View Full Version : all right, homeopathic ladies, how do I get rid of herpes?
Chrissy68
02-01-2007, 03:21 AM
I think simplex 3 is caused by excessive lipo and vomiting
tart, you made me cry because i was laughing so damn hard.
ty. i really needed that.
PookaShell
02-01-2007, 03:22 AM
Paige, but I've read how you personally keep yourself from succeeding.
Fuck that. Irrelevant. Unnecesary. Uncalled for. And untrue.
Sirona
02-01-2007, 05:24 AM
-shakes her head- conventionally, I agree with you. Unconventionally, I've already had two people tell me it's possible. Why would you want to fuck with what's possible for me? Go determine all you want everything that's possible for you.
I've read a lot that tells me conventionally there is no hope.
Little by little, I'm reading stuff that says alternative medicines can work.
I'm not worried about outbreaks, as they're not common with me thus far.
So bug off. You don't know everything (and I'd also like to point out that I don't either.) Wisdom is not having definitive answers for everything, but rather realizing how much one does NOT know. Ignorance, on the other hand, is allowing other people to determine what the "end of story" is for everyone, rather than asking questions that could very well offer a very different ending.
I'm allowing for the possibility that "no" is not the final word on a cure in the present tense.
The real problem that exsists is this:
Some people never have outbreaks after the initial one and hence claim themselves cured.
They aren't.
The virus is simply dormant, and they, thinking they've found this elusive cure, happily spread it to other people.
fancygirl
02-01-2007, 11:15 AM
^ With a blood test, though, you can tell if you have it or don't have it right?
I would obviously hope to have tests run to confirm that before I go have sex with
the impression that I'm clean.
Fuck that. Irrelevant. Unnecesary. Uncalled for. And untrue.
If it's untrue, I'm glad to hear it. It is not irrelevant though in a discussion of pessimist/ realists and optimist/ realists. If we're talking about how I'm personally handling a situation (and this isn't in the realm of the hypothetical) yes, I do get to question those who jumped on me. In this case, with Paige, why should I let her jump all over me for being an optimist? I can be an optimist and a realist at the same time. I was under the impression that her "realism" or her pessimist/realism wasn't working out so hot for her, and because of that it wasn't an attitude I wanted to copy.
Well... unfortunately, writing off people who say that there isn't a cure as pessimists isn't accepting anything, is it?
What is the problem with taking a step back from what I've previously accepted, and broadening my horizons to allow for the possibility of hope? Do I accept that conventionally there's nothing at the moment out there? yes. Do I accept that there's a really good chance that I won't be cured? Yeah, I do. But is there joy on raining on a parade of asking around and looking into what's possible?
I dare say they aren't just sitting around being pessimistic about it. I mean, wouldn't they just mope and try nothing at all to fix said problem if they were?
So essentially I should not try because others have not found something for themselves? When I go onto the homeopathic boards and see that in all of those people, then yes, I will probably accept that there's nothing out there for me. I have no idea what the women on this board have or have not done, conventionally or with alternative medicine. Why would it be logical to jump on the bandwagon with some SW women who accept that they will have this forever, when I don't know what they've done for treatment? I would love to hear from those that have done alternative treatments.
Paige has excused herself from the conversation, and I'm okay with that because I was asking for information she didn't have. I address her quotations for those of you who feel I'm being harsh. ALL I ASKED FOR was x-- possible homeopathic treatments for herpes; I didn't need reflections on y and z, y-- telling me there is no cure by conventional standards, and z--attacking my viewpoint that allows for the possibility of an alternative answer to the accepted norm.
As far as coming on a public forum and expecting something different-- well, I guess that's the mistake. Luckily, I've got some good possibilities and have been put into contact with the people I wanted to be put into contact with (as far as SW goes.) I guess it's just too tempting to sit out on a thread that requests information that you don't believe is out there.
-shrug-
Believing in something doesn't make it real, but by not believing we keep ourselves from ever looking.
Katrine
02-01-2007, 11:52 AM
Does it take only a blood test to know if its lying dormant or not? Or does it require a spinal tap to really know for sure? What is it that lies dormant forever in your spinal fluid?
Also, I think you have to order special blood tests to confirm the virus, and there is a different one for 1 and 2. But don't quote me on that.
I would LOVE to see some evidence of a homeopathic cure, with an actual genetic test result, before I'd believe it. But if that does happen, I'd be all over that shit!
And I wish you the best of luck, lots of positive good vibes!
layka
02-01-2007, 11:53 AM
:grouphug: I don't have any suggestions on nonmedical cures, but I do want to give you a virtual hug.
The mind is a terrible thing to waste, with that being said I also refuse to think that their isn't a cure possible within your mind. If we only use 10% of our brains who is to say that their isn't a solution to many diseases through pure undiluted belief. Optimism is a lonely road to walk nowadays b/c everyone is a critic or self appointed expert simply off of precendent incidents. But who am I to say that YOU won't find a cure through your beliefs. Honey keep that attitude, don't allow people to discourage you. Even if you don't find a cure, solely because you believe, you will STILL end up in a much better position then when you first started this journey. I'm sorry that you had people post their unwarranted views DESPITE your request for solutions only. Apparently you are in a very vulnerable state and you needed positive reassurance, not people telling you that your way of thinkng is a waste of time. But like I said before, it's a lonely road. But I'm here to walk and believe with you.
Sheesh, the typical small minded shit for brains dancer stereotypes seem to be perpuated on a board that many rant on daily about how they're SO not the way society percieves them.... go figure::)
fancygirl
02-01-2007, 12:09 PM
thank you ladies for the support. I am lucky that it is not a worse STD, but carrying is awful. I've been celibate since breaking up with the guy who gave it to me. Part of this is taking a breather from men, and a large part is figuring out living with an std. If I found a regimen, I would gladly stay celibate for a couple of years to keep someone else from catching it. There's a lot of people who have or carry Herpes, or other stds, but knowing the percentages doesn't help when I have that std. It's cold comfort.
Anyways, thank you for the support. I appreciate it. Currently I'm busy with school, but I plan on looking into this. Side topic: I was lucky with the sterilization thread because it helped me clarify a lot of my thoughts. It was also the time when I found out about sub-total hysterectomies, which I plan on having in a couple of months. My point in bringing this up is that by asking for specific help and information (if it's out there) has helped me in the past. It never hurts to buck conventional wisdom to see what else is out there.
boxingdoc
02-01-2007, 01:10 PM
http://www.webmd.com/hw/genital_herpes/hw264763.asp
Just info on how one confirms herpes infection. May be useful in confirming if your chosen treatment methods prove effective.
iseestars
02-01-2007, 01:23 PM
I used to work in a doctor's office and I was told that even if someone had herpes, their tests could still come back negative. Herpes has to be active in the body (not necessary an actual outbreak) to come back with abnormal test results. If this is true, then how would someone know that they are really cured? While your methods may work and may really cure herpes, how would someone really find out if their body is clean from the virus? It may just make it dormant?
layka
02-01-2007, 01:29 PM
I just thought that I would share this link with you, and others who find it hard to believe.
http://healing.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3782141/
Although it's unconventional, and needless to say, unpopular medical miracles do occur. Shit I can't explain it, nor are the members of medical communities able to. I copied this quote that pretty much sums it up from one of the doctors:
Many times, we, as physicians, are surprised about how well a patient will do,” said Benson, who was not one of Stacey’s doctors. “I believe that medicine has to leave the door open for belief and self-care to add to the awesome contribution to healing that drugs and surgery can do.”
Nuff said
kitana
02-01-2007, 03:26 PM
Alright, there is NO CURE FOR HERPES!!!!
You can do a lot to suppress outbreaks for ages, but yes, the virus will not leave your system.
Think about the AIDS drug cocktail. It can lower the viral load in many patients to the point where the virus is almost non-existent, but it's still there. It's not a "cure".
End of story.
Nina, usually I would agree with you 100%, but I know a girl that had GW. She no longer has it. I mean, not in the least. All blood, urine, paps, everything come out 100% negative for it.
GW is also one of those diseases your not supposta be able to ever get rid of, but she did. So I think that ANYTHING can be possible.
fancygirl
02-01-2007, 04:31 PM
^ it is true that there are multiple strains of HPV (Genital Warts) and some just disappear. I figure there's multiple strains of Herpes as well. Viruses are seriously weird things. I wonder about zicam and stuff that helps colds heal faster, and yet it's a virus, supposedly without a "cure."
As far as the disease lying dormant...well, I'd hope that the spinal tap would be able to tell if it was dormant or not. -shrug- another question for the doctors.
Sirona
02-01-2007, 04:54 PM
The proper blood test should show if it's there dormant or not. The problem is getting your doctor to use the expensive/more accurate test.
Oh and you can't sure the common cold because it is constantly changing it's makeup so that it's a little different each time you get it.
You catch it, the body produces antibodies which eventually beat it down, but... what's left of it, the remaining unkilled virus changes slightly so the next time you get it the body sees it as a whole new bug.
It's a whole different ball of wax than herpes. :)
Lysondra
02-01-2007, 05:02 PM
^ it is true that there are multiple strains of HPV (Genital Warts) and some just disappear. I figure there's multiple strains of Herpes as well. Viruses are seriously weird things. I wonder about zicam and stuff that helps colds heal faster, and yet it's a virus, supposedly without a "cure."
As far as the disease lying dormant...well, I'd hope that the spinal tap would be able to tell if it was dormant or not. -shrug- another question for the doctors.
That IS true. It happened to me... of course I got cancer first *eyeroll* but still...
I dunno... there's recorded proof HPV has been cured by itself in the body... and none for herpes...
But hey, hope is probably the only thing that gave people a reason to find cures...
... just be careful along the way.
Nautilus
02-01-2007, 06:39 PM
All blood, urine, paps, everything come out 100% negative for it.
GW is also one of those diseases your not supposta be able to ever get rid of, but she did. So I think that ANYTHING can be possible.
well it wouldn't show in the fluids, would it, because GW is a 'skin' virus. some people say it has a 2-year life span (certain strains), other people say it's forever...
my view on herpes and warts is this:
1. do what works.
it is different for every patient. so, fancygirl, if doing homeopathic stuff makes you feel better, think better, stress less and generally not exhibit any symptoms, then more power to ya.
boxingdoc
02-01-2007, 06:40 PM
Unless you have herpes encephalitis or meningitis, a spinal tap won't tell you much of anything. The virus resides within the nerve cells themselves.
fancygirl
02-01-2007, 09:13 PM
^I'm confused. Sirona says blood tests; my friend has had blood tests; I still have no idea.
Sirona-- I know about cold and herpes being totally different, but I still think viruses are pretty amazing little beasts. we've gotten to the point where we have zicam and airborne and all this other stuff to boost our immune system and beat the crap out of the virus.
I can only hope to find something similar for herpes. We'll see--still haven't looked up the weird spelled homeopathic remedies; then there's finding and meeting with homeopathic therapist(s); and that zapper looks pretty darn cool. If it works even just for colds, that little buggers worth $100. I spend $20 in meds and more in lost revenue every time I get a cold.
blood tests cannot determine what simplex you have. IE it can't tell the difference between oral and genital. Or even shingles for that matter.
If you have an outbreak or think you do then they test that, or they can do a blood test with it . They always give the warning that it cannot tell the difference in strain.
Katrine
02-01-2007, 10:25 PM
http://www.webmd.com/hw/genital_herpes/hw264763.asp
Just info on how one confirms herpes infection. May be useful in confirming if your chosen treatment methods prove effective.
But from reading this, it appears that there is almost no way to know 100% unless you have multiple tests over several years. I personally would focus on doing what it takes to be as healthy as possibly from an immune system perspective. The virus attacks when your immune is down. Many homeopathic remedies are good for that.
fancygirl
02-01-2007, 10:33 PM
when I tested positive, I had to wait a couple of days. Oddly, in talking to planned parenthood they said they normally didn't test for WHICH type of herpes it was. However, my samples had gone through that type and I was determined to have HSV-2.
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases:
"DIAGNOSIS
Your health care provider can diagnose typical genital herpes by looking at the sores. Some cases, however, are more difficult to diagnose.
The virus sometimes, but not always, can be detected by a laboratory test called a culture. A culture is done when your health care provider uses a swab to get and study material from a suspected herpes sore. You may still have genital herpes, however, even if your culture is negative (which means it does not show HSV).
A blood test cannot show whether you are having a herpes outbreak, but it can show if you are infected with HSV. Newer blood tests, called type-specific tests, can tell whether you are infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2. Blood tests cannot tell between genital and other herpes infections. Health experts assume, however, that if you are positive for HSV-2, you have had genital infection."
I'm currently researching colloidal silver.
Here's a quotation from
"Colloidal silver has been reported to kill 650 micro-organisms, many of which are associated with human diseases. This does not automatically mean that taking colloidal silver will "cure" diseases "caused" by these germs. Colloidal silver only kills micro-organisms when they are in contact with it for a sufficient period of time. The human body is a complex system which may prevent high enough concentrations of colloidal silver from reaching the "affected area"."
^ while it may "not automatically mean that taking colloidal siler will "cure" diseases" it seems it has more to do with having the c. silver in contact with the organisms or try to achieve a high enough concentration
(Pessimist/Realists: I'm not saying I can get it to a high enough concentration, but I also don't mind experimenting either.)
Here's also someone suggesting various dosages:
fancygirl
02-01-2007, 10:38 PM
But from reading this, it appears that there is almost no way to know 100% unless you have multiple tests over several years. I personally would focus on doing what it takes to be as healthy as possibly from an immune system perspective. The virus attacks when your immune is down. Many homeopathic remedies are good for that.
granted, I don't have the best immune system in the whole wide world-- but it has thus far been strong enough to prevent outbreaks (except once when I was wickedly ill over the summer and also having sex with the person who likely gave it to me. I wonder if I would have "caught" it anyways if my immune system had been healthy at that time?)
Since I don't have outbreaks, why not tinker around with homeopathic treatments for curing it? If it does take several years, I'm okay with that too--I'm not expecting a cure tomorrow. From what I gather, hope lies in trying various remedies and going through cleansings and therapies.
So, if it takes years, yeah-- probably i'll have sex before I'm cured (but I will tell my partner and also use protection.)
It's also not like I'm putting my life on hold-- I'm balancing a lot of things at the moment, not feverishly spending 24/7 maniacally searching for "the" cure. If it's out there though (for the HSV-2 strain I have, or whatever treatment would work with my physiology best), I am looking.
idreamofaislin
02-01-2007, 11:03 PM
I don't know about homeopathic treatments for herpes.
I'll just say that I had gluten intolerance- a supposedly incurable condition. A procedure called NAET cured me. Definitely worth checking into.
fancygirl
02-01-2007, 11:06 PM
^interesting, yet only applicable to allergies.
For those with allergies interested, check out:
bikinigirl04
02-01-2007, 11:40 PM
have you looked at any message boards? you might try:
http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/messageforum/
http://racoon.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi
http://www.yoshi2me.com/phpbb/index.php
on all the different ones there are sections that talk about clinical trials, i think there are sections that talk about alternative treatments. maybe you can volunteer for clinical trials for different treatments?
i came across this really good article on bondage.com of all places...
http://www.herpes.com/hsv1-2.html
(here's a link to the whole thread on bondage:)
http://bondage.com/topic_id/221863/forums/topic.html
hope you find something. what blows my mind is that it's not included in routine std tests, if it's so common?
Sirona
02-02-2007, 04:58 AM
blood tests cannot determine what simplex you have. IE it can't tell the difference between oral and genital. Or even shingles for that matter.
If you have an outbreak or think you do then they test that, or they can do a blood test with it . They always give the warning that it cannot tell the difference in strain.
That's not true anymore, there is a test available to test not only for if you have herpes but if it's simplex 1 or 2. Unless you know about it and ask for it you WON'T get it.
In the past, type-specific blood tests were not always accurate because they confused other herpes virus antibodies such as varicella zoster (chicken pox), Epstein Barr, or mononucleosis for herpes simplex (Types 1 and 2) antibodies. The Western Blot has long been the standard test for diagnosis. It was designed to test for antibodies, but is costly and time consuming.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved very accurate type-specific blood tests to diagnose herpes. The new tests are roughly one-fifth the cost of the Western Blot and are much faster and easier to administer. One of these, the POCkit HSV2 Rapid Test by Diagnology is an accurate test for genital herpes caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The "POC" in POCkit stands for "Point Of Care", which means the test can be done in a doctor's office and can provide results in less than 10 minutes. Meridian Diagnostics has developed a test for HSV-1. With Meridian's Premier test, the health care provider takes a blood sample from the arm and the blood is sent to the lab for results. Results could take a few days depending on how fast the lab can do the test. Another test which requires blood to be drawn and sent off for results is HerpeSelect from Focus Technologies. These tests cannot determine whether the HSV infection is oral or genital. However, since most cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-2, a positive Type 2 result most likely indicates a genital infection.
bikinigirl04
02-02-2007, 10:07 AM
there's so much conflicting information out there. i read somewhere that up until the last few years, they told everyone that it can't be spread if there are no signs of an OB...so imagine how many people between then and now (and even now) have been just happily going around spreading their lovegerms all around.
people, it's not just sleeping around that spreads it. ORAL SEX is the main thing that does! most people have oral herpes, and people go around giving each other unprotected head all the time. slobbering their oral herpes all over each other's junk.
sorry i think i'm getting off topic...
AlexxaHex
02-02-2007, 11:15 AM
people, it's not just sleeping around that spreads it. ORAL SEX is the main thing that does! most people have oral herpes, and people go around giving each other unprotected head all the time. slobbering their oral herpes all over each other's junk.
No. There are two different types of herpes - oral and genital. You can't give someone oral herpes in the genital area (and vice versa). It just doesn't work like that.
bikinigirl04
02-02-2007, 11:30 AM
this is from that article i posted the link to:
"The primary difference between the two viral types is in where they typically establish latency in the body- their "site of preference." HSV-1 usually establishes latency in the trigeminal ganglion, a collection of nerve cells near the ear. From there, it tends to recur on the lower lip or face. HSV-2 usually sets up residence in the sacral ganglion at the base of the spine. From there, it recurs in the genital area .
Even this difference is not absolute either type can reside in either or both parts of the body and infect oral and/or genital areas. Unfortunately, many people aren't aware of this, which contributes both to the spread of type 1 and to the misperception that the two types are fundamentally different."
here's the link again:
http://www.herpes.com/hsv1-2.html
idreamofaislin
02-02-2007, 12:36 PM
^interesting, yet only applicable to allergies.
For those with allergies interested, check out:
http://www.naet.com/
You don't know that the reason it's still running through you isn't because of an allergy. (You're still thinking western. XDD)
My "gluten intolerance" was actually an allergy to B vitamins. Western medicine assumes a lot and puts incorrect names on lots of conditions. (Like, lactose (a sugar found in cow's milk) intolerance is, more often than not, caesin (a protein found in cow's milk) intolerance.)
Your herpes virus could very well be kept around, or even caused, by an allergy.
AlexxaHex
02-02-2007, 01:21 PM
this is from that article i posted the link to:
"The primary difference between the two viral types is in where they typically establish latency in the body- their "site of preference." HSV-1 usually establishes latency in the trigeminal ganglion, a collection of nerve cells near the ear. From there, it tends to recur on the lower lip or face. HSV-2 usually sets up residence in the sacral ganglion at the base of the spine. From there, it recurs in the genital area .
Even this difference is not absolute either type can reside in either or both parts of the body and infect oral and/or genital areas. Unfortunately, many people aren't aware of this, which contributes both to the spread of type 1 and to the misperception that the two types are fundamentally different."
here's the link again:
I'd say almost anything is possible, but spreading HSV-1 in a HSV-2 area is not probable. I would think the chance of catching HIV through oral sex is greater.
Sirona
02-02-2007, 01:43 PM
You can't give someone oral herpes in the genital area (and vice versa). It just doesn't work like that.
That's 100% completely inaccurate. It happens all the time and is not remotely rare.
There are two Herpes simplex viruses; Herpes simplex 1 and Herpes simplex 2.
Either type can infect the mouth or the genitals.
It is possible for a person to contract genital herpes if the partner with oral herpes performs oral sex. Oral herpes can be transmitted to the genitals, and vice versa. Symptoms are similar.
***
SOURCES
***
More than one in five Americans - 45 million people - are infected with genital herpes.
HSV-1 and HSV-2 look identical under the microscope, and either type can infect the mouth or genitals.
http://www.smartersex.org/stis/herpes.asp
Research shows that 90% of the population has been exposed to HSV-1, "oral herpes," and 25% of the population aged 25-45 years old in the United States has been exposed to infection with HSV-2, "genital herpes."
HSV-1, the virus responsible for common cold sores, can be transmitted through oral secretions. This usually occurs during kissing, or by eating and drinking from contaminated utensils.
Additionally, HSV-1 can cause genital herpes through transmission during oral-genital sex, thus both strains of the virus may be transmitted by sexual contact. Initial oral herpes infection, however, usually occurs in childhood. It is therefore not classified as a sexually transmitted disease.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/print/ency/article/000857.htm
Bridgette
02-02-2007, 01:59 PM
You can't get rid of herpes. EVER. There is no cure. None. Conventional or otherwise. You can suppress symptoms, but you will ALWAYS carry the virus. Period.
Lysine is good for suppressing the symptoms. I've gotten cold sores my whole life and I would LOOOOOVE to get rid of them for good, but it's not gonna happen. Lysine helps keep them from coming as often, and keeps them from being as severe when I get them AND helps them heal faster, but I still get them sometimes. Take like 3g of Lysine per day with food.
I know this is not what you want to hear, but well, the world is full of this type of thing and the best you can do is face it, deal with it and NOT get all frustrated about it.
I'm a believer in alternative medicines and homeopathic treatments, but I'm also realistic enough to know that there's nothing that will actually get RID of the virus for good. Many people who use the word "cure" are using it inappropriately - a cure means it's gotten rid of forever and there is no virus left in your body, not just that the symptoms have been repressed or controlled. I challenge anyone with a "cure" to go take a blood test and tell me their test came back negative.
PookaShell
02-02-2007, 02:00 PM
You can't get rid of herpes. EVER. There is no cure. None. Conventional or otherwise. You can suppress symptoms, but you will ALWAYS carry the virus. Period.
:yes:
Nicolina
02-02-2007, 02:49 PM
I'm a believer in alternative medicines and homeopathic treatments, but I'm also realistic enough to know that there's nothing that will actually get RID of the virus for good. Many people who use the word "cure" are using it inappropriately - a cure means it's gotten rid of forever and there is no virus left in your body, not just that the symptoms have been repressed or controlled. I challenge anyone with a "cure" to go take a blood test and tell me their test came back negative.
I have a few questions about all this:
First, do herpes tests detect antibodies? Because if they do, then isn't it difficult to tell whether or not the virus is still in your system?
For instance: I'm pretty sure that if you've had dysplasia caused by HPV, and get it treated by laser or cryosurgery, your blood will always test positive for the antibodies to HPV, but this is because you have been exposed to the virus, not because the virus still resides in your system.
I understand that herpes apparently works differently, I'm just questioning how easy or difficult it would be to know without a doubt if a person had actually found a permanent cure.
And though I'm a science geek, I'll say this: placebos have been scientifically proven to work. That's why they always compare new treatments to placebos. The question is always: "Does this treatment work better than a placebo?" Which implies, doesn't it, that placebos work reasonably well. So a "positive attitude" and a belief in unconventional cures can conceivably lead to better health, even if we don't completely understand why....
fancygirl
02-02-2007, 03:00 PM
^ :yes:
and then there's so much out there, especially in non-western meds that could offer a possibility.
The thing is, herpes is uncurable until it's not. Additionally, since there's different strains and everyone's body make up is different, what does not work for one person very well could work for another.
You don't know that the reason it's still running through you isn't because of an allergy. (You're still thinking western. XDD)
My "gluten intolerance" was actually an allergy to B vitamins. Western medicine assumes a lot and puts incorrect names on lots of conditions. (Like, lactose (a sugar found in cow's milk) intolerance is, more often than not, caesin (a protein found in cow's milk) intolerance.)
Your herpes virus could very well be kept around, or even caused, by an allergy.
Definitely something to ponder.
Sirona
02-02-2007, 03:28 PM
Many people who use the word "cure" are using it inappropriately - a cure means it's gotten rid of forever and there is no virus left in your body, not just that the symptoms have been repressed or controlled. I challenge anyone with a "cure" to go take a blood test and tell me their test came back negative.
I think that's the biggest issue here. The people claiming to be cured just aren't having outbreaks anymore.
Additionally, since there's different strains and everyone's body make up is different, what does not work for one person very well could work for another.
I know there are different types but I haven't been able to find anything anywhere about varying strains amoung the types.
I have a few questions about all this:
First, do herpes tests detect antibodies? Because if they do, then isn't it difficult to tell whether or not the virus is still in your system?
Antibodies bind to foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses, causing them to be destroyed. They're there because you have a current infection. The current tests available for Herpes (like The Western Blot test which is the best currently available) are amazingly accurate both for type specificity and sensitivity. You can find some good info on them here (http://www.ashastd.org/pdfs/blood_test.pdf).
Herpes is what's known as a latent virus. Herpes simplex and other herpes viruses have a way of creating a small but permanent colony of viral particles inside the body. This colony is often completely inactive (asleep) but it persists for a lifetime.
Here's how it works: once HSV gains a foothold, the virus begins making copies of itself and spreading. This can lead to a range of signs and symptoms, everything from subtle symptoms that go unrecognized to severe illness. In response, the immune system mobilizes its forces for an assault and limits HSV's spread.
Whether there are severe symptoms or not, virus will persist in the body. To avoid the immune system, HSV will retreat along the nerve pathways, finding safe sanctuary in a nerve root called a “ganglion.” In cases of genital herpes, HSV retreats to the sacral ganglion located at the base of the spine. In “oral” or facial herpes (cold sores), HSV finds its way to the trigeminal ganglion at the top of the spine. In the ganglion, the virus remains inactive (“latent”) for an indefinite period of time.
The phenomenon of latency is similar to a sleep cycle. In essence, the virus returns to a safe haven and sleeps, sometimes for long periods.
bikinigirl04
02-02-2007, 03:29 PM
i think people really need to get informed and know how easy it is to give it/get it. when you look at all the facts it seems like everyone is going to get it eventually. even if you've only ever been with one person, and they have hsv-1 orally (apparently even if there are no signs of an OB), they can pass it to you genitally through oral sex! i even read of a case where a girl who had NEVER had sex passed it to herself genitally from masturbation, wetting her fingers on her mouth and touching herself down below. that's what i'm saying...you don't know what to believe, there's so much conflicting information. all the stuff i've been reading makes it start to sound like it's really no big deal and there's really no way to go through your whole life w/o being exposed to it or exposing someone else to it. NO sex is safe sex it seems!
Yekhefah
02-02-2007, 03:35 PM
^^^ Most people have oral herpes, true, but it's incredibly rare to infect someone when you're not having an outbreak. If you have a cold sore (fever blister), don't kiss anyone else or put your mouth in contact with any part of another person's body, and wash your hands before you touch your own genitals (or eyes; you can go blind if the virus gets in your eyes). But if you have no outbreak and no sores, there's virtually no chance of spreading the virus.
fancygirl
02-02-2007, 03:38 PM
I know there are different types but I haven't been able to find anything anywhere about varying strains amoung the types.
I was under the impression that, like HPV and other viruses, there were different strains of herpes. I'll have to look up support for that conclusion.
bikinigirl04
02-02-2007, 03:39 PM
yek-from what i gathered that's not true...maybe i'm misunderstanding but that's what all those articles are saying, that it CAN be spread when there's no OB and that it is common for it to spread that way...maybe i'm reading it wrong.
fancygirl
02-02-2007, 03:42 PM
^ I know that at least for genital herpes, it can spread through asymptomatic shedding (sexy huh?) where there's not outward symptoms but there's still sloughing off of the virus.
I was under the impression it was the same for oral herpes, but I don't know that for a fact.
Sirona
02-02-2007, 03:49 PM
Ditto. I think it used to be assumed that is was unlikely to spread it without an active outbreak but that's since been disproved.
bikinigirl04
02-02-2007, 03:52 PM
again, this is from that same article, did you guys read it?? the things they are saying now are NOT the same things we have always thought! it CAN be spread oral to genital, even when there is no OB. it says 5% of the time oral herpes is being shed in the saliva. going on that, technically it would seem less likely to get it from a single random encounter of oral sex than it would be to get it from a monogamous partner that you frequently have oral sex with...
http://www.herpes.com/hsv1-2.html
How Easily Spread?
As a number of readers have attested over the years, many people with genital herpes are at least as concerned about transmission-the likelihood of spreading the virus to a partner-as about their own health. On the other hand, few people with oral herpes, share this concern. Is this because one type is more contagious than the other?
The short answer is no. Both viral types are easily transmitted to their site of preference, and can also be spread to other sites. Both are most contagious during active outbreaks, but are often spread through viral shedding when there are no recognizable symptoms. According to Spruance, people with recurrent oral HSV-1 shed virus in their saliva about 5% of the time even when they show no symptoms. In the first year of infection, people with genital HSV-2 shed virus from the genital area about 6-10% of days when they show no symptoms, and less often over time. (Both of these figures reflect shedding as detected by viral culture.)
bikinigirl04
02-02-2007, 03:55 PM
sorry i'm getting all hyper about it. i have recently had a big scare and read so many things that i had never heard before...it's overwhelming. i tested negative for type 2 but i'm scared to trust the damn test.
Nicolina
02-02-2007, 04:25 PM
Antibodies bind to foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses, causing them to be destroyed. They're there because you have a current infection.
Really? Always due to a current infection? I didn't think that was the case.
Sirona
02-02-2007, 04:48 PM
Really? Always due to a current infection? I didn't think that was the case.
It is with herpes. *shrug* I'm certainly not going to guess about all viral infections as they all differ. I do however think it applies to all latent viruses.
I've never heard of a cure for herpes, but I would look to Rosemary Gladstar (nothing in her Woman's Herbal about it) and Susan Weed (huge searchable website). Both do a lot of scientific/medical research as well as being really grounded in a holistic point of view.
fancygirl
02-03-2007, 11:34 AM
^cool! thanks. just looking for a direction to experiment in, so thanks for the two recommendations.
blaze_n_hot
02-03-2007, 06:49 PM
As a bio minor, I had to add my two cents. Herpes is a virus, and is not curable. Herpes works by mixing viral DNA with the DNA of your nerve cells. There are ways to prevent outbreaks, but there is no way to change your DNA.
I want to say that I commend your optimism. It is normal to engage in "bargaining" after finding out bad news. You believe that if you change your behavior or find the right herb, you'll be able to cure Herpes. Eventually, you will get to the acceptance stage, where you'll be able to live with the diagnosis.
Try googling Kubler-Ross' Stages of Grief model. Hopefully this will help.
BrookeBaden
02-03-2007, 06:59 PM
hun, i'm a nursing student. if you've got herpes any kind (simples I or genital) you've got it FOREVER. you might not break out all the time, but the virus is in your cells and if you're not experiencing an outbreak the virus is dormant but when you get an outbreak (often brought on by times of stress) the virus becomes active and multiplies. you will ALWAYS have herpes, end of story