About Herpes Simplex Virus, HSV-1 vs. HSV-2 and Natural Remedies
by Ask a Healer
Featured HSV Resources:
Natural Herpes Remedies
If you are a sexually active adult, you know about HerpesVirus Hominus, although you may never have heard it called by it's proper medical name, herpes simplex virus. An equal-opportunity virus, Herpes Simplex Virus is an std that puts anyone who is sexually active at risk. It has made the news that genetal herpies infections are effecting about 1 in 4 sexually active adults. However, due of the personal nature of the disease, I think even those staggering statistic are low. I believe that herpes simplex virus infections are much more widespread than that, perhaps as many as one in two sexually active adults, and is still greatly undereported.
How do you catch herpes simplex virus?
HSV1 and HSV2 are the two forms of herpes that concern those who are intimately active because both can be contracted during sex. While type 1, or HSV1 is far more likely to be transmitted in a nonsexual manner, both types can infect the genital area.
Oral herpes occurs in the mouth and on the face and can be easily spread by kissing, drinking right after a person with a herpes lesion on the mouth, or by touching a weeping lesion and then touching other parts of the face. Oral herpes can also be spread to the eyes where it can be dangerous and even cause blindness.
There is some speculation that oral herpes can migrate to the brain through the nose so it's a good idea to always wash your hands after touching an oral lesion and then rubbing or picking your nose.
Genetal herpies ( GHSV ) is typically spread by sexual intercourse and can affect any area on or around the genitals in both males and females. Note: the correct spelling is genital herpes. However, it is commonly mispelled so I use both spellings so more people can find the information.
Newborns can contract GHSV during the birth process and it's possible that the HSV2 virus can live long enough on towels or in moist, warm areas like saunas or whirlpools to contact it there if you are touch an area just vacated by someone with open lesions.
Becoming infected with herpes may show no symptoms for days but finally results in an outbreak of small blisters at the contact site, which is the part of the body where the virus entered. Before the blisters though, there is typically a feeling of tingling in the area, which is known as predome and often, fever and achiness like with the flu. Can herpesvirus be cured?
According to medical authorities, there is still no recognized cure for genital herpes infections or other forms of the hsv virus infection. Standard medical treatments include prescription medicines like valtrex, which is widely advertised, and it's forerunner, acyclovir. There can be side effects with these medications so be sure you tell your doctor if you have liver problems or if you experience any unpleasant symptoms after starting on the prescription treatments.
Many people are finding that they can control their herpes outbreaks throught the use of very effective natural remedies that address both HSV1 and HSV2. So until a cure is found, take comfort in the fact that millions are controlling their outbreaks naturally and safely.
HSV1 vs HSV2 - What's the difference?
Herpes has two main forms: Herpes Simplex 1, or HSV1, infects the mouth (cold sores) while Herpes Simplex 2, or HSV2, infects the genital area.
Since a large majority of humans are already afflicted with herpes and even more are at risk to contract either oral or genital herpes it is vitally important to become educated
on the disease.
What are the symptoms of herpes? When a person contracts genital herpesvirus (often mispelled genetal herpies ), it infects the nerve cells of the spinal cord while an oral herpes infection attacks the nerves at the base of the brain. The virus is contagious, particularly during the period just before visible outbreak, which is called prodome. During this the prodome period before an outbreak, a person may experience tingling of the skin or a stinging sensation where the blisters later appear. Once a person contracts herpes, this prodome warning just before the outbreak can allow for a heading off of the attack if noticed and responded to quickly..
While symptoms of oral or genital herpes infections are present, the infected person must not allow these areas to come into direct contact with another person. When the virus has been transmitted to another, the infection is permanent.
The herpes outbreak, occurring shortly after the prodome period mentioned above, is distinquished by one or several small blisters. The blisters rupture and form scabs indicating the end of the outbreak. Outbreaks generally last a few days and often occur during stress. During this blister phase any area of broken skin or mucosa, including eyes, mouth, esophagus, anus and vagina can be infected. more on symptoms of herpes.
Featured Natural Remedies for Herpes
Many of the natural remedies for herpes that I used to share on the website have disappeared, due to pressure from regulating organizations. The companies just stopped making them because the FDA and FTC decreed that no natural remedy may claim to treat herpes, genital herpes or other stds. Meanwhile, the only medications they have approved cannot do more than suppress symptoms and it's ok to call that a herpes treatment. You may want to educate yourself on the properties and studies done on antiviral formulas and explore creating your own remedy, if self-treatment is a choice you might make.
For example, Landmark University medical studies showed that essential oil blends that were anti-viral in nature tested high for effectiveness when introduced to a viral situation in the body. While I can say that certain essential oils do indeed have an impact on the herpes virus, I cannot say they are approved for or recommended for genital herpes treatment. In fact, the FDA says they may not be suggested for that purpose because they have not been evaluated by the FDA for that purpose.
Cautions about topical herpes remedies:
Many ointments and salves for relief of herpesvirus symptoms contain ingredients, such as alcohol, which can sting and further irritate the infected area. Who needs more pain when you have an outbreak? Some products also contain lidocaine or benzocaine which are designed to "numb" but are only partially effective and can lead to allergic reactions.
Topical creams and ointments may even prolong the healing of HSV outbreaks as they do not penetrate into the cell membranes of the skin and they also irritate the area of the outbreak. Experts strongly advise against using any kind of topical cortisone-type cream on herpes as this can suppress the local immunity and may worsen your outbreaks significantly. In contrast, pure and natural essential oils have antiviral and pain-relieving products that may make them a welcome addition to your first aid kit. Teatree oil and peppermint oil are two that I'm aware of in this regard.
Most people have herpes, either as genital herpes (often mispelled as genetal herpies), or as cold sores, the main difference is where it appears on the body. Herpes, in all its forms, is a universal problem in modern health, spanning all races, cultures and continents. The herpes viruses affects the majority of the world's population. Each year in the United States alone: 40 million people experience outbreaks of cold sores (Herpes Simplex Virus Type I), 30 million have outbreaks of genital herpes (Herpes Simplex Virus Type II), and nearly 1 million endure outbreaks of shingles (Herpes Zoster or Varicella Zoster Virus).
Common mispellings: herpies, genetal herpies, jinatel herpies
Scientific research has identified more than 5,000 different strains of the herpes virus. Eight herpes strains cause disease in humans .
What is a Herpesvirus? Biomedical Frontiers: Winter 1995, Vol.2, No.2, Herpesvirus Linked to Kaposi's Sarcoma
DNA viruses that often cause blistery lesions in the skin and mucous membranes, herpesviruses exist in latent and actively replicating forms. The following are all herpes viruses:
1. Cytomegalovirus can be silent or cause brain damage in newborns and blindness in AIDS patients
2. Epstein-Barr virus can cause infectious mononucleosis and is associated with Burkitt's lymphoma
3. Varicella zoster causes chicken pox and shingles
4. Herpes simplex 2 (HSV2) causes genital lesions.
HSV1 is associated with mouth chancre sores. Antiviral treatments treat active infection but often do not cure latent viral disease. The sequences found in the Kaposi's sarcoma lesions are most closely related to the Epstein-Barr virus that causes mononucleosis. copyright ", Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center
Health Disclaimer
The herpes information on this site is educational in nature and not intended to replace any needed medical evaluation or treatment.
