First the truth. Sixty percent or more of the
population has herpes. It’s not the 20 or 25% figure thrown out by many who wish
to downplay the true impact of the herpes pandemic. In a way it’s a cynical
attempt to divide the herpes nation between those who get sores on their mouth
and face from those who get sores on their genitals. It provides a flimsy excuse
for people with cold sores to pretend it’s not herpes, to not get treatment and
not to try and prevent others from being infected. Herpes is herpes- it’s one of
the few things scientists and us in the holistic healing community agree on.
Figures very widely but it cannot be disputed that between 50 and 80% of the
population has herpes simplex 1 and between 20 and 25% of the population has
herpes simplex 2, so if you factor in the number of people who have both types,
the minimum number of people who have herpes simplex has to be at least 60% and
is likely more. This is important because the message needs to get out to people
with herpes that they are not part of some marginalized minority. If you have
herpes you are part of a herpes nation that is a majority of the population. It
is common and normal to have herpes. It is becoming uncommon not to have herpes.
It is long past time for people with herpes to come out of the closet and speak
up about herpes to help educate the people who don’t have herpes and to put a
human face on this disease. The stigma only exists because of the shame people
with herpes have agreed to carry. There is no need for this, no reason for this.
Shame is not a product of love.
It makes no sense to me to be ashamed of getting a virus from an act of
lovemaking or kissing rather than getting a disease from self-abuse or catching
an air-borne virus from riding on a subway train. Some people do not love sex
and therefore wish to denigrate anything that has to do with sex especially
sexually transmitted infections. I learned a long time ago in church that true
love is accepting and forgiving and inclusive. People with herpes are not lepers
and need not allow themselves to be treated like lepers.
The truth is also that there is no cure for herpes and one isn’t likely in our
lifetime. So herpes is a lifelong viral infection. The truth is that most people
who have herpes don’t know it because they have never had a type-specific blood
test for herpes either out of fear or lack of awareness. (Herpes tests are not
normally part of a STI screening panel, so unless you demand one you may never
get one) The truth is that people with herpes can be contagious even when there
are no warning signs of the virus being active so safer sex is something that
ought to be considered. The truth is that a person with herpes who does not make
peace with the emotional and mental consequences of having herpes will not be
able to manage their herpes as effectively as someone who does regardless of how
much valtrex or famvir they take.
Forgiveness. Some people with herpes are still angry and resentful with the
person who infected them. I can understand this because I hear so many stories.
So many people are infected by people who didn’t warn them of their herpes
status. Many people are infected by unfaithful partners. Some have been raped.
It’s natural to be angry and bitter when given a life-sentence like herpes. It
took me a long time to let go of my negative feelings about my own infection.
Everyone is living their own distinct experience with herpes. But I say most
sincerely that sooner or later and I hope that it’s sooner, there must come a
time to forgive and let go if you want to be healthy with herpes. Hanging on to
the negative feelings not only damages you physically and otherwise often
causing more outbreaks, but it binds you to the past, which you will never free
yourself from until you forgive.
Forgive the person who gave you herpes if you can. And if you cannot, keep
trying until you can. But more importantly forgive yourself. I treat so many
people in my holistic herpes clinic who are continually punishing themselves for
having herpes. They are angry at themselves thinking that they could have been
smarter-full of regret and self recriminations. This is not love. Love forgives,
love understands.
Be good to yourself, be gentle and loving and patient as if you were your own
child. Forgive yourself and reclaim your self-esteem and self-love.
Do you love yourself? Do you really? If you have herpes and love yourself how
would you act? Would you be ashamed of your herpes? Would you stop dating and
deny yourself love and sex just because you have herpes? Would you be sitting in
a vortex of anger and resentment towards the virus? Or would you life be all
about love and peace and balance?
If you loved yourself- how would you eat? Would you smoke cigarettes and take
recreational drugs, would you drink coffee knowing that it’s a trigger for your
herpes and bad for your health all the way around?
If you loved yourself and loved others would you practice safer sex with a
condom and/or anti-viral gel to help protect your loved one/s from your herpes,
would you practice safer sex to protect yourself from other sexually transmitted
infections? Would you perhaps be motivated to speak out and try to educate
others on how to deal with herpes if they have it or how to protect themselves
from herpes if they don’t, especially the young people who are just starting to
explore their sexuality? If you loved yourself would you be afraid to warn your
sex partners about your herpes status? The bible says that “true love casteth
out all fear”.
You were born with the right to be happy and to enjoy your life and your health
to the fullest, having herpes changes none of this.
Christopher Scipio
Homeopath/Herbalist
Holistic Herpes Treatment Specialist
About The Author
Christopher Ricardo Scipio is one of the most experienced holistic practitioners
treating the Herpes virus. A homeopath and herbalist who hails from a long line
of Caribbean natural healers, Scipio has during the last 15 years developed a
very successful natural protocol in treating the Herpes family of viruses.
http://www.natropractica.com