Hey Bubba, watch this! I bet I can cure the herpsie derpsies and make a bajillion dollars!

[HerryTheHerp]

Ever notice that Google, Facebook, and Yahoo are just breeding grounds for all sorts of stupidity? It's like "Idiocracy" coming to fruition and it's rather scary. If it's any indication of where society is headin' folks, we're in serious trouble. In fact, letting the monkeys take over might not be such a bad idea contrary to what Charlton Heston said. Wait a second. We did. We elected them to public office, but I digress.

 

Why do I mention this? Well, it's because I've noticed that there are a number of "cures" out there for HSV1 and 2. Everything from colloidal silver to ground up ant testicles blessed by Magi are being promoted as "cures" for HSV1 and 2. For only $19.99, you too can free yourself from the shackles of the blisters and prodomes. Just send the money to our PO Box in the Bahamas.

 

Well, we have a word for this where I come from. I'm from the West and we generally equate these types of claims as being nothing more than snake oil. 99% of the time, that's exactly what they are. Now, if you're the kind of person who likes to buy snake oil, please, send me a message because I have oceanfront in Tucson that I'll sell you for a great price.

 

But, but, but, you say it's proven. It works and you know it works because some guy with a Dr. by his name says it works and Jolene from Terre Haute, IN wrote a testimonial and put it online. I casually point out that guys with Dr's by their name said Radium was "proven" to work as was Mercury, Heroin, Lobotomies (see Congress), Bloodletting (April 15th is coming up), and yes, even your beloved vibrator. All of these were "proven" to cure something or other, and the only one that worked only cured hysteria because it meant that women no longer needed to frantically give directions to the clitoris and were thus far less stressed and frustrated with their husbands. The other therapies actually killed a large number of people or led to lifelong health problems that were far worse than what they had been applied to treat.

 

Bottom line: If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Yes, there are plenty of natural, homeopathic ways to treat herpes. I use several including Aloe, Lysine, healthy diet, exercise, sleep, meditation, Zinc cream, and a few others that I've carefully researched, cross referenced, and talked to actual people who have seen a benefit from using the therapies I'm considering and can back it up with solid evidence that it works and isn't harmful. These are "safe" therapies. In fact, the only one that's questionable is Lysine which may only provide a placebo effect depending on which scientific study and Dr. you believe; either way, these are no harm, no foul therapies.

 

Then, there are the medical cures. The vaccines. The holy grails of research. They are promising. They are always promising. Medical science is advancing by leaps and bounds. We're learning more about the human body, scientists are collaborating on a global scale, researchers and doctors are learning how ABC disease research applies to XYZ disease research and cross-applying what they know. We're already seeing genuine medical miracles that even 5 years ago were thought impossible. And, I am confident we will see a therapeutic cure/vaccine for HSV1 and 2 in my lifetime. At the rate it's going, it's going to happen. For you "long timers" who said the same thing 30 years ago and disagree, remember you can't compare the research in the 70's, 80's, and 90's to that which is taking place today. Doing so is like comparing black and white TV to the latest flat screen, the Edsel to the Prius, or Doogie Howser to House.

 

And when they find a true, safe, and reliable cure or therapy, it'll be front page news around the world. It'll be bigger than The Beatles and you can bet every gynecologist and urologist from Jakarta to Seattle will be booked solid with appointments because there are 540 million of us eagerly awaiting that day. It will come, but it's not coming from a PO Box or Jolene in Terre Haute's kitchen.

 

In the meantime, be careful and watch out for the snake oil. Some of it works, a lot of it is dangerous. These people selling this stuff know you're vulnerable and hurting. They are playing a psychological game with you and your wallet. They know you're desperate, hopeful, curious, and willing to part with $59.99 to try their pill out each month. Don't fall into the trap. Don't buy anything that isn't backed up, proven to work, and proven to be safe by both medical science and people who have actually tried and seen a positive, proven benefit to the therapy you're considering. Not doing so might actually lead to far worse problems than having herpes.

 

 

 

[WCSDancer2010]

Totally agree with you my friend... it's scary what people will buy into.

 

I'm one of the 30+ year "lifers" on here ... and I HAVE said I'll believe it when I see it with regards to a vaccine/cure.... for these reasons.

 

1) We definitely WOULD have had a cure by now if it wasn't for HIV. All STD research for anything not life threatening (or at least, fertility-threatening) stopped when AIDS became a headlining topic. So while I agree about the research between then and now, they were definitely on the right track back in the 80's and there is a pretty good chance we would be a LOT further along if HIV had not come onto the scene.

 

2) I am not convinced that the Big Pharmas WANT to find a cure... they are making a bundle on Valtrex and the various creams and such that folks buy looking for relief. And while some may call it conspiracy theory I wouldn't be at all surprised that the FDA...shall we say...has been influenced into slowing things down when a possible cure or better drug is in the works.

 

I mean, look at the latest Pritelivir studies..... everything looks great until you read this:

 

A larger trial was planned for later this year, but at the moment further clinical research with the drug is on hold. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration suspended such research after monkeys given doses much greater than those in the new study showed some unexpected blood and skin abnormalities. From http://www.chron.com/news/health/article/New-drug-shows-promise-for-genital-herpes-5146515.php

 

I mean, really, they suspended the study because of "unexpected" side effects when the drug was given in "doses much greater than those in the new study"? Well, in the words of Gomer Pyle, "Su-prize, Su-prize, Su-prize!" Pretty much EVERY drug will have some nasty side effect in "much greater doses" than what is prescribed ... so excuse me if my inner skeptic is being triggered here but it looks to me like it was just an excuse to stall, if not kill, this research.

 

As a Massage Therapist, I am mostly a non-drug person but I would LOVE to see better drugs and a vaccine/cure for Herpes. I am sure at some point there WILL be much better research that will lead to a vaccine cure.

 

3) But IMO that will not happen as long as we remain silent. The groups that get the money are the ones with the loudest voices and a ribbon on the back of every car that they can slap one on. If the people with HIV/AIDS had just crawled under a rock, you can bet they would not be nearly as far along in their research. Instead, they rose up, found famous people to get up and speak for them, and refused to be cowed into silence.

 

As I recently wrote in a blog (that will be posted on here soon) We’ve allowed others to create an unjust world for us…one where their ignorance is dictating how we should feel about ourselves.

 

I would add that we have allowed the shame that we perceive to be imposed on us to silence us and put us in a "closet" ... silent and afraid to come out and demand that Doctors get up to date info, that the Pharmas come up with better drugs, and that those around us respect us WITH this little virus. And I say, perceive because much of the time, most people would be VERY understanding and accepting if we would just trust in them... I know, I'm out and have only lost 1 "friend" and have been supported by many MANY H- people who think my stance is long overdue.

 

Until we DEMAND that those studies be funded AND supported they will proceed at a crawl AND those snake-oil "cures" will be rampant because people are silently crying out for that "cure" from the shame and pain they feel when they are diagnosed. They will try ANYTHING with the hope that they can "make it go away". Some likely will go into remission naturally after they try this crap and will believe they are miraculously "cured" and write up great reviews of those products.... and they will be back out there passing the virus around.

 

The people on here are some of the finest and most intelligent I have ever met in the H+ world (and I've been on a LOT of forums and discussion groups in my 35+ years with my little H friend). I'm soooo hopeful that this group will be a part of the change in attitude that MUST come in order to get that research to be taken seriously. Until we do, Snake Oil cures will be out there and the money will keep flowing to those distant PO Boxes.

 

Peace my friends :)

[victoriaxxx]

There isn't a cure. I would trust a doctor, my doctor if they said there was.. butdon't you think if there was a cure THE DOCTORS would know ?

[WCSDancer2010]

Well there ARE some alternative things that do have great results/curative powers in many areas of health that Doctors don't/won't admit work... but Herpes isn't one of them.

[HerryTheHerp]

I think there will be a cure. Society is changing, and society is demanding cures, not treatments. It's a side effect of the technological revolution and our desire for instant solutions and microwave meals. People are fed up with big pharma, and they're starting to show their disgust by the increasing use of homeopathic/natural treatments. Big pharma can't hold out forever, and the governments can't keep protecting them forever. A lot of politicians are going to lose bad in November in part because of their support of big pharma. It's about to get ugly, and it's going to shake Wall Street and DC's support of pharma.

 

I agree there are plenty of alternatives with wonderful results. I just worry at how much easier the internet has made peddling the snake oil.

 

I disagree with the HIV sucking the funds out, though. We need to stop looking at HSV/HIV as two different realms. They are terrifyingly related. While I know HIV has consumed the lion's share of funding since the 80's, a lot of HIV research is now being used to support theories and research into HSV and other viruses. Most notably the fact that both HSV/HIV hide out within the nervous system before coming out to play, and that's been one of the biggest challenges towards curing both. There is now HIV research showing promise on waking up these silent cells and getting them out in the open where they can be knocked off. It's one more clue that will lead to an HSV breakthrough.

 

As far as the FDA, well, you can bet your gosh darned bottom dollar they've been influenced. Just look at the ACA and the provisions that were included and stripped by Congress. Big pharma got a lot of concessions and changes, most notably the restriction on drug imports. There's no question they're pulling levers in DC. But, there's also no question that with 60% of Americans pissed of at the status of the law and healthcare in America that they're going to have to take note and change things.

 

Scary times, but I think the outcomes will be positive. Americans aren't being silent, and whether it's HIV, HSV, MS, Cancer, etc., we're speaking up. The HSV community is just remaining silent in the discussion, but will ultimately benefit from the discussions that are taking place. That said, if we were to join the fight openly, with 60 million of us affected with HSV2 alone, it could be the straw that cripples the camel.

 

[WCSDancer2010]

if we were to join the fight openly, with 60 million of us affected with HSV2 alone, it could be the straw that cripples the camel.

 

IMO that is what is needed... and I hope we will be starting some kind of more public presence soon...... I am starting to play with a few ideas and trying to figure out which to follow first AND still keep focused here for those who already have HSV

[WCSDancer2010]

I'm speaking from 35 years of experience... including 20 years of hoping for a cure... hearing of some research or other that holds lots of promise, then having it stopped (like the Pritelivir studies) time and again ...so sorry if I seem a little jaded :/

 

[HerryTheHerp]

Jaded is perfectly normal. I'm concerned about the stopping of Pritelivir, too. In my opinion, it's BS. I'm also new to the rodeo, so I'm still rooting for the cowboys down in the chutes wearing the lab coats and hoping their pocket protectors hold out through Phase III. I also know there's a few scientists out there that want to have places on the podium of history right next to Jonas Salk, and an HSV or HIV cure would do just that. We're positive, we gotta stay positive.

 

I think there is a possibility for a social breakthrough when it comes to STD's. We're seeing some signs. More sexual openness, LGBT rights, the condom requirement in CA porn, etc. There's still a lot of obstacles, most notably the fact that Americans are lulling themselves into a sense of apathy via the porn industry and consumption of porn which promotes sex without consequences. It's a thin veil though and as more and more people with HSV2 and other STD's come out, that veil will disintegrate. In large part, we have people like Magic, Louganis, Ryan White, and others with HIV, HPV, Hep C such as Pam Anderson and Michael Douglas who have come forward for poking the first holes in that veil. Strategically, it makes sense to enlist people like them into the HSV2 battle and incorporate everything into a collaborative campaign. Doing so and tackling them all at the same time dilutes the stigma and makes it harder to wave at any single STD.

[WCSDancer2010]

I agree - and that is what I have said all along - get the conversation out in the open, get some backers and some "names" behind us, will give us a LOT more clout. IMO that is when we will see some progress in the studies...