Also known as herpes simplex, the herpes virus refers to two types of viruses which live inside the nervous system of humans.

The first one would be HSV-1 or herpes simplex virus one, which is commonly associated with cold sores and fever blisters; and the second one would be HSV-2 or herpes simplex virus two, which usually causes sores to appear on the genital area.

Herpes is extremely contagious and easy to contract, which is probably why more and more individuals have it today. Once an individual is infected with the herpes virus, the virus would remain in the nervous system for the rest of his or her life, even after the sores go away. The virus can also easily be transmitted through contact with the saliva or the genital secretions of the infected person.

Today, there is still no proven and generally accepted cure for herpes; however, there have been numerous studies conducted suggesting some cures and treatment options that individuals infected with the herpes virus can try. If you or someone you know has herpes, here are some of the things that you could do to treat the virus naturally.

First off, it is important to know what triggers the virus inside your body. Most individuals with herpes become more prone to outbreaks when they become too stressed or when they get sick. You need to know that the virus would start attacking your system when your immunity is compromised, as is the case when you get sick or become stressed. To prevent this, try to look for ways to unwind and relax such as doing yoga and exercising.

You would also need to make sure that you are able to keep yourself healthy so that you would not easily get sick.

One way to boost your immune system would be through eating garlic, as it gives you the ability to fight off illnesses. It would also be advisable to avoid foods which are high in acidic content, as these could aggravate your condition. These would include eggplants, tomatoes, red meat, citrus fruits, hard cheeses, sugar, white bread, fried food, spicy food and coffee. Instead of making your body become more acidic, you need to eat foods which can help in making your body more alkaline. These would include green vegetables, brown rice pasta, whole grains, goat-milk products and non-citrus fruits. If you are craving for meat, you can try to eat fowl or fish before eating red meat.

Lastly, as soon as you feel that a tingling sensation which can signal an outbreak, start applying ice to the area. This could relieve the pain and prevent the bumps from erupting. This could also effectively stop them from turning into blisters.

These are just some of the natural ways for curing or treating herpes. Keep in mind that although you may not be able to completely get rid of the herpes virus, even with prescription medication, by doing everything you can to prevent outbreaks, you should be able to easily control it.