After Nightmare, Finally Living Again

[Feeling Normal Again]

Sorry, this is so long....I'm new to the group, fairly new to forums in general. I'm usually "the lurker" type who views and reads but hardly ever posts. But since coming to terms with hsv2 and finding things that have really worked and have helped me, I don't mind sharing my story in hopes of helping others! 

A little over three years ago, my nightmare started. Intense all over body itching which was always followed next day by genital OB. Constant reoccurring OBs. Excruciating headaches, (mainly behind the right eye, right temple, and the base of the skull), light sensitivity, stiff and painful neck, swelled and painful lymphnodes, hip and low back pain, stomach bloat, and of course, sores/blisters... whatever you want to call them, they were so painful, I would literally cry everytime I went to the bathroom.

No medications, oils, or supplements worked as well as I would of liked. And the more I researched into the headaches and the "not so typicaI" symptoms, the more terrified I got. Frustrated at money spent and energy, time, and hope wasted, I dove into research, reading medical journals, searching for anything that might work.

I found a case study by an infectious disease specialist with a female hsv2 patient with the same severe symptoms I was experiencing. Her chief complaint was crippling headaches. After traditional meds were failing, he was working on boosting her immune system with supplements. So, I decided to give that a try. I started taking anything I could to boost my immune system.

Echinacea and Dandilion roots, zinc, vitamin c, and golden seal, and I kept taking olive leaf extract (I'd already been taking it for a while). I started having a couple of good days here and there, but bad days still way outnumbered the good and still had constant reoccurring sores. 

I kept researching...I stumbled across medical journals where different institutions were testing different trees for herpes treatments. Some even doing clinical trials with good results. After seeing the name of one specific tree from India pop up over and over, I decided to give it a try. Azadirachta indica, products derived from tree are Neem capsules and Neem oil.

Surprisingly affordable on Amazon, I ordered Organic India capsules and NOW brand Neem oil. Took two capsules twice a day and rubbed Neem oil, over sores and anywhere else I'd ever had an itch or tingle, twice a day. Shocked when after just a few applications, pain and itching of all existing sores were gone.  

So, no more sores, but was still having most other symptoms. I was reading some research journals on preventive anti-cancer herbs (just for fun reading, I'm a nerd). Well, I came across a natural treatment, Graviola/soursop tea, being used to help patients with lymphatic cancer. I thought if this stuff is strong enough to help the lymphatic system of cancer patients, just maybe, it could help my lymphatic system with my hsv. In the medical field, there's a phrase, "treat the symptoms."

Again, affordable on Amazon, I ordered 30 Organic Omura soursop tea bags. After just one week of drinking two 8 ounce cups a day, steeped for 10 minutes and sweetened with raw cane sugar or raw local honey and international delights coffee creamer (gmo free), I felt significantly better. Decrease in headaches, neck pain, swelling, lymphnode pain, and all other symptoms. 

I take a few other things like Gotu Kola, grape seed extract, and apple pectin for energy, vision, and brain health. Astragalus for female and hormonal health, and milk thistle once a night before bed to keep liver and kidneys from getting overloaded.

After a couple of months of taking this regimen, I felt more normal than I ever thought imaginable. I cut back to taking all supplements one week on/two weeks off. I quit taking golden seal and cut back Graviola tea to once a week in the a.m. and Neem oil once a week before bed. 

And I found that Ginger Soother (a $5 drink from Whole Foods which last me months) and a good probiotic as needed helped any stomach issues.

I hope any of this helps others who are suffering from the same nightmare I was living in after contracted and diagnosed with hsv.

A positive mindset also goes a long ways when fighting any disease or illness! Almost TWO years of No Outbreaks! Not cured of course, but I feel like I've beaten this and found natural treatments that I can definitely live with!

 

Edited May 28, 2018 by Feeling Normal Again
Grammar

[Lizabelli]

Thanks so much for sharing this. My symptoms are severe and uncharacteristic as well. I’m going to try the tea you mentioned. 

[Hopefulwv]

This is amazing information! Thankyou so much! I take kelp pills, and have ran out of dandelion! 

[Feeling Normal Again]

The graviola/soursop tea and neem both seem to be what I consider miracles!!! 

I just started posting my story recently, and I've already heard back from a few others who these have worked for them as well as they worked for me and now they have no headaches and all other pains and symptoms decreased in just a week.  

[Lzk]

Do you use neem oil on existing sores? Or at the first sign of an ob, does rubbing it in stop the ob? 

[Feeling Normal Again]

I was literally in a constant state of outbreaks. So when I first ordered the neem oil (NOW brand), I rubbed it on existing sores. It worked fast, after a few applications, I couldn't feel sores. 

Haven't had a sore (outbreak) since. It stops outbreak from occurring! 

At first I applied religiously a couple of times a day. But after two months of zero outbreaks, that's when I dropped it back to applying just once a week for prevention. 

But, if I feel even the slightest little tingle, I apply daily for a few days, and sores never surface.

Edited June 3, 2018 by Feeling Normal Again
Reword

[Feeling Normal Again]

Sorry afraid I might be wording this wrong or confusing. 

After I applied to existing sores for the first time, I never got another sore. That was two years ago.

I continued to use daily for about two months, even though there were no sores. Just out of sheer laziness, I quit applying everyday, I found that if I apply at least once a week, I never even have any signs of an outbreak.

But if I go a few weeks without applying, I get that tingle, then I jump back into gear and start applying again, because I do not ever want another sore as long as I live!!! 

[Feeling Normal Again]

I was going to go back in and edit original post to be much shorter, but there's no option to edit now. Edit must be time sensitive?!?!

[Feeling Normal Again]

Posted some links to studies from different institutions and research centers (including John Hopkins) testing neem and finding it effective. 

Links posted in section herpes treatment zone, sub category managing outbreaks and pain relief.

[Josephine W]

On 5/28/2018 at 1:36 AM, Feeling Normal Again said:

Sorry, this is so long....I'm new to the group, fairly new to forums in general. I'm usually "the lurker" type who views and reads but hardly ever posts. But since coming to terms with hsv2 and finding things that have really worked and have helped me, I don't mind sharing my story in hopes of helping others! 

A little over three years ago, my nightmare started. Intense all over body itching which was always followed next day by genital OB. Constant reoccurring OBs. Excruciating headaches, (mainly behind the right eye, right temple, and the base of the skull), light sensitivity, stiff and painful neck, swelled and painful lymphnodes, hip and low back pain, stomach bloat, and of course, sores/blisters... whatever you want to call them, they were so painful, I would literally cry everytime I went to the bathroom.

No medications, oils, or supplements worked as well as I would of liked. And the more I researched into the headaches and the "not so typicaI" symptoms, the more terrified I got. Frustrated at money spent and energy, time, and hope wasted, I dove into research, reading medical journals, searching for anything that might work.

I found a case study by an infectious disease specialist with a female hsv2 patient with the same severe symptoms I was experiencing. Her chief complaint was crippling headaches. After traditional meds were failing, he was working on boosting her immune system with supplements. So, I decided to give that a try. I started taking anything I could to boost my immune system.

Echinacea and Dandilion roots, zinc, vitamin c, and golden seal, and I kept taking olive leaf extract (I'd already been taking it for a while). I started having a couple of good days here and there, but bad days still way outnumbered the good and still had constant reoccurring sores. 

I kept researching...I stumbled across medical journals where different institutions were testing different trees for herpes treatments. Some even doing clinical trials with good results. After seeing the name of one specific tree from India pop up over and over, I decided to give it a try. Azadirachta indica, products derived from tree are Neem capsules and Neem oil.

Surprisingly affordable on Amazon, I ordered Organic India capsules and NOW brand Neem oil. Took two capsules twice a day and rubbed Neem oil, over sores and anywhere else I'd ever had an itch or tingle, twice a day. Shocked when after just a few applications, pain and itching of all existing sores were gone.  

So, no more sores, but was still having most other symptoms. I was reading some research journals on preventive anti-cancer herbs (just for fun reading, I'm a nerd). Well, I came across a natural treatment, Graviola/soursop tea, being used to help patients with lymphatic cancer. I thought if this stuff is strong enough to help the lymphatic system of cancer patients, just maybe, it could help my lymphatic system with my hsv. In the medical field, there's a phrase, "treat the symptoms."

Again, affordable on Amazon, I ordered 30 Organic Omura soursop tea bags. After just one week of drinking two 8 ounce cups a day, steeped for 10 minutes and sweetened with raw cane sugar or raw local honey and international delights coffee creamer (gmo free), I felt significantly better. Decrease in headaches, neck pain, swelling, lymphnode pain, and all other symptoms. 

I take a few other things like Gotu Kola, grape seed extract, and apple pectin for energy, vision, and brain health. Astragalus for female and hormonal health, and milk thistle once a night before bed to keep liver and kidneys from getting overloaded.

After a couple of months of taking this regimen, I felt more normal than I ever thought imaginable. I cut back to taking all supplements one week on/two weeks off. I quit taking golden seal and cut back Graviola tea to once a week in the a.m. and Neem oil once a week before bed. 

And I found that Ginger Soother (a $5 drink from Whole Foods which last me months) and a good probiotic as needed helped any stomach issues.

I hope any of this helps others who are suffering from the same nightmare I was living in after contracted and diagnosed with hsv.

A positive mindset also goes a long ways when fighting any disease or illness! Almost TWO years of No Outbreaks! Not cured of course, but I feel like I've beaten this and found natural treatments that I can definitely live with!

 

How come you cut back on taking supplements to only one week on and two weeks off? Is it not recommended to be on the supplements at all times?

[Feeling Normal Again]

To be honest, 2 reasons. 

1. Finances, each supplement is fairly cheap, but combined, it gets pricey. Run out of three at one time, and it adds up.

2. I really just hate taking pills everyday, I'm terrible at it. So this way, I give myself a week or two off from taking pills/capsules everyday. I never wanted to be the person who has to take pills everyday for life.

I've run out of each one (not usually at the same time). So, in two years,  I've had enough time to experiment with the bare minimum to keep myself outbreak free and feeling good. 

Edited June 13, 2018 by Feeling Normal Again

[Feeling Normal Again]

Posted 4 links to studies done on Neem from different institutions and research groups, including John Hopkins. 

Links posted in Herpes Treatment Zone under Managing Outbreaks and Pain Relief. 

Zero side effects in adults. And one study I read found it more effective than Acyclovir. 

 

[Feeling Normal Again]

Been checking back in and keeping private conversions going, but I am getting off forums. I posted what I take in so many places, I honestly don't know what is still being viewed, and where the new private messages are coming from.

If you read my story and try these things, I hope they work for you as well as they have for me. If you don't try them, good luck to you, hope you find something that works for you. More than two years on these things, no side effects, no outbreaks, and feeling pretty good. 

Good luck to all, especially those suffering from constant outbreaks and atypical symptoms as I was. 

Just another update: I quit taking olive leaf extract, still no outbreaks, don't think it was doing much. Quit zinc, still suck on lozenges if I start feeling a cold coming on. But immune system working... Just on echinacea and dandilion roots, and drinking orange juice a cup a week and of course neem, graviola, astragalus (for female health), brain and energy supplements, and milk thistle.

And for two years of being outbreak free, the whole time  I've eaten peanut butter, cashew butter, almond milk, all dairy products, grains, breads, raw sugars, daily coffee (including espresso shots), chocolates, spices, oils, lamb, goat, beef, poultry, fish, wine, eat all veggies raw, baked, sauteed, steamed, etc. I don't eat gmos or processed foods (ate organic years before catching hsv2), but I don't have restrictions other than religion - no pork or shellfish.

Edited June 24, 2018 by Feeling Normal Again
Wording

[Feeling Normal Again]

****keeping  private conversations**** gotta love the auto type on swype-text

[HS1 x 10y & HV2 x 4y help]

Hi to all,

I'd need to understand if HSV moves in the body or it stays in the area where the first infection happened?

[Kurdt01]

Thought I’d bump this thread… Anyone have any luck with soursop tea or Neem?

[Naturalady8]

Is sour sop and neem what @Feeling Normal Againis crediting with her being outbreak-free? I know I took neem pills, and I think I tried soursop pills, too. Or maybe I just read about that one. I love drinking sour sop juice, and did almost everyday in Jamaica, but never felt my hsv improve during those 2 weeks there. I can’t say I felt much improvement from neem pills. I did feel better with astragalus pills, but I had to take them 2-3x/day just to keep symptoms milder, but it didn’t stop my obs. 
 

I get about one small ob a month now, down from back to back with daily prodrome for 15 years when I finally tried Lomatium tincture from Barlow Herbal. I have been taking it a year now. I started with their detox bundle. Then I took the lomatium 3 times a day. Then I took it twice a day for about 10 months. A couple months ago I went down to once a day. About 3 months ago I added 1000mg of BHT and 450mg of St. John’s Wort a day because my symptoms worsened after I got either a bad cold or Covid. I tested negative for Covid, but it weakened my immune system and I needed more than lomatium could offer. After 2 weeks I noticed a improvement. I kept feeling better slowly as the weeks went on. I still get a small ob about 3-4 days after my period most months, but it only lasts up to 3 days. I’m so happy not to feel daily itching, burning, tingling like I used to for 15 years! It did a great deal of harm to me physically, emotionally, mentally, and affected my whole life. I couldn’t do the things I used to love to do. Nothing was really enjoyable. My immune system went downhill. Now I think that hsv2 caused me to get autoimmune and thyroid problems. Now I’m slowly rebuilding my health.
 

I hope my autoimmune can be reversed now that my HSV2 antibodies are likely getting lower and my body doesn’t have to fight all the time. HSV and other viruses have such a cascading effect on our health. Viral infections can cause so many other health effects, not just the viral infection, but the triggers it has on immune system which can lead to autoimmune which can trigger other things like hypothyroid. I am not outbreak-free yet, but I do have hope I will get there. Some have even gotten negative blood tests after taking lomatium for up to 18 months of daily use. Barlow Herbal has an HSV protocol they send you with your order. It’s actually used for many other chronic viral infections too, like HPV. I definitely plan to keep taking lomatium for the next 6 months to get to the full 18 months that they recommend.

Edited July 11, 2022 by Naturalady8

[2kroc]

I want to try soursop but im a bit a worried about the kidney pain