Herpes, all kinds: How These People Got Symptom-Free

Over the past few years, I have been in communication with herpes virus sufferers who have become symptom-free for 1, 2, and even 3 full years. These "One Year or More" people used to have outbreaks from 3 to 15 times each year. If you've ever known someone who has dealt with any form of herpes, this is very good news. So, this article is an in-depth look at the exact methods that have worked for them, the exact steps they took to become symptom-free.

By "herpes", I mean any of the six known related viruses, including ones that appear on the mouth, the genitals, the skin, the back, even the ones called Epstein-Barr and Shingles. As you'll see, these related viruses have enough similarities so that the methods that work for one often work for the others.

I started writing this article over two years ago, after the first friend reported an entire year free from any outbreak. I became fascinated with what she termed "a minor miracle." Since that time, more people have reported success with a variety of related methods. I just kept interviewing people's results until this has become one of the more detailed HHWorks member article.These details are important because:

• A lot of people suffer from outbreaks, and as you'll see, they don't have to.
• It's an emotional symptom, and it doesn't have to be.
• Too many people think there is no solution. In fact the solutions are here, and they're non-toxic, and they make logical sense.
• Learning how viruses behave has the strange and wonderful result of helping people become less fearful, less out-of-control.

Before we get to the protocols for being symptom-free, it's important to first look at what could best be called the low immunity connection.

The Low Immunity Connection

"The real cure for herpes is to strengthen your immune system."

Success leaves clues. And one of the clues that becomes apparent when interviewing a dozen people who have been symptom-free for a year or more, is that they all did things that strengthened their immunity. Like colds and flu, there is a direct connection between low immunity and getting an viral outbreak. Just look at the term "cold sore"; it was so named because it often followed a cold in childhood, which happens to be the point when a child is in a weakened, low-immunity state.

Dr. Richard Schulze, one of the better known cleansing practitioners in the US, was recently interviewed by Sam Biser. He really emphasizes this low immunity connection:

"With herpes, one thing I've noticed is that since you have an immune system that is depressed, and then the virus gets a hold, and the virus keeps breaking out constantly. The real cure for herpes is to strengthen your immune system.

"The point is not 'Do we have these viruses in our body?' The point is, 'Do these viruses ever get a hold in our body and come into a clinical state, where we actually notice we have them?' I have patients with HIV [the AIDS virus] that are going to outlive their doctors. So just having a virus doesn't mean you are sick.

"Being in the Los Angeles area, I've had thousands and thousands of patients with herpes. And without sounding like a broken record natural healer, I noticed one dramatic thing in my practice. It was really like a bold line between two groups. The first group was those who had herpes and the infections kept coming back, back and back, and reoccurring every month, or, with the women, every time they had a period, or every time they had intercourse. ;'Then there was a second group that never had them come back.

"The big difference was that the second group that never had the herpes come back all made life-style changes in every category. In other words, they started eating better. They started exercising. You know, with that whole life-style change, this second group would get rid of their herpes and never, ever have their herpes come back.

"There might have been 1-2% that got lucky and it worked [without lifestyle changes], but with the vast, vast majority—way up to 98%—the only way to get rid of herpes is the the herbal treatments and life-style change. Because it is an immune disorder."

Dr. Hulda Clark, another cleansing proponent and author of The Cure for All Cancers, says: "Adults who get repeated attacks have low immunity; this is obvious from a blood test where the white blood cell count is less than normal (5,000 per mm)."

Chickenpox: an example

Most people had chickenpox when they were kids (about 90% get it by age 10). What many don't realize is:

• Chickenpox is in fact one of the herpes viruses, a particular one called the varicella-zoster virus.
• A single attack of chicken pox usually provides lifelong immunity against the virus. However, upwards of 20% of American adults will get repeated outbreaks. It can reemerge in adulthood, but only when their body is in a low-immunity situation. This adult chickenpox is known as Shingles.
• In many people, the chickenpox virus actually never leaves the body. In 80-90% of the population, the cold sore virus is present, but never shows up. "Most of us have the herpes viruses in our body," Dr. Schulze says. "and many of us test positive for it even though we don't have the outbreak." This is an important point to grasp. We can carry a virus, such as our childhood chickenpox, around with us our entire life, yet never again experience its outward effects. Just like candida: the problem is not that every single person has some of this yeast in their body. The problem is when the inner terrain allows it to take over to the extent where it shows up and wreaks havoc on our health and lifestyle.

One of the first noticeable symptoms of chickenpox or shingles is a burning pain or tingling in one area of the body. This tingling, common with every form of herpes, is a warning sign called a prodrome (which as you'll read, can be used to your advantage). Within 1 to 3 days, a rash appears, usually on just one side of the body. Within 2 to 4 days, the rash turns into blisters that are tender to the touch. The blisters may last as long as 2 to 3 weeks. Chicken pox, also called varicella, is an extremely infectious disease that produces an itchy, blistery rash that lasts about a week.

So: while one of the herpes viruses may or may not live inside you (like chickenpox and candida), the point is, like Schultz says, "'Do these viruses ever get a hold in our body and come into a clinical state, where we actually notice we have them?"

Stop it, or Completely Remove it?

After a year or two of no breakouts, you'll start pondering the same question that other "Year or More" people end up asking: can we permanently kill and totally remove a herpes virus? Or, like the chickenpox virus, does it just fade into the background like other viruses, and live forever dormant. Good question, and no one yet knows. Even the advanced viral blood tests are not 100% accurate. But in the people I interviewed, every one of them said they ultimately didn't care. What mattered was that they were symptom free.

Triggers

The lower your immunity, the more easily a herpes outbreak can be triggered. This is especially important to remember, since the list of "triggers" (things that can cause an outbreak) can start to get long and kind of silly. I've seen people with such weak immune systems that even one spicy meal, or a trip to the sauna or hot tub, or scratching their skin, can trigger their virus. One woman told me that if she suddenly got scared, she'd break out within an hour. Overly sensitive triggers can also include sudden cold and heat, trauma from chafing and friction, ice cubes in a drink, hot soup, eating with a metal spoon (!), tweezing facial hair. fatigue, sun exposure, stress, starting your period, and 500 other things.

While all these triggers really can trigger an outbreak, it is a sign of something deeper: a weak immune system. If you break out in a rash because a friend jumps out for a bush and screams "boo!", it's time to clean up your diet, and get to work on strengthening your internal terrain. It's time we stop thinking that the trigger is the cause of the problem.

There are some triggers that that are obvious signals that we are lowering our immune system, such as drinking a lot of alcohol, drug use, smoking a lot, going on a sugar binge, injury to the local area, and being run-down.

The Different Kinds of Herpes

For the record, there are eight known human herpesviruses (Medical texts refer to herpesvirus as one word, but we will use two). Also, every animal species that has been investigated also has its own herpesvirus. One of the common traits with these viruses is the ability to hide out in the body without causing symptoms, and then reappear at a later date. The human herpesvirus family includes:

herpes simplex virus type 1 (cold sores and whitlows on fingers and hands, also half new cases of genital herpes)

1. herpes simplex virus type 2 (genital sores, also sometimes cold sores)
2. varicella-zoster virus (the chickenpox, mentioned above)
3. Epstein Barr virus (often abbreviated to EBV)
4. cytomegalovirus (CMV)
5. human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6)
6. human herpesvirus 7 (HHV7)
7. human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8 or it can be called KSHV)

The Drug Approach

There are three main pharmaceutical drugs currently used for herpes. All cost between $120 and $250 per month.

Zovirax is the brand name for Acyclovir. The side effects, listed at www.rxlist.com/, are: Kidney disease-changes in facial skin color; changes in vision; confusion; convulsions, seizures; coughing; difficulty in breathing or swallowing; severe dizziness; fast heartbeat; muscle cramps, pain, or weakness; seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there; sense of agitation or uneasiness; skin rash, itching; swelling of eyelids, face, feet, hands, lower legs or lips; swollen, painful, or tender lymph nodes (glands) in neck, armpit, or groin.

Valtrex is the other. Its side effects are : aggressive behavior; agitation; coma; confusion; decreased consciousness; mania; psychosis, including auditory and visual hallucinations; seizures, tremors; liver enzyme abnormalities.

Famvir: The following adverse events have been reported with: hives, painful menstruation, hallucinations and confusion (including delirium, disorientation, confusional state, occurring predominantly in the elderly).

None of these drugs are what anyone would consider "immune enhancers." They do NOT strengthen your body's immunity, and inner terrain. On the contrary. For this reason, we don't recommend any of them.

Alternatives: The Ones that Work

Common Themes:

One of common themes I've seen in all long term "One Year or More" herpes successes is this: while there is a similar logic that weaves through their methodologies, the ways they achieved success are often varied. Viruses seem to behave differently in each person; it is very individualistic and what may work for one person may not work for another. Method A will work for some, but not everyone. Method B will work for some, but not everyone.

You're going to have to see what works for you

"What? You mean I can't follow one method blindly? I may have to try out a variety of methods, and even then you can't guarantee anything? Yup. Furthermore, I need to state this here: if you are someone that has a history of feeling victimized, or blameful towards others, I need to ask that you not read any further, nor try any of these methods (if in doubt, you need to reread the Medical Disclaimer found at How Health Works). Why? Because what follows is simply shared information by people who are finding results with what works. Will their results work for you? No one knows. But the good news is that this is the behavior you're going to need to develop in every single aspect of your life if you are planning on truly getting healthy.

The Logic

The further good news is that there is a logic that applies to every one of these successful solutions. This logic can be broken down into the following:

1. Viruses seem to like a relatively acidic and oxygen-free environment. Create an opposite kind of environment— relatively alkaline and oxygen-rich environment—and the virus dies or at least doesn't create an outbreak.The most popular book currently on Herpes, called Never an Outbreak, outlines a program that does two basic things; increase oxygenation and increase alkalinity.
   
2. All herpes viruses have a kind of protein outer wall. Destroy that wall and the virus dies (this is a scientific fact)
   
3. Increasing the overall immunity of the body is critical for long-term success (see How to Strengthen the Body's Immune System section, below)
   
4. Electrical micro-currents are well known to eliminate all viruses, parasites, fungi, bacteria and pathogens in blood.
   
5. Foods high in the amino acid called Lysine can help prevent outbreaks.
   
6. Foods high in the amino acid called Arginine can cause outbreaks.
   
7. Many people report that clearing up herpes can sometimes seem to make the virus want to fight back. initially, outbreaks can sometimes move around in the body, almost like a classic detoxification response. Meaning: it sometimes gets worse before it gets better. However, every person that reported this behavior mentioned that, by staying with it, those reactions pass within the first month. The point: don't be discouraged.

The Tools and Methods

Let's go through each tool and method that these "Year or More" people have used.

If you are currently suffering from a herpes outbreak, or have the tingly predome signs (The predome is that period just before the actual outbreak where a lot of people feel signs such as tingling, pain, soreness, fatigue, or flu symptoms), then these first methods are ones that may shorten or eliminate the outbreak.

1. Oxygenating Tools

"The link between insufficient oxygen and disease has now been firmly established." Dr. W. Spencer Way, Journal of the American Associates of Physicians.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is an alkaline liquid used as an antiseptic. You can find it in brown 1-quart bottles (3% solution) in virtually every pharmacy, and in many households. Hydrogen peroxide (aka H2O2) does one thing and does it well: it passes oxygen to whatever it's applied to. This is why it's used to add oxygen to pools and spas, ground water, and since the 1980s, human blood. Once its out of the bottle, it dissociates (splits into) oxygen and water very, very easily and rapidly.

Almost all of the "Year or More" people have used H202 in their successful methods. They use it in two ways:

1. directly on the areas that break out, or are about to break out (again, that "predome" feeling)
2. directly consuming small amounts of food grade H202.

Hydrogen peroxide mixtures

Hydrogen peroxide can be purchased everywhere in the 3% solution, for about a dollar per quart, and some people find that this weak version works. I use this almost every day as a mouth swish for whitening my teeth and adding a bit of oxygen to my system. However, you will also want to purchase "food grade" 35% hydrogen peroxide from the Internet. A small amount can go a long way.

Purchase some food grade 35% hydrogen peroxide (for about $24/quart, shipped), Follow directions! This is very caustic stuff. There are also products now on the market that are "oxygenating agents" called BOL, Oxywater, etc. My suggestion is to simply get the real thing, and make your own solutions.

Here's the direct applying protocol:

Using a Q-tip, place a few drops of the 3% solution (the 35% would burn the skin) onto a Q-tip, and hold directly on the outbreak areas. Do this even before an outbreak. Every outbreak area is the end point for nerves that lead back to where the virus likes to live: the bunch of nerves found at the base of the spine. Keep the area oxygenated as often as possible without irritating the skin. If the breakout area is around the mouth, also use the hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash. Try increasing the 3% solution just a little bit (to 5 or 6%) by adding some of the 35% solution (again, be very careful when using and handling the 35% solution. It is extremely caustic). Swish around the inside of the mouth, then spit out.

The drink protocol:

• Carefully transfer some of the 35% solution into a glass dropper bottle for easier usage.
• Place one drop into a glass of pure water. Drink this twice a day. Over time, work up to more drops per glass. Some people do between 10 and 25 drops per glass. But work up slowly. Maintain this for a few months. If the taste bothers you, add a squeeze of lemon or lime.
• Drink your oxygenated water on an empty stomach (nothing else for 20 minutes afterwards, or an hour before). So your drink schedule could look like this:
• 7:00AM: Wakeup and drink the 02
• 7:30: Breakfast
• 11:30: Drink O2.
• 12:00: Lunch
• 6:00: Drink O2
• 6:30: Dinner

Again: work your way up to more drops per glass, and then do this for a couple of months.

DMSO

I don't think there is a more controversial substance currently in the healing arts than a liquid substance called DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), and I will admit, there is still a part of me that questions its use. But I am including it here for a few reasons:

1. Enough sane people have been using it, for a long enough period of time, and getting such good results, it would be irresponsible to ignore it. Since 1963, more than 10,000 articles on the biologic implications of DMSO have appeared in the scientific literature (meaning, outside of the alternative and empirical, first-hand experience world). Over 30,000 articles on the chemistry of DMSO have reportedly been published. The results of these studies strongly support the view that DMSO is a truly significant new therapeutic principle with no side effects.

2. If you are suffering from some form of herpes virus, you will hear about DMSO at some point anyway, so I'd rather write about it here, so you can make a sound decision based on what it is, and how it's being used.

3. I would personally use DMSO over any of the pharmaceutical approaches.

What it DMSO?

In its simplest explanation, DMSO comes from lignin, the part of all trees that hold it together and give wood its strength. The cellulose walls that you see at the end of a 2x4 are all impregnated with this lignin. When processed, lignin can be made to produce this colorless liquid called dimethyl sulfoxide, or DMSO for short.

The normal decomposition of plants produce DMSO. Marine and fresh algae give off DMSO. Milk naturally contains small amounts of DMSO.

DMSO is one of those "wow" substances that has intrigued the scientific world since its discovery in the sixties. It is now a respected, approved pharmaceutical in more than 100 countries. In 1970, the FDA approved DMSO for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders in dogs and horses, and many veterinarians consider it to be a valuable therapeutic substance. In 1978, it was approved by the FDA in humans for the therapy of Interstitial Cystitis (a painful urinary bladder inflammation). The Moscow Institute of Rheumatology (the largest arthritic hospital in Russia) estimates that about 50 percent of the Russian arthritic population receives DMSO as a part of their therapy.

Dr. Stanley Jacob, M.D., who has experimented with DMSO since the early 1960s, has said, "It's the aspirin of our era. If aspirin were to come along today, it would have the same problem. If someone gave you a little white pill and said take this and your headache will go away, your body temperature will go down, it will help prevent strokes and major heart problems--what would you think?"

I personally believe that 99% of the controversy around DMSO is financial: DMSO is so cheap, readily available, and so effective, no drug company can possibly compete or figure out a way to make money with it.

Some of the agree-upon properties of DMSO are:

• reduces pain and swelling
• acts as an anti-oxidant
• acts as a free radical scavenger
• reduces arthritis pain and swelling, helps carpal tunnel
• used for brain and spinal cord injuries in Europe
• a legal drug which can be used orally, topically and intravenously
• used for insect bites, acne, neuritis, neuralgia and shingles
• biggest drawback is the odor which can be dissipated with aloe, rose and mint flavor

What does DMSO have to do with herpes

Here are the theories of why it works:

1. DMSO contains oxygen. The theory is that it hyper-oxygenates the body, very quicky after applying it to the skin. Viruses cannot exist in an elevated oxygen (or alkaline) environment. DMSO also contains sulfides, and sulfur has a possible anti-viral role.
2. DMSO is a rapidly absorbed skin penetrate. How fast? Within 10 seconds of applying it to your foot, you'll taste DMSO in your mouth. Because of this, it not only carries its own properties with it (such as its own oxygen and sulfides), it can also act as an fast carrier for other things mixed with it, or applied on the skin at the same time (such as hydrogen peroxide).

Application and Odor

The only side effect of DMSO is the immediate odor on the breath, which often smells like garlic or sulfur. This can be dissipated with aloe, rose and mint flavors. Some DMSO products now come with rose oil already mixed in with it.

People use DMSO by applying it directly to the skin, 2 or 3 times a day. They will sometimes mix it with anti-fungal oils (listed later in this article) and hydrogen peroxide. The three areas on the body that seem most effective are:

1. The direct outbreak areas
2. The back of the neck (herpes travel through the nerve fibers, and the back of the neck has many of the nerve branches that go to the face)
3. The lower back (herpes lives in the nerve fibers of the lower back)

One of the purest and cheapest DMSO I've found is here. Do a search for DMSO in their Search field there, and you'll see 16 oz bottles for around $5. They have a pure roll, as well as a rose-scented DMSO cream as well.

2. Destroy the Protein Wall of the Virus

Herpes viruses have a protein outer wall. Break through the wall, and the virus dies. The following are products that can do this.

Virgin Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is fast becoming the darling of the health field. Far from being the bad oil it was made out to be, it is fast turning out to be one of the healthiest oils on the planet, helping with obesity, hypothyroidism, diabetes, Candida, infections, digestive disorders, skin problems, and most pointedly, its ability to kill the herpes virus.

That's correct: coconut oil kills lipid-coated herpes viruses on contact.

Procedure is easy: put it directly on your skin, as well as use it in your daily eating habits. One or two teaspoons a day, eaten straight, as well as using it in cooking.

I use Now's Virgin Coconut Oil. It's organic, comes in a jar, and it's cheap. Avoid non-virgin oil, or ones made from copra (dried coconuts).

Lauric Acid / Lauricidin / Monolaurin

Lauric acid is one of the main substance found in mother's milk that is responsible for the its antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. The level of lauric acid in human milk can range from 3 to 21%, depending on the diet of the mother.

Interestingly, approximately 50% of the fatty acids in coconut fat are lauric acid.

Lauric acid has been shown to turn into monolaurin (also known as Lauricidin) in the human body, which makes it more biologically active and usable. Monolaurin is a powerful anti-viral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal oil used by our body to destroy lipid coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, influenza, as well as giardia. It's also been shown to be active against the influenza virus, yeast, fungus, staphylococcus, streptococcus, chlamydia, candida, ringworm, H. pylori and gonorrhea.

And, it's been show to inactivate the herpes simplex I & II, CMV, EBV, and HIV. It does this by disrupting the lipid-protein envelope of the virus and inactivates the virus.

Look around for products that contain Monolaurin. The one from Ecological Formulas remains about the best and cheapest.

Lauricidin is used in two ways: eaten internally, or placed directly on outbreak areas. Follow directions on the amounts to consume each day, and also crush up a capsule of it in coconut oil, and apply locally.

Anti-Fungal oils

The following are all plant oils that are being used for herpes. All are used topically, as well as placed into a glass of water and sipped as a tonic. A few drops in an glass is the usual mix.

Ravensara Oil is considered one of the best helpers for shingles. Found mainly in Madagascar, the ravensara tree can grow to 60 feet high, and produces leaves that have been used for centuries as an anti-fungal.

Frankincense oil. Long history, used for viral infections. Get the 100% pure version. While more expensive that other oils (about $18), the bottle will last you for a year or more.

Oregano oil. So strong, it can burn the skin, so apply carefully, or mix with a bit of olive oil. Long used for candida and fungal problems as well.

Neem Oil. I've read that tests in Genital herpes sufferers who have used neem on the sores report a tremendous reduction in the number and severity of eruptions. This used to be a very difficult oil to find in 100% purity, but it's now available in a few places.

Again, all of these essential oils can be mixed with water as a tonic, or dropped into hot water as a tea.

Electrical and Magnetic Devices

I'll say this clearly from the start: if I was experiencing any kind of long-term, debilitating disease or set of symptoms, I would be experimenting with—and daily using—both micro-electrical and magnetic devices. From cancer to AIDs, to chronic infection and mental fogginess, the wide range of empirical success stories from these devices are too compelling to ignore, and the only reason more people don't use them is "fear of the weird."

Yet electrical and magnetic stimulation has long been used in healing. They are currently used to control chronic pain in many hospitals. Over the past 12-15 years, these devices been used by thousands in the treatment of herpes, much of it started because of the stories told in Dr. Hulda Clark's series of books (The Cure for All Cancers, etc).

What are they?

All of these devices are attempting to do the same thing: put small, barely detectable electrical currents, or high intensity magnetic pulses, into the body in order to kill organisms that shouldn't be there.  While the focus here is herpes, other things are also eradicated, such as bacteria, mold, fungi, and the larger parasites such as tapeworms, ringworms, roundworms, and flukes. I've personally received stories of people passing 12 inch tapeworms and losing their chronic fatigue symptoms through the use of these devices.

There are many theories on why they work with herpes, and once again, the "destroying of the protein barrier" that surrounds the herpes virus is one of the main purported reasons.

All the devices are small, ranging from the size of an iPod to as small as a pack of gum. Most work off a 9 volt battery, but some use a normal DC converter (like the cords that you use to plug in small electronics). They work by either holding the two conductive ends of the current (the "current" is tiny, usually imperceptible) in your hands, or attaching them to any two parts of your body (via gel pads, slippers, wrist straps, etc.). They work because our entire blood stream flows past most areas of the body at about once every 8 or 9 minutes, thus zapping the entire blood supply. A typical session lasts about an hour or two, but you'll also hear of people using them while they sleep through the night. Four to sixe weeks of daily use is suggested.

Confusing, but simple

Few things are more confusing to me than "electrical talk." As soon as you start researching which device to use, you find your way onto websites that speak in sentences like this:

The human range is from 1520 KHz to 9460 KHz; therefore our device sets a square wave that goes from 77 KHz to 900 KHz, 4 ma to 9 ma. Modes are set at ~0.7kHz (728Hz), ~2kHz (2128Hz) and 30kHz for the more experienced user.

Instead of getting confused by language like this (or returning to school for an electrical engineering degree), all you need to know is the theory: small electrical currents are known to kill any virus. By contacting one of these special electrical devices to your body, you can kill viruses. To view a small video of protozoans being zapped by one of these devices, click here http://www.paradevices.com/ParaZapper_works.avi

The magnetic pulse units don't use electrical current, but instead uses a high intensity, short duration magnetic pulse as its means of killing or immobilizing parasites and viruses. Most of the units consist of a small box which holds the electronics and a round coil attached by a cord. The coil produces a pulse every 5-8 seconds. The coil can be placed anywhere on the body, including the head and face.

Which devices?

There are about 15 electrical zappers currently on the market. There are only two magnetic pulse units that I know of.

From everything I've read and heard, different units work for different people. I think they probably all work to some degree.

Here are some suggestions:

Check out the electrical device called the Ultimate Zapper. I like this site because they offer a true 90-day trial period. You can try it out, and if you don't get results, you can return it. They have less than a 1% return rate.

For just cold sores, try Cold Sore Eliminator. Tiny, not too expensive, and has a good track record for success.

For the Magnetic Pulser, try Tools for Healing. I like Bob Beck's writing, and this site has good articles on parasite cleansing in general.

Homeopathic remedies

The first successes I ever heard about herpes were ones that centered around homeopathic remedies. The two that were used were:

Rhus Tox. Can be found at any local health food store.

Aeura. This is a proprietary blend made by this company

Lysine and Arginine: Foods to Avoid, Foods to Use

Research, as well as the empirical evidence of virtually all of the "One Year or More" people, suggests that there are two amino acids that come into play with herpes:

Lysine helps prevent herpes (also called L-lsyine)

Arginine seems to promote herpes (called L-arginine)

A few years ago, researchers discovered that in order to grow, the herpes virus needs arginine, a common amino acid found in all protein. Further, by taking lysine supplements, herpes sufferers could either shorten their outbreaks, or prevent them altogether.

Logic would then tell us that foods high in lysine and low in arginine would be a useful tool in managing herpes infections.

Well, yes and no. The US Department of Agriculture (#1-23) came out with a chart that showed about 300 foods with their lysine-to-arginine content. If you only viewed food through that lens, we could simply pick all the high lysine/low arginine foods and remove all the high arginine/low lysine foods.

It's not quite that simple, even though some herpes websites seem to suggest that. For instance, one of the best anti-viral foods effective against herpes is garlic, yet the chart shows it as having more arginine than lysine. Eliminating garlic simply because of this ratio is silly. In fact, 100 grams of garlic have 0.65 of one gram of arginine and 0.25 of one gram of lysine. Onions are another food showing a bit more arginine than lysine, but it also is a strong alkalinizing plant that has anti-viral properties.

However, the chart and this lysine/arginine comparison can be useful in some areas. Nuts and seeds have some of the highest Arginine-to-Lysine ratios of any foods on the planet (an average of 4 parts arginine to 1 part lysine), and many people report that eating nuts and seeds can often trigger a herpes outbreak. Oranges and tangerines also have a similar ratio.

So there are a few foods that almost all herpes sufferers say are foods to avoid eating in large amounts in a short period of time:

• nuts and seeds. The highest on the list are peanuts, almonds, sesame seeds, and hazelnuts.
• Sugar
• Chocolate
• caffeine
• Soy-based foods (with the exception of tempeh it seems, for reasons unknown)

One note: you will see a lot of lists of "food to eat/avoid" on the Internet. Much of it is contradictory, for reasons I don't know. For instance, some sights will say that Oats are to be avoided. Well, 100 grams of oats have about 1.1 grams of lysine, and 1.1 grams of arginine. This shows me that oats are quite balanced in this aspect, and in no way a food to be avoided.

What works

In the lysine/arginine puzzle, what seems to really work is to simple: take lysine supplements, and avoid taking arginine supplements. During periods when you feel an outbreak coming on, consume 500 to 1000 milligrams (1/2 to 1 gram) three times a day, for a week or so. During off times, lower it to 100 to 500 mg/day. Some "One Year or More" people reported that don't use lysine on a daily basis, but just take a tablet or two every few weeks.

BHT

Right up there with DMSO, BHT will probably be the most controversial substance I ever write about. But again, compared to the drugs currently recommended by doctors and pharmacists, I would choose BHT any day of the week. I would first do all of the other protocols outlined in this article first, but if after months of trial and error, I still did not get results, I would start experimenting with BHT, which now has a 25-plus year history of great results with no side effects.

First, a definition: BHT is the common abbreviation for butylated hydroxytoluene, a fat-soluble compound used as an antioxidant food additive. It is also the poster child for All Things Considered Bad in our modern day food chain. It was first patented in 1947 and received approval of the FDA as a food additive and preservative in 1954. BHT is generally recognized as safe (that phrase, by the way, is commonly abbreviated as GRAS). BHT reacts with free radicals, slowing the rate of autoxidation in food, preventing changes in the food's color, odor, and taste.

In 1979, a paper was published in the journal Science, showing that BHT could completely and utterly inactivate herpes and other lipid coated viruses in lab dishes. Two years later, Science again published another article, showing that BHT could prevent chickens from dying of a virus that, like herpes, had a protein/ lipid envelope.

Based on this initial research, some individuals began experimenting with BHT in their own body. Using dosages between 250 to 1000 mg per day, reports of their successes started to spread, ranging from rapid recovery of an outbreak (2 days instead of 10, for instance) to no recurrences at all. In 1983, Steven Fowkes wrote a book called "Wipe Out Herpes With BHT", and thus begun an underground movement of people using a common food preservative to stop herpes outbreaks.

No one is sure how it works, but it is believed that the mechanism with BHT is the same as with Lauric Acid, Coconut oil, and the electrical devices: BHT "fluidizes the herpes outer membrane"; in other words, it cracks open the outer shell of the virus, allowing our body's natural defense system to destroy it.

How do people use it:

Same two ways as with many other solutions: locally and orally. Open a capsule of BHT into a small amount of virgin coconut oil. Put some directly on the break out areas. Or consume the capsules like you would any other supplement. Suggested dose is to start out with 100 mg. Increase to 250 mg. Based on anecdotal information, it appears that a dosage of 250 mg. to 1000 mg. per day is effective for many people.

BHT is cheap: 100 capsules of 250mg each can be had for under $8.

BHT Precautions

No one knows if there are any yet unrecognized health risks of these doses of BHT. So far, there is none. However, here are the suggested precautions to use with BHT:

• People with diseases that compromise liver function should have their liver enzymes monitored by a physician. BHT should be avoided by anyone with hepatitis or other liver problems.
• BHT is fat-soluble, so thin people may need less and may be more susceptible to side effects.
• BHT can interfere with blood clotting. It may pose a risk to persons with clotting problems or persons using anti-coagulant medications.
• Doses of BHT should start small and gradually increase. It is probably not harmful to stop abruptly, however, because BHT stays in the body for several weeks.
• Alcohol should be avoided for at least several hours after taking BHT. Alcohol may have a stronger effect than usual, so be especially careful about driving.
• Some people at least should avoid taking BHT on an empty stomach.
• Don't use BHT during pregnancy.

Here is some interesting excerpts taken from a recent interview with research author Steven Fowkes: "The most recent Russian papers involve the use of BHT (they call it ionol) against the influenza virus, which is a lipid-enveloped virus just like herpes (HSV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and the hepatitis virus—both A and B forms. The Russians report said that BHT was able to prevent the influenza virus from killing mice and block the stress-induced enhancement of lipid peridoxidation and protein production from influenza virus. ...There is a possibility that BHT may also be effective in treating hepatitis C. Recently, a subscriber with two positive tests for hepatitis C tried a combination of BHT and High Potency Hypericin. His next (third) test came back negative. His doctor, disbelieving the test, retested him with several additional hepatitis C test (including PCR). All have come back negative."

When asked if there were any other uses for BHT, Steven responded, "You bet. BHT is useful in the treatment of shingles (caused by the herpes virus that causes chicken pox in children). Topical applications of BHT solution (10% BHT in coconut oil) is effective at reducing pain and speeding the healing of skin lesions. The improvement in pain can be so rapid and so dramatic as to make believers out of skeptics in days. The BHT-in-coconut oil solution can be made at home by dissolving bulk BHT in coconut oil in a double boiler on your stove. Frequent stirring is necessary as BHT dissolves rather slowly. Topical application has some significant advantages over oral use. It maximizes BHT levels at the site of infection (the skin), and it minimizes systemic absorption, and thereby potential liver toxicity of BHT. The elderly people who are more likely to have problems with shingles may also have weaker liver function. Medical monitoring of liver enzyme levels is recommended to be sure that the total system dose of BHT stays within enzyme-induction capacity of the liver. "

From an article by Ed Sharpe, and interesting antecdote about someone who has remained outbreak-free for over 10 years: "Roger first began taking BHT after reading about it in Life Extension, by Pearson and Shaw. Initially he took about 1 gram per day. Later, he was able to obtain BHT in smaller capsules containing 250 mg per cap, and from that point on he took 250 mg every day for 6 to 7 years. Not surprisingly, during this period he remained completely free of herpes eruptions. More surprising is that he still remains herpes-free to this day, 10 years after his last dose of BHT. Around 3 years ago Roger had a comprehensive physical exam, including blood work. His physician told him that no antibodies to the herpes simplex virus could be found in his system.

Today Roger’s health is generally excellent, with no indication that his years of supplementing with BHT have harmed him in any way. The only adverse effect he ever encountered happened early on, while he was still experimenting with the size of the dose. Roger found that taking 3 grams of BHT each day resulted in dizziness and disorientation, which quickly disappeared when he cut his dose back to 1 gram per day. No adverse effects were seen thereafter."

Dr. Hulda Clark

Anyone researching cellular cleansing and natural healing methods will eventually come across the name Dr. Hulda Regehr Clark, who wrote the book, The Cure For All Cancers, in 1989. She went on to write a series of related books.

If any writer ever needed an editor, it is Hulda Clark. I honestly don't think I've ever tried reading a series of books with more confusing syntax and outline structure than Dr. Clark's. They are maddening to read, and I always end up thinking that someone just put a microphone in front of Dr Clark and recorded what she said for a few hours. That her books have sold millions of copies, and have positively affected the lives of untold thousands of people is a testament to the effectiveness of her research and protocols.

Her books are worth reading, as long as you keep in mind two things: you don't need to believe every single thing that she proposes, and you have to forgive the horrible editing. If you can do that, you will find stories of healing and ideas behind why we get sick, that are too compelling to ignore. She speaks directly about the herpes virus, and her success with both electrical devices and parasite cleanses. I do believe that one day Hulda Clark will be hailed as a hero along the same lines that Louis Pasteur is today.

Herpes and Viruses: The Key is to Strengthen The Body's Immune System

I started this article with this idea, and it's worth ending with it: If you never want an viral outbreak again, you must learn the art of strengthening your immune system. It's the entire purpose of How Health Works, and the entire purpose of Cellular Cleansing Made Easy and every other tool I've made. Staying healthy is not a one-a-day vitamin, nor is it something that comes from white lab coated technicians. Like caring for children, or learning to stay fit, or learning how to read and write and add and subtract, a strong immunity can be learned, and then taught, by each of us. The skills are simple, and outlined in every tool on How Health Works:

Stop eating junk food, junk oil, junk salt, and pasteurized sugar-laden beverages

Start eating whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and other whole foods

If you're going to eat animal foods, eat real animal foods, not processed ones

Exercise and sweat every day

Drink pure water, every day

Learn how to alkalinize your body

Learn and practice simple cleansing techniques; clean your liver, your colon, and your kidneys at least once a year

After doing any of the method mentioned here, please let us know your results. You can email us, or post your results on the How Health Works Forum.

Scott