Can You Get Rid of Herpes

Herpes is a virus that stays within your system for a lifetime. Once you contract it, it never leaves your body.  Sure, it may seem to go away for weeks, months or even years without its victim experiencing any of its uncomfortable symptoms. Lying dormant. Herpes seems to disappear, but eventually, as its victims know all-too-well the virus will become active again and a painful outbreak will occur.

With no known cure for either the Herpes Simplex I (mouth sores) virus or the Herpes Simplex II (genital herpes) viruses, those who are inflicted with the disease look to all sorts of places for help.  This leaves many people trying a multitude of homeopathic and traditional remedies to stave off an attack.  Some treatments work better than others.  A few patients have even reported being symptom free for ten years or more, making some experts asking the question, “can you get rid of herpes once and for all?”

Most researchers agree that while no, you can not rid your body of the actual virus (it tends to lay quietly dormant during non asymptomatic times), you can get rid of many of the herpes symptoms for long periods of time if you are careful. That is to be confused with curing the disease, which means it actually leaves your system; but handling the disease to stave off repeated attacks.

Herpes is a viral infection that goes through periods of active outbreaks of open sores and blisters. These sores are usually found either on or around the mouth and lips (as in the case of Herpes Simplex I) or the genitals and sex organs (as in the case of Herpes Simplex II), followed by periods of dormancy when no visible symptoms may be present in the patient for long periods of time.  It is during this dormancy period that most people mistakenly think that their herpes has gone away. Research shows that it hasn’t.  What herpes is very good at is hiding.

Eventually, the immune system will become weakened and the herpes infection/virus will come alive once again, thriving in this new weakened environment, causing another blister outbreak.  So, what makes herpes become active after such a long period of dormancy? NO one knows for sure but there are a lot of theories regarding this phenomenon.

It has been shown that any illness can weaken the immune system giving it the chance to thrive.  Stress too, is a big herpes activator.  Patients are encouraged to adopt a stress free life as possible to eliminate outbreaks.

While there are both prescription medications and homeopathic remedies to help treat herpes outbreaks and even strengthen the immune system to help keep outbreaks at a minimum, one of the best ways to prevent the disease from attacking is to keep your immune system as strong as possible.  This is done by being diligent about:

• Your Diet:  Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and lean meats to keep your body and immune system healthy.  Avoid mono-saturated fats, alcohol sweet drinks and refined sugars and carbohydrates. Processed foods should be avoided and enriched white rice, flour and other products should be replaced with whole grains.

• Your Sleep Patterns:  Be sure to get enough sleep (at least 8 hours per night) to ensure that your body has the time it needs to rejuvenate itself. Sleep is a great time for every cell in your body to work to repair damage to itself and when you do not get enough sleep your immune system does not have the time to release important hormones needed for health and strength at battling all sorts of illnesses, including herpes.

• Avoid Stressful Situations:  Keep your home and family life calm; avoid making too many commitments and choose your job wisely.  Stress can activate herpes and cause multiple outbreaks every year.

The immune system is an amazing system. It ahs everything the body needs to fight off disease and repair the body when threatened. Your immune system is designed to protect you from disease, but when stressed or weakened it can actually work against you, allowing a virus or infection like Herpes Simplex I & II to gain strength.

For more ways on dealing with herpes and keeping outbreaks at a minimum, be sure to talk to your doctor. There are plenty of ways to get rid of herpes symptoms if you are careful and diligent and take care of your body. The key to success is understanding how this virus works within the body and taking good care of yourself to strip it of its power and strength.