may not have typical symptoms. They may not have associated a genital sore with a herpes infection as they can be mistaken for pimples or heat rash. It's possible, then, to spread herpes to another person unknowingly. A person should be tested for HSV-2 when a sore is present. A viral smear is taken from the sore area and sent for analogy at a lab that can determine if the HSV-2 virus is present.

What Are The Symptoms of HSV-2 Herpes Infection?

Many of my patients are surprised to find out they have a herpes HSV-2 infection as their symptoms were so mild they didn't notice them or associate symptoms they may have had with a herpes infection. Some patients thought initial herpes symptoms were the flu or a cold. Others have had a strong reaction when first infected and their symptoms were easily diagnosed as a herpes infection. It all depends on your particular immune system and how strong it is at the time of infection as to whether you will get a full-blown outbreak or just vague symptoms. In general, however, here are the usual symptoms of a herpes infection:

•Reddened, sensitive, "tingling" skin appears in the genital region from 2 to 20 days after the virus is transmitted. This skin may also itch or burn. This is the "prodrome", or warning symptoms, that a herpes outbreak is imminent. The virus settles into nerves around the area of infection and causes the area to get a sometimes intense tingling.

•A single, or cluster, of small blisters may then appear. Depending on their location, these can be painful and make it hard to sit comfortably.

•Flu-like symptoms may also accompany the outbreak and can include fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue.

•The urethra may be involved in the infection and can cause painful and burning urination.

•Many people have between 5-7 outbreaks of herpes a year, which then decrease in frequency as time goes by. However, some people don't have any outbreaks for years. Outbreaks commonly occur around stressful periods of your life.

Prevention of Herpes Infection

Since many people don't know they may have a herpes infection, the easiest way to protect against herpes infections is to take precautions with a new sexual partner:

•Latex condoms: Always use a latex condom with a new sexual partner. Latex has been proven to block the herpes virus where other forms of condoms have not. However, even the latex condoms may not be 100% foolproof protection.

•Foam contraceptives: These contain nonoxynol-9 that has been proven to kill the herpes virus and other STDs in lab tests. A combination of this type of foam inserted into the vagina before sex along with using a latex condom gives you twice the protection.

•Abstinence: If you have herpes, refrain from sexual activity when you are broken out with the blisters, as this is the active shedding virus phase of the infection and the time most likely to infect another person.

•Monogamy: Limit your sexual partners to 1 person who also has sex only with you.

Treatments for Herpes

When I tell my patients that there is nothing, at the moment, that I can give them that will cure herpes they often get angry or depressed. Researchers are currently working on vaccines for herpes HSV-2 but even those won't do anything for people who are already infected.

However, the good news is that a herpes virus infection is easily controlled in most people and the majority forgets that they even have the virus. The key is maintaining a healthy immune system. There are some antiviral drugs out, like Isoniplex, and Acyclovir, that help stimulate the immune response, but not without side effects. Unless you have a particularly weak immune system, I feel that boosting your immune system by natural methods and supplements are more beneficial.

•Diet: Make sure yours contains optimal nutrition consisting of a balanced protein, low glycemic index carbs, and high vitamin levels. Also, foods high in a protein called lysine have shown to be very beneficial in treating herpes as it has been shown in lab tests to suppress herpes virus reproduction. High-lysine containing foods include fish, chicken, lamb, beans, fruits and vegetables. Go easy on arginine-containing foods like chocolate, whole wheat, oats, as arginine boosts viral reproduction.

•Exercise: Regular moderate exercise helps boost your immune system. Marathon-type exercise won't boost your immune system more; in fact it will strain it. So, remember these words, regular, moderate.

•Sleep: Making sure you get 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every day.

•Stop Worrying About It: Worrying about what's done does no good and, in fact, compromises your immune system because it creates another form of chronic stress.

•Alternative Supplements: As mentioned above, lysine has been proven to be beneficial to herpes. Studies have shown that 500 mg of lysine a day has maintained remission in infected persons. Taking a dose of lysine at the onset of a herpes outbreak has shown to cause a rapid clearing of the lesions. Red Marine Algae (RMA), made from edible seaweed, has also shown promise for boosting immunity and fighting viral reproduction in herpes patients. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) has been shown in German clinical studies to show promise against future outbreaks of herpes when applied to initial outbreaks. Green, Black, White teas have shown clinical promise as antiviral. Green and Black tea have been effective at stopping herpes-1 (oral herpes) outbreaks. Geen and White tea have been shown to be effective against! suppressing herpes HSV-2 infection. Green Tea Extract contains high amounts of EGCG, which has been proven to be an immune system booster.

Learning you have herpes can be upsetting. It can make you feel bad about yourself and it can strain or ruin relationships. However, like many of my patients, you may have contracted an HSV-2 infection many years ago unknowingly from a partner who didn't know they had it. You can't change the past, but you can change the present and the future. Following the guidelines above can help you prevent, or manage, a herpes infection. Keeping your immune system in good shape using the natural suggestions listed here will go a long way in helping you suppress further herpes outbreaks. Maintaining a positive mindset and not focusing on having herpes can also help your immune system stay strong and you to feel good.

Jay Brachfeld, M.D.

http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com/

There is a herpes cure & how do you treat outbreaks effectively?

There is no cure for herpes are, and people with the virus infected it in her body forever. Their lives, an infected person with different severity of periodic outbreaks of symptoms can occur. Many people living with herpes with few or no signs of the virus at all. Although there is no cure for herpes, abound treatments for symptoms.

Symptoms of herpes can vary from fatigue to painful skin lesions, and there are plenty of products on the market, both conventional medicines and herbal treatments. Over the counter pain medications can help control fever associated with the infection and can help skin complaints how moves the virus through its natural cycle usually takes weeks to 2-4. Antiviral drugs and creams are the closest thing to the herpes cure, because it was found that to control the severity of the symptoms of herpes, the duration of the outbreak and the frequency of the periodic blasts to be successful.

Natural treatments to control the suffering from herpes symptoms until a cure for herpes is found. These natural options are widely available and gain popularity, as they provide the same and sometimes better results than conventional medical treatments. Natural herbal antiviral treatment can provide relief of symptoms without the side effects that can accompany the use of prescription drugs. Ice can be used as a natural reduction of pain and inflammation. And adequate fluid intake probably is the most natural Herpes cure. Water is needed to control fever and to keep the body healthy as possible, as they fight the herpes infection.

Lesions, which have caused by the virus to quickly heal, if they are kept clean and dry. Infected areas can be cleaned with warm water and SOAP, but also with a towel or a hairdryer to the cool set, to ensure, that excess moisture will extend not the presence of wounds on the skin should be dried. Salt baths can soothe the skin and promote the wounds dry up.

Natural avoidance of outbreaks depends almost entirely on the strength of the immune system of the body. Stressful events, severe illness, prolonged lack of sleep, and a poor diet can help all the repetition of herpes outbreak. To a Herpes cure is found, there is no greater protection against the disease as the immune system. It is important, that includes people with herpes to a healthy diet, vitamin supplements, commit less emotional stress, and adequate sleep and exercise if necessary. These behaviors along with treatment for regular symptoms to cope until it finds a cure for herpes infected people.

Researchers continue to investigate, the virus to help, a cure for herpes, to develop better treatments and a vaccine. Until then, prevention is the key to control of the distribution of the virus and the best way to get a life is continuous from herpes more effective treatment of the symptoms of the disease.

Sheldon is a health researcher, natural cures for genital herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases has studied for many years. He is a regular contributor to Herpes-treatment guide. Discover when scientists are closer to a cure for Herpes , as well as various treatment options on the website.

Women Who Have Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. Genital Herpes is known as genital herpes simplex 2, while cold sores are considered simplex 1. Genital herpes causes painful blisters to form on the vagina. Genital herpes are a sexually transmitted disease. Genital herpes are contracted through un-protected oral or vaginal intercourse. Genital herpes can also be contracted through anal intercourse. Genital herpes may remain dormant in a woman's body for a month if not longer. Herpes may be dormant in a woman's body and not actually be contracted from anyone but just recently occur in the body.

Having herpes and not knowing it or not disclosing it to partners is unsafe for everyone, because herpes spreads every time one has unprotected sex. Herpes has the chance to spread to others whether they have signs of a herpes outbreak or not. There is no way to completely kill the herpes virus as no one has a cure to it yet. Herpes on the genital areas can be very painful especially for a woman as some herpes infections may be inside the vagina or cervix. Herpes may also appear outside the vaginal area in clusters so large, that the opening to the vaginal canal is almost blocked. Herpes outbreaks may occur more frequently in some women rather than others. In some cases having herpes may be dangerous for some women as they can affect pregnancies.

Women who plan to give birth need to notify their doctors that they have herpes. During birth herpes may spread to the child's body or throat areas. This is because herpes in some women only occurs in the cervix with no symptoms. A gynecologist or doctor who gives a woman a pap smear will be able to tell her if she has contracted herpes.

Generally with an outbreak of genital herpes women will notice that the first outbreak of herpes is the worst and lasts the longest. As years go by the herpes outbreaks will have less herpes blisters and they will heal faster.

There is no way to completely kill the herpes virus as no one has a cure to it yet. But there is good news; there are two products from a company called Healing Natural Oils which helps with herpes. These products are called H-away which naturally helps to make herpes outbreaks heal and disappear. The other natural product is called H-prevention; this will prevent the outbreak of herpes and is more effective than any prescription drug on the market.

Herpes Simplex - What is Herpes, and What Does a Herpes Simplex Look Like?

Herpes is a virus, as well as an STD (sexually transmitted disease). There are two types of a herpes simplex. A herpes simplex is simply a different type or strain of herpes. The most common herpes simplex is Herpes Simplex 1 (HSV1).

Herpes Simplex 1 affects the oral region, and is the most common type of herpes, this herpes simplex can affect people from a very young age. This simplex usually forms around the lips or mouth, and sometimes can form inside the mouth and on the tongue.

Herpes Simplex 2 is the second type of herpes simplex, and attacks the genital region on both males and females. Males and females will have an outbreak on or around the genitalia, as well as internally in the urethra, or vaginally for females.

What does a herpes simplex outbreak look like?

A herpes outbreak usually consists of a blister, rash, or lesion. An outbreak can last anything from a few days up to several weeks. Once the blisters burst or rupture, the outbreak is over.

Sometimes it is possible to "feel" an outbreak starting, in some people this can feel like a "tingling" sensation. It is possible to treat the outbreak at this stage, sometimes by treating the herpes simplex outbreak at this time, it may stop the outbreak from breaking out completely.

Is a herpes simplex contagious?

The Herpes Simplex virus is highly contagious, and can be easily transmitted to your partner. If you are aware that you have herpes, you should advise your partner. HSV2 or Herpes Simplex 2 (genital herpes) is probably the most contagious, as it is sexually transmitted.

How do I treat a herpes simplex?

Luckily treating a herpes simplex can be very easy!

Healing Natural Oils offers two effective products specifically for both types of the herpes simplex virus.

The H-Away product is effective in eliminating a Herpes Simplex outbreak, this treatment is topically applied directly to the outbreak, and is effective on any herpes symptom.

The H-Prevention product can be used to control the frequency of future herpes simplex outbreaks, this product is used once the outbreak is over, and may stop future outbreaks completely!

All the products offered by Healing Natural Oils are completely natural and do not contain any drugs, they are also all topically applied, which bypasses all the internal organs, and can go straight to treating the condition internally.

For more information on these natural products visit the Healing Natural Oils website, online ordering is also available!

Why Everyone Needs A Blood Test For Herpes

I have herpes, don't you?

You don't?

Are you sure?

I wouldn't be so sure if I were you.

Unless you have had a recent type-specific blood test to test for the presence of herpes simplex antibodies you cannot say with any certainty that you don't have herpes.

You think that only 20% of the population has herpes?

Think again.

You may have heard that one out of every five people has herpes, but that number is untrue and a distortion of the facts. The truth is that at least 60% of the adult population has herpes.

Some people for reasons known only to them decided to exclude people who get herpes above the waist- people who get so-called "cold sores" on their mouths and faces, from the herpes statistics commonly reported in the media, then reporting only the percentage of people who get herpes below the waist- so-called genital herpes. This makes no sense at all since the scientific literature doesn't classify herpes simplex 1 (cold sores) as a different disease as herpes simplex 2 (genital herpes)- but rather as two different types of the same disease which are almost identical genetically, and since many of the new cases of herpes of the genital area are actually caused by people getting herpes simplex 1 on their genitals from oral sex. There really is no such thing as " cold sores" -it is simplex herpes simplex 1 of the mouth or face. And those who have it need not be in denial pretending that it's anything other than herpes simplex. The truth is that you can get herpes simplex 1 on almost any part of your body including your nose, your elbows, your fingers, your stomach, your genitals, your anus, etc. The truth is that herpes simplex is herpes simplex and it is only misleading to not include the people with herpes simplex 1 in herpes statistics.

Somewhere between 20 and 25% of the population get their herpes sores below the waist and somewhere between 50 and 80% of the population gets their herpes sores above the waist. If you factor in the number of people who have both herpes 1 and 2 at the same time, you are left understanding that at least 60% of the population has herpes simplex. Which rings true when you consider that 70% of the adult population has HPV (genital warts or cervical dysplasia) and that 80% of the adult population has had chlamydia at least once.

This is the reality of our times. There is almost no adult who has had more than six sex partners who hasn't caught a sexually transmitted infection. Including yourself. Including myself.

You say you've been tested before for sexually transmitted diseases and are clean?

I wouldn't be so sure. Herpes and HPV are almost never included in routine testing for sexually transmitted infections. Some doctors have the attitude of "Almost everyone tests positive for herpes so why bother testing". Unless you have specifically asked for a type-specific blood test for herpes such as the Western Blot test you have probably never had an accurate herpes test. Swabbing for the presence of herpes can and often does render false negative tests. I know that from personal experience. The doctors told me twice that I didn't have herpes before accurately testing me positive for herpes although I had already had a very obvious primary outbreak.

I strongly encourage you to get a type-specific blood test for herpes if you believe that you don't have herpes or are unsure of your herpes status. If you test negative for herpes it will allow you to make some decisions regarding safer sexuality to help keep you herpes free for the rest of your sexual history. If you test positive for herpes it will allow you to decide to treat your herpes and make safer sex choices to help you to not infect others and make this epidemic worse. Not only is it the ethical thing to do it is also the sane thing to do since herpes makes you more vulnerable to HIV and HPV and may have some possible links to certain types of cancer and alzheimers. If you don't know you won't get treatment. Knowledge is empowering. Denial is irresponsible.

You say you are sure you don't have herpes because you haven't had an outbreak?

Most people with herpes, maybe up to 70% don't get noticeable outbreaks. You may be having sub-clinical (subtle) outbreaks or may be shedding virus asymptomatically (without symptoms). You could be infecting others with herpes without knowing it.

Don't be afraid of getting a herpes test. Herpes can be effectively treated by a combination of diet, stress reduction and herbal medicine or by drug therapy. There is no cure but it possible to go years between outbreaks.

I still believe that most people when given a choice prefer to the do the right thing. Getting tested for herpes is the right thing.

A great resource for learning about herpes is the international herpes resource center http://www.herpesresourcecenter.com

Christopher Scipio

How Can You Tell if Someone Has Genital Herpes?

Do you take a good look at the person? Do you ask and look straight in their eyes? Do you inquire about their sex lives? Well, my answer is no, maybe and maybe.

It may be a good idea to ask someone if they're aware of having genital herpes. The more sexual partners a person has had in their lives, the more likely they're to be infected by herpes. But these methods are quite insufficient. Did you know that the majority of people who have genital or oral herpes are not aware of it? So how do you explain that? Simple, many oral or genital herpes infected people just don't have any herpes symptoms, others have some symptoms which are mild enough to confuse them with a rash or a mosquito bite or anything that may cause, redness, swelling, itching, burning and blisters, and some may not even know what herpes symptoms are.

The fact that somebody doesn't have or recognize herpes symptoms doesn't mean they don't have it. About 25% of the US population is infected with genital herpes, with women being more affected than men. Studies have shown that the vast majority (80%-90%) of people who have genital herpes have not been diagnosed with the condition.

According to a recent paper published by Carnegie Mellon University in January 2006, most sexually active teenage girls know almost nothing about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), except AIDS, until it is too late. Another 2006 study led by Dr. Herbert Kaufman, Boyd Professor of Ophthalmology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, found herpes virus-1 in 98 percent of healthy participants. None of them displayed any symptoms; however they shed the herpes virus in their saliva and tears at least once during the course of the 30-day study. Even though this study didn't target genital herpes directly, it demonstrates that most people can be totally unaware of carrying the virus and being infected by herpes.

Shed or shedding means that the virus is present on the skin and ready to be transmitted. Herpes is transmitted through skin contact 98% of the time. Studies have shown that shedding may occur in almost 40% of HSV-2 (usually associated with genital herpes) infected people. Asymptomatic viral shedding may last 1 to 5 days, meaning that a person can be contagious without presenting any symptoms at the time. The average duration of each period of viral shedding has been assessed through laboratory studies but is just an estimate.

So how can you tell for a fact if someone has genital herpes? The only way to know is to look at blood, PCR or swab test results. Swab and PCR tests are very accurate when they detect herpes. However, if a test was performed late or delivered to the lab late, it may return a false negative result. Western blot test, a blood test, is the most accurate test available but may return a false negative if the person tested was first infected within the past 3 months. So it is not easy to know if a person has genital herpes or not.

One last consideration, herpes Simplex 1 or HSV-1 usually causes oral herpes and cold sores and herpes simplex-2, genital herpes. But herpes virus-1 genital herpes is becoming more and more prevalent nowadays. It is mostly transmitted during oral sex from a person who's having an oral herpes infection with or without symptoms. So if getting genital herpes is a concern to you, you should consider oral herpes as well as genital herpes when asking a partner.

As you can see, it is very difficult to assess if a partner has genital herpes. There are no proven products to prevent genital herpes transmission at the moment. Some are currently undergoing testing for FDA approval and will hopefully be marketed soon. In the meanwhile, the best option is using a condom.

Nathalie Foy is the author of Best-Herpes-Treatments.com which provides great information, tips, advice and product comparisons on medical, natural and herbal treatments for cold sores, oral and genital herpes. Subscribe to her newsletter for insider's herpes information and updates at http://www.best-herpes-treatments.com/herpes-newsletter.html

Who Said Herpes Is a Virus? Whose Hypothesis Was It and What Evidence Is There of Such a Claim?

People assume herpes is a virus because consumers fail to realize that herpes is only thought to be a virus. Medical science and medicine did not start the rumor. Medical science hypothesized that herpes is a viral disease, meaning it is a scientific medical opinion that herpes is viral. This means it is simply the medical industry's best guess that herpes is a virus. The medical industry does not say "herpes is a virus".

So who is responsible for the confusion and spreading of so many lies? Can we blame the medical industry? Maybe, but mostly we are to blame the mindless consumers who do a little research out of context and then start preaching and sharing information and rumors like it is the gospel truth.

Everybody likes to sound like they know a little bit about everything and they like to add their own two cents and be respected for their input. Society which is mostly made up of mindless consumers is responsible for the herpes myth.

Medical researchers published, "Herpes is believed to be caused by a virus" and mindless consumers interpreted the medical explanation as "Herpes is caused by a virus" and the consequences are horrendous. Because of the consumer confusion, what is known as herpes is now believed to be incurable and rightly so because curing herpes under the pretense that it is a virus is a dead end. Herpes is a multibillion dollar industry as an incurable disease. To produce a consistent cure for herpes will be the end of the golden industry of herpes.

The stage is set and the plot and outcome is perfect. People are donating billions and billions of dollars for the cure for a virus when viruses have nothing to do with what is known as herpes. As long as consumers continue to propagate the lies or inaccurate opinions, medicine will take advantage of the easy opportunity.

There simply is no evidence that a herpes virus ever existed. Maybe at one point someone looked into a microscope and said "hey, look at this, have you seen one of these in a microscope before" and they took a picture of it and called it a virus and named it "Herpe" and the myth began. Keep in mind; we have no actual evidence of anyone seeing an actual living organism that has been dubbed a "herpe" or "herpes". Sure people see outbreaks and rashes that are called herpes because they are "believed" to be caused by a virus named "herpe" or "herpes" but there is still no evidence of such a virus existing. There are pictures of a "herpe" or a "herpes" virus on the internet but there are pictures of the west Texas jack-o-lope to and no one has ever seen a real live west Texas jack-o-lope either so a picture is not evidence of something existing.

Naturally you may feel a irritated with me or upset with me for saying such "crazy talk" but that is because you assume people see the virus thought to cause herpes, weigh the evidence and the evidence says there is no such thing as a "herpe" or "herpes" virus. No one claims to see the "virus" known as "herpes". Doctors never see viruses or claim to in their patients who get diagnosed with herpes. They only see an outbreak and sometimes they take a culture of the outbreak to send to the lab but they never ever see an actual virus, they only hypothesis' a virus is present.

Do people at the labs see living or even dead "herpes" viruses? No they do not. They place dyes and other agents on the samples/cultures sent to them and watch for reactions or changes that are then "interpreted" as indications of a "presence" of a virus thought to be what is known as "herpes".

Does Dr. Bloom one of the leading herpes researchers in the world see the virus thought to cause herpes? No he doesn't see any virus thought to cause herpes. He spends billions and billions of dollars a year researching what is commonly known as "herpes" under the hypothesis that herpes is a virus which is why there is currently no known cure for a "herpe" or "herpes" virus within the medical industry.

Despite the fact that 90% of the American population is said to have a form of "herpes", no one ever sees an actual living virus in a microscope. I have made this point for years now and no one has made even the slightest attempt to dispute my claims I have made in this article. Billions and billions of nasty sores and outbreaks being called herpes and no one in science can take a sample and show you a living herpes virus. This is because herpes is not a virus. It never was. This is why no one ever sees a "herpe" or a "herpes" virus. Technically the medical industry didn't do anything wrong, they only said "herpes is thought to be caused by a virus" and then the propaganda flew and mindless consumers created the myths that have destroyed so many lives.

Herpes is a fungus and as such is easily cured.

David Flowers has spent seventeen years studying human immunity and our natural ability to destroy disease causing pathogens without any products, medicine or dramatic healing modalities and he has the ability along with intent to prove humans have the capacity for complete immunity but he needs support.

For learning the truth about health and healing and about cures or learning to cure, please visit...
http://healingunderground.com/

Understanding the Herpes Virus at the Cell Level

The word "herpes" conjures up different images for different people. Some see herpes as an ugly and annoying cold sore or blister that periodically appears on or around the lips. Others see herpes as a feared sexually transmitted disease that, once you have contracted, you have to suffer with for the rest of your life. Of course both of these images do represent the term "herpes" quite accurately for many people throughout the world, but medically speaking herpes is also appropriately applied to several lesser known afflictions. These conditions include herpes inside the mouth (herpes gingivostomatitis), herpes of the throat (herpes pharyngitis), herpes of the eye (herpes keratitis), herpes of the brain (herpes encephalitis), herpes transmitted to newborn infants (neonatal herpes), chickenpox (varicella-zoster), mono (mononucleosis) and shingles (herpes-zoster). All of these conditions are caused by one of the two closely related herpes viruses known as herpes simplex virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 2.

To truly understand the herpes virus it is helpful to first gain some knowledge about viruses in general. Viruses are the smallest known microbes, or infectious agents, that medical science has discovered to date. Most viruses consist of a nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat known as a capsid; this nucleic acid-protein complex is referred to as a nucleocapsid. In more complex viruses, such as the herpes virus, the nucleocapsid is surrounded by a membrane-like structure containing carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. This membrane-like structure is referred to as an envelope. Each virus contains one of two large complex chemicals that contain the viruses genetic code which serves as a blueprint for making more viruses. This complex chemical code is either RNA (ribonucleic acid) or DNA (deozyribonucleic acid).

Unlike bacteria and more complex organisms, viruses do not carry all the equipment necessary to reproduce themselves. In order to multiply, a virus must enter a living cell, remove the cells protein coat and then use its RNA or DNA to redirect the cells synthesizing mechanism to make more copies of the virus. This process of making new viruses can actually destroy or injure the living or 'host' cell. If enough living host cells are injured or destroyed it results in a viral illness such as influenza (the flu), viral diarrhea or genital herpes. There are hundreds of known viruses and probably thousands of others not yet discovered. Each virus has adapted to infect a particular type of cell in a specific living organism which explains why there are so many types of viruses. Because they have become so specialized some viruses can only infect certain types of cells, for instance, liver cells or muscle cells or brain cells while leaving other cells alone. Likewise, many viruses are even limited to the type of species they can infect. In general, this usually means that viruses which infect cells in one type of animal, say a dog, can not be passed on to another type of animal, say a cat. Of course as with most rules, there are exceptions and some viruses can cause similar diseases in closely related species. Another exception is that sometimes viruses can cause also cause very different illnesses in the same species.

The term "herpesvirus" refers to any member of the herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2 virus family. The necleocapsid of a herpes virus is surrounded by an envelope with spike-like structures projecting from the surface and contains DNA. So far, scientist have identified over 115 different herpesviruses and have found more than 50 different animal species that can be infected with some type of herpes virus. Humans appear to be a natural reservoir for at least 8 different types of the herpes viruses that normally spread from human to human and generally do not cause disease in other animals.

Coming in contact with the virus, usually through sexual intercourse, is the first in a complex series of events that result in contracting genital herpes. Projecting from the outer surface of the herpes virus are protein-carbohydrate structures called glycoproteins. Glycoproteins allow the virus to attach initially to proteoglycans, which are complex chemical structures present on the surface of living cells. After attaching to the host cell, glycopoteins then interact with the cells surface structures to trigger changes in the cell membranes cytoskeletal structure. These changes allow the viral envelope to fuse with the cell plasma membrane, essentially merging to form a changed cell. When this fusion occurs, the nucleocapsid of the herpes virus enters into the cytoplasm of the host cell, attaching tiny skeleton-like structures known as microtubules and microfilaments which form an internal transportation network used to move materials within the cell. Using this structure the DNA of the herpes virus enters the nucleus of the host cell where it makes copies of the viral DNA which are released from the cell and spread to and infect other surrounding cells. This process of generating new virus particles kills the infected host cell.

If the herpes virus remained in the skins cells where initial viral attachment occurs, chances are that a healthy immune system could eventually control the infection and rid the body of the virus. The herpes virus however has found a way to hide from the immune system by hibernating in nerve cells. For unknown reasons the herpes virus does not start the replicating process in a select number of nerve cells, instead hibernating and establishing a latent infection. When the herpes virus is hybernating it is in an inactive state and can not be detected by the immune system. This inactive state is referred to as latent infection or simply latency. Latency does not cause illness but unfortunately the latent virus can reactivate and produce more virus which, in turn, causes recurrent herpes.

How reactivation occurs is unknown but it can happen for no apparent reason or be triggered by trauma, stress, or exposure to ultraviolet radiation such as too much sunlight. Whatever the trigger, after reactivation, the herpes virus is transported from the nerve cell body to the nerve endings where it is released into the skin to replicate in the skin cells. This replication may sometimes cause full blown herpes sores outbreaks, but other times may result in "shedding" the virus which causes no recognizable symptoms. However, either way, whether this reactivation is symptomatic or asyptomatic, the person is contagious during this reactivation period and it is possible to pass on the virus to a partner. For this reason, experts recommend that people with genital herpes use condoms even when there is no obvious symptoms of an active herpes breakout.

John Trout is an internet research specialist and web master of several information related websites including: http://www.herpes-pics.com/ where this article was first published. This informative website is an excellent source for a sound education about the herpes virus as well as the latest news about treatments and a possible herpes cure.

101 Things You Need to Know About Herpes

1. Genital herpes is caused by two forms of the herpes simplex viruses: HSV-1 or HSV-2.

2. Most oral herpes is caused by HSV-1, and most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2.

3. Most people do not show signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection.

4. at least 45 million people ages 12 and older, or 20% of U. S. adolescents and adults, have had genital herpes.

5. Genital HSV-2 infection is more common in women (approximately one out of four women) than in men (almost one out of eight).

6. Both herpes Type 1 and 2 can be transmitted by contact with the sores that the herpes viruses cause, but also between outbreaks (sometimes called OBs) via "shedding" from skin that does not have a sore on it.

7. Herpes transmission frequently occurs from an infected partner who does not have a visible sore, and may not even know that he or she is infected with the virus.

8. Genital OBs of HSV-1 recur less frequently than genital outbreaks caused by HSV-2.

9. First symptoms of genital herpes, they can be quite intense. Subsequent OBs are more mild. Symptoms can include:

10. small area of redness, sometimes with raised bumps or fluid-filled blisters;

11. Itching, burning or tingling in the genital area;

12. Flu-like symptoms (headache, swollen glands, fever);

13. Painful urination and/or discharge.

14. Initial herpes outbreak usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores usually heal within two to four weeks.

15. Sometimes, a person does not become aware of the infection until years after it is acquired.

16. Do not squeeze OB blisters because that may cause infection to spread.

17. Genital herpes infection can be more severe in people with immune systems depressed due to other causes.

18. Genital herpes can cause psychological distress in people who know they are infected, due particularly to the attached social stigma.

19. Any area in the groin can be affected by genital herpes.

20. Herpes is not the only infection that causes genital sores. Bacterial infections have also been known to cause sores that resemble herpes sores. So, it's best to get tested.

21. Genital herpes can lead to potentially fatal infections in babies.

22. Genital herpes can sometimes be diagnosed by visual inspection of the outbreak, or by taking an actual sample from a sore.

23. The only sure way to avoid getting herpes and other STDs is abstinence, or a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with someone who is not infected.

24. If you inform your partner of your herpes, you can discuss it instead of making excuses as to why you don't want to have sex.

25. Genital herpes caused by HSV-2 carries an 80-90% chance of OBs.

26. Genital herpes caused by HSV-1 carries a 50% chance of OBs.

27. OB sores can occur in areas that are not covered by a latex condom, so condoms are not fool-proof in protecting from contracting genital herpes.

28. Even if a person does not have any symptoms he or she can still infect sex partners.

29. You can't get herpes from swimming pools, towels or toilet seats.

30. Frequency and severity of herpes OBs vary between individuals.

31. The most common symptom of genital herpes is one or more sores or blisters that appear on the genitals, anus, buttocks.

32. Some things thought to trigger Obs are:

33. stress;

34. anxiety;

35. other illnesses;

36. menstruation;

37. and extreme weather exposure.

38. OBs are most common in the first year after infection with herpes.

39. Oftentimes signs like tingling, itching, numbness or tenderness where the sores will appear occur a few days before an OB.

40. Genital herpes can be well managed with medication, stress management and healthy eating.

41. Genital herpes infections almost never cause long-term damage in healthy adults.

42. Research has shown that genital herpes does not cause cervical or any other types of cancers.

43. With proper treatment and open communication, most people with herpes find they can have normal, healthy, enjoyable relationships.

44. Symptoms of the herpes virus can be similar to symptoms of other diseases, so the best way to be sure whether you have it to get tested.

45. For immediate relief from an OB:

46. You can take warm baths or hold ice packs on the sores for several minutes.

47. You can wear loose cotton clothes to prevent chafing.

48. Keep the area dry with baby powder or cornstarch.

49. You can take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to relieve pain and fever.

50. Women who get herpes before becoming pregnant have a low risk of passing the virus to the baby.

51. Risk of infant herpes increases if mother gets herpes during final trimester of pregnancy.

52. A genital herpes diagnosis in a long-term, monogamous relationship does not mean a partner was unfaithful.

53. Herpes can be transmitted through oral sex.

54. There is no absolute cure for the herpes infection at this time.

55. If you have genital herpes, avoid (or reduce) activities that may affect OBs, like:

56. poor diet;

57. overexertion;

58. emotional or physical stress;

59. lack of sleep;

60. excess alcohol;

61. and surgical trauma.

62. Excessive friction during intercourse may trigger OBs.

63. Genital herpes does not mean that your sex life is over.

64. Approximately 70% of genital herpes cases result from asymptomatic shedding, when no signs or symptoms exist.

65. It's been reported that people who tell their partners of their diagnosis are rarely rejected.

66. Herpes has not been found to affect fertility or ability to have children.

67. Research suggests that when someone has both HIV and HSV, the HIV virus may be increased in genital secretions, increasing the risk of HIV transmission to sexual partners.

68. Cold sores and canker sores are not related, though people mistake the two.

69. Cold sores are contagious.

70. Canker sores are not contagious.

71. Cold sores appear around the mouth and symptoms include:

72. tiny, fluid-filled blisters or sores around the mouth, surrounded by red (inflamed) skin;

73. days before appearance of blisters soreness or tingling around mouth area;

74. and, discomfort and appearance of blisters generally last between 7 and 10 days.

75. Cold sores can sometimes be found on nostrils, chin or fingers.

76. Oral herpes OB can occur from contact with someone who has an active lesion through activities like sharing eating utensils, razors and towels.

77. Cold sores typically heal without medicine(http://www. herpaflor. com). But, you may want to seek medical attention if:

78. the blisters don't go away within one to two weeks;

79. you have a pre-existing health condition that has put your immune system at risk;

80. symptoms are severe;

81. you have frequent outbreaks;

82. or if eye irritation occurs.

83. Some people are at greater risk of contracting cold sores and should be avoided, including:

84. infants;

85. people with eczema;

86. or people with a suppressed immune system caused by cancer, AIDS or an organ transplant.

87. If herpes infects the eye, it can cause corneal scarring -- one of the major causes of blindness in the U. S.

88. Expectant mothers must alert their physician if either she or her partner has genital herpes.

89. To protect yourself and your partner from contracting oral herpes and to avoid spreading it to other body parts:

90. don't kiss or have skin contact with infected persons during an OB;

91. don't share items like eating utensils, towels, lip balm;

92. during OBs, wash your hands carefully and regularly;

93. use caution when touching other body parts, especially eyes and genitals (http://www.herpes-virus.org);

94. avoid stressful situations, like cold or flu, lack of sleep or prolonged sun exposure without sunblock;

95. and, use sunblock on lips and face prior to prolonged sun exposure- in winter and summer.

96. In some cases, the decision to not use condoms may be agreed upon in a relationship where both partners understand the risks of contracting genital herpes.

97. Because of society's negative misconceptions about genital herpes, you should prepare yourself before approaching others about the topic.

98. Discuss your genital herpes with a partner when you are not 'in the mood' for sex, when you're feeling confident, and when you can pay full attention to the conversation.

99. Anywhere you feel safe and comfortable is a good place to talk about herpes with a partner.

100. Discussing genital herpes may strengthen your relationship and bring you closer together as a couple.

101. Some people find that seeking counseling helps them cope with their diagnosis.

Dylan Morris is a freelance writer and supporter of nutraceuticals, natural, herbal treatments for disease control and prevention. Visit http://herpaflor.com/ for more information.