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Dating with Herpes

Dating with Herpes

couple dating with herpes

 

Dating with herpes can be a daunting task, as it comes with its own set of unique challenges. The stigma surrounding herpes can make it difficult to disclose your status to a potential partner, and the fear of rejection can be overwhelming. However, it is important to remember that having herpes is much more common than you might think, and there are resources available to help you navigate the dating world with confidence and ease.

One of the biggest obstacles facing people with herpes is the social stigma that surrounds the condition. Many people believe that herpes is a result of promiscuity or moral weakness, which can lead to feelings of shame and isolation for those who have it. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Herpes is a common viral infection that can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, and it has nothing to do with a person’s sexual behavior or character.

The fear of rejection is another significant challenge that people with herpes face when dating. Many worry that disclosing their status will automatically result in rejection or judgement from potential partners. While this fear is understandable, it’s important to remember that honesty and transparency are key in any relationship. By disclosing your herpes status early on, you give your partner the opportunity to make an informed decision about whether or not they want to pursue a relationship with you.

One option for people with herpes who are looking to date is to use herpes dating websites. These sites are specifically designed for people with herpes to connect with others who share their condition. This can be a great way to meet potential partners who are already aware of the realities of living with herpes, and who may be more accepting of your status. However, it’s important to use these sites with caution and to take steps to protect your privacy and safety.

Ultimately, the most important thing when dating with herpes is to find the right person. This means finding someone who is understanding, supportive, and accepting of your condition. It may take time to find the right partner, but it’s important to remember that there are plenty of people out there who are willing to look past your herpes status and see you for who you truly are.

Herpes outbreak suppression using diet

What Diet is Best for Herpes Outbreak Suppression?

Herpes is a viral infection that can affect different parts of the body, including the mouth, genital area, and eyes. The two most common types of herpes are herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). While there is no cure for herpes, there are ways to manage the symptoms and reduce the frequency of outbreaks. One of the most important factors in managing herpes is proper nutrition.

Nutrition plays a critical role in the body’s immune system, which is responsible for fighting off infections. A diet that is high in nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can help boost the immune system and reduce the risk of herpes outbreaks. Here are some important nutrients and foods to include in your diet to help suppress herpes:

  1. Lysine: Lysine is an essential amino acid that plays a critical role in the immune system. Studies have shown that lysine can help prevent the replication of the herpes virus. Foods that are high in lysine include meat, fish, dairy products, and legumes.

  2. Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps boost the immune system. It also plays a role in collagen production, which can help heal skin lesions caused by herpes outbreaks. Foods that are high in vitamin C include citrus fruits, berries, kiwi, and broccoli.

  3. Zinc: Zinc is an essential mineral that is important for immune function. It also helps speed up the healing process for skin lesions caused by herpes outbreaks. Foods that are high in zinc include oysters, beef, pork, and legumes.

  4. Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are important for reducing inflammation in the body. Inflammation can trigger herpes outbreaks, so including foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce the frequency of outbreaks. Foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids include fatty fish, such as salmon and mackerel, as well as flaxseed and chia seeds.

  5. Antioxidants: Antioxidants are important for reducing oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of herpes outbreaks. Foods that are high in antioxidants include berries, dark chocolate, and green leafy vegetables.

In addition to these specific nutrients, it is important to maintain a balanced and healthy diet overall. This means avoiding processed and sugary foods, and focusing on whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. It is also important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoiding sugary beverages.

In conclusion, proper nutrition is essential for managing herpes outbreaks. By including foods that are high in lysine, vitamin C, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants, you can help boost your immune system and reduce the frequency of outbreaks. Remember to also maintain a balanced and healthy diet overall, and stay hydrated. If you have any questions or concerns about your diet and managing herpes, consult with a healthcare professional.

What is the Difference between HSV1 and HSV2

What is the Difference Between HSV-1 and HSV-2

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a highly contagious virus that is transmitted through close personal contact, typically through sexual contact or skin-to-skin contact. There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Although both types of herpes simplex virus can cause similar symptoms, there are some differences between the two.

HSV-1

HSV-1 is typically associated with oral herpes, which causes cold sores or fever blisters on or around the mouth. However, it can also cause genital herpes if it is transmitted through oral sex. Most people with HSV-1 acquire the virus during childhood, usually through non-sexual contact, such as sharing utensils or kissing an infected person.

Symptoms of HSV-1 may include:

  • Cold sores or fever blisters on or around the mouth
  • Tingling, itching or burning on or around the mouth
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
  • Painful blisters on or around the mouth

The virus can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, such as kissing or sharing utensils, as well as through contact with infected saliva. In some cases, HSV-1 can also be transmitted to the genitals through oral sex.

HSV-2

HSV-2 is typically associated with genital herpes, which causes painful sores or blisters on or around the genitals. Most people with HSV-2 acquire the virus through sexual contact with an infected partner. However, it is possible to contract HSV-2 through non-sexual contact as well.

Symptoms of HSV-2 may include:

  • Painful blisters or sores on or around the genitals
  • Itching or burning in the genital area
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the groin
  • Flu-like symptoms, such as fever and headache

The virus is transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It is most contagious during outbreaks, when symptoms are present, but it can also be spread even when there are no visible symptoms.

Treatment and Prevention

There is no cure for either type of herpes simplex virus, but antiviral medications can help to reduce the severity and frequency of outbreaks. These medications can also help to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others.

Prevention is key when it comes to avoiding herpes simplex virus. To reduce the risk of contracting HSV-1, avoid sharing utensils or engaging in close contact with people who have cold sores or fever blisters. To reduce the risk of contracting HSV-2, practice safe sex by using condoms during sexual activity.

Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause similar symptoms, but they are typically associated with different types of herpes. HSV-1 is typically associated with oral herpes, while HSV-2 is typically associated with genital herpes. While there is no cure for either type of herpes simplex virus, there are treatments available that can help to reduce the severity and frequency of outbreaks. Additionally, practicing safe sex and avoiding close contact with people who have active herpes outbreaks can help to reduce the risk of contracting the virus.

lysine shown to help with herpes outbreaks

The Newest Research in Lysine for Herpes

Herpes is a viral infection that affects millions of people worldwide. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and can cause painful and recurrent outbreaks of blisters or sores on the skin or mucous membranes. While there is no cure for herpes, antiviral medications can help manage symptoms and reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks. However, these medications can have side effects and are not always effective.

Recent research has focused on the role of the amino acid lysine in preventing and treating herpes outbreaks. Lysine is an essential amino acid, which means that the body cannot produce it on its own and it must be obtained through the diet or supplements. Lysine is important for many bodily functions, including the synthesis of proteins, collagen, and hormones.

The theory behind using lysine for herpes is that it competes with another amino acid, arginine, for uptake into cells. Arginine is required for the replication of HSV, while lysine can interfere with this process. Therefore, increasing lysine intake and decreasing arginine intake may help reduce the frequency and severity of herpes outbreaks.

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that lysine supplementation can reduce the severity and duration of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections in mice. The researchers found that lysine supplementation increased the expression of genes involved in antiviral immunity and reduced the expression of genes involved in viral replication.

Another study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy found that lysine supplementation can reduce the recurrence rate of herpes outbreaks in humans. The researchers conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 52 participants who had a history of recurrent herpes outbreaks. They found that lysine supplementation significantly reduced the frequency and duration of outbreaks compared to placebo.

While these studies provide promising results, more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of lysine supplementation for herpes. It is also important to note that lysine supplementation is not a replacement for antiviral medications and should be used in conjunction with medical treatment.

Scientist working on herpes cure

Does Herpes Stay With You Forever?

Does Herpes Stay With You Forever?
Or Is There A Cure?

“Does herpes stay with you forever?”  This is the first question that goes through the mind of each person who gets a diagnosis of a positive herpes infection.

It is important to understand the answer, because there are so many websites that will make you false promises of a cure.  They are selling various combinations of herbs and other supplements claiming that they have cured herpes, but sadly, no such cure exists at this time.  Here’s such an example of a claim of herpes being cured made in a book sold on Amazon.




Amazon ad link to a book claiming to cure herpes

Why Has No Cure Been Found?

This is a great question.  We seem to have found a number of cures for diseases throughout the ages.  Some of these cures or vaccines have come about in rapid time – COVID-19 being one of the most impressive vaccine turnaround times ever achieved.

Herpes, by contrast, has seen very little research to stamp it out?  Why?  Well, there are several theories on this matter.  One theory is that since herpes is not life-threatening for the vast majority of people who contract it, it is seen more as a nuisance than a threat to public health.

Another theory is that finding a cure is purposefully being ignored because the pharmaceutical companies that produce medications to help curb herpes symptoms (like Valtrex, acyclovir, etc.) would lose a large market if herpes could be cured.

No one can say for certain why there has not been a cure found, but at present there is no known cure.

If There’s No Cure, What Can I Do?

While no actual cure exists that will rid the body of the herpes virus, there are things you can do to help keep your symptoms at bay.  In essence, it’s really a question of management.  While you can’t get rid of the virus, there are several measures you can take to help keep outbreaks from happening as often or reduce their severity.

Having a healthy immune system is one such measure.  By eating good, clean, whole foods and avoiding processed foods, you are already reducing the amount of stress on your body.

FruitBowl - healthy foods help keep herpes outbreaks at bay

There are supplements such as lysine, monolaurin, olive leaf, and others that have been shown to suppress herpes outbreaks. (Links to amazon products provided for convenience.)

Remember:  You Are Going to Be OK

You have probably landed on this website trying (like the rest of us did initially) to find a cure for herpes online.  While this may happen at some time in the future, it is not reality at the moment.

Take heart.  You are in good company.  So many people around you share your secret.  You just don’t realize it.  They go about their everyday lives just the same as they did before.  Herpes didn’t change who they were.

It seems like the world is going to end when you find out your diagnosis, and the flare ups that you get in the first year or so make you think that you will never be loved or have a normal sex life again.  This is simply untrue.

As you get more adjusted to your new status, it will eventually not be an issue most days.  It will take you some time to get to this point, but hang in there.  You will adjust and you will be ok.

Being a vegan with herpes isn't easy

Being a Vegan with Herpes

Being a Vegan with Herpes

For some time now I’ve lived with herpes that I got from a partner who blatantly lied to me about having it. If you are reading this article, then there’s a good chance that you also have become a member of “The Club” due to someone’s dishonesty. Well, you’re in good company.

What made my particular situation worse than most people is that I happen to be a vegan. What I didn’t know for years was that my very healthy diet was causing me to have constant outbreaks. I mean like one after another. One outbreak would clear up and then the next one would start a day or two later. I didn’t think that it would ever end.  For most folks, they happen, clear up, and then you get a break, just like the books tell you.  I was not having the typical herpes experience, so learning to make peace with herpes and adjust like most people do wasn’t happening for me.


The Medicines I Tried for Herpes

I tried every medication available – acyclovir, famcyclovir, valacyclovir, tablets and ointments. They didn’t help. I was taking 1 gram of valacyclovir a day as a preventative measure and my outbreaks continued.

When I asked my doctor what was wrong and why the medications were not helping, he had nothing of value to offer me. He said that usually it’s bad when you first get it and it improves over time with outbreaks becoming less frequent.

Well, in my case, the outbreaks were constant. The first one was the worst, by far, but it’s not like any of them were “good.” They were always painful and I was in constant agony.


The Natural Treatments I Tried for Herpes

I even tried using essential oils to treat the lesions, which helped a bit, but it did not prevent the outbreaks. For those of you who are interested in using essential oils, I used oregano essential oil as an antiviral (it stings like hell) and clove essential oil to numb the area, which definitely helped with the constant pain.

Of course, it wears off and you have to reapply it, but the combination of oregano and clove oil worked better than any ointment I got by prescription. After tinkering around a bit, I learned to numb first with clove oil, wait about 5 minutes, and then apply the oregano oil – diluted in coconut oil makes it hurt less. You can mix it with the solid or liquid kind.

How I Figured Out My Diet was Making My Herpes Worse

Anyway, so after battling herpes for a couple of years, I kinda got out of working out due to some personal problems that had me kinda depressed. While I still had outbreaks, they tended to be less severe and less frequent.

I also happened to be single during this time and I thought maybe that the lack of sex may have something to do with the less frequent outbreaks. My doctor had advised me that sex is one of the outbreak triggers.

Since getting herpes I really didn’t feel much up to dating or having to disclose that information to someone and then get rejected. So, I just went without for a long time. In fact, I’m still single. I haven’t gotten to where I can handle trying to tell someone about it, but it’s getting better.

While there are some good resources for how to adjust to having herpes and how to tell a potential partner that you have herpes,  there is a special place in Hell for my ex.

Back to my story.

So while I wasn’t working out, the outbreaks were less. But, then, after having gained a lot of weight from sitting on my ass and eating crappy junk food all of the time, I decided it was time to get my crap together and lose some weight.

I began eating a healthier diet which included plenty of nuts, seeds, and so forth for protein. I also started working out again, and since I planned to gain some muscle, I started drinking my favorite vegan protein shake.

I was starting to feel good about finally having gotten myself motivated enough to start working out and eating better, when a couple of days later – yeah, it was really that quick – I got another outbreak. *sigh*

I figured that it was no big deal and kept on with my workouts, good vegan food, and protein shakes. When that outbreak cleared up, another one started…and then I got another one, and another one.


Figuring It Out

Nothing had really changed except my diet and my workouts, so I started doing some research and found out that vegan diets are the worst diet that exists for herpes. That is not because they are unhealthy, but because of the low ratio of the amino acid lysine to the amino acid arginine. If you aren’t suffering from a chronic virus like herpes, this is really neither here nor there. If you have herpes, however, it is a HUGE deal.

You see, vegans get much of their protein from seeds and nuts which are very low in lysine and very high in arginine. If you are a vegan who works out and drinks vegan protein shakes it’s like putting your herpes on steroids. It super-fuels them to build more of themselves.

Lysine is rather hard to come by in the vegan diet. You can get it, just not in really high amounts like you can arginine. And, again, if you don’t have herpes, it’s not a big deal (presuming that you are getting enough lysine for standard protein synthesis, which usually isn’t a problem).  Being a vegan with herpes just has a few extra challenges.  But the good news is – they’re pretty easy to fix.

What I Did to Help My Outbreaks

So, what did I do? Well, I adjusted my diet as best as I could.  I’m vegan for ethical reasons, so eating meat and dairy were simply not an option.  I was stuck being a vegan with herpes.

I can’t exactly stop eating things with arginine because they are where I get my protein, but I did cut back. I had blood tests run to make sure I was getting enough protein and they came back fine.

I decided that the best thing to do was to take lysine supplements. I experimented a bit to find the right dosage for me, which I think is quite diet dependent. I tried 1,000 mg, then 2,000 mg, and finally 4,000 mg/day. I found that taking two doses of 2,000 mg of lysine – one in the morning and one at night right before I went to sleep was the ideal amount for me.

I still have outbreaks, but they are less frequent and less severe. I really wish my doctor would have told me this. It would have saved me a lot of painful days.  Being a vegan with herpes isn’t easy, but with careful diet monitoring and lysine supplements, you can make it much easier to deal with.

Rest and Relaxation Are Also Key

It took a long time for me to get around to it, as I thought that I had addressed everything I needed to, but eventually I realized that I had a lot of stress that was working against all my other best efforts to control my outbreaks.  I was not resting well, and I was carrying around a lot of stress in the forms of negative self-talk and just keeping up with my hectic life.

I eventually landed on a website that referred me to something called The Gupta Program.  The Gupta Program teaches you how to take advantage of the brain’s neuroplasticity, or ability to change.  When we identify our thought patterns that we have – such as “no one will ever love me because I have herpes,” or “I’m just broken and worthless.  Who could possibly want me?” (both of which are not true) – we are able to reprogram our brains.

The Program walks you through identifying those patterns, and then it teaches you how to train your brain to have new, healthy patterns of thought that do not obsess over the condition.  Once you learn this, your stress levels drop, sleep improves, and your body is less likely to experience outbreaks as often.  


nutrition-vs-pills - herpes treatment - treatment for Herpes

Understanding Your Options for Herpes Treatment

Understanding Your Options for Herpes Treatment

Herpes has been around practically since the dawn of humankind.  Modern (a.k.a. “Western”) medicine has been around since the late 1700’s.  Traditional medicine has been around at least for a couple of thousand years, if not longer; and the use of botanical (plant) remedies dates back at least 60,000 years according to the University of Minnesota.


Pharmaceuticals

When we have been diagnosed with herpes, most of us are offered pharmaceuticals to help calm an outbreak or use as a prophylactic so we do not give it to a sexual partner.  Commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals for herpes include Acyclovir (Zovirax), Famcyclovir (Famvir), and Valacyclovir (Valtrex).

Pharmaceuticals can help with an outbreak once you have it, but they cannot make the outbreak just “go away.”  Once an outbreak has begun, it has to run its course.  Taking a pharmaceutical can reduce the duration and severity of the outbreak, but the efficacy can vary dramatically from one person to the next.  That means that it may help one person significantly more than it helps the next.

In terms of prophylaxis (prevention), pharmaceuticals are not recommended for long-term use due to potential harm to the kidneys.  For people with herpes who are sexually active with a partner who does not have herpes, this causes an ethical dilemma.  Do you put your own health at risk by taking antiviral pharmaceuticals long-term, or do you stop taking them and put your partner at a higher risk for contracting herpes?

Technically, most otherwise healthy people do not need treatment for herpes in terms of their own health.  Outbreaks happen and they run their course.  They are unpleasant, but that’s about the worst of it.  Exceptions to this are pregnant women and people who have compromised immune systems.  These people should consult with a physician regarding appropriate pharmaceutical treatments.  For pretty much everyone else, there are other options.

 

Nutritional Supplementation

It is possible to help control the frequency and severity of herpes outbreaks through modifying nutritional intake – either through food selection and/or taking a supplement.

Yes, it sounds too easy, but it is backed up by actual science.  This article published on the National Institutes of Health library website confirms that taking the supplement L-lysine can help to reduce the number of outbreaks, reduce the symptoms experienced during an outbreak, and speed up the healing time of lesions.

You can learn how lysine helps prevent herpes outbreaks here.

 


Botanical Products

Botanical products have recently been rediscovered as a treatment for herpes outbreaks.  One of the most effective plants is Melissa officinalis, also commonly known as “Lemon Balm” for its lemony scent.  Lemon Balm has been scientifically studied (See article at Nation Institutes of Health here.) and has been shown to act directly on exposed herpes virus and has been suggested as an effective topical treatment.

Likewise, tea tree oil not only has been shown to have anti-viral properties against the herpes virus, but it also has pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties to boot. Peppermint oil has also been shown to be an effective essential oil in the external treatment of herpes lesions (See National Institute of Health article on tea tree and peppermint oils here.)


Understanding Your Options for Herpes Treatment

So, while pharmaceutical products exist to help with herpes, they are not the only source of assistance. For people who do not like to take pharmaceuticals, can’t take pharmaceuticals, or need a break or supplement for pharmaceutical treatments, natural alternatives for herpes such as taking L-lysine and using externally the essential oils of Lemon Balm, Peppermint, and Tea Tree can help significantly.

Calming Your Mind

Most of us don’t realize that we have a lot of stress that this can counteract our other best efforts to control our outbreaks. 

Most of us do not rest well, and we carry around a lot of stress in the forms of negative self-talk and just keeping up with our crazy-busy lives.

My personal journey led me to The Gupta Program.  The Gupta Program helps you calm your mind and body.  It teaches you how to take advantage of the brain’s neuroplasticity, or ability to change. 

Identifying our thought patterns that we have that do not serve us and only add to our existing stress levels – we are able to reprogram our brains through simple exercises.

The Gupta Program helps you identify those patterns.  It also  teaches you how to train your brain to have new, healthy patterns of thought that do not obsess over the condition. 

It seems too simple to be truec, but once you learn these techniques, your stress levels drop, your sleep improves, and your body is less likely to experience outbreaks as often.  

What is Herpes

What is Herpes? What You Should Know

What is Herpes?

Herpes is a virus that is transmitted from one person to the next through physical contact with another person who has herpes.  Like any other Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), it does not happen because you slept with a person who was promiscuous, came from a particular economic background, or so on.  STI’s are far more prevalent than you think and many people are unaware that they have one.  Everyday people regularly contract a sexually transmitted infections, and if you are reading this, you are probably one of those folks.


How Does Herpes Transmission Occur?

We all went through some form of sex education in school, but most of us weren’t taught what we need to know about sexually transmitted diseases and how they are spread.

There are three ways that transmission of herpes can occur.

– Through contact with saliva of a person who has oral herpes.  This happens to many children through non-sexual contact.

– Through direct contact with a herpes sore (oral or genital)

– Through contact with the skin in the oral area (for oral herpes) or genital area (for genital herpes) of a person who has herpes.

It is important to realize that you cannot get herpes just from casual contact with another person, by sitting on a toilet seat, through sharing bedding, soap, towels, or silverware.

It is, however, possible to contract herpes when there is direct contact with the skin of a person who has herpes when they do not have an outbreak.  The chance of contracting herpes when there is no outbreak (visible sore) is far less likely, but it is still possible.



What is the Difference between Oral and Genital Herpes?

There are two different strains of the Herpes virus:  HSV-1 and HSV-2.

Typically, HSV-1 is found orally (around the mouth), and HSV-2 is found genitally (around the sexual organs and anus).  However, because oral sex can expose the mouth to HSV-2 and the genital area to HSV-1, sometimes people may carry HSV-2 around the mouth and HSV-1 genitally.

 

How Can I Ensure I Never Get Herpes?

The short version is that you can’t ever be sure you won’t get herpes unless you become a hermit who lives alone on top of a mountain for the rest of your life.  Short of that, there is a decent chance you will come into contact with herpes at some point in your life.  Most people encounter the oral form (HSV-1).

It is probably a given that you will be sexually active at some part in your life.  Most people are.  There are a lot of people out there who have genital herpes.  Some of them know about it and some of them don’t.  The range of symptoms can be mild or non-existent to very unpleasant.

Practicing safe sex with condoms is your best defense against contracting herpes.  However, because condoms do not cover all areas of the genital regions that come into contact with one another during sex, transmission is still possible.  Although far from an officially approved method of protection, some couples choose for a man to wear boxers in addition to a condom just to help limit skin contact.  This is, of course, not a guarantee that it will work – but many people believe it to be helpful.  It certainly can’t hurt to try if you plan to have sex with a person who has herpes.


What is a Herpes Outbreak Like? / How Do I Know if I Have Contracted Herpes?

This can be a tricky question to answer because herpes can appear differently in different people.  As mentioned previously some people with herpes have no symptoms at all.  Other people may have some minor itching in the genitals, and other people may experience sores (also known as herpes lesions).

Herpes sores / lesions are painful blisters that occur around the genitals, mouth, or anus of an infected person.  They may weep, burn, and / or itch.  The first outbreak of HSV-2 (the genital version) is almost always the most severe.  Whereas an HSV-1 infection (the oral variety) may only happen once or a few times throughout a person’s life, HSV-2 is generally recurrent.  The first year of infection is typically the worst, but most people have fewer and fewer outbreaks as the years progress.

The best advice is to go and see a doctor if you think you have a herpes infection.  He or she can run tests to determine whether or not you do.

 

What Does a Doctor Do to Find Out If I Have Herpes?

There are several ways for a doctor to diagnose herpes.  Many people who are having an outbreak are diagnosed visually.  A more accurate way to tell if it is herpes is through a blood test.  This will let you know with certainty that what you have is herpes if you are experiencing an outbreak.

If you have not had an outbreak, but you know or suspect that you may have been exposed to herpes, you cannot generally find out immediately if you have contracted the disease.  The reason for this is that your body must form antibodies first.  If you haven’t had an outbreak, your body may not have produced enough antibodies to be detected until several months have passed.


I Had an STD Panel Run, But They Didn’t Test for Herpes.  Is This Normal?

Yes.  Generally, you have to request a test specifically for herpes.  Since it does not pose a significant long-term health risk if it remains undiagnosed like syphilis or chlamydia, it is not part of a regular STD screening.

Click here to find out what treatment options exist for herpes.


how to prevent herpes outbreak

How Lysine Helps Prevent Herpes Outbreaks

How Lysine Helps
Prevent Herpes Outbreaks

Before we can understand why lysine can help with herpes, we first need to examine what lysine is.  Lysine, also known as l-lysine, is an amino acid.  Ok, but what does that mean?

Why Our Bodies Need Lysine

Our bodies build proteins by stringing together amino acids in a chain.  In order to build proteins, it is necessary to have all of the necessary amino acids present.  Our bodies produce some of these proteins, but there are some we are unable to synthesize.  These are known as “essential amino acids” because they are essential for us to get in order to survive.  If you are missing just one amino acid, proteins cannot be synthesized.  When we cannot synthesize proteins, we cannot grow or repair our bodies.

Think of it like building a house.  If you have lumber, shingles, and concrete for the foundation you are pretty well on your way to having a nice home.  Without nails, though, you won’t get very far.  Essential amino acids are like the nails.

Lysine is more than just a building block of protein.  It also helps to convert fatty acids into energy and lower cholesterol.  Lysine helps with the absorption of calcium from the diet and is an important component of collagen which is a connective tissue that holds our bodies together.

 


Lysine Deficiency – Herpes Diet

Failure to get enough lysine can lead to reproductive disorders, slow growth, agitation, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, anemia, and blood shot eyes.  People who may not get enough lysine are burn patients (because their bodies are reconstructing collagen at a rapid rate), athletes (because their bodies are in a constant state of growing and repairing muscle), and vegans who do not eat enough legumes (lentils, beans, and peas).

Although a vegan diet can be much healthier than a diet containing animal products, lysine is one thing that is not very prevalent in vegan foods.  If you are a vegan who does not watch his or her nutritional intake closely (and who really does that?), then you might just opt to take a lysine supplement.  The other nutrient vegans may wish to supplement is B12.  Like lysine, it is scarce in the vegan diet, but both can be obtained in vegan form for supplementation.

As you will see, making sure that you have enough lysine is critical to avoiding herpes outbreaks.  Call it the “Herpes Diet.”

 


What Does Lysine Have to do with Herpes?

One other function of lysine – well, not so much a function as an effect – is that it competes with another amino acid known as arginine for space in our cells.  Each of our cells has little tiny “doors” on them through which certain substances may pass.

Think of those little “doors” as the holes in the child’s toy where the objective is to put the round object through the round hole and the square object through the square hole.  The round object will not go through the square hole and vice versa.

Lysine and arginine are like two different colored square blocks.  They are both competing to get through the “square doors” on the cell walls.  Only one can pass at a time, so if there are tons of lysine blocks and only a few arginine blocks duking it out at the cell door trying to be the one that gets through, by simple probability there will be more lysine blocks that will make it in than arginine before there is no more room.

A Word on Herpes

Ok, finally we have enough information to talk about herpes.

Herpes hangs out in our Central Nervous System and waits until we are stressed – emotionally, hormonally, or physically – and then it mounts a campaign and “breaks out” of the nervous system.  The viruses that have been produced then rush to the site at which we were originally infected – usually genitals or lips – and cause sores to erupt.  This is its survival strategy to move from one person to another.


Why Is the Amount of Lysine vs. Arginine Important?

The ratio of lysine to arginine is important in preventing herpes outbreaks because the herpes virus requires lots of arginine in order to replicate, or make more of, itself.  By having high levels of lysine, we can deprive the herpes virus from a critical component of replication simply because there is no more room in our cells for arginine to fit because lysine beat it to the punch.

Without sufficient building materials to create more herpes viruses, outbreaks become far less frequent  or far less severe.  Additionally, treating herpes naturally by supplementing over the counter l-lysine as a herpes treatment can reduce the length and severity of the outbreak.  How much lysine you need to prevent herpes outbreaks can vary.

Lysine (l-lysine) is known to help both cold sores (oral herpes) and genital herpes.


How much Lysine is needed to prevent herpes outbreaks

How Much Lysine to Prevent Herpes Outbreaks?

How Much Lysine
Do I Need to Take
to Prevent Outbreaks?

This is a tough question to answer directly because it depends greatly on each individual’s specific diet.  However, nutrition is key to preventing herpes outbreaks.  Some people naturally consume high levels of lysine (l-lysine) compared to arginine and would need significantly less lysine supplementation to prevent herpes outbreaks.

Other people like vegans or athletes either consume relatively little lysine on their regular diet or utilize it so fast for muscle building and repair that they need to supplement with significantly higher doses.

 


Take a Food Inventory

The best way to approach this question is to make a list of foods that you commonly eat and then make two columns next to this list.  Title one column “lysine” and the other “arginine”.

Next, visit the SuperTracker at choosemyplate.gov and look up each food on the list.  Write down its lysine and arginine values.

SuperTracker can help you plan, analyze, and track your diet and physical activity.

 

Calculate How Much Lysine vs Arginine You Eat

Once you have the values for each of the foods on your list, do a simple tally of each column.  What is the ratio of lysine to arginine?  Is lysine significantly higher, about the same, or significantly lower than arginine?

Of course, this will not tell you your daily ratio of lysine to arginine.  In order to get that, you would have to make a list each day of those foods and tally those amounts.  Most of us will not take the time to do that, so just getting a ballpark idea of our lysine to arginine ratio is a good jumping-off point.

Even if you don’t want to track your meals every day, you might track them for one week to get a typical day-by-day ratio.  If you make your original list of foods you commonly eat in a spreadsheet, then you just need to copy and paste your data to calculate your daily values.


Estimating How Much Lysine to Prevent Herpes Outbreaks

The commonly recommended dosage of lysine to prevent herpes outbreaks is 1,000 mg three times a day.  The idea is to constantly provide your body with a supply of lysine so that you don’t have peaks of high lysine and then nothing until you take it again the next day.

Whether or not this dose will be effective for you is based on what kind of diet you eat and what your body’s need for lysine is.  If you eat meat, dairy and eggs, you probably will need less lysine than a vegan who consumes lots of nuts and seeds.   This is because animal products have a lot of lysine whereas the nuts and seeds eaten by vegans typically have high levels of arginine.  Vegans have a rather difficult time keeping their lysine numbers high, so their doses are likely going to be considerably higher than that of a meat eater.

So, to estimate your dosage of lysine, have a look at the values you calculated and see if your diet is high in lysine, moderate in lysine, or low in lysine compared to arginine.  If you are moderate in lysine, try starting with the 1,000 mg three times per day.  If you are high in lysine, try 1,000 mg twice a day.  If you are low in lysine, try 1,000 mg four times a day.

If you find that you are still experiencing outbreaks, try upping the frequency of your dosage or try a higher dose.

 


Who Should Not Take Lysine?

As always, before taking any supplement, it is wise to consult your physician first.  Some people may have medical conditions that make taking lysine to prevent herpes outbreaks inadvisable or that may indicate smaller amounts of lysine would be more appropriate.  Lysine does more than just help prevent herpes outbreaks, so be sure that you are not at risk for other possible interactions before taking high doses of lysine.

If you have high cholesterol, heart disease, or high triglycerides you may wish to avoid taking lysine or keep a close eye on your cholesterol and triglyceride numbers.  It is important to realize that just because a supplement may help one condition that it also affects other systems in the body and may cause problems for you in other areas.

If you take a calcium supplement, be aware that lysine increases the amount of calcium your body can absorb.  You may also wish to have your calcium levels checked and possibly reduce your dose.


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