The sad truth
Herpes is a viral disease caused by two types of viruses: the HSV-1 and the HSV-2. These viruses are commonly spread to other people when an infected person has sexual contact with another. However, it is also possible for one to spread the disease when he or she is shedding the virus. The big question now is, is there no cure for herpes?
There actually is not. However, before you sulk at this depressing fact, you must also know that while herpes has no cure to date, it can still be treatable. During outbreaks, the virus may hide in the cells of one’s nervous system, thus it becomes unseen by medications and by the immune system. Sometimes, it can lie dormant in the body thus making it impossible to be cured and the person will never know that he or she has the disease.
Is there no cure for herpes, at all? It is possible for you to treat the disease but it does not mean that you will fully be cured of it. One of the options is medication, specifically the antiviral drugs that help prevent the reactivation of the simplex viruses in the body. This way, one can prevent outbreaks – he or she does not have to suffer from it – and shedding – so the spreading of the virus is also prevented.
The other method that one can take is improving the immune system. This means eating healthier, getting enough rest and sleep, exercising and reducing stress. Stress is usually the number one factor as to why the simplex virus that stays “asleep” in the body can become reactivated, even after a long period. A person may also take some supplements to enhance their immune system but they are not always rated with good scores when it comes to their safety and effectiveness. Vaccines have been developed to strengthen the immune system but a general-purpose vaccine has not yet been discovered.
Is there no cure for herpes? There may be no direct cure for the disease but you can treat the symptoms to reduce its effects. For example, acyclovir is one medication you can put on your sores to help them heal fast. While symptoms like sores and lesions may appear around four to seven days after infection, they generally disappear in the body in just two to three weeks.
Although there is no definitive cure available for Herpes, there are effective treatments available that can make coping with Herpes much easier. Find out more about our recommended Natural Herpes Treatment.
To prevent feeling pain from your sores especially if you have contracted genital herpes, you may take aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen but it would be best to ask the doctor about the right drug to use. Placing lukewarm towels on the sores may help or, if you like, you can take a lukewarm bath instead. Urinating at the end may actually help in reducing pain as well. The infected person should also keep the genital area clean and dry and he or she should wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes.