Genital Herpes by Kathy

I write the following because I want to help those who suffer the severe physical and emotional distress caused by the herpes virus and subsequent neuralgias.   There are people committing suicide because they've contracted herpes.  The pain, suffering, stigma and most importantly, loss of hope of ever leading a normal life is too much for some to deal with!  This suffering must be prevented, and EVERYONE should be entitled to the benefits of a natural substance that has the potential to suppress/eliminate these unwanted symptoms.

   The pharmaceuticals prescribed for my herpes did not have any effect on my condition, and I suffered for years in silence, not even having anything for the unimaginable pain from the neuralgia. I'm hoping someone who has the resources and knowledge to look into this may also have herpes and will be inspired by my "anecdote".

  Something to think about:  45 million persons have herpes (many unbeknownst to themselves).  I'm sure some of our prominent people in society also have it! Maybe they will open their minds and see for themselves the potential MJ has!

  I have searched throughout the Internet and found nothing more than a 1990 lab test (MJ placed in tube kills bacteria) performed at the University of Florida.  I was quite surprised there wasn't much of anything else pertaining to herpes and MJ.  I even searched through many commentaries submitted by persons suffering with herpes and not one referenced MJ as being helpful.

  My Story:

I was just 20 when I contracted herpes.  Other than the first two months of being symptomatic, for the next two years, I never had any relapses.  So, it was no big deal to me.

Then, when I was 22, for the next 9 years, 90% of my days, nights, weeks and months were spent having constant, chronic, painful, blistering, itching, oozing and extremely contagious sores encompassing every layer of skin surrounding my genitals, anus and thighs.  No sooner did one area heal then another outbreak occurred.  When those sores healed, the previously healed area would crop up again, and so on and so on . . .

Believe me, I tried everything including BHT, Lysine, acyclovir, creams, lotions, toothpaste, bleach, (I would dab it on with a q-tip), ice, anything and everything.

As if the sores weren't enough, there was the horrid pain of neuralgia, which I experienced on every part of my body, (you can't imagine how painful it gets when it's on your face!).  .  When I took a shower, even though the water temperature was normal, it would feel like hot drops of grease or cold drops of sleet.   Just to touch my skin felt like a knife cutting through my flesh.   The neuralgia was so significant that I could barely walk (I had to drag my leg), I couldn't bend my legs and having to climb steps was impossible.

Win Some, Lose Some:

Then, at the age of 31, I separated from my longtime boyfriend of 15 years.  Two months later, I met and fell in love with another man.  (I was fortunate that he accepted my condition but I was still plagued by constant outbreaks.)  We were so much in love, yet I couldn't share myself intimately with him.

And Then:

It was Memorial Day, 1995 and we went to a party.  While there, for the first time in nine years, I smoked marijuana.  For the next couple of days, I smoked a little more.  By the end of that week, I noticed my outbreak had healed.

Not thinking much of it, and having continued to smoke, after about 2 weeks, I couldn't understand why I DIDN'T have any sores. (I always had them more often than not).  Then bang, it hit me.  It was the marijuana.

You see, I used to smoke pot when I was younger, actually until I was 22.  I contracted herpes when I was 20.  Keep in mind I was symptomatic with herpes for the first two months after the initial infection.  Then, for two years, I was a symptomatic. When I recollected that memory, I realized it was the marijuana that was keeping me a symptomatic.

Then, I started playing with my theory.  Stopping and starting, trying different amounts, in different mediums.  No matter how many days I didn't use it, (yes, I would become symptomatic without it), I always felt secure knowing that when I did use it, my symptoms would resolve almost overnight, which they did each and every time!

And that was the start of the finish of my battle with this disease.

Since being a symptomatic, I have experienced a new love, intimacy, and sustained excellent health over the past six years. No more sterilizing my hands till they bleed!  I can wear pants anytime, bathing suits and pantyhose.  And, I can sit comfortably in a hot bath without nary a worry! Did I mention the newfound intimacy?  That's priceless!

  I Couldn't Have Done It Without Ya:

After six years of suppression and the preceding nine years of hell, I have concluded that one or more components of marijuana literally suppress the herpes virus.

Basically, I believe any disorder pertaining to the CNS probably would benefit from marijuana.   Who knows, with the proper blend or in greater amounts, conceivably a cure is imminent?

Please keep in mind that I am a healthy and fit 37-year-old white female.  I am fortunate to only have herpes as a condition/disease.  I don't know and cannot say how marijuana will help those in a lesser state of health or with different conditions/diseases.  But, if it offers some hope as opposed to no hope, isn't it worth looking into?

For those of you who can relate, peace of mind will be yours once again!

I can't imagine going back to a life of depression and suicidal thoughts; of never being normal; of constant worry that I touch a blister and infect another part of my body; of denying myself a life of intimacy with my partner, and everything else!

The Possibilities Are Endless!

Several months ago, my stepfather, age 72, suffered from a serious case of shingles.  I knew the pain he was suffering; and nothing much would take it away.  I so much wanted to tell him about my find but he isn't that open-minded.  I am certain that it would have helped his pain and diminished the duration of the disease.  He suffered close to six weeks with sores encompassing his head, neck, chest and back areas.   And yes, he was prescribed an anti-viral medication.  After the sores healed, he suffered the pain of the neuralgia for some time.

Something else to think about:

How many persons worldwide who smoke marijuana and continue to smoke it may not know they ever contracted HSV II.  They may have only had one outbreak, not realized it was herpes, and then stayed a symptomatic. This would dramatically increase the existing number of persons currently affected with herpes.

Please Give A Damn:

To all who can be of assistance, I respectfully request that you:
PLEASE OPEN YOUR MIND AND HELP MANKIND.

Thanks for Listening to my words!

Lester Grinspoon, MD notes:

It is important to point out that whatever cannabis does for Kathy, it is unlikely that it destroys the herpes virus.  Other patients have reported that the topical application of a cannabis solution may be useful in suppressing an outbreak. The reader will find a brief discussion of this topic in the second edition of Marihuana, the Forbidden Medicine.