By Kent Farfield
Historically, there has been no long term relief for chronic sufferers of herpes simplex infections, let alone a cure. Herpes sufferers are seemingly at the mercy of this viral menace. Despite failure at the eradication of the herpes virus, success in the short term by temporarily suppressing its proliferation has yielded positive results. One such agent, acyclovir, a nucleoside analogue,has been regarded as the drug of choice by the medical community. However, as with most drugs, there are side effects. Are there no alternatives?There are as many known factors which contribute to a chronic case of herpes, while other factors remain a mystery. Finding ways to stop or curb some of the known factors which predispose one to herpes activity can be helpful. Chronic herpes sufferers are well accustomed to the recommended restrictions in diet and lifestyle. Yet, even healthy individuals who seemingly do everything right to lead a herpes-free life cannot escape this relentless virus. So, what's next?
Treatment with acyclovir relieves symptoms, reduces the amount of infectious virus released from the sores and speeds healing. The treatment does not prevent subsequent attacks or diminish their frequency or severity. The effect of acyclovir in a herpes virus infection is to inhibit the synthesis of viral DNA. Prophylactic courses of oral acyclovir can have a modest impact on recurrent infections, but the cost of the drug and its potential toxicity over the long term do not justify such regimens in most cases. In the majority of cases for genital herpes, general recurrency patterns returned within 8 to 25 days after stopping long term use.
Laboratory studies suggest prolonged administration of acyclovir as a prophylactic or its prescription for trivial infections might favor the appearance of virus strains that are both drug-resistant and pathogenic. This concern over the advent of drug resistant pathogens, has recently come to pass. The NIH reported that a new strain of genital herpes (HSV-II) has evolved upon which acyclovir had no effect.
Western medicine, armed with its infinite technological powers, can still help us. Many potent botanical agents have been investigated but never made it through the arduous process of drug approval. Difficulties in understanding the intricate process under which particular botanical agents interact within the human body has kept many useful medicines from ever reaching the people who most urgently need them. In addition, many botanical agents can only work in their whole plant form. They work on multiple levels and act synergistically within the body.
Although the actions of these botanical agents in whole plants (commonly described as herbs or medicinal plants) are difficult to trace and report scientifically, a close monitoring of clinical results by trained practitioners can be useful and show efficacy. Certainly, using our powers of observation to determine whether a particular treatment works better than no treatment, or better than some other treatment for a patient whose health status and history is well documented can be significant.
One such casualty of the drug approval process is a red marine alga in the family of Dumontiaceae. Research on antiviral carbohydrates from marine red algae indicate a high potential for low-cost, broad spectrum antiviral agents. Further research in the family of Dumontiaceae produced two patents where clinical efficacy for herpes I and II was clearly shown. The treatment was effective for treating subjects (e.g. human patients) both prior to and subsequent to herpes infection. It was used topically to alleviate symptoms associated with herpes infections or preferably systemic, by oral administration, to eradicate the virus and thereby prevent symptom recurrence.
No side effects or toxicity were noted. This treatment, which now must be considered alternative, suggests a breakthrough in the discovery of natural immunomodulatory and antiviral agents.
Recent research and gathering of anecdotal evidence on the health benefits and antiherpetic action of the red marine alga, Dumontiaceae, has yielded much promise. Its use as a topical has been further documented and thought superior to acyclovir. It was shown to be clinically effective against herpes zoster infections as well. Anecdotal reports from patients suffering from Epstein Barr (another herpes virus) and Candida have shown marked improvement in a short period of time through oral administration (systemic).
General health benefits show red marine algae useful in weight-loss programs and for lowering cholesterol and fat in the blood. It contains soothing, mucilaginous gels such as algin, carregeenan, and agar, which specifically rejuvenate the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. Once thought of as a liability that blocked assimilation, the tough cell wall in Dumontiaceae has been found to be invaluable. It binds with heavy metal, pesticides, and carcinogens, and carries these toxins safely out of the body. Contained within the cell walls are polysaccharides, which are a complex of simple sugars. These long chained complex sugars stimulate interferon production as well as other anti-tumor and immune- enhancing activity (improving activity of T- and B-cells).
Other compounds in the cell wall are related to those found in friendly bacteria which fortify and strengthen our immune systems to fight against invading organisms and toxins.
Although the effects of long term use of an alternative treatment such as the red marine alga, Dumontiaceae, has not been clinically substantiated, edible seaweeds have been consumed for thousands of years and are considered safe, nutritious, and beneficial. The added dimension that science has uncovered surrounding its antiviral and immunomodulatory potential; opens up a whole new source of food that could serve to palliate or even hopefully cure virally caused diseases. Since most life derived from the sea, the novel idea that the ocean lies untapped as perhaps our greatest medicinal resource is entirely possible and may be critical to our human survival.
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