Healing Herpes and Shingles Naturally With Herbs

Herpes is caused by a virus, and once contracted, you will carry the virus in your body forever. While there are no cures, there are natural treatment options.

There are three major forms of herpes.

Herpes Simplex 1 (HSV 1) is more commonly known as oral herpes, or cold sores. Oral herpes causes sores, or blisters on your mouth. Most often a herpes cold sore will appear on your lips, but sometimes it can occur near your eyes. HSV 1 is transmitted by kissing someone with a cold sore. Many people have been affected with oral herpes, even if they have never had any symptoms. Oral herpes is the most common form with about 80% of adults having the HSV 1 virus.

You likely have oral herpes if you:

• Have ever had a fever blister or cold sore.
• If a friend or relative has kissed you with a cold sore.
• Drank from a glass of an infected person with an outbreak.

Herpes Simplex 2 (HSV 2), is a STD, diagnosed at genital herpes. Genital herpes is most commonly known as herpes. HSV 2 is caused by skin to skin contact with an infected person. If a person has an active outbreak, and passes the viral fluid to their partner, commonly that partner will have an outbreak within 3-21 days after exposure. Even if the breakout is not active, you can pass the virus on through what it called the “shedding” of the virus. Genital herpes is the second most common form of herpes. About 30% or more of all American adults over the age of 25 carry the HSV 2 virus.

You are more likely to develop genital herpes if you:

• Are active with multiple partners
• Protection is used during outbreaks
• Protection is not taken even during the “shedding” cycle

Herpes Varicella Zoster (HSV 3) is the virus that causes shingles. Shingles is a painful rash that can appear anywhere on your body. Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Once you have had chicken pox as a child, you now carry the shingles virus. The virus will lay dormant, living in your spine for years. A person who has had chicken pox has a 50 percent chance of getting shingles. Most cases of shingles develop in patients over 50, but it can happen earlier in life too.

You can develop Shingles at any age, but are more likely to develop the virus if:

• You are older than 50
• You had the chickenpox virus before as an infant.
• You have a weakened immune system from another disease, or medications.

If you come into contact with a shingles rash, and you have not contracted chicken pox earlier in life, you will develop the chicken pox virus, and not shingles.

Either form of herpes starts out with a cluster of blisters. These blisters are highly contagious. The fluid in the blisters is what contains and spreads the virus. The area underneath is red. As the sores become active, this is when the pain, and itch is at it’s worst. Once the blisters open, the sore becomes less painful.

In cases of genital herpes, the blisters or rash normally appear vulva, vagina, or anus. Lesions can also occur in or on the cervix, on the buttocks or the thighs. Men generally get sores and herpes lesions on their penis or the shaft of the penis.

All sexual contact should be avoided during an outbreak.

The first outbreak of any of the herpes viruses is usually the worst, and can include these other symptoms as well:

• Fever
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Tiredness

• 1 out of 4 people have genital herpes (worldwide)
• 80 % of Americans have herpes 1
• 30% of Americans have herpes 2
• 50 % of Americans will develop shingles at some point in their life.
• 33 % of those getting the Shingles Vaccine will still develop shingles. (There are some thoughts that show getting the vaccine will accelerate your chances of a break out, and having more repeatedly)
• Woman are four times as likely to develop genital herpes (HSV2) as men.
• The largest increase of genital herpes is among young white adults (ages 16-23)
• Infection of genital herpes has increased over 30% since the 1970’s.
• The recurrence factor for HSV 2 is about 90 %. Most occurrences will happen within 6 months to a year of the first breakout.
• Most people who contract herpes are between 17 and 25.

Healing Herpes Naturally With Herbs