Unless you are a medical student or a serious geek, the data you encounter while researching how herpes hides from the immune system will probably make your brain spin and put your emotional nerves on edge. The following is just one example.
"HSV evades the immune system through interference with MHC class I antigen presentation on the cell surface, by blocking TAP or the transporter associated with antigen processing, induced by the secretion of ICP-47 by HSV. TAP transports digested viral antigen epitope peptides from the cytosol to the endoplasmic reticulum in the host cell, allowing these epitopes to be combined with MHC class I molecules and presented on the cell's surface. Viral epitope presentation with MHC class I is a requirement for the activation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs), the primary effectors of the cell-mediated immune response against virally infected cells. ICP-47 prevents initiation of a CTL-response against HSV, allowing the virus to survive for a protracted period in the host (Wikipedia.com)."
The previous quote states that herpes hides under a protective shell of immunoglobulin, a class of proteins present in the serum and immune system cells, which function as antibodies. Because of this, the virus can spread from one cell to another without coming into contact with antibodies.
Phrased another way, the immune system can't attack the herpes virus and kill it because the virus has cloaked itself under a shell of protein that the immune system cannot attack. This protective shell or coating is covered in a substance known as a biofilm.
Biofilms
Biofilms are gel-like substances that form physical barriers around areas of injury or illness in the body, attaching themselves to proteins, sugars, heavy metals, and other harmful substances to prevent their spread. But here's the thing. Harmful viruses (like herpes), bacteria, and fungi can form their biofilms for self-protection, which is how herpes hides from the immune system.
Biofilms are also resistant to antimicrobial medications. Furthermore, every time a generation of biofilm faces medication, it passes this information on to the consecutive generations. If a particular prescribed drug doesn't work the first time, it's unlikely to work at all.
Besides being near-impossible to treat, biofilms have other downsides when they become invasive. Biofilms interfere with nutrient absorption, create plaque (both dental and arteriosclerotic), protect against co-infections (bacterial and fungal infections), and hide Cancer cells. The herpes virus can even hide under bacterial and fungal biofilms.
Biofilms require very little oxygen and nutrients to survive. Still, they can cause mineral deficiencies, such as those of calcium, magnesium, and iron (viruses, in particular, are particularly fond of iron). Worse, they pump out toxins (mycotoxins) and interfere with the body's ability to detoxify. As a result, biofilms can lead to excessive histamine and inflammation levels in the body.
Biofilms alert microbes that hide under them to weaknesses in the immune system, which is why you experience an outbreak when you are under excess stress. Stress weakens the immune system, signals the biofilm, and triggers herpes to reactivate. I provide a biofilm-busting tea recipe here.
Where Herpes Simplex Virus Biofilms Hang Out
Stress, antibiotics, and the Standard American Diet (SAD) can encourage the formation of biofilm communities. Herpes Simplex Virus biofilms can hide in the nasal passages, mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, duodenum (the suspensory muscle, the dividing point between upper and lower digestion), cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, urethra (male and female), anus, rectum, and genital area.
Symptoms & Conditions Associated With Biofilm Communities
- Blastocystis hominis (a parasitic infection)
- Candida, Thrush (including vaginal complaints)
- Crohn's
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- E-Coli
- Epstein-Barr ("Mono")
- Fibromyalgia Syndrome
- H-Pylori
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (and Disease)
- Lupus
- Lyme's
- MRSA
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Pneumonia
- SIBO (methane producers in the gut, such as Archaea)
- Staph
- Strep Throat
- Ulcerative Colitis
- UTIs
There are no allopathic medicines for treating biofilms; however, specific nutrients found in natural foods, herbs, and supplements may help separate the biofilm from the virus. See Specialty Supplements for HSV.
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