The Ethics Of A Life-Long Herpes Infection

From day one my own personal life-long herpes infection has presented me with several ethical challenges. It has challenged me on the question of who to tell and when. It has challenged me on the issue of what to say and how to others with herpes. It has challenged me on the question of “Do I have any responsibilities towards trying to prevent the people in the community who do not herpes from getting it, and if so what are they”?…

Keywords:
herpes, herpes treatment , holistic health, health, wellness, sexual health, sexuality, peace

From day one my own personal life-long herpes infection has presented me with several ethical challenges. It has challenged me on the question of who to tell and when. It has challenged me on the issue of what to say and how to others with herpes. It has challenged me on the question of “Do I have any responsibilities towards trying to prevent the people in the community who do not herpes from getting it, and if so what are they”?

On how to tell and when:

When I was diagnosed with herpes the doctors told me that it was safe to have sex with others as long as I avoided having sex during outbreaks and that I would get warning signs of when an outbreak would be coming. Luckily, we are working with much better information these days. A person with herpes is potentially contagious every-single day of the year and safer sex including using a combination of a condom or dental dam and an anti-viral gel is the best way of ensuring that one
isn’t inadvertently spreading the virus.

I was an irresponsible coward when I first got herpes. Because thedoctors told me that I wasn’t contagious without outbreaks and because I was in the habit of using condoms, I decided that I only had to tell someone that I had herpes if and when it seemed like the relationship was turning serious and there would be regular sexual contact. I had justified my cowardice by thinking that the risk to others was too small to stick my neck out and get the rejection due to a herpes leper. Please don’t be like me. Not telling someone before you have sex that you have herpes is absolutely the wrong thing to do. There’s no real way to justify it. I now tell potential lovers I have herpes even before the first date. It gets the weight of this guilt most herpes people have off my chest and to me it feels like the right thing to do.

Many people tell me that it’s okay if you’re not going to have sex with someone to wait and see if the relationship becomes serious before telling them about herpes. Sure this is much better than waiting until after sex, but to me it still isn’t good enough. If you care about someone, if you respect them , why not tell them as early as possible so they can decide if they want to invest the energy and time in getting to know you better? Isn’t it a bit manipulative to allow someone to develop feelings for you without warning them that they risk a life-long viral infection if they get involved with you? Think about it. If you wait until they are already emotionally attached to you, they may feel compelled to continue with the relationship when they may not have if you had told them up-front. It takes more courage and integrity to tell early but it feels better to have the weight off your chest and the person you tell will usually respect you for giving them the choice.

I am especially appealing to men since I believe that men are not as protective of their sex partners when it comes to telling about herpes as women are. Guys, please don’t have sex with anyone without telling them about your herpes. And if they don’t know the facts don’t understate the risks- herpes is a more physically and emotionally devastating disease for women than it is for men and it is much easier for a man to give a woman herpes than it is for a woman to give it to a man.

On how and what to say to others with herpes:

I am a holistic healer- a herbalist and homeopath. My family have been healers for many generations in my native country of Trinidad and Tobago and as far back as Africa. I had little to no interest in treating herpes as a healer until I got herpes myself. Wanting to change a negative to a positive, I decided to make the holistic treatment of herpes the cornerstone of my practice. The bible says “the stone that the builder refused, I will make my cornerstone. Bob Marley and the wailers sing about it too.

It didn’t take me long once I decided to become a holistic viral specialist to realize that I was confronted with a daunting challenge. Most professionals including all the herbalists and homeopaths I know rely heavily on referrals to build their client-base. Here I was now working with a client-base that I was never going to get a lot of referrals from. My patients with herpes don’t go around telling the world that I helped them with their outbreaks. Some of my patients have yet to tell their significant others that they have herpes, many have not told their closest friends and their family. I am not a company. I don’t have an advertising budget. The only way for me to reach out to others with herpes and encourage them to come for me for treatment was to speak out in public about my herpes work and about herpes in general. This forced me to be far more out of the closet than would have been my personal choice.

I seem to always create challenging situations for myself. Speaking to others with herpes is not a task for the faint of heart. Some people like to shoot the messenger- I have the bullet-wounds to prove it. But I can say that speaking to others with herpes has been and continues to be one of the most gratifying experiences in my life. I feel a deep bond with many of the people with herpes who interact with me. I felt this kind of bond when I played team sports. I’ve felt this kind of bond all my life with other black people. There’s something about “us against the world” that can make people tight with other. I love my herpes friends. I love my herpes patients- even the ones who misbehave. I am not grateful for getting herpes, but I don’t regret it either. Nevertheless, the truth hurts, and I have some bitter truth to tell others with herpes:

Having a lover who also has herpes isn’t a free ticket for unprotected sex. Even if you both have the same strain Even if one gave it to the other. Having unprotected sex with each other can and often will make one or both partner’s cases of herpes worse. It’s called re-inoculation and it’s a message many with herpes don’t want to hear.

If you have herpes or cold sores you are potentially contagious everyday and there is no sure way to tell if you are shedding virus. So do consider using a condom/dental dam combined with an anti-viral gel when having sex and do be careful about sharing wet towels or wash cloths with others.

No two people get herpes the same way so you are going to have your own individual experience with the virus and will have to find your own way of dealing with it on all the different levels you will have to deal with it.

A cure for herpes in our lifetime is unlikely and there are no quick-fix solutions for managing herpes. Herpes cannot be managed with a topical agent alone- whether it be creams, lotions, or essential oils. Managing herpes takes changing your diet, managing stress and other triggers, and may also require either taking herbal medicine or drug therapy.

You may not get fewer outbreaks as you get older. While this is often the case, since no two people get herpes the same way, other diseases, menopause, self-abuse, re-inoculation by unprotected sex and other factors can change the pattern of frequency and severity of outbreaks at any point during your life-long journey with herpes.

Cold-sores are just as contagious if not more contagious than genital herpes and you can infect others when there are no signs of sores present.

Having herpes does make you more vulnerable to other sexually transmitted infections including HIV, cervical dysplasia and genital warts.

Daily use of l-lysine is an ineffective strategy for treating herpes and can do more harm than good. There are more effective natural remedies such as garlic for treating herpes without side-effects.

On talking to those who don’t have herpes:

The reality check for me is that the mainstream and alternative media do not want talk about herpes. They would prefer to keep us in a ghetto. There is a lot of misinformation floating around and people without herpes have few places to turn to hear the facts about herpes. They don’t hear the facts in their churches, young people are not being educated enough about herpes in school. Most parents aren’t teaching their children about herpes, older siblings are not passing information down to the younger ones.

It’s really up to us who have herpes to try harder to dialogue with those who don’t. HIV won’t be the last word in human population control from the world of viruses. If we don’t learn how to better protect the population from getting herpes and other sexually transmitted infections we are going to be in a lot of trouble. Herpes is a gateway disease it provided easy access through your mucus membranes for any sexually transmitted virus.

It is my unshakeable conviction that those of us in the herpes community need to be more vocal in the media and to also reach out to those around us. Each one teach one. Each one reach one.

Christopher Scipio
Holistic Herpes Treatment Specialist

Circuit Training: Get Fit Without Spending Too Much Time and Money

Some individuals who want to stay fit do not have the luxury to spend time doing workouts. In addition they do not have the resources to pay for gym membership and buy necessary equipments. Individuals who are faced with this dilemma may engage in circuit training program for their health goals.

Keywords:
stress, metabolism, diet

The high-tech, high speed nature of 21st Century living has made exercise and other physical activities that promote health and longevity a rarity. In a more accurate sense, it can be said that physical fitness is commonly pushed down below a long list of daily priorities at work and in school.

Due to their hectic schedules, many people are now seeking ways to improve their physique, develop their muscles, and eliminate stress without consuming too much time. An alternative to workout without spending too much time is engaging in a training program called circuit training. This kind of training keeps aims to push the body aerobically and challenge strength. An example of circuit training may include about five minutes of jumping rope followed by push-ups and ab exercises.

Circuit training is an efficient and effective form of conditioning training that works well for improving strength, physique, endurance, flexibility, and coordination. Because of the versatility of this kind of training, it has become popular to busy individuals who want to improve their health. It is also developed by athletes who want to maintain their fitness level and prepare the body for more vigorous and stressful training. Circuit training may improve metabolism because of constant movement. In addition to these health benefits, if circuit exercises are done hurriedly which enables individuals to spend less time working out. However, this type of program alone may not burn enough calories to promote significant weight-loss. Like other workout programs circuit training has advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of circuit training may include the following:

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Develop strength and endurance
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Ideal form of training for many kinds of sports
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Can be adjusted for appropriate age, fitness, and health of individuals

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Exercises are simple enough to make individuals feel a sense of achievement in completing them
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A wide range of exercises are available that will suit an person’s preference

Disadvantages of circuit training may include the following:

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Many exercises require equipments (dumbbells, barbels, etc.)
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Ample space is required to perform circuit exercises
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Use of some equipments require appropriate health and safety monitoring

To save space and perform exercises effectively, those who want to engage in circuit training may include the use of fitness balls in their training. A fitness ball, also known as Pilates ball, stability ball, Swiss ball, and gym ball is made of elastic rubber which usually has a diameter of 14 to 34 inches. While typical exercises are done directly on a flat surface, a fitness ball may provide instability that may promote tension to targeted muscle parts. These muscles can gain strength as they try to maintain balance. With frequent circuit training with a fitness ball, these muscles may become stronger and gain mass in a short period.

Guidelines for circuit training for general health may include the following:

Load Variable

Number of exercises eight to 12

Time per station 30 – 90 seconds

Number of circuits per session one to three

Rest interval between sets 30 – 90

Rest interval between circuits two to three minutes

Speed of execution medium to fast

Frequency two to three times a week

Many people who want to improve their health do not realize the value of circuit training. This exercise program is essential in improving the health of individuals who do not have time to go to the gym and do not have the resources to purchase often expensive exercise equipment. Exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, squat thrusts, and abdominal crunches do not require equipment. People may buy cheap dumbbells and jump ropes to improve their circuit training program.

Before engaging in circuit training and other physical activities, individuals are encouraged to seek the advice of doctors and other health specialists. They may devise an exercise programs and diets that are appropriate for their health needs. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of physical activities may lead to improved overall health.

10-Foot Trampoline: The Best Size for Your Family

A 10-foot trampoline might just be the best size for your family…

Keywords:
10 foot trampoline, buy a trampoline, trampoline for sale, trampoline, mini trampoline, trampoline pad, rebounder, exercise, enclousure, gymnastic

A 10-foot trampoline might just be the best size for your family. If you have a small yard and never thought a regular 14-foot trampoline would fit, then buying a 10 foot one might work best for you. Buying trampolines for your kids is becoming more and more popular even for families with a very small yard; a trampoline can turn that small space into a great area of fun.

Trampolines For Sale

When you first begin looking and trampolines in your newspaper and stores you might not know exactly what you are looking for. People who put their used trampolines up for sale are often just interested in finding someone to purchase their used trampoline. They might not even be that concerned about the price they get for it.

The sale price of a used trampoline should reflect the amount of wear and tear the trampoline has been through. If you are specifically shopping for a trampoline of the 10-foot variety then you might have a more difficult time. Consider looking online or shop at a specialty store that carriers all trampoline supplies for all different sizes.

The 10 foot Model

Most trampolines are 14 feet in diameter, so if you are looking for a 10 foot one you might have a difficult time. On the other hand you might find it easier than you though to find a 10 foot rebounder that is in good condition. Most likely this is because the family is upgrading to a 14 foot diameter trampoline.

The 10 foot style trampoline is great as a kids trampoline and a backyard trampoline. You may find it more difficult to locate an enclosed trampoline that comes in a ten foot model. So if you are lucky enough to find one, make sure and purchase the enclosure at the time you buy the trampoline. 10 foot enclosures can be extremely difficult to find.

If you are looking to buy a trampoline to be used as a gymnastic trampoline you probably will not want a 10 foot model. Consider getting an actual rectangular gymnastics trampoline or a bigger 14-foot round trampoline.

Kids Ages

A 10-foot size trampoline is great for smaller kids if you are able to find an enclosure system that will fit it. But it is important to remember that your kids will grow up and you may need to upgrade to a larger trampoline as they grow.

Although, people of all sizes can use a ten-foot model, it is recommended that only one-person jump on it at a time. You should always follow the safety instructions of your trampoline to help prevent injuries and keep your family safe.

Consider the ages and sizes of your children before purchasing a 10-foot model of a trampoline. Most 14 foot trampolines are not much more expensive and will provide more room for you kids to grow into it. But if you have a small yard… the 10-foot style trampoline is the perfect one for you.

Can Six-Pack Change You Into A Real Man?

You may have seen lots of women being crazy about men with six-pack belly. I know because I am, as they look masculine to me. Almost every model I see on TV has the 6 perfect ripples and it seems all the women melt at the sight

Nevertheless, don’t take it personally. Every man can have six perfect ripples on the stomach. The only problem is the extra fat that mostly takes place in the stomach area. The fat covers the six-pack body of a man.

I have seen some male model…

Keywords:

You may have seen lots of women being crazy about men with six-pack belly. I know because I am, as they look masculine to me. Almost every model I see on TV has the 6 perfect ripples and it seems all the women melt at the sight

Nevertheless, don’t take it personally. Every man can have six perfect ripples on the stomach. The only problem is the extra fat that mostly takes place in the stomach area. The fat covers the six-pack body of a man.

I have seen some male models work very hard to achieve such good body. They have done so many exercises to get rid of the fat from their belly.

I’m sure every man can do it as long as he is willing to do so.

Do you want to have and show your six-pack? Don’t worry, you can get rid of your fat and get your six-pack by learning the facts and finding the right way to reach your goal.

But you must make sure you discipline yourself in doing it.

Here are the things you should do to have a six-pack performance:

1. Avoid Fat – Avoid foods containing many fats and sugar as they will increase the number of fats in your stomach. Also, don’t drink soda as it could kill your hard work.

2. Jogging – You can jog everywhere, either in the neighborhood or at the gym. Jog for at least 15 minutes and increase 5 minutes every week to get rid of your fat. .

3. Do Sit-Ups – Do your sit-ups every time you want to go to bed and after you wake up at least 50 times each (it depends on your physical strength).

4. Go to the Gym – If you are not sure about your exercise, go to the gym and find a professional trainer. Be a member of your local gym so you can be sure about losing weight and gaining muscle for your stomach.

If you can do it routinely, you may see the result in one or two months. It depends on how you train your self.

Those exercises, which mostly strengthen your stomach, are also important to support your spine and protect your back. So, don’t ever give up doing your stomach exercises as you will get all the benefits.

There are good points by doing those mentioned above. You will not only have your six-pack, but also increase your health. You will change into a real man by having a healthy and well-shaped body.

Good luck with your exercise.

Cinnamon: For Spice and Good Health

Many health experts claim that a dash of cinnamon can be a way to add flavor to many dishes and at the same time improve one’s health in many ways. Cinnamon has been used for traditional medicine for centuries, and is known for its remedial qualities

Keywords:
infection, diet, arthritis

The aromatic scent of cinnamon is powerful because it makes many people feel warm and fuzzy. The health benefits of cinnamon have taken the backseat in favor of its spice properties. Many health experts claim that a dash of cinnamon can be a way to add flavor to many dishes and at the same time improve one’s health in many ways. For centuries, cinnamon has been used for traditional medicine and other therapeutic purposes. Many studies have supported the ancient health claims of this spice. Cinnamon is most known to medical experts because of its ability to fight fungal infections, prevent ulcers, treat tooth decay and gum disease, and alleviate gum disease.

Recent studies show that cinnamon can be used as an alternative medicine for heart health. Before stating the connection between heart health and cinnamon, the causes of heart disease should be tackled. The common causes of heart disease are:

· Tobacco smoke – Cigarette smoking is one of the major risk factor for cardiac death in patients with coronary heart disease. People who smoke cigars or cigarettes have increased risk of acquiring coronary heart ailments.

· High cholesterol levels – As one’s cholesterol levels rises, so does the risk of heart disease. Age, sex, and diet are some of the factors that determine one’s cholesterol level.

· Lack of physical activity – Physical inactivity is one of the the major factors for developing heart disease. Heart disease is characterized by deposits of fatty substance, cholesterol, and other substances that may block the lining of the arteries that supply blood to the heart.

· Obesity and excess weight – Excess weight increases the work load of the heart and raises the blood pressure and cholesterol level. As this happens, the risk of heart disease heightens.

In addition to this factors, an individual’s response to stress can be a contributing factor. Some health specialists have noted the relationship between coronary heart disease and stressful lifestyle. For example, stressed people may start to smoke. Drinking too much alcohol can cause heart failure and eventually lead to stroke. It can contribute to obesity, alcoholism, and accidents.

Cinnamon can be used as an alternative to treat heart disease. This spice supports healthy blood sugar levels and also improve cholesterol levels. Cinnamon can reduce diabetes because an active molecule in cinnamon called proanthricyanidin. This molecule functions by activating insulin receptors within the cell, therefore facilitating the cell to use glucose for energy. Therefore lowering glucose and lipid workers. Cholesterol and diabetes are the common risk factors for heart disease.

In addition, cinnamon has antibacterial-inflammatory attribute that can reduce joint and muscle pain, especially the ones associated with arthritis. Many studies show that diabetics should take daily dose cinnamon may regulate blood sugar levels. Cinnamon can also benefit one’s health by improving the body’s circulation. It also improves the digestive system and relieve many stomach discomforts. Studies add that a daily dose of cinnamon may relieve pains associated with their menstrual cycle.

While cinnamon can give many health benefits and improve overall well-being. The best options are taking cinnamon supplements or eating half a teaspoon of cinnamon than what individuals normally eat. Lastly, advice of medical specialists should be considered before trying cinnamon supplements and other forms of alternative medicine. Because side effects and interaction with other drugs may take place.