Herpes Virus Family Facts

To most people the word "herpes" conjures up an image of genital herpes, the incurable virus that is transmitted

through sexual contact and causes blisters on the genitals. Forms of the herpes virus include herpes simplex type 1 (cold sores), herpes simplex type 2 (genital herpes), varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox), cytomegalovirus (mild hepatitis), Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis) and herpes-zoster (shingles). All of these conditions are caused by viruses in the herpes family.

Two similar conditions, herpes gestationis and dermatitis herpetiformis, both produce herpes-like blisters on the skin but are not related to or caused by any of the various herpes viruses.

Many of the viruses in the herpes family do not recur after the initial disease outbreak, such as chicken pox for example. However all herpes viruses, when not active, remain dormant in your body, hidden in nerve tissues and escaping detection by the immune system.



While most, but not all, male genital herpes outbreaks are easily detected, female genital herpes outbreaks can many times go completely unnoticed.

Natural Supplements To Fight Off Viruses (herpes)

Supplements that enhance your body’s ability to fight off viruses include:

1. Zinc. This supplement has been shown to inhibit the virus’s replication and enhance immune cell functioning. Zinc is very much associated with protein foods. Thus, you may assume that most foods high in zinc are protein-rich as well. The best sources of zinc include beef, lamb, pork, crabmeat, turkey, chicken, lobster, clams and salmon. If you are a vegetarian, you will most probably intake less zinc that those who have meat-based diets. Good zinc food sources aside from meats are dairy products such as milk and cheese, yeast, peanuts, beans, and wholegrain cereals, brown rice, whole wheat bread, potato and yogurt. Of all these vegetarian zinc foods, pumpkin seeds offer one of the most concentrated non-meat food sources of zinc.

2. Vitamin C
When applied topically to herpes ulcers and taken orally with bioflavonoids,vitamin C increases the rate of healing.

3. Vitamin A
Vitamin A fights viral infections by increasing the activity in the thymus gland. (High doses of vitamin A can be dangerous, while beta-carotene is a safer form.). Following are tips to find natural vitamin A sourch in foods,

• Vitamins A are found in different forms, retinol in foods, retinoid (they are chemically similar to vitamin A) in medicine. Vitamins A are also fat soluble, meaning it will mix with oil instead of water. It is important to ingest enough vitamin A for your health and well being. Because vitamins A have several essential functions in your body, you must get enough of it from natural vitamin A source in foods.

• Natural vitamin A source include liver. You can cook it like any other meat and it tastes great. Do not think about it as liver, think of it as meat and you won’t be grossed out when eating it. Do not over eat animal’s liver because its vitamins A contents are really high. Eat it occasionally.

• Carrots are excellent natural vitamin A source. Carrots are a good natural source for vitamins A. It contains 93% vitamin A.

• The following foods are also good natural vitamin A source: pumpkin, sweet potato, spinach and leaf vegetables also contain source vitamin A. Some fruits contain vitamins A as well, such as mango, papaya, and apricots.

4. Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) or solid licorice extract.
Topical use on herpes lesions helps them heal more quickly and reduces recurrent infections.



5. High Lysine and low arginine.
The herpes virus requires Arginine to replicate. Lysine is an amino acid shown to have anti-viral properties. If you avoid foods that are high in arginine while increasing foods high in lysine, you can slow-down the rate of the virus’s replication—and speed your healing time. Lysine supplements can also reduce the severity of a herpes outbreak. The following chart shows high arginine and lysine foods.

Avoid foods high in Arginine	Increase foods high in Lysine
Chocolate	Beans
Peanuts	Fish
Almonds	Turkey
Seeds	Chicken
Most Nuts	Vegetables

Edited from: http://www.thedietchannel.com/Natural-Health-Perspectives-How-To-Reduce-Herpes-Outbreaks.htm , http://www.ehow.com/how_4602845_natural-vitamin-source-foods.html & http://www.nutritional-supplements-health-guide.com/zinc-food-sources.html

What Is Herpes?

Herpes simplex is a viral disease caused by herpes simplex viruses; both herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) cause herpes simplex. Infection with the herpes virus is categorized into one of several distinct disorders based on the site of infection. Oral herpes, the visible symptoms of which are colloquially called cold sores, infects the face and mouth. Oral herpes is the most common form of infection. Genital herpes, commonly known simply as herpes, is the second most common form of herpes. Other disorders such as herpetic whitlow, herpes gladiatorum, ocular herpes (keratitis), cerebral herpes infection encephalitis, Mollaret's meningitis, neonatal herpes, and possibly Bell's palsy are all caused by herpes simplex viruses.

Herpes viruses cycle between periods of active disease—presenting as blisters containing infectious virus particles—that last 2–21 days, followed by a remission period, during which the sores disappear. Genital herpes, however, is often asymptomatic, though viral shedding may still occur. After initial infection, the viruses move to sensory nerves, where they reside as life-long, latent viruses. Causes of recurrence are uncertain, though some potential triggers have been identified. Over time, episodes of active disease reduce in frequency and severity.

Herpes simplex is most easily transmitted by direct contact with a lesion or the body fluid of an infected individual. Transmission may also occur through skin-to-skin contact during periods of asymptomatic shedding. Barrier protection methods are the most reliable method of preventing transmission of herpes, but they merely reduce rather than eliminate risk. Oral herpes is easily diagnosed if the patient presents with visible sores or ulcers. Early stages of orofacial herpes and genital herpes are harder to diagnose; laboratory testing is usually required. 20% of the U.S. population has antibodies to HSV-2, although not all of them have a history of genital lesions.^[1] Prevalence of HSV infections varies throughout the world. Poor hygiene, overcrowding, lower socioeconomic status, and birth in an undeveloped country have been identified as risk factors associated with increased HSV-1 childhood infection.

Herpes does not go away with time and cannot be cured. Vaccines are in clinical trials but have not demonstrated effectiveness. Treatments can reduce viral reproduction and shedding, prevent the virus from entering the skin, and alleviate the severity of symptomatic episodes.

Herpes simplex should not be confused with conditions caused by other viruses in the herpesviridae family such as herpes zoster, which is a viral disease caused by varicella zoster virus

Article Sourch : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_simplex