I actually have a couple questions. I have type 1 genital herpes. When will I ever be able to have sex without a condom and not run the risk of spreading it? Is it only transferred through skin to skin contact? And is using a condom a sure fire way of not passing it on?

hsv is spread by skin to skin contact, therefore condoms do not provide complete protection. the virus can still be passed with a condom. the good news is that genital hsv 1 has a very low rate of outbreaks compared to hsv 2. in addition, you may be a candidate for hsv suppresive therapy with daily medication. in couples where one partner is positive and the other negative, the pos person can be placed on suppression to prevent the other person from contracting the disease. talk to your doctor about this option.

Causes of bad breath ?

Bad breath is a common health problem which greately affects the daytoday activities of somany people. The offenssive odor from the mouth is unpleasent to those who come in close contact with bad breathers. The problem will be doubled by psychological trauma leading to depression. The sufferers from this problem wil be isolated from the society. This can even lead to marital disharmony.

Literally speaking all humanbeings are badbreathres. Oral cavity contains millions of anaerobic bacteria like fusobacterium and actinomyces which acts on the protein of food materials and putrifies them. This process results in the formation of offenssive gases like hydrogen sulphide,methyl mescaptan,cadaverin,skatol,putrescine ect causing bad odor. If oral hygiene is not maintained properly all will suffer from bad breath. Most of us control this by regular brushing,tongue cleaning and gargling. Even after maintining cleanliness in the mouth some individuals suffer from offenssive smell due to various causes which has to be diagnosed and treated properly.

Some common causes of bad breath.

1) Poor oral hygiene:

If oral hygiene is not maintained properly the mouth becomes the seat for millions of bacteria which produce offenssive gases by degrading the food debris. Bad breath is severe in those who do not brush their teeth regularly and clean their mouth after every food. Snacks taken inbetween meals can also produce bad breath because of improper cleaning.
Badbreath is common in almost all people in the morning on waking. During sleep there is less production of saliva .Saliva has got some antibacterial properties which help to keep the mouth clean. Saliva conains oxygen molecules which is needed to make oral cavity aerobic. So the reduction in it’s quantity during sleep makes a favourable condition for anaerobic bacteria.

2) Food habits:

The main cause of bad smell is due to degradation of protein by the bacteria and hence all food products rich in protein favours bad breath. Meat,fish,milk products, eggs,cakes,nuts,pear and ect can cause bad breath. Some food articles can produce particular type of smell which may be unpleasent. Raw onion can produce typical bad smell. It is said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away,a raw onion a day keeps everybody away. Eating groundnuts can also produce bad smell. However if proper cleaning is done smell can be reduced irrespective of the nature of food. Irregularity in timing of food can also produce bad breath. Small food articles taken in between the meals can also produce bad smell.

3) Biofilm:

There is formation of a thin sticky coating called biofilm on the tongue and oral mucosa. This coating is thick on the posterior aspect of the tongue where millions of gram negative bacteriae are seen .The thick coating on the tongue is always associated with badbreath. Even a thin biofilm can make anaerobic condition favourable for bacterial proliferation.

4) Dental caries:

This is a destructive process causing decalcification with distruction of enamel and dentine resulting in cavitisation of the tooth. These are produced mainly by the lactobacilli . Food particles are deposited inside these cavities and are putrified by the anaerobic bacteria producing bad smell. Normal brushing will not remove the food debris easily and hence they are putrified completely. Caries are common in schoolgoing children and in those who donot maintain proper oral hygiene .Calcium and vitamin deficiency can also predispose caries.

5) Gingivitis:

Gum is a mucus membrane with supporting connective tissue covering the tooth bearing borders of the jaw .The main function of gum is protection .Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gum .Due to various causes gum tissue get infected resulting in swelling,pain and discharge. If the condition become worse the infection spread towards peridontal area leading to continuous discharge called pyorrhoea. Some times the infection goes deep producing alveolar abscess with discharge of pus. Infection can even reach the bone causing osteomyelitis.All these conditions can produce offenssive smell.

6) Gum retraction:

When the gums retract from the teeth a gap is developed which will lodge food particles and cause bad breath.

7) Dental plaques and tartar deposits; Plaques and tartar is deposited mainly in the gaps between the teeth and gum. This will provide shelter for the food debris and bacteria causing bad breath.

Ulcerative lesions& coatings:

Almost all ulcerative lesions of the mouth are associated with bad breath. These lesions may be caused by bacteria,viruses,food allergies or due to autoimmune disorders. Apthous ulcer is the commonest amoung ulcerative lesions. Others are herpes,fungal infections,vincents angina,infectious mononucleosis,scarlet fever,diphtheria,drug reactions and ect. Cancerous ulcers produce severe bad breath. All fungal infections produce white coating(candidiasis). Leucoplakia is a white thick patch on the mucus membrane of the mouth & tongue. It is considered as a precancerous condition. Offenssive breath is associated with these conditions.

9) Diseases of the salivary glands:

Saliva is very useful to supply oxygen to all parts of the oral cavity. Even a thin film of coating called biofilm can provide an anaerobic condition in the mouth. Saliva can wet these layers and make an aerobic condition which is unfavourable for the bacteria .Any condition which reduces the production of saliva can increase bacterial activity. Some times the salivary duct is obstructed by stones or tumors.Cancer of the salivary gland is associated with offenssive odor. In suppurative parotitis purulant dischrge in to the mouth causes bad breath.

10) Tonsillitis:

Tonsils are a pair of lymphoid tissue situated in the lateral wall of oropharynx. Inflammation of the tonsil is called tonsillitis. Bad breath is seen in both acute and chronic tonsillitis. Quinsy or peritonsillar abscess can also produce bad breath.

11) Tonsillar plaques & tonsillar fluid:

If bad breath persists even after maintaining proper oral hygeine there is possibility of this condition. Serous fluid secreated from the folds of tonsil is very offenssive. Some patients complain that they hawk some cheesy materials from the throat;which are very offenssive in nature. These are formed inside the tonsillar crypts which contain thousands of bacteriae. In such conditions tonsillectomy gives noticiable relief from bad breath.

12) Pharyngitis& pharyngial abscess:

Pharynx is a fibromuscular tube which forms the upper part of the digestive & respiratory tract. Inflmmation of the pharynx is called pharyngitis, caused mainly by bacteria and viruses. Bad breath is present in pharyngitis along with other signs like cough and throat irritation. Abscesses in the wall of pharynx can also produce offenssive discharge of pus in to the throat.

13) Dentures:

Denture users may complain about bad smell due to lodgement of small food debris in between. Proper brushing may not be possible in denture users especially fixed dentures.

14) Tobacco:

Tobacco chewing is associated with bad breath. The smell of tobacco itself is unpleasent for others. Tobacco can irritate the mucus membrane and cause ulcers and coatings. Gingivitis and pyorrhoea are common in tobacco chewers. Tartar is deposited on the teeth mainly near the gums. Tobacco chewers get gastric acidity with eructations. All these causes offenssive smell.

15) Smoking:

Smokers always have bad smell. It can also produce lesions in the mouth & lungs causing bad breath.Smoking increases carbon dioxide in the oral cavity & reduces oxygen level,causing a favourable condition for bacteria. Smoking reduses appetite & thirst hence acid peptic disease is common in chain smokers.

16) Lesions in the nose & ear:

Bad breath is occasionally seen in sinusitis(infection of para nasal sinuses). In case of post nasal dripping bad breath is common due to the presence of protein in the discharges. These proteins are degraded by the bacteria. Infection in the middle ear with discharge of pus in to the throat through the eustachian tube(passage from middle ear to the throat)can also cause offenssive odor. Chronic rhinitis(infection of mucus membrane of nose) and forign bodies in the nose can also produce bad smell in the expired air.

17) Diabetes mellitus:

Mostly all diabetic patients suffer from bad breath. Coated tongue,ulcers &coatings in the mouth ,increased sugar level in tissues ect are responsible for bad breath.Bacterial growth in diabetic patient is very faster than non diabetic individuals.

18) Fevers:

Bad breath is common in almost all fevers. Even an acute fever can produce bad breath. Severe bad breath is seen in typhoid .Other infectious diseases like Tuberculosis , AIDS ect produce bad smell.

19) Fasting & dehydration:

Dry mouth favours bacterial activity. So any condition which produce dryness in the mouth makes the breath offenssive. Eventhough the food particles are known to produce bad breath, fasting can also produce the same. Production of saliva is also reduced during fasting. Chewing and swallowing also helps to keep the mouth clean.

20) Bedridden patients:

Bedridden patients suffer from offenssive breath due to thick coating on the tongue. water intake is also limited in these patients. Regurgitation of food aggravates the condition. Since they talk less aeration in the oral cavity is reduced which favours anaerobic bacteria to become active.

21) Diseases of stomach & esophagus:

Eructation of gas and food produce unpleasent smell. Abnormality in the function of lower sphincter can allow the food to regurgitate upwards causing bad breath. Bad breath is also common in gastritis,gastric ulcer and cancer of stomach.

22) Intestinal diseases:

Bad breath is common in patients suffering from ulcerative lesions of intestine like ulcerative collitis..Other diseases are malabsorption syndrome intestinal tuberculosis, peritonitis ect.

23) Diseases of lungs:

Lung diseases like pneumonia, lung abscess,chronic bronchitis,bronchiectasis,tuberculosis, lung cancer ect can produce bad odor during expiration.

24) Liver disorders:

Liver diseases like hepatitis, cirrhosis,can cause bad breath.Gall bladder diseases with vomiting also causes unpleasent odor.

25) Psychiatric patients:

Bad breath is common in psychotic patients due to poor hygiene,irregular food habits,less water intake and ect.

26) Somatisation disorder:

This is a psychiatric disorder charecterised by the presence of a physical symptom that suggest a medical illness .These patients come with physical complaints like pain,nausea difficult respiration, bad smell ect. This condition is diagnosed after detailed examination of the patient with all investigations.Since this is a psychiatric disorder it has to be managed with a psychological approach.

[ THE POINTS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION. ANY PERSON HAVING BAD BREATH SHOULD CONSULT A QUALIFIED DOCTOR ]

My husband came home from Germany for a brief visit in May. By the last week of June I had cold sores. Is it possible that I got this when I was a child and just never had an outbreak until now? My Dr. says that my husband did not give them to me and that I could have had them from childhood and only the total stress I have been feeling might have brought them out but to be honest, I doubt this since I have always been under huge amounts of stress for the past 20 years due to some rather extraordinary circumstances. Oh, and this Dr. also says that this can't be passed by kissing…needless to say I am changing PCMs!
I already know how long it usually takes…I need to know how long it CAN take. I also know what the symptoms look like and how long they take to heal and the general causes for the outbreaks (stress being a major one, sunlight, menstrual cycle…the list goes on).
Dr C.,
Did you read what I said thoroughly? I said the Dr. said that I CAN'T get herpes through a kiss…Who is not understanding here? Personally I think it would be my Dr.
Maybe I am not saying this properly. I have done tons of research on this through the CDC and other notable herpes information centers. I am not an idiot who cannot read or evaluate sentences for their information. All I am asking is how long can the CAN you have herpes without showing ANY symptoms? Having done all of the things that would bring about an outbreak on any given day of my life, I have never had any before this summer. I have been an amazingly faithful wife for the past 12 years and before this ruins my marriage I need to know if I could have had this disease lying dormant in my system for longer than that even though I have gone through multiple life traumas that caused untold amounts of stress and other things that SHOULD have caused an outbreak or if my husband is a lying cheater…This is why I need to know. I have to see him again in 3 weeks and I intend to confront him about this…

I heard it is 15 years. But, I am not sure. A doctor told me that. It can be passed on by kissing if you have an oozing or open sore.

My friend recently confessed she has herpes and it's shocked me because she has a perfectly normal social life and looks totally heathly. She says she has breakouts and didn't know she had it. I'm confused about the virus, I know it stays in the body for life but is it harmful? Does it simply stay in the body dorment apart from these breakouts or does it damage organs and tissue slowly over time?

Hi dear ,
There are currently eight known types of Human Herpesvirus:
Herpes simplex type I

Herpes simplex type II

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV/HHV-3)

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV/HHV-4)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV/HHV-5)

Human herpesvirus type 6 (HBLV/HHV-6)

Human herpesvirus type 7 (HHV-7)

Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8
Herpes simplex virus types I and II (HHV1 & 2)
Primary infection occurs through a break in the mucus membranes of the mouth or throat, via the eye or genitals or directly via minor abrasions in the skin. Because of the universal distribution of the virus, most individuals are infected by 1-2 years of age; initial infection is usually asymptomatic, although there may be minor local vesicular lesions. Local multiplication is followed by viraemia and systemic infection; and subsequent life-long latent infection with periodic reactivation.

Systemic infection, eg fever, sore throat, and lymphadenopathy may pass unnoticed. If immunocompromised it may be life-threatening with fever, lymphadenopathy, pneumonitis, and hepatitis.
Gingivostomatitis: Ulcers filled with yellow slough appear in the mouth.
Herpetic whitlow: A breach in the skin allows the virus to enter the finger, causing a vesicle to form. Often affects childrens' nurses.
Traumatic herpes (herpes gladiatorum): Vesicles develop at any site where HSV is ground into the skin by brute force.
Eczema herpeticum: HSV infection of eczematous skin; usually children.
Herpes simplex meningitis: This is uncommon and usually self-limiting (typically HSV II in women during a primary attack) - see meningitis.
Genital herpes: Usually HSV type 2 See genital herpes simplex
HSV keratitis: Corneal dendritic ulcers. Avoid steroids.
Herpes Simplex Encephalitis: Usually HSV type1. Spreads centripetally, eg from cranial nerve ganglia, to frontal and temporal lobes. Suspect if fever, fits, headaches, odd behaviour, dysphasia, hemiparesis, or coma or subacute brainstem encephalitis, meningitis, or myelitis; see HSV Encephalitis

feel free to ask

Microdermabrasion, an anti-aging skin treatment, is gaining popularity for its ease of operation and the benefits that it offers. There are many benefits of microdermabrasion. Its procedure has the potential to meet a variety of your cosmetic objectives like the improvement of fine lines, wrinkles, hyper pigmentation, acne, scars and stretch marks.

The microdermabrasion procedure has shown a lot of promise for the treatment of acne scars. Most people have got good results for the microdermabrasion treatment of their acne scars. These positive results have immensely contributed towards the success of microdermabrasion as a skin resurfacing treatment for acne scars.

The best thing about microdermabrasion treatment is that it is a very mild procedure. It scores over both chemical peels and dermabrasion as ablative resurfacing technique by being less traumatic and less time consuming. With microdermabrasion treatment there is no downtime required for the recovery. There are other benefits of microdermabrasion as well. This treatment is a lunch time procedure which you can get done at any out patient’s clinic. The easy to operate procedure can easily be performed at an average skin-enhancement clinic. The procedure uses a closed-loop negative pressure microdermabrasion unit that passes aluminum oxide crystals for abrading the skin under the negative vacuum pressure.

Practical Microdermabrasion Information

The right kind of microdermabrasion information is important before going for this treatment. Microdermabrasion treatment can be used to treat a vast range of skin imperfections. It is especially effective for treating skin aging and photo damage. Microdermabrasion can be used on most skin types and most of the skin disorders like aging skin, wrinkles, acne scars, enlarged pores, rhytides, keratoses, blemished skin, thickened skin and brown spots and pigmentation.

For most skin disorders, a minimum of five treatments is recommended. On average, the frequency of microdermabrasion treatments can vary between 4 to 8 treatments performed with approximately 2 week intervals between each successive procedure. The time interval is necessary for recovering the skin barrier function that is damaged after an aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion procedure is performed. Generally, it takes a time period of 1 to 4 days to recover the function and bring about an improvement in the skin tone. Repeating the superficial peeling procedure at 2-week intervals will allow sufficient time for the damaged skin to recover its barrier function. Most patients actually feel and see a difference after just one or two treatments, but scheduling additional treatments helps to increase and maintain the improvement. The skin improvement after microdermabrasion treatment is brought about by stimulation of fibroblast proliferation and collagen production. The new collagen deposition makes the skin smoother and reduces the visibility of skin blemishes.

Microdermabrasion treatment of acne scars requires more intense and aggressive treatment with more passes and more rounds of microdermabrasion treatment to get the best results.

Similarly raised or deeply pitted skin areas (possibly from old severe acne scars) and darker pigmented areas require multiple treatments.

Limitations of Microdermabrasion Procedure

Microdermabrasion is a mild procedure and it cannot be advised for those who have heavily damaged skin for which a more aggressive approach like a laser or a deep chemical peel needs to be tried.

Microdermabrasion is not able to remove tattoos, neither it is able to remove acne scars which are very deep down the skin. Similarly undiagnosed lesions, recent herpes outbreaks, warts, active, weeping acne (stages 3 to 4) and active rosacea are the skin disorders that cannot be treated with microdermabrasion.

Lastly microdermabrasion procedure is not suitable for patients who have had any type of facial rejuvenation procedure or treatment such as Botox injections, collagen implants, or chemical peels within the past 3-6 months.

I had an unsafe intercourse and oral sex almost two years ago. I tested for HIV and was told to be negative. I haven't been tested for other STDs which obviously show some signs, I don't have those signs. But I have no clue about Herpes, if it shows any symptoms or if there is any clinicaly test. Can you tell me if there is a clincal test for herpes and if not how I could know?

most common symptom is blisters,others r infection of conjuctiva,shingles rash,,,yeah tre r test..hv to be troug ur blood

I don't have herpes but I know someone who does.She's suffering with an outbreak.What should she put on it that will kill it?

what she should use is DMSO and L-lysine
these two products have been know to completely
kill the virus.
i know every one thinks there is no cure but
these two belive it or not can cure there the virus.

EL ALOE VERA EN LA HISTORIA

Aunque no ha podido constatarse, lo más probable es que el aloe se usara ya en la prehistoria. Si consideramos que durante el paleolítico el hombre basaba su supervivencia en los productos que tomaba de la naturaleza resulta verosímil pensar que, observando la asombrosa capacidad de autocuración y cicatrización que posee esta planta, sintiese el impulso de utilizarla para curar y cicatrizar sus propias heridas. Los primeros testimonios fidedignos sobre el conocimiento del aloe por parte de la Humanidad los encontramos en Egipto. Datan aproximadamente del 3000 a. de C., son representaciones pictóricas que adornan algunas tumbas y monumentos funerarios. Existen dibujos en los que se representa la planta del aloe atribuidos a un pintor de corte que vivió durante la dinastía del primer emperador chino, Fu-Hsi, hacia el 2700 a. de C.
La noticia epigráfica más antigua que se conserva sobre el uso medicinal del aloe vera aparece en unas tablas de arcilla cocida que proceden de Sumeria, fueron escritas hacia 2100 a. de C. y en ellas se describen mediante signos cuneiformes las ropiedades laxantes de la planta.
A pesar de que el aloe se cita en textos anteriores, como los códices del emperador Shon-Nung (hacia el 1800 a. de C.), o algunas tablillas babilónicas de esa misma época, se considera el papiro Ebers o El Libro Egipcio de los Remedios ( 1550 a. de C. ) como el primer compendio médico en el que aparecen fórmulas para la fabricación de elixires con el zumo de aloe.
Hacia el 700 a. de C., el Ayurveda hindú, también dedicado a la medicina natural, atribuye al aloe propiedades curativas en dolencias relacionadas con el hígado y los aparatos digestivo y respiratorio; y aplicado de forma externa para curar quemaduras, heridas, herpes, cortes… Sabemos que, además, a partir del siglo VI a. C. se usaba en la India para acondicionar el cabello y mejorar el aspecto de la piel. Los hindúes creían que la planta del aloe vera crecía en los jardines del Edén y la llamaron "la curadora silenciosa ".

Los médicos tradicionales de la antigua China la consideraron como una de las plantas con mayores propiedades terapéuticas y la llamaron "el Remedio Armónico ". Entre los códices más antiguos figura el Libro de las hierbas medicinales, una auténtica enciclopedia escrita en 10 tomos en la que se aconseja aplicarse aloe como un eficaz remedio contra quemaduras, esguinces, torceduras, heridas, picaduras y todo tipo de lesiones externas. Asimismo se recomienda su ingestión para tratar afecciones renales, hepáticas, digestivas y como laxante, reconstituyente y tónico general.
En el siglo V a. de C., el griego Hipócrates (460-377 a. de C.), padre de la medicina moderna, alude en numerosas ocasiones al aloe en su Canon de Medicina, una gran enciclopedia médica de la que conservamos algunos tomos. Hipócrates revolucionó la medicina gracias sobre todo a la modernidad de su ideario, pensaba que “en la naturaleza había un remedio para cada enfermedad” y que no existía una dolencia tan grave que no tuviera cura, pues “para grandes males, grandes remedios”. Hipócrates recoge en sus escritos el uso del aloe para tratar quemaduras, picaduras de insectos, heridas…
Un siglo más tarde, sin duda inspirado en el canon de Hipócrates, Teofrasto incluye en su Tratado de las causas de la vegetación todas estas aplicaciones del aloe vera y añade algunas otras. Algunos autores sostienen que fue Teofrasto (384-287 a. de C.) quien sugirió a Aristóteles la conveniencia de aprovisionarse con grandes cantidades de esta planta para tratar las heridas que las tropas de Alejandro Magno sufrían durante sus innumerables conquistas. Según la leyenda, unos de los motivos de su expedición a la India fue precisamente la conquista de la isla de Socotra, en la costa este africana, al sur de Arabia. Esta isla era el principal centro de producción de aloe y la base de todo comercio fenicio con esta planta. Con la conquista de Socotra, Alejandro Magno se aseguraba una provisión permanente de aloe para curar las heridas de sus soldados. Ya en el siglo I de nuestra era, el botánico y médico griego Dioscórides (41-90 d. de C.) se refiere al aloe en su De materia medica, atribuyéndole propiedades purgantes, preventivo de infecciones, fortalecedor del estómago e intestinos, calmante del dolor y eficaz en el tratamiento de llagas, quemaduras, hemorroides, cortes, alopecia, ezcemas… Sitúa asimismo el origen de la mayoría de las especies de aloe en África, distanciandose así de Teofrasto, que lo creía oriundo del lejano oriente. La obra de Dioscórides ejerció una enorme influencia en el mundo árabe, donde se difundió extensamente, gracias a ello el aloe goza hoy de una merecidísima buena fama en el mundo musulmán. Al mismo tiempo, en el imperio romano surge la figura de Plinio el Viejo (23-79 d. de C.), autor de un extenso tratado titulado Naturales Historia, donde recoge y amplía muchas de las recetas de Dioscórides. Plinio atribuye al aloe la curación de úlceras, llagas, quemaduras, heridas…, no obstante, al igual que hizo Heródoto con algunos episodios de su Historia para los que no tenía fuentes, fabuló y superpuso supersticiones y creencias mágicas a ideas científicas, aunque sin abandonar el sentido común ni la casuística, ya que basó muchos de sus remedios en el ensayo y la observación. Galeno (129-200 d. de C.) fue el último gran médico de la Antigüedad que se ocupo del aloe en su obra, Ars Medica, basada en el concepto hipocrático de que todas las respuestas a las enfermedades humanas estaban en la naturaleza. En muchas regiones del sur de África, como el Cabo de Buena Esperanza, Etiopía y Somalia se usaba el aloe desde tiempos inmemoriales para lavar el cuerpo y los cabellos. Con lo que conseguían una eficaz protección contra el sol y un fantástico repelente de todo tipo de insectos, lo usaban asimismo para eliminar su olor corporal cuando iban de caza y para curarse todo tipo de heridas.

Con la llegada del cristianismo, las sagradas escrituras citan de nuevo el aloe a través de San Juan:

"También fue Nicodemo, el que había ido de noche a ver a Jesús, llevando unas cien libras de mirra perfumada y áloe. Tomaron el cuerpo de Jesús y lo envolvieron en lienzos con los aromas, según la costumbre de enterrar de los judíos." (Jn 19, 39-40)

Aunque el historiador Flavio Josefo (37- 95 d. de C.) aclara en su obra Antigüedades Judías que ese aloe de la Biblia es una variedad de agaloco, llamado antiguamente “palo de aloe”, y que usaba en sahumerios y carpintería:

“…Se lavaba el cuerpo con agua de nardos, incienso, clavo y palo de aloe, pero no el que resulta de machacar las hojas de la planta, sino el que procede de la India y los griegos llaman agaloco, de perfume exquisito…”

A partir del siglo VIII, los árabes, conocedores de las virtudes de esta planta a través de Dioscórides y a la que llamaban "Lily del desierto ", la usaban tanto de forma interna como externa. Durante la Edad Media, y bajo el dominio musulmán, existían en Al- Andalus grandes plantaciones de aloes, entusiastas propagadores del uso medicinal del acíbar, que utilizaban a menudo como purgante. A ellos debemos la difusión del aloe en Europa, y especialmente en España y la cuenca mediterránea, donde se impuso además como planta ornamental. En el siglo X, el filósofo médico persa Avicena (ibn Sina) estudió y desarrolló remedios elaborados con plantas medicinales, entre ellas el aloe, del que dice que es especialmente eficaz para tratar las afecciones oculares y la melancolía (sic).

En el siglo XII el médico italiano Matteo Plateario escribe el Liber de simplice medicina, uno de los tratados medievales más rico y detallado sobre las propiedades curativas de plantas y minerales. En él habla del aloe como una planta mágica que crecía en Babilonia, desde donde se repartía por todo el mundo a través de sus ríos. También en el siglo XII, el médico cordobés Averroes, cita el aloe en su obra médica para tratar algunas dolencias. En esta época Alandalus es el principal foco de cultura y ciencia, de allí proceden algunos de los mejores médicos de la época (Arib ibn Said, Abulcasis, Al gafiqi, Isaac… ), y es notable la presencia del aloe en todos los herbarios.
Durante toda la Edad Media el aloe siguió formando parte del acerbo cultural, a pesar de que algunos textos grecolatinos se perdieron o fueron mal traducidos, el aloe se siguió utilizando como tónico estomacal, purgante, cicatrizante, desinfectante… Se dice que los templarios tomaban un bebedizo a base de cáñamo, vino de palmera y pulpa de aloe cocidos al que llamaban “elixir de Jerusalén”, y al que atribuían su buena salud y su longevidad. Aunque hasta finales del siglo XV y principios del XVI no se desarrolla la botánica como una ciencia propiamente dicha, el cultivo de plantas medicinales está documentado ya en el siglo XIII. El invento de la imprenta difundió la nueva ciencia por todo el mundo. También Colón, en sus viajes a América, observó como utilizaban el aloe en distintas islas del Caribe parar curar ampollas, heridas y picaduras de insectos: “Cuatro son los alimentos que resultan indispensables para el bienestar del hombre: el trigo, la uva, la oliva y el aloe. El primero lo alimenta, el segundo le vanta su ánimo, el tercero le aporta armonía y el cuarto lo cura” (Cristóbal Colón, 1451-1506).
Esto demuestra que el aloe existía también en el continente americano y no llegó allí con la conquista, como se ha afirmado alguna vez. El aloe forma parte de las tradiciones indígenas americanas, se conocía desde tiempos inmemoriales y tenía una gran importancia curativa y espiritual, tanto para los indios que habitaban el centro de México como para la civilización Maya. Sin embargo, tras la conquista de América, fueron los jesuitas españoles los que más contribuyeron a su expansión por todo el continente. Llevaron el conocimiento del aloe a los distintos lugares de América donde establecían sus misiones. De esta manera extendieron su cultivo y utilización por todo el continente. Introdujeron la planta en puerto Rico, en Jamaica y, probablemente, también en Barbados, de la que procede su nombre científico, Aloe Barbadensis. Hay también evidencias de que fueron los jesuitas quienes llevaron el aloe a las Antillas holandesas e incluso a Filipinas. En el siglo XVI Paracelso se refiere al aloe en su Botánica Oculta de la siguiente manera: “…misterioso y secreto el aloe, cuyo jugo de oro cura las quemaduras y los envenenamientos de sangre”.

No obstante, ya sea por la desaparición de la cultura árabe en el viejo continente, o por lo poco propicio de su clima para cultivar el aloe, durante el Renacimiento cayó casi en desuso y su consumo se ciñó al polvo concentrado que, proveniente de los países tropicales, se usaba como laxante. En Europa el aloe perdió su fama de planta curativa y en muchos casos sus virtudes se consideraron más un mito que algo real, pues al utilizar la planta que venía de climas más cálidos esta llegaba mermada en sus propiedades y apenas tenía efecto. Este fenómeno fue básicamente Europeo, pues en las costas mediterráneas, norte de Africa, Medio Oriente, América y la India siguió cultivándose y usándose profusamente. En dichas zonas podían utilizarse las hojas frescas y el aloe resultaba realmente efectivo ya que, debido a su rápida oxidación, debía consumirse rápidamente. Durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial se redescubrió el valor terapéutico del aloe y ha sido en nuestros días cuando sus propiedades se han probado clínicamente.
Curiosamente, el primer logro del aloe en su reconocimiento médico se produjo cuando aparecieron los primeros aparatos de rayos X. Gracias a las investigaciones llevadas a cabo por el doctor Collins y su hijo a partir de 1934 se comprobó la extraordinaria eficacia de esta planta para curar las quemaduras que los rayos X producían a pacientes y médicos. A partir de estas investigaciones, que se prolongaron durante 20 años, el aloe recobró su popularidad y se recuperaron muchas de las aplicaciones perdidas durante la Edad Media y el Renacimiento, diversos estudios, principalmente en Estados Unidos y la antigua URSS demostraron las propiedades curativas del aloe en dolencias tales como úlceras, eczemas, quemaduras y un amplio espectro de enfermedades cutáneas. En 1964 Salisbury y Lorezzeti demostraron que el aloe inhibía la acción de algunas bacterias, como la salmonena o el estafilococo, causantes entre otras afecciones de los forúnculos o la fiebre tifoidea. En la década de los sesenta varios médicos americano demostraron que el aloe inhibía el desarrollo de gran variedad de microbios causantes de diversos tipos de infecciones; en Japón se demostraron sus propiedades antiinflamatorias y en 1970, el farmacéutico Bill Cotas, consiguió separar la aloína de la corteza y estabilizar el gel tomado de la hoja añadiéndole vitamina C (ácido ascórbico), vitamina E (tocoferol) y sorbitol, lo que masificó el uso del aloe y creo una industria asociada a esta planta.

Pedro Sánchez Torrente Webmaster de www.aloeysalud.com info@aloeysalud.com

I'm a teen and I never had sex :), but I got like pimples on my dick or something and I looked at herpes pics and they look way different. so could you just explain what could it be plz?

If you have never had sex of ANY kind you couldnt possibly have an STD. I mean oral sex, anal sex, regular sex. STD stands for sexualy transmitted disease. You have to have sex to get one. Pimples on your boy is normal. Every inch of your body is covered in pores, and they can and do clog up and cause pimples, If you want to know all the symptoms of all STDs go to the CDC website or WebMD. Both are very good sites and you can trust the info there. Good Luck.

Hey everyone
I have already explained that because of an incidence more then three years ago i am getting tested for herpes. Now i am paranoid that i have the blisters. I found what appears to be a sore in grown hair but its too fair down for me to get a close look. Its isnt a pimple and its the only one i have ( i checked the whole area).
So how do i tell if its a herpes blister or ingrown hair?

the only way it could be an ingrown hair is if you have shaved down there. go get tested today while you have the blister present they can swab it and take a blood test.

also try not to be so stressed out about it. i know its rough but if it is herpes and since you aren’t on medication the outbreak could get worse.