Herpes overview

Literary meaning ‘creeping’, the greek word herpes, in our everyday life, is a viral infection. The herpes simplex virus has two types: HSV-1 and HSV-2. We are familiar with two kinds of herpes: oral herpes, and genital herpes. Oral herpes is the most known kind of herpes, and presents cold sores, or infections on the mouth. Genital herpes, the second common form of this virus is just known as herpes. As the infection appears in our body, the immune system fights against it, so the balance is disturbed. In order to win the battle against this virus, you have to keep it under control.

Treatment

We cannot say there is a cure that eliminates the herpes simplex virus from the body, but herpes treatment can reduce the appearance frequency, the duration, and the acuteness of each outbreak.

There are different herpes treatments; antiviral, topical, and alternative treatments.

Antiviral herpes treatment is a medication-based fight against the herpes simplex virus. For herpes outbreak control, the treatment prescribes the use of Aciclovir, Valaciclovir, Famciclovir and Penciclovir. The Aciclovir medicine is marketed under the name of Cyclovir, Herpex, Acivir, Acivirax or Zovir, Zovirax. The Valaciclovir drug is maketed under the name of Zelitrex or Valtrex by GlaxoSmithKline and Ranbaxy Laboratories. Famciclovir, the drug used in most common herpes infections, is marketed under the Famvir trade name by Schering-Plough. Penciclovir is rarely prescribed by itself, and appears as an ingredient in Denavir, Fenistil and  Vectavir.

The topical herpes treatment involves the use of Docosanol, known as Behenyl Alcohol. This saturated, fatty alcohol is used in cosmetics, like the FDA-approved  Abreva, approved for its efficient fight against cold sores. Tea Tree oil – obtained from the leaves Melaleuca alternifolia – also plays a role in herpes treatment.  A group of scientists revealed the effectiveness of Tea Tree oil in the fight against cold sores.

Of course other drugs are also used in herpes treatment, like Cimeditine, marketed by GlaxoSmithKline under the trade name of Tamaget or Tamaget HB.

Herpes can be treated in alternative ways also. Beneficial alternative herpes treatment are dietary supplements and adjustments. These herpes treatments, used along with antiviral therapy or alone, help you fight the infection. Common alternative herpes treatments are: lysine supplements, aloe vera gel or cream, lemon balm, carrageenans, echinacea plant extracts, Resveratrol, prunella vulgaris, actoferrin, and butylated hydroxytoluene (food preservative).

A particularly interesting treatment is resveratrol. This is a naturally produced phytoalexin, which means it is a natural antimicrobial substance which fights against infections. This substance is present in red wines, red grape juice, and peanuts. Of course, there is a supplement form of resveratrol. It is produced by a chemical synthesis, derived from Japanese knotweed, and sold as a supplement in most health food stores.