Treating Genital Herpes.

For a homoeopathic physician, this is a fairly routine complaint that will come up in a busy clinic. The disease is so endemic in the western world that, Im surprised when a month goes by and I havent seen a case.

Firstly, I want to address the disease process, or miasms as Hahnemann called them, and put them in perspective using his model which follows the modern approach to disease in use today. Hahnemann classified disease and/or infection into 3 named divisions. There is Psora, containing a host of disorders, and then there is Sycosis and Syphilis, acquired and formed by venereal infection. So in Hahnemanns model, Sycosis and Syphilis are the entire disorders of a venereal nature. All other disorders are not, ie Psora.

This simplistic explanation, not taking into account mixed miasms etc, is the basis of my approach to dealing with patient ailments when faced with any acquired STD. I treat the infection totally for what it is and bear in mind that it is a singular disease of a venereal infection, and thus has to be isolated in terms of other symptoms and dealt with within the confines of an STD. I try not to confuse the symptoms of an STD with any others, but ALWAYS take into consideration a totality of the presenting problem.

Here is an example out of my clinic.

Female patient in 40s. Had been under treatment for various health issues for which Lycopodium had proven its worth over a 18 month period, exceptionally so.

I was contacted recently that a recurrence of genital herpes was in evidence. The herpes was contracted in her early twenties and had been treated with Valtrex about 10 years ago and there had been no outbreaks of herpes since. In looking at the case and noting that the patient had suffered on and off with respiratory disorders and lots of influenza and not feeling well, which Lycopodium cleared up very quickly and effectively, I surmised that her body had been treated effectively through the existing layers of ill health, and now, the herpes virus was the top most layer, perhaps even the causation (or the suppression of the herpes) of her poor immune response to influenza and recent ailments.

How do you treat herpes? What can realistically be done to prevent re infection and outbreaks? First, and logically, there cannot be any suppression of the expression or of the symptoms. It has to be treated homoeopathically, to support the body and organism to clear itself of the virus. It is not going to happen overnight, and it not going to happen in one outbreak. However it will happen, and it can be eradicated if treated correctly.

First, a physician has to note the symptoms of the expression carefully, VERY carefully.

This was the case as presented to me.

Sx began with a sensation of dryness, with heat in the Labia
small white sores, like pimples on the clitoris.
Swelling of the clitoris and labia.
 Sores grew larger over 3 days, like blisters, irritating/itching. Worse for scratching, itched more.
Red ‘cuts’ appeared on 3rd day on perineum, no blistering. Urination causes stinging on them.
A discharge started on the 4th day, milky white.
All symptoms are worse for moisture. Used blow dryer on cool, after shower, to dry the area completely.
There is a sensation of pins and needles in the genital area.
So this is the case. I examined the symptoms and looked for what is common in Herpes Genitalis, and what symptoms the patient was expressing that individualised her disease state.
As a physician, it cannot be stressed enough that knowledge of the Materia Medica is important. ACCURATE knowledge, and for this reason I highly recommend the works of Samuel Hahnemann, especially the “Chronic diseases” and the ‘Materia Medica Pura”.
In my practice, I use solely the SYNOPSIS P & W therapeutic pocket book edition of the guide to the materia medica by Boenninghausen. This masterpiece is based on the original provings of the Materia Medica and is arranged in such a way that if the choice of rubrics are correct, then, the suggested remedies to review are also the closest match possible.
Firstly, you will notice that I have not taken into account, ANY other symptoms other than the symptoms of the presenting disorder.
§ 6 Fifth Edition
As this was the sole picture of her deviation from health, it is from within these symptoms that I looked for her remedy similarity.
The most striking thing for me, was the necessity to have the area dry. Completely clear of all moisture, even her own natural moisture.
(click on pictures to enlarge)
In looking at the repertory, There is this rubric,
and whilst it covers the main symptom, I felt that the need to dry off completely, needed exploring. I was informed that the itching and uncomfortable feeling was also worse in morning, and needed washing, which made me suspect her own lubrication was aggravating the condition.
Because of this, I took the rubric:
Which, because I know each of the 5 remedies in it very well, I was already in possession of the knowledge that one of them was the correct one. I just didnt know which one yet.
So looking further..I took the other symptoms in the case to examine in detail.
It was then a matter of sitting down and reading the essential development and symptoms of both medicines to see which to prescribe.
I rarely use more than 3 rubrics, to either make a complete symptom or… I use 3 symptoms in rubrics for a case. For example, in this case I actually only considered 2 rubrics, (but filled it out for an example). The two rubrics I used were:
As you can see, no other remedies had these 2 present. On that basis, I could go ahead and choose the remedy.
In reading the remedies, I chose Sepia for prescribing. The patient only had sepia 200c available, I usually go with 50 millesimal potencies, but had her make the remedy up into a liquid and take one dose a day. Within 2 days the itching and need for continual washing clean had diminished, and I fully expect the flare up to resolve within the week. I will keep the patient on Sepia even when the symptoms have gone, and evaluate further at that time.
Homoeopathy is a medical treatment. That is why accurate knowledge is important, and why our profession is being diluted by the advent of the sensation method and poor training. It is only by homoeopaths returning to the tried and tested methods as used by Hahnemann, will we stand a chance of regaining credence in the eyes of the world.
The SYNOPSIS program with 17 repertories and 300 Materia Medicas and texts is available on special offer from with a $100 dollar discount until December 24th 2012.

3 responses to “Treating Genital Herpes.

  1. Treatment for genital herpes will depend on whether you have the infection for the first time or your symptoms keep coming back.

  2. Why does it depend? Homoeopathy would treat both the primary infection and the recurrences based on the symptoms and pathology presented.

  3. ow can you protect yourself from genital herpes

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