Herpes simplex

Herpes virus

Cold sores / blisters

Herpes is contagious, prevent spreading

Triggers for herpes breakouts

Additional underlying causes of herpes breakouts

Herpes remedies

References

Herpes virus

Cold sores (also called fever blisters) are caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two variants: HSV-1 and HSV-2. The most common is HSV-1, which usually causes oral outbreaks around the lips and mouth. The second most common is HSV-2, which usually causes outbreaks around the genitals.

Other less common herpes simplex viruses (herpesviridae) infect humans and cause a variety of illnesses including chickenpox, herpetic whitlow (hands and fingers), herpes gladiatorum (skin to skin transmission, often during contact sports), ocular herpes / keratitis (eyes), cytomegalovirus, various cancers, brain or central nervous system inflammation (encephalitis), Mollaret's meningitis, neonatal herpes, and possibly Bell's palsy.

About 90% of us have been exposed to a herpes viral infection at sometime during our lives. Between 65% and 90% of all people are infected worldwide. Most people who have an infection show no symptoms. In the USA, 58% of the population is infected with HSV-1 and 16% are infected with HSV-2. Among those carrying HSV-2 in the USA, fewer than one in twenty were aware that they are infected.

All viruses in the herpes family seem to produce life-long infections.

Some people experience self-destructive feelings such as depression, fear of rejection, isolation, fear of discovery and fear of masturbation following diagnosis, particularly the genital form of the disease. These feelings usually lessen over time.

HSV-1 appears to be particularly damaging to the nervous system and increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. (1)

A cold sore is not the same as a canker mouth ulcer. A herpes cold sore typically begins as several small blisters that grow into one large sore. In contrast, a canker sore forms individually. Unlike herpes sores, mouth ulcers are non-contagious, non-infectious and not sexually transmissible.

Cold sores / blisters

Generally signs and symptoms of cold sores are seen twenty days after the first exposure to the virus.

The blisters last for 2-21 days before going into a remission period.

Herpes viruses cycle between active periods, and periods of remission. The active phase may start with tingling, then develop into a cluster of small, painful blisters containing infectious virus particles. Sometimes they are accompanied by a fever, (2) sore throat, or swollen lymph glands. These blisters burst and crust over, and usually heal within 10 days. Oral herpes is highly visible and socially embarrassing.

Genital herpes is spread through microscopic lesions on the penis or vagina. After initial infection, the viruses are transported along sensory nerves to the sensory nerve cell bodies, where they become latent and reside life-long. Genital herpes is often asymptomatic, though viral shedding may still occur. At the slightest sign of tingling it is best to abstain from sex or use a condom.

Herpes is contagious, prevent spreading

Herpes viral infections are extremely contagious (spread by touch).

Several years after the initial infection, outbreaks become less severe and more sporadic. Some people will become perpetually asymptomatic and will no longer experience outbreaks. However, they may still be contagious to others.

Herpes is transmitted by direct contact with a lesion or the body fluid of an infected individual, especially just before or during an outbreak, when viral shedding occurs. The lesion can even be a microscopic sized scratch that you are not aware of. Transmission can also occur through skin-to-skin contact during viral shedding, even if the host is symptom-free.

• Children are often exposed to oral herpes through kissing by infected adults.
• Remember that the virus is contagious when the first tingling symptoms start, or even before. Blisters are contagious, especially in their early stages.
• During the active phase, don't pick, squeeze or even touch the blisters; wash your hands frequently.
• Avoid close contact and don't share towels, unwashed eating or drinking utensils, toothbrushes, razors etc.

Triggers for herpes breakouts

At present, getting the herpes virus is a lifelong infection. Recurrent outbreaks of symptoms may occur from time to time, especially when the immune system is compromised or the the presence of the following triggers:

• Artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame. It can trigger an outbreak within hours.
• Stress to the immune system. Being run down, fatigued, stressed, or suffering colds or 'flu (influenza).
• Menstruation.
• Exposure to strong sunshine, cold or wind.
• Sunburn.
• Poor diet. Try to eat an alkaline diet with more veges especially green leafy vegetables, and sour fruits. Avoid sugar, wheat and all sweet foods and drinks - manufactured drinks, candies, cookies, cakes etc. The Standard American Diet has excess omega-6 oils (vegetable oils, seed oils) and insufficient omega-3 oils. (3)
• Immunosuppressant drugs.
• Tea and / or coffee.

Additional underlying causes of herpes breakouts

• Vitamin D deficiency.
• Metabolic imbalances - anaerobic/aerobic, anabolic/catabolic or pH imbalance (cellular, blood or tissue).
• Nutritional deficiencies - selenium, zinc, copper, vitamins A, B12.
• Iron overload (clinical or subclinical hemachromatosis). This often occurs together with copper deficiency.
• Hormone imbalances or swings - adrenal exhaustion, hypothyroidism, estrogen dominance, hypercortisolemia.
• Toxins such as heavy metals, oxidants (chlorine, bleach, sulfites) or cross-linkers (alcohol, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde).
• Chronic inflammation usually from allergies, intolerances, or an unrecognised or unresolved chronic infection.

Herpes remedies

• Increase lysine and reduce arginine in your diet.
  
  The herpes virus feeds on an amino acid called arginine, which may also stimulate its reproduction. To the virus, lysine looks like arginine. However, it is not able to use lysine, so a high intake of lysine starves the virus.
  
  Increase foods that are high in lysine, such as most vegetables, fish, turkey and chicken.
  
  Avoid foods that are high in arginine, such as chocolate, nuts, seeds, grains, pulses/beans. This means avoiding all wheat and other grains and everything made from them, and all beans. Such a diet is a totally healthy, long-life diet, and it is essentially the diet I explain in Grow Youthful.
• Vitamin D. Most adults are deficient in vitamin D. Read this link to see how much you should be getting.
• Vitamin C and zinc. Ideally, both these nutrients should be obtained through your diet, rather than by using supplements.
• Apple cider vinegar.
• BHT.
• Hydrogen peroxide.
• DMSO.
• See See which remedies visitors to Grow Youthful have used and which remedies they voted for.

References

1. Middleton P.J., Petric M., Kozak M., Rewcastle N.B., McLachlan D.R. Herpes-simplex viral genome and senile and presenile dementias of Alzheimer and Pick May 1980, Lancet 315 (8176): 1038. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(80)91490-7

2. Maltsev D, Fedirko V. Refractory atypical trigeminal neuralgia associated with reactivated herpesvirus infection: pathogenetic link and efficacy of combination antiviral therapy. Virusdisease. 2022 Jun;33(2):155-165. doi: 10.1007/s13337-022-00769-9. Epub 2022 Jun 13. PMID: 35991701; PMCID: PMC9381677.

3. Abeba Haile Mariamenatu, Emebet Mohammed Abdu. Overconsumption of Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) versus Deficiency of Omega-3 PUFAs in Modern-Day Diets: The Disturbing Factor for Their Balanced Antagonistic Metabolic Functions in the Human Body. Journal of Lipids, vol. 2021, Article ID 8848161.