If you’re looking for natural remedies for herpes outbreak prevention, you’ve come to the place where you’ll get the knowledge and advices that will help you achieve your purpose.
Most people who are interested in seeking remedies for herpes are very concerned because they are affected by a genital herpes or cold sore, which are the most common, but not the only, forms of the disease.
Many of these people are often unaware the herpes virus is very difficult to kill and it can damage their health throughout their lives.
I will also tell you about a natural product that prevents outbreaks and for this reason it will be very useful for you.
The article is divided into several parts to make it easier to read. I have included an index allows you to start with the part of most interest to you and I have placed arrows next to the subtitles with links to return to the index.
| Begin reading for the part most captures your interest |
| Types of herpes |
| Signs and symptoms of herpes |
| Diagnosis of herpes simplex virus |
| Herpes transmission |
| Natural remedies for herpes outbreak prevention |
| Herpes zoster prevention |
| Final notes about natural remedies for herpes outbreak prevention |
Types of herpes [↑]
If you are looking for a remedy for herpes, it is important you first know the type of herpes you have because the type is a weight factor to consider when choosing a treatment.
The type of herpes is determined by one criterion. There are two fundamental criteria; the first is based on the virus that causes the disease, and the second is based on the part of the body affected by the outbreaks.
There is a very close relationship between the two criteria because the part of the body that affects herpes depends fundamentally on the virus that causes it.
How many types of herpes are there according to the causative virus?
There are three types of herpes, according to the virus that causes the disease. Herpes type 1 is caused by a virus called “herpes simplex type 1” (HSV-1), the second type of herpes is caused by “herpes simplex type 2” (HSV-2), and the third type of herpes, known as shingles, is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox: the varicella zoster virus.
The word herpes can lead to confusion when it refers to the first two herpes types because it designates both the disease and its cause. In the case of third type herpes, this does not occur because the disease and its cause have different names (Table 1).
| Table 1: Types of herpes according to the causative virus | |
|---|---|
| Type of herpes | Causative virus |
| Herpes simplex type 1 | Herpes simplex virus type 1 |
| Herpes simplex type 2 | Herpes simplex virus type 2 |
| Herpes zoster or shingles | Varicella zoster virus |
Notice in the name of the viruses that cause herpes type 1 or herpes type 2 the word simplex appears. This word is used to emphasize these viruses have a common characteristic that differentiates them from the rest of the viruses in the family. For this reason, the phrase “herpes simplex” refers to any of these viruses or the disease they cause.
Different types of herpes according to the part of the body affected
According to the area of the body affected, there are different types of herpes. The most common are genital herpes and oral herpes. The first denomination is used for the herpes that affects area of the genitals and near zones and the second one for the herpes in mouth and herpes on lips.
Herpes in mouth usually affects the tongue. In that case we talk about herpes on tongue. Herpes can also affect the throat: herpes in throat.
In addition to the genitals and mouth, which are usually the most affected areas, herpes can also infect the nose, eyes, and scalp.
Herpes on the head can affect the central nervous system causing herpes encephalitis – a disease that often results in the death of sufferers or serious sequelae to their physical and mental condition.
Although the types of herpes according to their cause or the part of the body affected have different denominations, there is a close relationship between them because each virus tends to affect certain parts of the body more frequently (Table 2).
Statistics show herpes simplex virus type 2 most often affects the area of the genitals and nearby areas. This is why many people call it the genital herpes virus.
Because this virus can affect other parts of the body, although less often, there are people who talk about genital herpes in those other parts. For example, they talk about genital herpes on mouth to say the virus has affected the mouth.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 most often affects parts of the body located above the neck; the lips and mouth are the most frequently affected parts. For this reason, many people call it the labial herpes virus.
| Table 2: Relationship between different types of herpes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of herpes | Causative virus | Part of the body affected |
| Herpes simplex type 1 | Virus herpes simplex type 1 | It most often affects the areas of the body above the neck and less frequently the genitals and other parts of the body. |
| Herpes simplex type 2 | Virus herpes simplex type 2 | The genitals and nearby areas are the most frequently affected parts; the upper parts of the body are less frequently affected. |
| Herpes zoster or shingles | Varicella zoster virus | The eye area and the middle area of the chest are usually the most frequently affected parts of the body, while the distal half of the extremities is rarely affected. |
Signs and symptoms of herpes [↑]
The words sign and symptom have different meanings in the context of medicine. Symptoms refer to what the patient feels and signs to what the doctor perceives in the patient on the basis of his knowledge and through the use of diagnostic methods.
The herpes virus lodges in the nerve tissues of its host. Herpes simplex virus type 1 is housed in the trigeminal nerve nodes that are born in the brainstem. Herpes simplex 2 is housed in the dorsal root ganglia.
When the virus produces external affectations it is common the appearance of blisters that break and become sores. This external manifestation of the virus, i.e. the disease it causes, is called a herpes outbreak.
Although the signs and symptoms of herpes simplex, like those of any other disease, may vary from person to person, the most common are blisters and sores, which are usually preceded by itching and burning in the area of the outbreak.
The symptoms of herpes zoster may be confused with those of other diseases such as myocardial infarction, glaucoma, and kidney colic.
The herpes simplex virus always affects the same area externally, unless you become infected in other parts of the body by not complying with adequate prophylactic measures.
For this reason, if you have a first outbreak of labial herpes, for example, you may have recurrent discomfort and sores on your lip. Imagine the herpes outbreak appearing in your eyes: you could have recurrent herpes keratitis.
Diagnosis of herpes simplex virus [↑]
The diagnosis of herpes is to determine if you are infected with the virus because you have a suspicious sign or symptom or want to know if you have been infected, even if you have no signs or symptoms of the disease.
Because shingles is suffered by patients who have had chickenpox, a diagnosis is not necessary to determine infection with the virus in suspected cases of the disease. For this reason, the herpes diagnosis of interest focuses on herpes simplex.
When selecting a herpes remedy, you should be sure you are infected with the virus, and if so, you should know the type of virus causing the infection. Keep in mind you may be infected with one or both viruses.
The diagnosis of herpes simplex, like that of many other viral diseases, begins with the patient’s own self-diagnosis by comparing his or her symptoms with the common symptoms of the disease.
The clinical diagnosis of herpes simplex virus infection is based on laboratory tests.
If you have a herpes outbreak, the virus will be present in the blisters and sores. A sample of the fluid from the blisters or secretions from the sores is collected and the laboratory determines if the sores contain the virus.
This method is especially applicable to patients who want to know if they are infected with the virus because they have had sex with an infected person, but have not had an outbreak.
If you have had intimate relationships with a person infected with the herpes virus, I recommend you see your doctor for advice on what to do.
Herpes transmission [↑]
In this section, you will know the main ways of spreading herpes and also ways by which the virus is not transmitted, but they cause doubts.
Ways of transmitting the virus that causes herpes
The herpes simplex virus is spread by direct contact with outbreak areas or body fluids where it is present.
The virus can also be spread through clothing and objects worn by an infected person, although this virus cannot “live” for long outside a host’s body.
Those who do not have direct contact with the virus are not in danger of becoming infected.
Transmission of the varicella-zoster virus occurs when someone with a chickenpox outbreak has contact with another person not infected with the virus or also by contact with the area affected by shingles.
Many people do not know that infection with one of the viruses does not immunize against the other two. For this reason, we may be infected with the varicella-zoster virus and also be infected with the herpes simplex virus type 2.
We can also be infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 and be infected with herpes simplex virus type 1.
Many people will wonder why there are so many people infected with herpes, if it is an infection that could be avoided, because it is spread by direct contact.
We must add to this answer: many times there are people carrying the virus who do not know, because the herpes virus can be active, even if its host does not suffer from an outbreak. The only way to find out is to have an examination in the clinical laboratory.
By what ways is the herpes simplex virus not transmitted?
The herpes simplex virus is not hereditary. A child of parents infected with either strain of the virus must be born healthy unless the mother has an outbreak of genital herpes or the virus is active in her vagina at the time of delivery.
Sperm from men with herpes on the scrotum, sometimes called herpes on the testicles, are not infected with the virus. Therefore, the semen is not a way of transmission.
Blood donations are not a way of transmitting the herpes simplex virus. You can donate blood even if you are infected with the virus; this does not prevent you from doing so.
Natural remedies for herpes outbreak prevention [↑]
Outbreak prevention applies in patients whose diagnosis has been positive for the herpes simplex virus.
Preventive treatments are used both in patients who have had at least one outbreak and in people infected with the virus who have never shown signs or symptoms of the disease.
There is no vaccine for herpes simplex, that is, herpes caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or herpes simplex virus type 2.
Herpes simplex outbreak prevention is primarily done through one or more of the following methods:
- Strengthening of the patient’s immune system.
- Control of outbreak triggers.
- Suppressive therapy with an antiviral agent.
Prevention of herpes simplex outbreak by strengthening the immune system
If you are infected with the herpes simplex virus and your immune system weakens, you are very likely to have an outbreak.
If you manage to keep your immune system strong, it is unlikely you will show signs or symptoms of herpes.
Your immune system is unable to eliminate the virus, but it can prevent the outbreak.
By clicking on the image you can access the official Herpesyl website and learn more about it. You can also purchase it.
Hepesyl – Preventing herpes oubreak.
Preventing the outbreak by controlling triggers
There are a number of factors that are not the cause of herpes, but contribute to the onset of an outbreak. These factors are called herpes triggers.
Stress is a very important factor. Many people think of stress as the cause of herpes and talk about herpes from stress.
If you want to avoid a herpes outbreak, manage your stress. There are simple techniques can help you. I recommend stress management techniques described in this book by David Bonham-Carter.
The book is easy to read and contains practical examples.
People infected with the herpes virus should avoid foods rich in arginine and poor in lysine. Both are amino acids your body needs. Arginine contributes to herpes outbreaks and lysine prevents them.
Suppressive therapy with an antiviral agent
Suppressive therapy is a prolonged procedure indicated for patients with frequent herpes simplex outbreaks.
This therapy can be extended up to one year and is based on the use of an oral antiviral agent such as valacyclovir[1].
A treatment of this type is expensive; it is estimated to cost about USD 1100 in the United States.
Other disadvantages of suppressive therapy are the side effects of the antiviral agent used which is contraindicated for pregnant women and patients suffering from some conditions that make them intolerant.
In January 2019, The Open Dermatology Journal[2] published a study according to which the herpes simplex virus type 1 not only lodges in the trigeminal nerve nodes, but also in the outbreak area after the healing of the sores.
Suppressive therapy with an antiviral agent is obviously not a natural remedy. I have included it in this section to give you complete information about prophylactic treatments for herpes.
Herpes zoster prevention [↑]
There is a preventive treatment for shingles based on vaccination. Two types of vaccines are available. The most effective is the recombinant vaccine, approved by the FDA in 2017 and recommended for people 50 years of age or older in two doses.
The other vaccine, called live attenuated vaccine, was approved by the FDA in 2006; it is less effective than recombinant vaccine and is recommended for people 60 years of age or older in a single dose.
Herpes zoster in the eye is very dangerous because it causes severe keratitis which can lead to partial or total vision loss.
If you are interested in herpes zoster ophthalmic and its prevention, I recommend the following video.
Final notes about natural remedies for herpes outbreak prevention [↑]
In this article I have presented you with extensive information about herpes, its causes, diagnosis and preventive treatment.
By reading the article, you’ve learned the three main ways to prevent a herpes outbreak.
Herpesyl is a supplement composed of 26 natural ingredients that will help you prevent herpes outbreaks without adverse effects on your health.
If you found this information useful, share it with your friends on social networks, so they too can get to know it.
References:
1. ↑ Valacyclovir. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valaciclovir
2. ↑ The Open Dermatology Journal. https://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/Fulltext/2006/01020/Herpes_simplex_virus_2_infection_increases_HIV.11.aspx
Leave a Reply