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Hey all, Found this on GEN-03, the vaccine that couldn't fund the final trials. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31103365?dopt=Abstract Seems like they are trying to find investors possibly. Does anyone have insight on this? I would love to have a series of vaccine shots versus a daily antiviral pill.

Are lemons good or bad for cold sores? I love my water with some juice from fresh lemons but recently came across an article on livestrong.com that actually says lemons are bad for cold sores? Anyone have any feedback on this?

Hi there, Long time lurker, first time poster, and I'll keep it simple and condensed. I've only signed up because I realize the depths of suffering some people are in, trying all sorts of desperate treatments, and I've basically been sitting on something that has taken me to near 0 outbreaks (hsv1 genital). When I first got infected some years back, I had an atypical presentation--no pain or itching, but permanently there. Bumps going up and down within the same day even, but pretty much permanently covering the head of my penis. Doctor swabbed it--came back hsv 1; he said it looked like it to him too. Now to the meat of it--rubbing alcohol. Its simple, and I'm pretty surprised that I've only seen it mentioned once here--a woman was talking about it, so I assume it works for girls too. I apply once daily, to once every 3 days, and that keeps me pretty much permanently outbreak free. It quite literally went from every day broken out for me to just about nothing. Anyway, to the what and where of it all... I use 99% isopropyl. 70% seems good too. I now have a spray bottle, but used to just dump it on the head and roll my foreskin up over it for like 20ish seconds--whatever process is actually happening, I like to think I'm facilitating absorption into the soft tissue by doing this and wreaking havoc on the virus. Obviously, you may have to do it a bit differently, genital depending. I've been doing this treatment for a few years now, so it has staying power. I read once that herpes is shreded by alcohol, so if true, I guess that explains it? However, iterupting regular treatment seems to have anecdotally, but not with great surety, made the herpes a bit less suceptible to the alcohol upon resumption. Yes, it burns terribly at first. Over time it gets better. Some days it still really burns, and in those cases I advise listening to your body and cutting the countdown short. Other than that, it feels really damn good to basically tell herpes to eff off. I don't know what kind of health risks there are. Or whether using a high % grain (drinking) alcohol would work / be healthier. I advise asking your doctor--afterall, alchohol is implicated in throat cancer. Who knows if 20-30 seconds daily on your junk can do something too. But for those who struggle constantly, I truly hope this can help someone other than just me. I also hope that this finds its way to the right forum. I wanted it in a place where casual, straight from Google, viewers would see it when they came here, and I'm hoping--and asking, please--that if I didn't get it in the right place, a moderator can instead. And, should it help as I suggest, perhaps even stickying it one day. I'm sorry in advance, I'm not a big forum person and don't come here crazy often. It just felt like something I should do for everyone else's sake. Hopefully you can excuse me if I'm an absentee topic starter. Thanks for reading, - Taylor Edit: I forgot to add in any negative effects I've experienced. Sometimes, if its burning more than usual and I leave it too long, it does make the skin pinker than it should be, and sore. The big question, what about loss of sensitivity? I worried that may happen, and its possible actually that I've lost some amount. But if I have, it wasn't even enough to remember when posting this originally, hahaha. Still every body is different, so I can only speak for me. But yes, for me, my sensitivity down there is still in great shape. Over the last few years I've on average had less stiff erections, and dysfunction, which I never had before. However, I've also been less physically healthy, I've been mentally disengaged and highly anxious around sex and sexuality (and when I'm not anxious, it often improves quite a bit), I read once that herpes itself can actually cause forms of ED, and I'm also now out of my 20's, so... Possibly related? But also very possibly unrelated to the alcohol. I'm biased though, both in mentality and my words here. So, perhaps consult a doctor if you're concerned. Cheers!

Hello, fellow reader I am in the process of having the government of Canada start a experimental treatment to cure herpes. I have been following alot of the research sexual transmitted illiness, and have noticed good results for gene therapy. I reason to believe that herpes can be cured within the next 2 years. With an experimental gene treatment. With recent cure of cells with HIV using crispr cas9. I believe a cured can achieve using a cocktail of drugs and gene therapy. The process works by forcing the virus to awaken, while pumping antiviral to stop the spread of the virus. This would allow crispr cas9 to more easily to shred the herpe's DNA in the cell. This would also be combined with a TRIM5α Proteins to prevent the spread replication of the virus. Alot of this optimism comes from the gene therapy treatment that show results with current gene therapy treatments that appears to be successful. I am currently looking for people who live in Canada and are citizens or permanent resident. To join me in the process. If this is successful after a 12 month to 24 months treatment, a subject may be cured of virus permanently. This could also pave the way for future cure in other viral infection like herpes. Requirements Living in Canada Covered by national healthcare plan. Willing to be part of experimental treatment. Any one who does not meet these requirements can comment but may not be able to assist with the process.

https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/antibiotics-do-work-on-viruses

Pretty cool article discussing a study done in Vivo with rabbits targeting latent HSV1 and using what looks to be a different approach than CRISPR to prevent latent reactivation. I’m not a scientist, but the percentages quoted here sound pretty promising. https://jvi.asm.org/content/92/16/e00812-18.full

I'm going to start this thread with several posts that contain a summary of my HSV experiences and observations. I've broken this down due to the length and the number of related topics I feel need to be covered. However, I feel the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, so hopefully people with invest the time to read each section. I've tried to make this less of a rant and more of an informative depiction of my experience. My purpose in posting this is to hopefully help guide others who are confused about what is happening to their bodies and to cope with the implications (in my case it took years to become certain that HSV was the culprit.) My collection of posts is also intended to provide a much needed outlet for those who feel this disease has turned their lives inside-out, and who may also feel a sense of chronic disbelief at the jaw-dropping chasm that exists between the establishment view of this disease and their daily experiences with it, plus the feeling of chronic disenfranchisement that results. Ultimately, I feel that a grass-roots patient-based movement is needed to help slow down this disease within our bodies and across the face of the earth. I firmly believe if resources were prioritized we could achieve numerous vastly superior treatment options (if not full cures) in months or years instead of decades or never. However, part of the problem is that we've already passively waited decades for new treatment alternatives. Meanwhile, many of us feel like we're being held hostage by a silent terrorist that lives within our own bodies while we're forced to muster the energy to present a happy, healthy demeanor and thus go on living productive lives whilst attempting to suppress what feels like torture. I believe that this disease is vastly under-estimated by the establishment in its ability to destroy hope for the future and prosperity and a sense of well-being in the present. For me personally, it has significantly damaged my career and cost tens of thousands of dollars, and those are just the minor damages (I'd prefer not to state the personal damages, nor can they be put into monetary terms). Meanwhile, I can't even apply for disability. The reason for all of this is that we can't solve a problem unless we can agree on the definition of that problem and the cost of allowing it to remain unsolved. It's at this fundamental level that the FDA, CDC, and the medical establishment at large have staggeringly failed and seem more than willing to continue to do so. Ask yourself: do you think the FDA cares more about Theravax working around their authority, or do they care more about helping the people that were willing to do just about anything to have some chance of regaining a little peace from their HSV affliction? Ask yourself: why has a live-attenuated Varicella Zoster vaccine been available (thanks, Japan!) for decades and yet we refuse to even research live-attenuated HSV vaccines in the US? Ask yourself: what is more dangerous, providing a proven 99+% safe, thoroughly-tested vaccine based on a live-attenuated HSV virus (I believe there is absolutely no reason this couldn't have been achieved years ago) or allowing millions of lives to be ruined, babies to be killed, etc., by a highly aggressive and malicious family of wild viruses?

Hello people well let me start by saying I've suspected that I've had HSV for years now me and my wife. But I've been to afraid to come to her with it. She's had fever blisters as she calls them and she gets huge painful bumps and clusters of blisters at the top of her butt crack and she has major irritation down there often. Which makes me believe we have it. I dont usually get anything but itching and as of lately I have irritation inside my penis and on the head but never had an outbreak. Well I had an encounter with a sex worker I used a condom but for some reason she decided to put lotion on the condom I only received oral from her no sex. After doing some research I found out that can damage condoms. But it didn't tear. But I've been feeling very irritated down there like I described earlier. Is it possible to be re-infected with a different type of HSV or do you guys think that it is something else going on? I've been so depressed lately and having major anxiety. I want to get checked so bad but I'm afraid she will accuse me of infecting her. Also I just want relief I've bought acyclovir online and have been taking them for a day now hoping to make the irritation go away. My friends says it's all in my head. I've been tested for most STDs and all negative.

I'm not sure who else has mentioned reports of this drug, so I'm just putting this out there: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-02-class-drug-herpes-simplex-virus-.html

Need some advice

Anyone tried it?

I need to talk about my condition to someone who is in my similar situation. Please feel free to write to me.

Has anyone heard of NanoViricides Inc? http://www.nanoviricides.com/ They are working at creating special purpose nanomaterials for antiviral therapy. They will be presenting at the Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group for the treatment of herpes-induced Acute Retinal Necrosis. However, their aim is to treat many viral conditions to include HSV-1/2. I was wondering if anyone had any insight into this company or method.

The purpose of a therapeutic vaccine like Theravax is to present the immune system with a clear picture of the virus so it can produce antibodies against it. This is the same principle behind all therapeutic live or subunit vaccines. The Vitaherpavac Russian vaccine is a dry inactivated HSV culture that is also supposed to work the same way. The theory behind why the VZV / Chickenpox / Shingles vaccine works for herpes, is because HSV1, HSV2 and VZV (Chickenpox) share many structural proteins. I have also read studies that theorize people who have HSV1 are less likely to get HSV2, presumably due to the similarities between them. Smallpox was eradicated because Edward Jenner took scabs from cowpox which shared a similar structure to smallpox and rubbed them on open cuts to establish cross immunity. Considering all these approaches use the same principle,(present immune system with virus so it can kill and create antibodies against it) would it not be possible to take the fluids/scabs from your own HSV sore, wait a few hours/days for them to weaken or die, put it in a solution and inject yourself somewhere else on your body? This would essentially be on par with the the Vitaherpavac Russian dry inactivated HSV culture. Your own dead or dying HSV virions in suspension would probably illicit a stronger response than any subunit vaccine because it would have the entire viral structure for your immune system to respond to. What do you guys think of my idea? BTW, IF anybody attempts to monetize this idea via a kit/guide/book/paper/patent/design, etc.. I reserve the right for royalties! l1980in

Hey friends, I've been looking through the forum and can't seem to find an answer to my question so I'll just post it here: At what point does the "wait a few days" period start after an outbreak? I get OBs twice a year, and every time I do it seems to take forever to go away. The bumps are gone, and have fully healed over - but there is still some markings where they were and the markings can sometimes take two weeks to fully go away. They're like patches of slightly darker red skin where the OB happened. Is this still technically part of a risk period? Or does that risk period start as soon as the bumps themselves have disappeared? I don't want to take any risks with partners, but it's definitely taking way too long for these marks to go away. Appreciate any feedback, thanks. D.

So I found an article date Sept 1st 2017, about the epigenetic approach to curing/treating herpes. This approach is the most interesting to me as it would truly eradicate the disease by activating the dormant virus and then attacking it with antivirals. I know some have speculated it may cause nerve or tissue damage to reactivate all of the virus. But I don't think it's been explored enough to know. And I though this research was abandoned in favor of crispr. While crispr sounds good in theory, it has had very little success reaching the dormant virus. I think springing the virus and attacking it is better than trying to invade the cell where it's tightly wound and hard to reach. Here's the link, it gets a bit confusing honestly about what approach they want to take. http://mobile.the-scientist.com/article/50240/scientists-look-to-epigenetics-to-thwart-viruses

Hi everyone I had an appointment with a holistic doctor today and she mentioned hsv exposure therapy, where dead hsv cells are taken (under the tongue) in order to help your immune system recognize the virus. Has anyone heard of this or better yet tried it? She said it wasn't the right course of action for me, yet, I was just diagnosed and have only had one very minor OB, so hopefully I can control my outbreaks with more traditional methods, but I like to look a head and have a plan if my condition ends up being intrusive on my life. Thoughts? Expirences?

Hi ALL, Please excuse the long absence. As you can imagine it has been incredibly difficult to deal with the passing our our founder and my very close friend Dr William Halford. Before his death he tasked me with carrying on his vision. We have been working diligently to make that a reality. I am happy to be back and share with you the progress and answer your questions.

A friend of mine suggested I try glutathione cream, because of its immune boosting health benefits. After a full weekend of sun and drinking, I felt the early signs of an OB. I had pain along my outer thigh (my usual OB site) and sacral area, the pain includes shooting electric pain and burning. I applied the cream all along my outer thigh, and the back of my thigh, as well as my sacral area (where the dermatomes are located, as well as the nerve root). I applied the cream three times that day, and the next morning the pain and sensations were gone! I kept applying the cream 3x day for the next couple of days and then just once a day. I haven't had an OB since doing that. The cream I use is from Apex energetics called "Oxicell" http://www.completenutritionandwellness.com/shop/oxicell-k-22-1-6oz-pump.html Like I mentioned above, my Ob's happen on my outer thigh. I don't know how helpful they could be in other areas, but I had to share how amazing this stuff is!

Below is a link to a good article with a wealth on everything Genital HSV-2 (some Genital HSV-1). If you're giving advice on this site, definitely a good read. Topics: Epidemiology (manifestations/symptoms), Diagnostics, Treatment, Genital HSV Shedding, Genital HSV-2 Infection & HIV Infection Connection, HSV-2 Vaccines, and Molecular Epidemiology https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4771215/ Conclusion section from article Genital HSV remains a highly prevalent infectious agent with a significant impact on sexual health and risk of HIV infection. We now understand that HSV-2 infection is not characterized by latency with occasional outbreaks but that it is a dynamic infection with frequent, often subclinical, shedding throughout the genital tract that results in inflammation. Detailed natural history studies that rely on highly motivated participants have contributed to this enhanced understanding of viral shedding and inflammation. We must translate this knowledge into interventions that fully suppress shedding, which will likely be required to prevent transmission and to disrupt HIV/HSV-2 interactions. Novel strategies to prevent or suppress HSV-2 infection such as prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines are urgently needed.

Anyone from uk with a decent doctor? Who believes that other pain abs systemic symptoms are due to h??

Hey guys! I would appreciate it if you can help me out with something I'm confused- I have done my own research and have read that taking Valtrex can significantly reduce transmission rates, nearly cutting them in half (it should be noted though that this varies amongst couples based on sex, condom use and other variables)1. Today, I went to my Gyno to discuss treatment options. She wanted to treat me with Valtrex only as symptoms arose (which seems silly to me, seeing as how taking Valtrex long-term according to what I have read, has no negative affects, also who wouldn't want to reduce the likelihood and severity future outbreaks?) because she stated that that would only be necessary if I get several outbreaks a year. I asked her about the studies and from what I perceived, she initially seemed slightly unsure and then just denounced it as not true. I asked her verbatim, "But what about the study that stated it reduces transmission by 48%" she looked a little confused and then said "No, that's not true." Again, she's a doctor- I'm not. So, that's why I am confused. I am going between what I've seen in a study (which ideally, you'd want a study that's been replicated several times over) versus a medical professional who is hopefully, an expert. I want to believe that it works but I'm not going to argue with someone who clearly knows more than me. However, this practice has pretty poor reviews on yelp and the like so it's entirely possible that they're not as great as I'd like to think doctors should be... TL;DR: If you use Valtrex as a daily suppressive therapy, what has your doctor said? What is your experience? I would really appreciate your input! 1 Just in case you wanted to read where I got that info "We studied persons with recurrent genital herpes who were already candidates for antiviral suppression. Prevention of transmission of HSV infection is an added benefit to the relief of clinically symptomatic disease in such persons. According to the overall rate of HSV-2 acquisition that we observed and the 48 percent reduction in risk with valacyclovir, one would expect to treat 38 persons with recurrent genital herpes for a year to prevent one case of HSV-2 infection in a susceptible partner. However, this number varies according to the sex of the susceptible partner, frequency of condom use, duration of the relationship, and other variables that influence the likelihood of transmission. Thus, in our study, the annualized number needed to treat is 11 for couples in which the susceptible woman's partner will not use condoms and 24 for couples with the highest level of sexual activity." (Corey et al., 2004) http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa035144#t=article

Anyone out there had experience with herp-b-gone? I am ob free but I got the salve in the mail yesterday so I put some on. This morning I'm experiencing cramping in the seat area (like where a bicycle seat hits). Could it be related?

I have just had my 5th outbreak of the year... They have not been that severe, more annoying than anything else. I am really trying to avoid the suppressive therapy as I don't like the idea of having to constantly take medication so I was wondering if anyone else has tried treating herpes with home remedies instead of prescription medication? And if so how have you found this? I am thinking of buying echinacea tablets, tea tree oil and a homeopathic remedy called thuja. Please leave any comments! thank you

Hi all, I want people's opinions (or facts) on the use of suppressive medications long term. I have been diagnosed with HSV2 about 4 months ago while I had my first and only OB. Since then I have been using Acyclovir 400mg twice a day. (even though my doctor advised to only use the medication when I have an OB). My logic is that I would rather take precaution and make sure I can do everything I can to keep the virus inactive and reduce the outbreaks. Also, I am single now, but dating and feel like when disclosing to my future potential partners, telling them that I am taking suppressive medications would be more ensuring and comforting for them that I am responsible and doing everything I can to minimize the likelihood of transmission. That's why I personally (with no too much research) thought that the benefits of taking the acyclovir long term far outweigh the costs. What do people think? Has anyone seen any side effects? Related, but separate question - Can acyclovir cause short term memory loss? I do feel that I have trouble recalling and remembering things, nothing too drastic but I did notice a difference. Then again, it may not be acyclovir, I smoke weed sometimes which can definitely could be related. Then again I smoked way more often in college, and never had any memory problems, and its just weird that I start feeling this when this whole thing came about. But wanted to see what other people taking acyclovir have to say. Thanks!