| Once you have contracted the herpes virus, it | | | | |
| will stay in your body for the duration of | | | | The herpes virus only re-activates itself |
| your life. There is no cure, no magic potion | | | | when it is triggered. Common triggers include |
| that will kill it or remove it from your | | | | stress, poor diet, unprotected sex with |
| body. DMSO, hydrogen peroxide, and nonoxynol | | | | someone else who has herpes, sun exposure, |
| 9...not a single one of these is going to | | | | Candida yeast infections, too little sleep, |
| provide a quick fix. What you have to | | | | etc. Once you learn what triggers your |
| understand about this virus is that there is | | | | herpes, you can learn to avoid these |
| no need for it to be active. Knowing that a | | | | activities. Herpes can stay dormant |
| virus in your body would prefer to stay | | | | indefinitely, so why put yourself through |
| dormant, wouldn't you rather do everything in | | | | unnecessary discomfort? |
| your power to make sure it stays that way? | | | | |
| | | | As for your diet, the following foods should |
| The first step in a herpes treatment is | | | | be avoided: caffeine in all forms, nuts |
| forgiveness. This means that not only forgive | | | | except hemp and flax seeds, raisins, carob, |
| the person from whom you contracted the | | | | gelatin, and cereal grains. Ultimately a diet |
| virus, but you forgive yourself as well. If | | | | low in sugar with only moderate amounts of |
| you remain stuck in a place of anger, | | | | whole grain foods. Foods that you should seek |
| resentment, fear, or shame, you are | | | | to include are: avocados and olives, foods |
| compromising your ability to heal. Know, deep | | | | rich in omega fatty acids (hemp and flax |
| within yourself, that having herpes does not | | | | seeds included), organic yogurt, brewers |
| make you any less attractive, any less | | | | yeast, or selenium supplements. Avoid |
| ethical, or any less worthy of a person than | | | | L-lysine in supplements as research has shown |
| you were before. | | | | that its long-term use can actually inhibit |
| | | | the immune system. Getting L-lysine from food |
| Once you are at peace with your condition, | | | | is a much safer alternative. |
| it's time to step out of the closet. This | | | | |
| doesn't mean that you need to tell everyone | | | | Getting exercise is recommended for health |
| you meet, but it certainly make sense to | | | | across the board. Whether you play |
| share this information with your close | | | | racquetball, squash, or punch a punching bag, |
| friends and family. After all, these people | | | | relieving stress is certainly a way to |
| are your support system. The stigma of herpes | | | | prevent re-activation. Activities such as |
| is one that is usually self-imposed. If you | | | | yoga, tai-chi, and qi-gong can relieve stress |
| broach the subject just as you would with any | | | | and provide you with the tools to maintain |
| other disease, the reaction you receive will | | | | balance in your life. The more peace and |
| mimic this. Being at peace means that you can | | | | balance you have in your life, the less |
| bring this energy to others around you. Over | | | | likely it is that your herpes will be a major |
| 50% of the adult population has either herpes | | | | factor in your everyday reality. You can use |
| 1 or 2 (often known as simplex A or B), so | | | | the tools of prayer, meditation, or |
| you are certainly not in the minority. | | | | visualization to make peace with the virus. |