About Herpes

HSV-1 can cause lesions on the genitals and HSV-2 can cause oral lesions. However, most oral herpetic lesions are caused by HSV-1 and most genital herpetic lesions are caused by HSV-2.

Herpes Simplex 2 (HSV2) usually infects the genital area, however in rare cases it can infect any part of the body, including the eyes.. 

Prevalence
It is estimated that between 20 and 30% of all Americans have genital herpes (up to 80 million Americans).  95% of adults carry the HSV1 virus, with 80% of people getting at least one outbreak of a cold sore due to HSV1 infection, and 40% having repeated cold sores.

Severity
The virus affects people quite differently.  Some people have only one initial outbreak, and rarely or never again have another.   Others have near constant outbreaks.  Most people who do have recurring outbreaks will have one to three per year, sometimes precipitated by diet or stress.  Many people find that the number of outbreaks lessens as each year passes. 

Viral Shedding
The Herpes virus can live on the skin even when there are no lesions or sores.  80% of all herpes transmission happens when there are no sores or visible signs of herpes.   

Herpes outbreaks are caused by the Herpes virus. 

Pictures of Genital Herpes Outbreaks 

(warning - graphic material)

Controlling the virus
Diet, stress, lifestyle and drugs can all affect the number and severity of outbreaks.  Until now the drugs of choice have been aciclovir, valaciclovir, and famvir.  Since aciclovir was orignially patented, many naturally occuring substances have been found that kill or inactivate the virus.  Others have been shown to induce the bodies immune system to do so.  

Freedom Fix-it is a topically applied cream that is the only product available that combines the most powerful of these naturally occurring anti-herpes virus substances.  Fix-it also contains natural substances that carry these powerful antivirals deep below the skin surface, where other topical antivirals such as aciclovir do not go.  This is crucial, as the virus must be inactivated below the skin in order to stop the outbreak.  Furthermore Fix-it includes immune boosters that provoke the body to fight the virus, as well as natural anti-inflammatory and anti-irritants that stop irritation, sooth the skin and promote healing.   

Fix-it can be used at the first feeling of tingling warning that an outbreak may be coming on to prevent the outbreak from occurring.  It can also be used regularly as a suppressive therapy and to prevent viral shedding.  Many people have found Fix-it to be far superior to any prescription medication, eliminating an outbreak altogether if used before lesions form, or reducing healing time to less than 3 days if used after lesions have already formed.

Fix-it Oral is a herbal supplement in capsule form.  The natural ingredients in Fix-it have been clinically proven to lessen or eliminate the number, severity, and duration of herpes outbreaks.  

Preventing transmission

Prevention is difficult since the virus can be spread to others when the infected person has no evidence of a current outbreak; however, avoiding direct contact with an open lesion will lower the risk of infection.

In people with recurrent oral lesions, the use of sunscreen during sun exposure may reduce the frequency of outbreaks.

Since one can never know if viral shedding is occurring, it is important to use an anti-microbial sexual lubricant to inactivate the virus during sex.  Freedom Antiviral Lubricant is a sexual lubricant designed for this purpose.

Testing
Blood tests for antibodies to herpes are available.  Antibodies to herpes means that there is the possibility for viral shedding and herpes outbreaks.

Initial episode:

First episodes of genital herpes are characterized by fever, headache, malaise, and muscle aches. Locally, pain, itching, dysuria, vaginal and urethral discharge, and tender enlarged lymph nodes may be present. Lesions may be present in various stages including vesicles, pustules, and ulcers. Cervical and urethral involvement is seen in 80% of women during the first episode. Recurrence rates for HSV-2 genital infections are an average of four in the first 12 months, and 90% will have at least one recurrence in 12 months. Whereas, patients with HSV-1 genital infections will have an average of only one recurrence in the first 12 months, and only 55% will have at least one recurrence in 12 months.

Clinical symptoms and signs of oral-facial HSV infection include fever, malaise, muscle aches, inability to eat, irritability, and cerval lymph node swelling which may last from 3-14 days. Lesions may involve the soft palate, gingiva, tongue, lips and facial area.

Herpes and Pregnancy:
Herpes can be passed on to the unborn child and cause serious infection and even death of the child.  This is very uncommon.  Herpes can be passed on to the baby during childbirth.  Pregnant women with herpes simplex infection should receive weekly viral cultures of the cervix and external genitalia as the delivery date approaches. At the time of delivery, if active lesions are present, or the viral culture is positive for herpes, a cesarean delivery (C-section) is recommended to avoid infecting the newborn.

Herpes Zoster
The Herpes Simplex Viruses (HSV) types I and II belong to the a-Herpesviridae. They share with the Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) some similar biological properties including the reproductive cycle, life-long latency in the sensory nerve ganglia, neuro-epidermotropism, and cytopathic effects [1-5]. 

• The severity of the initial outbreak seems to be related to the severity of future outbreaks. 
• There are approximately eight different strains of the herpes virus. The two main types of the virus are Herpes Simplex 1 (HSV1) and Herpes Simplex 2 (HSV 2).
• Herpes can be transmitted between humans and animals

• 3% of people with normal immune systems have HSV that is resistant to Acyclovir and related prescription anti-herpes drugs

• Infection with HSV-1 occurs more frequently and at a younger age than HSV-2. Over 90% of adults have antibodies to HSV-1 by their late 20's. Antibodies indicate a prior or current infection to the particular infectious agent. Antibodies to HSV-2 are usually not detected until puberty. 10-40% of the general U.S. population have antibodies to HSV-2. In obstetrical clinics, 20-30% of pregnant women possess HSV-2 antibodies, but only 10% report a past history of genital lesions.

• Asymptomatic salivary excretion of HSV-1 has been reported in 2-9 percent of adults and 5-8 percent of children. The efficiency of transmission is greater during symptomatic versus asymptomatic periods of viral excretion
 
• In one study the total genital herpes viral shedding rate in HSV-2-seropositive men was 5%.  The frequency of viral shedding in men with genital herpes appears comparable with that in women.".

Lifestyle and diet can have a very strong impact on the body's ability to deal with the herpes virus.

• avoid chocolate and peanuts
• manage stress
• regular exercise boosts the immune system and the bodies ability to deal with stress
• alternative health treatments such as acupuncture, massage, and chi-kung can be helpful
• alcohol can repress the immune system
• lack of sleep can repress the immune system
• a baby aspirin per day, or 1/2 an adult aspirin ( 125 mg acetylsalicylic acid) can help to suppress herpes outbreaks, and lessen severity and healing time of active infections.

Schizophrenia Cause Shows Link to Genital Herpes

The disease alters an individual's emotions, thought processes and perceptions of reality. Approximately one percent of the world's population is affected. Typically, symptoms appear during the late teen and 20s.

The study centered around stored blood samples from the mothers of 27 adults with schizophrenia and those from the mothers of 54 healthy adults. These samples had been collected at the end of each woman's pregnancy.

The analysis between the two groups uncovered an association between antibodies for HSV-2 in a mother's blood and a child's later development of the disorder. The researchers wrote that they "did not find significant differences" between the groups when other infections were looked at in comparison.

They also said they did not know if infection with genital herpes is a direct cause or simply a factor in developing schizophrenia. (Archives of General Psychiatry, Nov. 2001)