Holistic Herpes Newsletter Volume One, Edition 15

Immune Draught Wonders

l was diagnosed with genital herpes in 2004. I have been on different medications for genital herpes over the years and used certain medications that were supposed to prevent outbreaks in the future but all this stuff did was to bring about more outbreaks and I just gave up on trying anything else. I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I went online and spent a few minutes before l found your site. I called and had consult and at this point l had to do something because l was having outbreaks two to three times a week!  My outbreaks were very severe. I have been using your immune draught as you prescribed including the supplements and the gel for the past three months and only had one tiny blister when l first took the medications and since then have not had any outbreaks at all. I have only used your products for a short time but l can’t believe already what a difference they have made! I just feel like l am dreaming l wish if l had known about this product a long time ago and would not have suffered, l feel like l am now in control of my life. Your product has done wonders for me from three outbreaks a week to none that’s really miraculous! Thanks

S.M    New York

Herpes Stigma, What Stigma? Part Two

I am a Black Man, I am from a poor family, I have a beard, I am from a broken home, I am a social liberal and a fiscal conservative, I’m in an inter-racial marriage and worst of all I believe in and practice holistic healing.

Of all the things I could be and am stigmatized for on a daily basis, herpes doesn’t even show up on the radar. I actually get more grief for being involved in natural medicine than anything else. In the past twenty-one years I haven’t had anyone send me any angry letters, or phone calls or emails because I have herpes and am very public about it, but I have had nasty communications from people ridiculing holistic health. When I recently posted info on my own Facebook page about how unhealthy barbequing food is, I even got thrashed by my own mother-in-law and sister-in-law. I un-friended them.

The point I’m making is that human beings tends to ridicule and insult each other and there is no escape regardless of how distinguished or accomplished you are but of all the things that you might be ridiculed for having herpes won’t even be on the the top 50.

Herpes stigma largely exists in our heads and the quickest way to free yourself from that potential hell is to simply refuse to be stigmatized. I don’t let anyone make me feel bad about being black even though I didn’t choose to be Black no more than I chose to get herpes. Refuse to feel bad about having herpes! Refuse to live in fear of people finding out you have herpes! Refuse the stigma!

All stigmas lose their sting when you refuse to buy into them.- Christopher Scipio Herbalist/Holistic Viral Specialist

Catherine Pearse (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)

This review is from: Making Peace with Herpes (Paperback)

“Making peace with herpes” is written by a bold and honest man who knows the stigma, the shame, the irrational absence of support in society of this very common sexually transmitted virus. Scipio knows what living with genital herpes is like. But he chose not to remain a victim – or in his words, “a modern-day leper”. He is a traditional homeopath and herbalist, with roots from ten generations of African-Carribbean herbalists, and has some strong opinions about the medical industrial complex and their approach to herpes: comparing Valtrex to the high powered pesticides used in wide scale farming practice. His recommendations are more like the organic and sustainable practices that honour the Earth and its ecosystem.

I decided to ‘out’ myself to my family after reading this book. Scipio is right: the silence perpetuates the stigma. We in the ‘herpes nation’ must come together, support each other, love our selves and learn to live as best we can, with our life-long companion.

This book is definitely worth reading.

The Average Chimp Knows more about Herbal Medicine than the Average Human

I recently heard on the radio the other day that scientists were very excited to learn that chimps use the same or similar herbs to treat themselves for malaria, diarrhea and parasites that the local herbalists use. I always chuckle when the scientific community stumbles onto something healers and those in the know have known for a long long time. It’s like Columbus thinking that he actually discovered “The New World”.

Some of my friends who are Aboriginal healers here in Canada have told me stories of how their people learned what herbs to use for medicine by observing the behaviour of bears and other animals. Scientists discovered years ago that even cows- who are considered fairly “dumb”animals, can identify dozens of grasses and plants to use to treat themselves for illnesses. Not only can chimps treat themselves effectively with plants for many ailments, but even more remarkably they teach each other how to do this so that the knowledge is preserved and passed down to future generations. Young chimps spend a lot of their time watching how their elders practice herbal medicine. This is precisely the way that I started to learn herbal medicine by watching my Grandmother when I was six years old and it’s how she learned from my great-grandmother, and so on…

There is a close bond between plants, animals and humans that herbal medicine sits right in the middle of. Let’s pass accurate and insightful information on to our friends and family about the wonders of herbal medicine so that the average human being can once again be at least as good an herbalist as the average chimp.

christopher scipio- herbalist/holistic viral specialist

The Milena Cold and Flu Formula and
How Not to get a Cold or Flu this Season

Six Years ago I developed the Milena Cold and Flu Formula to deal with the increasing number of my patients and friends suffering from colds and flus every winter, including many that tuned into bronchitis and pneumonia.

The Milena Cold and Flu Formula combines Lomatium Dissectum, Tulsi, Osha, Boneset, Elderberries and Flowers and a proprietary Botanical Anti-Viral Complex.

All the ingredients in the formula are hand-prepared and hand-formulated in small batches and the formula has evolved and improved since it was first released. All the ingredients been clinically proven the boost the immune system and to significantly speed up the healing process with Colds and Flus.

It will help you heal faster from a Cold or Flu and help lessen the severity of all accompanying symptoms but the real power of the Milena Cold and Flu Formula is in it’s ability to help prevent a Cold or Flu. Take it as directed at the first signs of any Cold and Flu and there’s a good chance that you may avoid becoming ill in the first place.

I encourage you to order some and have it on hand for yourself and your family. You can request it by email to hsvclinic at aol.com

How Not to Get a Cold or Flu This Season

Dress for success. A warm scarf may be your best ally in not getting a cold. And ladies, no matter how sexy you are, you may wish to reconsider plunging exposed necklines at this time of year. Button up your coats. Dress in layers and eschew those low riding pants and jeans.

Avoid Germs. When in public use a pen on the keypad of ATM machines, use a paper towel or plastic bag to open doorknobs, try to avoid shaking hands, etc. etc…

Act immediately. Usually the first sign of a cold or flu is a sore throat followed by fatigue. As soon as you feel even the hint of this coming
drop everything you are doing and get out of the cold and into your bed. Rest is key, even if it means taking a day or two off from work and your duties as a parent. If you don’t slow down you will probably get sick.

An ounce of prevention… Carry around those dried ginger cubes you find in health food stores. Reed’s brand has organic ginger cubes. Suck on them and eat them whenever the weather or chilly or you feel your throat getting sore or itchy. I have avoided dozens of colds
this way.

Silence is golden. If you feel your throat getting sore or itchy, stop talking. Save your voice.

Rest, rest, rest. Call in sick, stay in bed and get as much sleep as possible. Not staying in bed is one of the biggest mistakes people make when fighting off an infection. You cannot maintain your normal schedule when your immune system is under assault!

Hydrate yourself. Drink lots of water and teas containing vitamin c during the winter like rose hips or hibiscus. My favourite
is a combination of rose hips, hibiscus and ginger.

If you feel yourself sliding down into sickness drink plenty of ginger and green onion tea (use the white bulb part of organic green onions)..

Make sure you carry around the Milena Cold and Flu remedy and use it every 4-6 hours until your symptoms has cleared for at least three days.
Readers of this newsletter can purchase the Milena Cold and Flu remedy for $50.00 which is $20.00 less than the regular price.

Read Christopher’s Book “Making Peace with Herpes” and listen to the optional Hypnosis CDs to maximize the effectiveness of the book.

Book a phone consultation with Christopher.

Purchase Christopher’s Natural Herpes Formulas custom-formulated for you. 

Buy his Red Marine Algae Sex Gel to help reduce the risk of infecting others.

Holistic Herpes Newsletter Volume Two, Edition 1

Meghan’s Story

I was diagnosed with Herpes when I was 25 years old. A product of Catholic school, this was horrific news to me at the time. I had always been the least sexually active person I knew, and it felt extremely unfair. I went to the doctor thinking I must have had a yeast infection, and was completely unprepared when given this diagnosis. My doctor was out and there was an older male doctor who couldn’t have been less compassionate. He snapped at me to get myself together, handed me a couple pamphlets and a prescription for Valtrex and sent me on my way. I was literally dazed. My first outbreak was intense. I was in extreme pain (both physical and emotional) for over three weeks, and it felt like cruel punishment – as if all of the scary things the nuns told me growing up was true. I had never experienced anything so horrific, and felt like a dirty, shameful leper. My world closed in on me in my teeny, tiny Manhattan studio as I tried to imagine how this would forever affect my sex life, an area where I already felt sensitive and challenged.

I’m very close to my parents, but there was no way I was sharing this with them. I didn’t even feel comfortable speaking to my closest friends about it and just told people I was home with the flu. I’m generally the type of person who tells everyone everything, so on top of being alone – lying to my loved ones felt awful. When I finally told two separate close friends, it turned out they both had Herpes and none of their closest friends knew. This was comforting in a way, although the fact that everyone was keeping their Herpes a secret reinforced my shame. Also, both of those friends were married, so again, it felt unfair that I was the only one who had to deal with this disgusting plague in the single world all by myself. It infuriated me that other friends of mine had so much more sex than me and would never have to have the kind of (what I perceived at the time as) humiliating conversation with potential partners that I was now dreading.

The fact that there was no definitive way to identify which of the few potential partners I had gotten it from also added to my pain and confusion. Where did this come from? Was it the summer stock fling a few years ago? Should I confront the college friend I had fooled around with 6 months ago? The Mormon guy I was dating at the time who came to visit me in NY from Salt Lake City weeks prior? We’d been intimate but I don’t recall actually having intercourse with him. I was such a good girl – and I was like HIS walk on the wild side – not the other way around. So not fair!! Who gets herpes from a Mormon?
Also, when I was honest with myself, I wasn’t sure how I would feel if someone told me they had herpes. I imagine I would have still cared for and wanted to be with the person, but when I put myself in their shoes, I could understand that no matter what, this wasn’t good news.

I met someone I was extremely drawn to and had very high hopes for a future together. I very clearly remember sitting on some church steps on the upper west side, telling him my big news. He looked me straight in the eye and told me it didn’t change the way he felt about me, got on the subway and disappeared into thin air. I was extremely hurt and felt I may never recover and this would be what I’d have to deal with for the rest of my life. As if my Catholic upbringing hadn’t loaded me up with enough issues around sex and intimacy.

Thankfully, over the years, I was able to adjust and had a loving relationship.  That relationship didn’t last, however, and although my outbreaks remained pretty infrequent, I still had tremendous shame and depression when I did have one. Thankfully, I found Christopher in my late thirties. I devoured his book and was moved by his profound wisdom, understanding and support. His approach is healthy, whole and humor-filled. It was like manna from heaven. He raised my awareness about the shame I was needlessly carrying and helped me dispel my fears and engage in healthy communication with someone I was seeing, I followed his protocol, and my outbreaks subsided. Over the years, trigger foods slowly crept back into my diet, but I remained outbreak free even through the devastating loss of my father, which was followed by tremendous family stress and cross-country travel. Earlier this year, probably due to hormonal changes, I began getting outbreaks again. One every month for 4 months. After a hugely comforting, informed and enlightening session with Christopher, I changed my habits substantially. Iced green tea, extreme dark chocolate, diet soda and limitless amounts of nuts and nut butters were something I had enjoyed on a daily basis for years, but my body was changing and I had to listen.

It’s amazing how quickly our bodies can adjust and get used to things. Thankfully, by following Christopher’s protocol, I’ve been outbreak free since our session, almost 3 months ago. His wisdom, compassion, humor and humanity have been an invaluable support. I have deep gratitude and respect for him, and will continue to re-read his book and book sessions with him as a way to provide the very best of care for myself.- Meghan S

Save up to $100 on August Discounts from Christopher Scipio- Herbalist

It’s August,Probably the most beautiful month of the year weather wise but sadly also on eof the busiest periods for herpes symptoms. Herpes is a disease that can put excessive heat and toxicity in your liver channel:. That combined with the hot weather and lots of sun exposure can cause outbreaks. I adjust my immune formula seasonally so the formulas I make now give extra support during the summer and fall. All of the following offers expire on the 20th so don’t hesitate to act on them if you are interested.

Save $50 on the cost of four months of Immune Formulas and Anti-Viral Sex Gels. (normal price $580, discounted price $530)

Save $100 on the cost of six months of Immune Formulas and Anti-Viral Sex Gels. (normal price $680, discounted price $580)

Save $40 on the price of a 60-minute phone consultation. (normal price $90, discounted price $50)

If you haven’t emailed me in the past two months, please do reach out and let me know how you are doing. I care! And don’t forget to use your antiviral gel at least once per day whether or not you are having sex, to help prevent outbreaks and to help protect against giving and receiving the virus.

Don’t Let Herpes Make You Into A Victim

We live in an affluent, highly privileged society. We spoil and indulge ourselves shamelessly. We consume way more than our fair share of the planet’s resources. We drug ourselves with coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and comfort foods. We distract ourselves with junk culture coming from our televisions, radios and print media. In the midst of all this the temptation is there to want to identify ourselves as a victim so we can have an excuse to feel sorry for ourselves.

There are many real victims out there: children who are being sexually abused, women who are the target of men’s rage, seniors being targeted by con artists or mistreated in nursing homes. For those of us with herpes there is no need to buy into to the victim role and feel sorry for ourselves.

Herpes is a minor sexually transmitted skin disease. It’s easily managed and you can effectively protect your intimate partner/s from being infected. Between herpes, HPV and Chlamydia alone there’s probably no one you know who has had more than six sex partners who hasn’t caught a sexually transmitted disease, so having herpes isn’t unusual- you haven’t been singled out by God for punishment, you are simply dealing with the reality of life in the 21st century, we are hosts for a variety of microorganisms, some of them sexually transmitted.

I don’t expect anyone to throw a “I’ve just been diagnosed with herpes “ party, but why all the doom and gloom? Must we really buy into this false stigma? Is it all that bad?

No it isn’t all that bad. Get down on your hands and knees and be grateful that you don’t have a real illness like my patients with M.S. and Cancer and HIV. Make peace with that little red virus inside of you and go on with you life. Love and laugh and enjoy the blessings of being in a wealthy, peaceful, abundant society. Face whatever challenges life throws at you with dignity and courage.

MY feeling is that we with herpes have no right to behave like victims. I reserve that right for the women in Africa who have endured genital mutilation, for the people starving all over the world, for the children scavenging for scraps to sell in garbage dumps, for the families destroyed by war and its aftermath. They’d all trade their fates for a simple herpes infection any day of the week.

On Herbal Medicine

In most cases getting an opinion on herbal medicine from a medical doctor is like getting an opinion on the bible from an atheist, or like getting an opinion on the talmund from an islamic cleric. It takes just as much if not more years of training and experience to become a competent herbalist as it does to become a competent physician.

Because more and more people are returning to herbal medicine because of the failure of synthetic medicine to treat their chronic health conditions, more and more medical doctors are becoming instant “experts” on herbal medicine offering their opinions to their patients without being qualified to do so. Most of their knowledge of herbal medicine comes second or third-hand since they have usually never made any herbal medicine themselves and have no clinical experience or training in practicing herbal medicine. Their training as a scientist is in complete opposition to holistic healing and the principles herbal medicine is based on.

So if you are interested in using herbal medicine to improve your health speak to an herbalist first, and if you can’t find an herbalist speak with a naturopath, but whatever you do, understand that your medical doctor is probably unqualified to speak with any authority about herbal medicine.

Christopher Scipio
Homeopath/Herbalist

Home

It’s not often I get to rave about being under the care of a herbalist who specializes in treating herpes.  I’m pretty out about carrying the HSV 2 virus to most of my closest friends, and certainly to my lovers, but it’s sure not something that I wax publicly and poetic about very often. I’ve written here before about early days with my dark passenger, (specifically about What It Feels Like For a Girl), but that was years ago.  And until recently I’ve been able to live quite comfortably with the infection, with fewer and fewer outbreaks over time.  And thank goodness for that – it’s been over 15 years!

A lot of that comfort level has been thanks to my discovery of Christopher Scipio’s work as a skilled and non-judgmental guide along a path of personal healing and acceptance.  With his help self-care, conscious avoidance of stress, and a confident approach to new relationships (sexual or otherwise) have gone a long way towards keeping me outbreak free – to a point.

But time passes.  Life changes.  I began to neglect myself, and my herpes infection was pretty quick to remind me of that.  Even after a year of travelling outbreak-free in Asia and the US, it wasn’t until I returned home, back to regular work and family pressures, that I began to experience one outbreak after another.
Until recently I had used only Christopher’s self-hypnosis CDs (a wonderful pre-emptive tool) and protective anti-viral barrier gel (effectively preventing even one instance of transmission to date!), but last month I had to ask for help again.  He recommended his Green Sun Immune Formula devised specifically to prevent and treat outbreaks, and it worked like a charm.  Within 24 hours of taking the formula as a tea, or mixed up in a glass of organic juice, my current outbreak began to subside.  It went from razor blades to gentle chaffing and soon disappeared altogether, at a much quicker rate than normal.  I continued taking the remedy as another outbreak struggled to emerge, but it too was nipped in the bud.  Think I’ll keep doing what I’m told, and take it daily…

So once again I can “thank” herpes for bringing me to my senses and for reminding me that living well is indeed the best revenge. And to Christopher – thanks to you again, too. -N. Olson

My Herpes Story

It took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I had herpes. I contracted it at 16 years of age, a time when life can be so stressful and difficult to manage on a daily basis, even without an STD to worry about. Of course, when several of my peers in high school caught wind of my situation, my social life became even more unbearable and depressing. At that time, I automatically started taking prescription medication, which was extremely expensive and didn’t have much of an effect on my outbreaks. I stopped taking the medication soon after. I continued to live with shame, guilt and denial following me around wherever I went. My teenage years were not as enjoyable as they could have been, had I known how to seek help and accept the reality of what was happening. Luckily, I only had to deal with outbreaks every few months, so I was able to ignore the herpes for longer periods of time. I had a few relationships in which I was able to tell my partners openly about it. The relationships I allowed to continue without being honest never ended up working out. I spent a lot of time worrying myself sick and not liking who I was. I thought I’d be single and alone forever.  I became a single mother at 20 years of age, went to college and started a career in health care, and found myself slowly coming to terms with herpes throughout my early 20’s. By the time I was 25, I was still having outbreaks and they were becoming more frequent. As often as once a month. I finally decided to contact Christopher Scipio when I was 26, and when we spoke about my situation, it was easy to see that this was something I could gain control over. I started taking the remedies, which I believe jump started the healing process for me. I became more careful of what I ate and drank. It took several months, but I finally was able to report to Christopher far fewer outbreaks, and generally feeling better all around. I became happier and more accepting of myself. At this time I was in the beginning of what remains a wonderful, loving and honest relationship.  I also have found that the biggest and most important element to me controlling the frequency of my outbreaks is complete avoidance of drinking coffee. I was only a cup-a-day drinker, and as I weaned myself off, the headaches were extremely unpleasant, but I eventually gave it up. Christopher reiterated to me that I was to stay completely off of coffee for the rest of my life if I wanted to continue having less outbreaks. I didn’t realize at first how crucial this was, until, I gave in and had a coffee. Several times I allowed this to happen and found myself paying for it physically a week later. It took a couple of unexpected and discouraging outbreaks to really see what the direct relation was. I now know for a fact that I CANNOT drink caffeinated coffee or else I will have an outbreak within one week. This fact was finalized for the last time I accidentally forgot to order a decaf beverage at a coffee shop. I thought about this halfway through the beverage, but thought perhaps since it wasn’t a cup of coffee I might be safe. Absolutely not the case. A week later I was suffering. That was the last time I drank coffee. That was the last time I had an outbreak. That was in May 2012 and I’m writing this in late September 2012! I don’t doubt for a second that if I remain coffee-free, then I will remain herpes-free as well. Of course, everything else I have done leading up to this realization deserves some credit as well, especially the emotional aspect. I hope that reading a bit of my story will help those of you who still suffer, as I know reading other peoples articles really helped me to see that there was a way to live with this part of myself. Take care of yourselves, and by all mean
– Anonymous

Save up to $100 on Fall Discounts from Christopher Scipio- Herbalist (offers expire Nov 9 2012)

It’s already cold and flu season, Many of you have already had a dose of it and the worst is yet to come. Keep your herpes under control and protect yourself and your loved ones from the cold and flu.

Save $50 on the cost of four months of Immune Formulas and Anti-Viral Sex Gels. (normal price $580, discounted price $530)

Save $100 on the cost of six months of Immune Formulas and Anti-Viral Sex Gels. (normal price $680, discounted price $580)

Save $20 on the price of my Milena Cold and Flu Formula. (normal price $70, discounted price $50)

If you haven’t emailed me in the past two months, please do reach out and let me know how you are doing. I care! And don’t forget to use your antiviral gel at least once per day whether or not you are having sex, to help prevent outbreaks and to help protect against giving and receiving the virus during sex. If you don’t currently have any of my antiviral gel, email me.

Even if you greatly limit the frequency and severity of your outbreaks,  even if you are outbreak free for vast stretches of time, that still isn’t enough of a safeguard against infecting others with this lifelong viral illness.

The fear of passing Herpes on to loved ones kept myself and keeps many others reluctant to have a sex life at all and having a happy and active sex life is a crucial step for people who have herpes and hpv reclaiming their lives and not feeling like lepers or outcasts.

Condoms are of course a great tool in making sex safer but they only offer a 30 percent protection against herpes and may not offer any protection at all against HPV. There are other problems with condoms-they can break or slide off. They don’t offer much help if the man’s site for Herpes or genital warts are in locations other than the penis, i.e. buttocks, legs, etc. Dentals dams and saran wrap cannot protect if the site of the viral shedding isn’t the vagina or the mouth.

I had been working with seaweed gels as part of my holistic herpes and hpv protocol for a couple of years before learning research that was done on the effect of carrageenan and other components of Red Marine Algae and other Seaweeds on Herpes and HPV.

My Red Marine Algae  Sex Gel is the only completely natural carrageenan containing lube on the market and the only one made by a herbalist who is a holistic herpes and hpv specialist. My gel is also the only one that is made by hand from seaweeds that have been ethically hand harvested either by myself or select colleagues who are all phds in phycology (the  science of seaweeds). 

My gel is also the only one avaiable in the world that is preservative-free and custom-formulated specifically for people with herpes and HPV.

Because the gel does not contain preservatives it must be stored in a fridge between use.

Joy’s Story

My story with HSV started in 1985 when I was 19 years old.  I had just broken up with the love of my life and had a rebound relationship with an older man at work.  A few days after becoming intimate, the symptoms began.  At the time I lived at home with my parents in the country, and there was one doctor in town, so I went to see her.  She came into the office, brusquely examined me, and proclaimed that I had herpes, it was incurable, and I need to use condoms for the rest of my life.  I was hysterical and couldn’t believe what I was hearing.  She left the room with me sitting on the exam table in my paper gown sobbing.  I was certain my life was over.  “Who would ever want me if they knew my secret?”, I thought.  The shock wore off, and the outbreaks subsided after a while.  I settled into a pattern of 1-2 outbreaks per year without taking anti-virals.  I decided that my only chance at having a relationship was to hide my “disease”, so that’s what I did.  When I was 22 years old I got married and we stayed together for 11 years.  He never knew of my HSV.  At one point during our marriage I was having an outbreak and went to the doctor.  The nurse asked why I was there, and I told her.  She glanced at my wedding ring and said incredulously “You’re married??”  “How does that work?”  I was stunned and couldn’t believe her ignorance.  I thought to myself “Obviously this is worse than I thought, and I really need to do a better job of hiding it.”  During this marriage I had a planned pregnancy that ended in miscarriage at 4 months.  I was in such denial over my HSV that I never informed my gyn.  I went on to marry again and didn’t disclose my HSV to him either.  The marriage was unhappy, and a significant emotional upset caused my once a year outbreaks to turn into near-constant outbreaks.  I started taking Valtrex and was up to 1.5 grams/day and had outbreaks for more than half of every month.  I had nerve pain down the insides of my legs and into my feet that drove me crazy and I was sent to an infectious disease specialist.  He shrugged his shoulders at my dilemma and prescribed Lyrica to reduce the symptoms.  The Lyrica didn’t help, and made me feel so weird that one night I passed out and fell onto the bathroom floor, prompting my husband to call 911.  I was frantic and didn’t know what to do.  How could I hide my “disease” with all of this happening?  At this point I found Christopher Scipio through a Google search.  I followed his protocol and it helped, but I still had outbreaks.  I’d become frustrated and wouldn’t follow the protocol for a while, then I’d become compliant again.  This went on for a couple years, and my frustration mounted.  I was healthy and doing everything I could to get my body back to my normal 1-2 outbreaks a year, yet I just couldn’t get there.  I finally looked within myself and slowly the answer came to me.  I had denied the existence of the HSV in my body for so long that for some reason it decided that I needed to acknowledge it.  The HSV screamed at me to pay attention to it through non-stop outbreaks and nerve pain.  Acknowledging and even embracing something that I hated and felt that it made me something of a leper was the most difficult thing I have ever done.  I talked to the virus and made peace with it.  I told my husband about it, and he was very accepting.  Our marriage later ended, but I’ll be forever grateful to him for accepting my HSV better than even I did.  I decided then and there that I would only be cared for by health professionals who were kind and compassionate towards me and my HSV.  I have opened up to friends about my HSV as well.  As a 45-year old who has had friends die of cancer, the prospect of having a virus that presents itself every once in a while has been put into perspective.  Accepting the HSV in my body is something I work on every day, but I’m getting better at it.  I hope that my story somehow helps you.

Joy – Washington, D.C.

Holistic Herpes Newsletter Volume Two, Edition 3

A New Year, A New Immune Formula
One of the benefits of my healing practice is that I get  feedback from you – my patients. I have regular contact with all of you throughout the year. Sharing your experiences and outcomes helps me evolve and improve my remedies. Two years ago, your feedback helped me shift from liquid remedies to powdered remedies. This year, your feedback helped me develop a new, improved immune formula.
This new formula is the nineteenth improvement of the immune formula since it’s inception in 2003. Most of the changes occurred in the first two years, with fourteen different immune formulas developed and tested.
The new immune formula includes additional herbs to help alkalize your body ph. If your body is too acidic, you are vulnerable to several diseases. There are also herbs to help digestion and liver function because your body cannot adequately absorb and utilize any medicine without these organs functioning well.

Often, you’ve asked why the formula tastes bitter and it’s important that it does – bitter flavours stimulate your liver to produce more bile.
Many of you using the immune formula report long-term benefits of staying on the formula even after your herpes outbreaks have stopped. You tell me that staying on the formula helps you with your energy level, digestion, allergies and overall health. Many of you continue using immune formula for safer sex, combined with the antiviral gel, to prevent infecting others with herpes and to protect yourself from HPV, HIV and Hepatitis.
The new immune formula is available now – I encourage those of you who are having symptoms and those of you who are not, to embrace the short and long-term benefits it brings. Think of it as a daily health and immune strengthening tonic.
The immune formula is available in four or six month quantities. Until January 17th, you will receive a complimentary bottle of Milena Cold and Flu formula (a $70 value) when you order.
If you haven’t checked in with me for more than a couple of months, please do drop me a note so  I know how you are doing.
Wishing you a healthy new year.

Changing My Diet Has Cured My Herpes . . .

I have had herpes for over 20 years.  For many years, I would get outbreaks somewhat regularly.  My outbreaks would occur when I was dating/having regular sex, either due to the stress and anxiety of passing it to someone else, or just due to friction.  When I was in a relationship, I would take a daily dose of acyclovir (sometimes Valtrex if allowed by insurance) for preventative measures.  I did this for almost 20 years, off and on, and even after being married to my partner, who also has herpes but minimal symptoms.  I performed research on-line and found Christopher who was kind enough to provide me guidance about cleaning up my diet many years ago.  I wasn’t willing to discipline myself when it came to his recommendations, and I suppose I did not believe there was such a direct link between the things I ate and how I felt.   It wasn’t until the last year that I discovered how helpful his guidance was.

To better explain, i want to relay I would often have excessive itching and outbreaks in my anal area.  When I would have excessive itching, I would assume it was an oncoming outbreak and then double up on medication to prevent it.  When I went to the doctor to ask if the itching was directly linked to outbreaks or caused by some other problem, the doctors had minimal feedback or knowledge to pass along and were overall, not helpful.  It wasn’t until I went to my chiropractor complaining of muscle tightness, fatigue and stomach problems that it was suggested to me that I may have problems with my stomach.  It was explained to me (and I did some of my own research) that the health of my stomach/gut was directly related to my immune system.  Gluten intolerance or allergy causes damage to a person’s stomach lining and an immune reaction throughout the body and can cause someone more prone to illness After being strict about my gluten-free diet, my stomach pain/gas stopped, my lactose intolerance stopped, and most importantly, the itching stopped and the outbreaks stopped. I am more and more convinced that the foods we eat directly relate to our overall health, and in my case, direct relate to my herpes.  Please consider getting a consultation with Christopher on what dietary and lifestyle changes you need to make to be outbreak free.  It might not only help you with your herpes, but also with your general health.

Anonymous

How Not to Get a Cold or Flu This Season

Dress for success
•    A warm scarf is your ally
•    Reconsider plunging, exposed necklines at this time of year
•    Button up your coat
•    Dress in layers
•    Avoid low riding pants and jeans.

Avoid Germs
•    Use a pen on the keypad of ATM machines
•    Use a paper towel or plastic bag to open doorknobs
•    Avoid shaking hands
•    Be wary of gas pumps, credit card processing machines, and poles in buses and subway trains.

Act immediately.
•    The first sign of a cold or flu is a sore throat followed by fatigue
•    As soon as you feel even the hint of this, get out of the cold and into your bed – Rest is key
•    At the first sign of a sore throat gargle with warm water, salt and vinegar every hour

An ounce of prevention…
•    Carry around dried ginger cubes. Reed’s brand has organic ginger cubes. Suck on them when you feel your throat getting itchy.
•    Silence is golden. If you feel your throat getting sore or itchy, stop talking.
•    Rest, rest, rest. Call in sick, stay in bed and get as much sleep as possible.
•    Hydrate yourself. Drink lots of water and teas containing vitamin c during the winter. My favourite is a combination of rose hips, hibiscus and ginger.
•    If you feel yourself sliding into sickness, drink plenty of ginger and green onion tea (use the white bulb part of organic green onions)..
•    Use the Milena Cold and Flu remedy every 4-6 hours until your symptoms have cleared for at least three days.

Seven Years ago, I developed the Milena Cold and Flu Formula to help the increasing number of my patients suffering from colds and flus. The Milena Cold and Flu Formula combines Lomatium Dissectum, Tulsi, Osha, Boneset, Elderberries, Flowers and a proprietary Botanical Anti-Viral Complex. It is, of course, hand-made by yours truly.

The real power of the Milena Cold and Flu Formula is it’s ability to prevent a Cold or Flu. Take it as directed at the first signs of any Cold and Flu and there’s a good chance that you will avoid becoming ill.   All the ingredients are clinically proven to boost the immune system and to significantly speed up the healing process. If you do get ill, consistently taking the formula will help you heal faster and lessen the severity of the symptoms.

Holistic Herpes Newsletter Volume Two, Edition 4

Stigma Buster

The notion that there is a huge stigma against people with herpes is probably the biggest and most harmful myth in the universe of the numerous myths and lies about herpes and one that I vehemently reject. Most people are severely mis-educated or uneducated about sexual health and that is an issue, but most people are also kind and tolerant and understanding when given a chance. Of course there is always a small minority of idiots out there, there always has been and there always will be but they are no more than ten percent of the population.

People experience herpes stigma largely because they stigmatize themselves. They buy into the notion that once you have herpes you ought to feel ashamed, dirty and compromised. You can either accept or reject this, it’s completely your choice. I choose the path of empowerment and holistic health.

If you accept yourself then you have all the acceptance you need. And no one can take away that self-acceptance with a nasty remark or snigger. If you truly love yourself then you need never live in fear of rejection by another or others for when one door is closed another is always opened.

There is no scarcity with true love only abundance. And no love will ever be truer than the love you should have for yourself.

All the love you need is inside of you, all the affirmation you need is inside of you, if you don’t love yourself you will never find the love you need in another person or a place or a thing.  Don’t go on a wild goose chase, there is no hiding from the truth, there is no hiding from yourself

Answer the question honestly: do you love yourself?

If you say you do, then how would someone who loves themselves act?

Don’t look to others for affirmation, affirm yourself.

christopher scipio
herbalist/holistic viral specialist

Home

‘What is it?’ I thought…

bent over in the ladies restroom, trying to remain my balance despite a feverish weakness. The stinging, burning sensation that seemed to affect all skin and nerves between the pubis and pelvic bones was impossible to deny; something was seriously wrong, and my muscles, nerves, and reproductive and urinary system were all affected. Pain radiating from these areas made sitting, standing, walking—any movement—excruciating. Dreading the second-by-second discomfort that would come with ambulating to a doctor, I pushed my shoulders back took a deep weary but determined sigh. I knew I needed to get medical help so I started the trek to the University Student Health Center. Already battling symptoms of a head cold and my menses during Finals Week during my junior year, I held out hope for a quick cure and a return to normalcy. But, after an examination from an unusually quiet and concerned looking nurse, I prepared for a different reality. The examining nurse hurriedly left the room, barely pausing to say “Hold on a minute; we need a doctor for this…”.
‘ What…? Is it that bad?’, I thought. The nurse returned with a gynecologist who closely viewed signs of the outbreak, then told the nurse without addressing me, “Yes, this is a classic case”. ‘Case of what?’ I thought. But before I worked up the gumption to ask they left.

Later the nurse returned and explained, “These are classic symptoms of genital herpes, an STD”. She read the confusion on my face. My head was spinning—How? When? Who? Please heal it! I can’t allow my partner to get this….it’s terrible!

“Do you know about Herpes?” she asked.  She explained the basics of STDs- but I was mystified- how could I have gotten this from my partner? From my two past partners? Then there was a very tense pause, and she explained “Its chronic- Herpes is something you have for the rest of your life”. Now my head was really spinning, and as the silence lengthened I could no longer keep from expressing my feelings-despite my discomfort and trust in the health center. Tears were beginning to form…I was nineteen. How could I have contracted it after only having been intimate with two people?
“Unfortunately, there isn’t much that can be done once you have an outbreak—other than prescribe medicine that will lessen the pain and reduce the chance the virus replicates.” Lidocaine and a three week regime of taking antivirals four times a day were the prescription.

With the pain-numbing medicine, I was able to physically manage the outbreak. But psychologically, I was wiped out for a month or two after being diagnosed. I felt shame, discomfort, anxiety, and tremendous disgust around my body and sexuality. Though internally I felt inconsolable, extremely sensitive, self-conscious and emotionally vulnerable, I isolated myself from my good friends and partner because the subject matter was stigmatizing and uncomfortable for everyone. I had to tell my partner. I did so right after finding out, while still painful systems and feeling completely defeated. I loved my partner fiercely, and wanted to protect them from any harm—even though I feared being left because of the risk of transmission, and loss of attraction to me.  But my partner—who had had an STD at one time or another—was not stigmatized, and asserted love and commitment to me. “Well, I want to be with you”, he said. “If I get it, I get it—it’s not like it’s fatal or anything”.

Of course my partner was right. I was unspeakably grateful for his decision to stay with me and see my body and our intimacy as something beautiful—despite how I was feeling. Their unconditional love and this desire to be intimate was difficult for me to accept because I felt diseased and unattractive. I worried every time we were intimate he would contract herpes—that once having a first outbreak that I wouldn’t be forgiven;  that herpes itself could drive us apart.

Over time these feelings dissipated completely. I found that with more stability, financial security, and healthy habits I could fend off ensuing outbreaks once I noticed prodromal symptoms—for me, dull soreness and numbness of my hamstrings, buttocks, and hips and intermittent stabbing or tingling nerve pains below the waist. I went online and researched tips for preventing outbreaks—ones I could control, without having to pay a doctor to prescribe heavy drugs. Whenever symptoms surfaced, I took an inventory: What did I drink over the past three days? What foods and how often was I eating? How much sleep did I get over the last several nights? Did I do too many physically or emotionally intense things in a row, without a break?
Just eighteen months after my first outbreak, I was living a virtually symptom-free life. I was able to work out, hike, garden, go out, stay up late dancing, take road trips, and have good sex without any reminder of the herpes virus. I ended up having to make some long-term lifestyle changes—which ended up being the best things I’ve done for my health and my sanity. I learned to manage my anxiety and mood with counseling, meditation and positive thinking. I began learning to be aware of my body’s needs, and put my health and wellbeing before my job, or the demands and expectations of others. As a result, I was pain-free and—and perhaps just as importantly, shame-free—for about seven years. On average, I would still have small three to four-day outbreaks every three months. I noticed asymptomatic  shedding once every one or two months before menses. But all this became as manageable as the common cold without any of the psychological affects it initially had.

Recently, my life was shaken by a nexus of three life changing events:  relocating to new state—far from family and friends, enrolling in an accelerated 10-month graduate school program while also facing the dissolution of my relationship/marriage to my partner. The stress and resulting emotional fatigue weakened my ability to fend off herpes and I found myself affected by consecutive, seemingly unending herpes outbreaks that began to take an emotional toll. With the rigors of graduate school and the inability to rest as much as my body needed me to, I relied heavily on counseling, close friendships, positive thinking and nutrition, but also began using antivirals and heavy doses of L-Lysine to try to fend off herpes’ hold. It seemed like the harder I fought with the virus, the more persistent it was in returning; and got so bad I started ignoring my body’s messages from me.  As many of us do all the time, I powered through the upheaval, trying to detach myself from bodily pains while addressing mental or other emotional challenges.

With my Master’s degree in hand, and my life slowly returning to sane and spiritually-nurturing pace, I was finally able to address my health. Though I had been taking conventional, heavy medicines to try to curb my outbreaks for ten months—my body had not healed and my immune system seemed weaker than ever.  That’s when I picked up “Making Peace with Herpes”—the only book I could find that takes a naturopathic and spiritual approach to managing herpes.

Reading “Making Peace with Herpes” helped me see that my physical health and managing herpes is about being at peace and compassionately caring for my body, my sexuality, and my relationships. As I result, I felt empowered to reject the heavy drugs—conventional western medicine—that I knew were changing how my body naturally functioned and that I’d been more and more reluctant to use. I began to trust my ability to heal myself—not just from herpes—but from other dis-ease as well. I made decisions, changed my lifestyle, and adjusted my beliefs to cultivate peace in my life. I began choosing loving, deeply-personal and natural approaches to my health—and invested in Acupuncture, and a gym membership instead of heavy conventional chemical compounds that are unnatural and corporate-owned. I saw my body heal after one week of drinking medicinal tea made of Christopher’s immune draught, and by applying his red marine algae gel topically. I was—am still amazed—at the efficacy of these naturopathic remedies, that resulted after only one consultation (mind you—the most thorough and personalized health consultation I’d ever had for any health issue). I am once again unaffected by chronic or severe herpes symptoms, and I credit my shift from unnatural conventional management of herpes to a holistic health practices and use natural remedies. Because of the peace this shift has given me, I encourage others to do so as well.

Though I never would have believed it when I was first diagnosed and was experiencing my first outbreak, I have come to value what having herpes has taught me: it has taught me how integrated our body’s system and our health is with our emotional health and our lifestyles; that our health and  wellbeing must be achieved by actively cultivating love and peace for ourselves; and that we are one of millions of super-awesome life forms that have been the gift of life, and the ability to adapt and coexist peaceably. I hope that others have similarly positive and healing realizations. May our bodies, minds and spirits find true health and healing!
-Laura
28, San Francisco, CA

Yoga Shift

Six years ago, when I was first diagnosed with genital herpes, I read Christopher Scipio’s book, “Making Peace with Genital Herpes,” and, inspired by both the delivery and the content of this publication, I contacted him for further advice and information. Shortly thereafter, I ordered some of his medicinal herbs to treat frequent outbreaks and boost my ailing immune system. He sent instructions with my medicine in the form of a written protocol that stated firmly that in addition to using the antiviral gel and medicine herbs, daily yoga practice was highly recommended. In fact, it was more than recommended. Christopher insisted that I could not expect real results in the form of long-term health and healing without implementing yoga into my daily routine. He was only suggesting a minimum of 20 minutes a day for optimum health, but I scoffed at the notion. Herpes had already demanded so much of my life, my time, and physical and mental energy. I had to change my diet, take a regimen of unusual herbs, do the mental work of accepting the permanence of the virus, disclose to potential partners, and change my sexual habits. I was resentful of my condition and lacking the desire to commit to this new discipline. I refused to accept that Christopher’s advice had purpose and intention as valuable as his other recommendations. I decided instead to return to pharmaceutical anti-virals to deal suppress my outbreaks and I gave way to habits that are difficult to share.

Like millions of Americans, I struggle with chronic emotional and mental health issues. I am no stranger to anxiety, insomnia, and mood swings. They’ve led me to self medicate with everything from alcohol to marijuana to nightly doses of Benadryl. I am no stranger to addiction. I’ve fought and won hard battles with prescription painkillers, benzodiazapines, muscle relaxants, and sleeping pills. For years I have relied heavily upon substances to alleviate everything from frequent headaches to chronic yeast infections, from acute muscle spasms to panic attacks. If there were a pill for it, I would take it. I would take it desperate for a quick solution. It wasn’t for lack of awareness. I simply told myself that I didn’t have the time for the kind of self-care and preventative measures required for true health. I am a single mom with too many bills, too many PTA meetings, too many part-time jobs, too many college courses. I had too many people vying for my time, energy and support. Who had time for silly things like breathing and stretching?

I wish it hadn’t taken me this long to get real with myself. To accept and understand that it is me and only me who is responsible for my health and well-being. That self-love requires far more action and way less excuses. And that yoga could offer me the long-term solution not only to my frequent outbreaks, but to my anxieties and addictions great and small. Does it sound like an exaggeration? If I were the reader, I sure would think so. Yoga seems so passive. It seems so simple. So optional. Well, I certainly cannot speak for all humans, although I would like to believe that there are humans much like myself in dire need of real strength and healing that would benefit from its powers. So, I wanted to share with all of you just how profoundly my life has shifted since I made yoga a part of my daily life. I want to share with great enthusiasm and amazement that not only has it improved my posture and self-confidence, strengthened my back and core, and provided relief from physical and emotional pain and stress, it has provided me with a daily dose of spiritual inspiration. While I have yet to delve deep into the ancient spiritual practice of yoga, I can say with great certainty that connecting with the breath and with the present moment are profoundly powerful practices with a wealth of health benefits. When you really start to care for yourself, you begin to feel better in general. And the better you feel, the more likely you are to care. It’s a beautiful cycle, a positive cycle.

It’s been easier for me to choose healthy, alkaline foods. After a practice, after I have had the time to feel my own strengths and weaknesses, search for balance, and tap into emotional pain deeply in need of release, the last thing I want to do is eat processed food, or have a drink. I feel good. And I worked for that feeling. I made the time to maintain my body, and in the process I managed to nurture my spirit and mind. What resulted are baby steps in all the right directions. By taking pause, I’ve come to realize that my way of living was unsustainable. I couldn’t go on that way and expect to thrive. My needs were legitimate. I do need something to take the edge off, to sleep better at night, to help me stay in the moment, and to help combat chronic disease. I see now why yoga was just as important as the herbs, food modifications, and anti-viral gel. Yoga, for me, is a part of a very real, very potent path to holistic healing. It has made the impossible, possible. I’m writing to you as an addict who continues to struggle on the daily. But I am writing to you 100% sober, 100% capable, and 100% inspired to be my healthiest and to own my own healing. Yoga is like organic farming for the body and soul. Sustainable and nurturing, possible and vital. I give thanks for having crossed paths with Christopher and for all of the hope and wellness I have received on this path. I wish you all Happiness and Wellness. With a joyful heart,
Namaste.

Yogurt with a Kick

Cardamom is great for stimulating the digestive system and your metabolism.

1-2 cups of plain Organic Yogurt
1 orange peeled and sliced
1-2 tsp of honey
1 tsp of cardamom
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
Place the Yogurt into a bowl, sprinkle the spices, orange overtop and then drizzle the honey overtop.  You could also put it into a To-Go container and take it to work for a late afternoon snack.

The Naked Quiche
This quiche also has no pastry so it is easy to make, and you will still feel good naked because it is easy on the waistline.

6 eggs
6-7 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup of organic goat feta
1 tsp of pepper
1 tsp of organic sea salt
Handful of basil
Handful of oregano

1-2 tbsp of oil
3 tbsp of organic Parmesan cheese grated (optional)

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Throw the first 7 ingredients into a bowl (except the oil & parmesan) and stir with a fork or whisk.  Take a muffin pan and lightly oil each compartment.  Then fill up each section halfway with the egg mixture.  Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese overtop, and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the eggs are done.
Serve with a side veggie or fruit salad.

Potato and Onion Soup

4 cups of onions (thinly sliced)
4 cups of potatoes (thinly sliced)
2 tbsp of olive oil
4 cups of water
3-4 tsp of paprika
1 tsp of sea salt
1 tsp of pepper
1 tsp of cayenne pepper
1/4 of red wine

In a soup pot add oil and onions on medium heat for 5-7 minutes or until they are translucent.  Then add the potatoes, salt, and pepper, letting them fry in the pan for another 7 minutes.  Add paprika, cayenne pepper, turning down the heat to low and add in the red wine, letting it cook on low for another 5 minutes.  Then add boiling water into the pot and bring it all to a boil together.

Fiesta Stew
This stew has great colours as well as lots of nutrients!
1/2 cup finely chopped scallion whites
3 tsps of olive oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 scallions, sliced, white and green parts divided
1 carrot, peeled and sliced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 plum tomatoes, diced
1 ear of corn, husked and cut into 4 pieces
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil, garlic, scallion whites, carrot, jalapeno, salt and pepper to the pot and stir to combine. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Uncover, add cumin and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add broth, tomatoes, corn and the cooked chicken; increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cover, reduce heat to maintain a slow simmer and cook until the vegetables are tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in scallion greens, lime juice and cilantro.

Holistic Herpes Newsletter Volume Two, Edition 6

Herpes 2.0
Like some mad software engineer I am always trying to improve my herpes protocol. Last fall I finished and made available to you my 20th version of my herpes immune formula. Because of my recent ability to get organic and picked-from-the-wild Chinese herbs I was able to return to an earlier formula I had to abandon due to my concern about some Chinese herbs containing pesticides and heavy metals. This new herpes formula has proven itself to be quite effective over the past year but i’ll never just sit on my butt and ride on past accomplishments- I am paying close attention to the feedback and results I am getting from you, my patients, and discussing advances in herpes treatment with my peers in herbal medicine and with my friends in the scientific community. Some day soon there will be a 21st version of the herpes formula, but in the meanwhile I finished a new formula for my antiviral sex gel two months ago. I’ve been making red marine algae antiviral gels since 2004 and they have always been effective but because many of you travel to distant places and some of you are touring musicians, I responded to your feedback about not always having access to a fridge and changed the sex gel so that it can last longer outside of the fridge. Don’t get me wrong I still want you to keep the gel in a fridge when not using it, but the gel can now last at least a week outside of the fridge when opened and in some conditions can last up to a month. I also improved the smell and taste of the gel although it’s always been completely non-toxic organic and edible and always much better tasting than KY Jelly.  I encourage you to try the new gel, as always it helps prevent herpes outbreaks and when used during sex helps prevent the transmission of herpes, HPV and HIV. Unlike any other gels on the market it’s hand-made (by me) from ethically harvested red marine algae and is the only antiviral gel can if effective against all 8 kinds of herpes viruses including Human Herpes Virus 6 which may be the most dangerous. The gel also effective treats and prevents Vulvodynia which affects many peri-menopausal and menopausal women with herpes. I am offering a 40% discount on the gel and my immune formula until November 11th, 2013.

Top Ten reasons to use the antiviral gel daily

helps prevent outbreaks and shedding

helps treat and prevent vulvodynia

protects against all eight herpes viruses, hpv and hiv

no one needs to know you are using it

is especially effective for oral sex safer

is a masturbation aide

helps prevent you spreading herpes to other parts of the body from masturbaton or inadvertent touching

helps prevent speeding of herpes to other parts of the body during oral sex

the only one made by a master herbalist, made by hand from whole seaweeds

helps prevent chicken pox and shingles

human herpes viruses 1, 2 , 3, 4, 6 and 8 have all been linked to various forms of cancer. Keeping your herpes viruses in check may help in cancer prevention down the road, and we don’t know what other diseases may be triggered or worsened by untreated herpes viruses

christopher scipio
herbalist/holistic viral specialist

Home

hsvclinic@aol.com

Herpes Denial

My name is June and I have HSV-2. Sounds like the opening line at an AA meeting, right? I’ve often thought that it would be nice to have a group of people come together and share their experiences with Herpes; especially when you first receive the ‘gift’ of herpes. It can be a very lonely, dark place.

Over 20 years ago I had a one night stand that changed my life forever. Back in the early 90’s there wasn’t a lot of information available and no one was really talking about preventative measures against STDs. I recall it was all about not getting pregnant more than it was not getting an STD (referred now more often as STI).

My doctor took one look at me and said those devastating words “you have herpes” and that was about all he said and I was left to my own devices. I honestly don’t even remember if there was a blood test taken to confirm it and there definitely wasn’t a conversation about HSV1 vs. HSV2.

I didn’t have any idea what had just happened. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I felt helpless. After a while anger and embarrassment set in. Then I made the call to the guy that gave this to me and of course he didn’t know anything. As I said, there wasn’t a lot of information available and there was a feeling that I was the only person in the world that had this thing.

If I knew then what I know now about shedding, I probably wouldn’t have passed the gift to a guy who later became my husband (and later became my ex-husband). And don’t think for a minute that I now wonder if he just married me because he thought his life was over when he got those blisters. Of course, now I know that you can pass on herpes even when you’re asymptomatic.

This leads me to a recent conversation with a dear friend who told me that she had blisters show up in her genital area about 30 years ago. She has never had another break out…to her knowledge. I say that because we know that you can have an outbreak and not know it because herpes is wily and a little pimple can look like a pimple unless it’s herpes and then it’s a pimple with attitude.

She was married for almost 20 years and never passed herpes to her husband…to her knowledge. They are now divorced and each is involved with other people. She confided to me that she had the standard STI tests recently but didn’t know that there were specific tests for herpes and as it turns out hadn’t had that test. She is thinking she is free and clear until I let her know that herpes has specific tests and isn’t included in any STI testing unless you specifically request it.

I had the conversation with her about herpes and how it behaves and I highly encouraged her to get tested specifically for herpes. She procrastinated and said recently that she had gone to the Doctor and asked for the tests, and I was absolutely flabbergasted because the Doctor told her that ‘almost everyone has herpes and why bother with any tests’. He clarified that he was talking about HSV1. And yes, he is probably right but why would a health care professional advise his patient to NOT have the herpes tests?

My friend decided not to have the tests and continue on her life as if she is free and clear because in her mind she hasn’t had another outbreak in 30 years, never passed it to her ex-husband, and therefore doesn’t have the virus, period. Now she is in a new relationship with a guy and does not plan to tell him about her history. She is in complete denial.

Don’t think for a minute that if you had an outbreak any number of years ago that you don’t have the virus. At the very least get tested and be sure so you are knowledgeable and can have a relationship based on truth and honesty rather than a relationship that is hiding a secret that will change the life of your partner forever if you pass ‘the gift.’ That is karma that I, personally, don’t want to assume.

For the last 15 years I haven’t had an outbreak and I am grateful that I have been so lucky – others are not so lucky. I almost forgot I had it – it was so far in the back of my mind. But I don’t for a minute think the virus went away.

I recently had to have ‘the talk’ with someone and it never occurred to me that I wouldn’t be honest about my status. It puts you in a very vulnerable position and it can be one of those instances where it will become a defining moment in your life. Unfortunately my potential partner decided that he didn’t want to take the risk of getting the gift from me and we remain ‘just friends’, and yes, it’s disheartening.

I know that I would have liked to make the decision all those years ago about how my life would play out and I cannot stress that enough. When other people feel they can make decisions for you with no regard for the implications – it is a violation of human rights and one can be taken to court nowadays if you don’t tell a potential partner and then they subsequently contract herpes.  This is a scary prospect and it should be – we are in a litigious environment and don’t think you are safe.

There is the side of me that wishes I could have my friend’s attitude of ‘whatever happens, happens’; but in reality, it’s not my decision and it’s not my decision to assume the risk for anyone. It is my responsibility to tell partners that I have HSV- 2 and it’s their decision to assume the risk or not, period.

It takes courage to stand in your truth and I believe that when you do, good things happen. It may seem like nothing good comes of this herpes business, but I remain positive and have faith that all things happen for a reason. I refuse to let herpes define me and this is the biggest challenge when faced with having herpes in your life. I can say that because I face the challenge every day and in the end, it’s just a virus – it won’t kill you – it won’t deny you a healthy, happy relationship – it won’t.  Anyone worth having in your life will make the decision to assume the risk, or they won’t, period. The sooner we accept this and believe that we are worth the risk, the better. Surround yourself with love, be brave. This is your life…make it beautiful.

Holistic Fall Savings! Save 40% on my hand-made remedies or my book or my self-hypnosis cds. Must order by 11/11/13. Email me at hsvclinic at aol.com

The article below is a study that shows that up to 90 percent of people with herpes “don’t know they have it”. Of course the article misleads the public by only reporting the statistics of HSV2 and once again leaves out HSV1 which I consider the more dangerous of the two.- Christopher Scipio

http://m.news1130.com/2013/08/19/most-people-with-herpes-dont-realize-they-have-it-study/

More US Teens Susceptible to HSV-1 Infection, a Cause of Genital Herpes

This article highlights that because fewer children are getting “cold sores” by being kissed by their aunties they are more at risk of getting HSV1 genitally as teenagers and because of the popular myth that oral sex is risk free

Oct. 17, 2013 — A new study suggests a growing number of U.S. adolescents lack antibodies that may help protect them later in life against an increasingly important cause of genital herpes. Published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases and available online, the findings show that fewer of today’s teens have been exposed in their childhood to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a common cause of cold sores, than U.S. adolescents in previous years. Without these antibodies, today’s teens may be more susceptible — when they become sexually active — to genital infections also caused by the virus, particularly through oral sex.

read the full article here

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131017080656.htm

Herpes virus genome traces the ancient path of human migration

To confirm the theory that humans spread out from Africa tens of thousands of years ago, all you have to do is follow the cold sores. Or, to be more precise, follow the mutation patterns encoded in the genome of the virus that causes those cold sores.

That’s what researchers at the University of Wisconsin at Madison did: In the journal PLOS ONE, they describe how they sequenced the genomes of 31 samples of herpes simplex virus type-1 to reconstruct how it hitchhiked on humans as they dispersed around the world.

read the full story here
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/herpes-virus-genome-traces-ancient-path-human-migration-8C11436194

Holistic Herpes Recipes

Salsa Salmon

2 large limes peeled, and chopped into small chunks

1/3 cup very thinly sliced red onion

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

1 small jalapeno, halved, seeded and very thinly sliced crosswise

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar

2-3 cloves of garlic finely chopped

1 tsp of brown sugar

1 tsp of Sea salt

1 tsp of freshly ground pepper

2- 4 6-ounce sockeye salmon fillets (depending on how many you are serving?)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Place the salmon filets in a casserole pot or cooking pan, lightly drizzling the pan and the salmon with some oil to prevent it from sticking.  Cook for about 10 minutes, or until it is a lighter pink, and flaking.  Best not to overcook but it depends on preferences.

While the salmon is cooking you can mix together the oil, garlic sugar, limes, onions, cilantro and jalapenos salt and pepper.

Serve the fillets with the salsa mixture and rice or salad.

Lime, Rice and Beans

Lime helps to refresh the spirits and purify the blood.  It is energizing, creating mental clarity as well as antibacterial.  Great for cleaning with!

1 lime, juiced

1 can of black beans

1 cup of coconut

1 1.2 cups of jasmine rice

1-2 tsp of oil

Cook the rice in a pot.  Rinse the rice a few times ( to make it less sticky) before you cook it.  Then put the rice and 3 cups of water into a pot, plus the coconut.  Bring to a boil, turn down the head to low and let stand until the water soaks into the rice.  Then turn the heat off and let it sit while you mix the beans.

Put 1-2 tsp of oil into a pan, add the garlic sautee 3-5 minutes on medium heat., then add the black beans and squeeze the fresh lime overtop.  Heat for another few minutes until the beans are warm, and serve over rice.

Roasted Garlic and Cilantro Soup

Two of my favourite things, together at last!

5-6 bulbs of garlic

6-8 med size potatoes

6 cups of water

2  red onions sliced

2 carrots chopped

1-2 tsp of sea salt

1-2 tsp of pepper

2 cups of Cilantro chopped

Bake the garlic bulbs at 400 degrees by cutting the tips off the garlic bulbs, drizzling some olive oil over top and baking for about 30 minutes.

The Asian Salmon

1/3 cup of Maple syrup

1/3 cup Soy Sauce

2 tbsp of Hoisin sauce

2 tbsp peeled and sliced ginger

Dried red pepper flakes

3-5 gloves of chopped garlic

Juice of 1or 2 fresh limes

2-4 Wild Salmon fillets

Place the sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, lime juice, red pepper flakes, garlic in a saucepan, bringing the mixture to a boil.  Reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the sauce forms a glaze.

Preheat the broiler.

Place the salmon fillets on a broiler pan and cover with the 1/3 of the sauce. Let sit for 15 minutes. Broil them until cooked through, about 8 minutes, and again baste more of the asian mixture. Remove the salmon from the heat and baste once more with the sauce before serving.  Great by itself or served with basmati rice!

I will also cut it into small pieces and snack on it throughout the day.