Herpes is a viral disease and like most viral diseases, right from common cold to AIDS, it poses a serious problem when it comes to treatment. So, is there a cure for it? This is a question that has been plaguing medical stalwarts since ages, and they are yet to come up with a comprehensive answer. Most people tend to get confused when it comes to the types of herpes, its treatment, and cure. Types Oral: This type is caused mostly due to the virus, HSV-1. In this condition, fever blisters or cold sores occur on the lips or inside the oral cavity. It is a contagious disease and spreads by oral contact in any form, i.e., by kissing, smooching, or even sharing drinking glasses. The cold sores or blisters often burst leading to scarring, even if a person is undergoing treatment. This type can often be painful. Genital: This is caused mostly by the HSV-2 virus. In this condition, lesions similar to those seen in oral herpes, like blisters and skin rashes appear in the genital areas, i.e., vagina, penis, buttocks, anus, or any other area of the body that may have come in contact with the lesion. In this type, there is often severe pain and discomfort, like itching or burning sensation during urination, which may hamper day-to-day activities as well, further making it difficult to treat. Treatment Although a definitive cure does not exist, there are various ways by which the signs and symptoms can be mitigated to an extent equivalent to a complete natural treatment. Use of Antiviral Drugs: Irrespective of whether it is genital or oral herpes, as soon as a patient is diagnosed with this condition, he/she is put on antiviral drugs. These drugs include acyclovir, Famvir, and Valtrex. They are strong and effective antiviral drugs used in treating this disease, which are to be taken orally, once or twice a day, depending on the severity of the condition and the recommendation of the physician. Use of Topical Antiviral Creams: Most mild forms of outbreaks, which occur frequently, can be tamed by the use of topical antiviral creams. These creams are to be applied to the infected area twice a day for maximum effectiveness. Nutritious Diet: A nutritious diet, which contains green leafy vegetables, fruits, high amount of proteins, and vitamins can act as a good aid in curing this disease. Diet plays a crucial role and helps boost the immune system, which pushes the virus back into its latent stage. Also, a high protein diet is recommended, because there have been studies claiming that certain amino acids (the basic components of protein) like lysine, help in causing an imbalance in the composition of the virus, thus, hampering its activity. This is just one of the many natural treatments available. There are also certain natural herbs for this purpose, which help to at least mitigate the symptoms, if not cure it completely. Maintaining Fluid and Electrolyte Balance: Although the oral type causes difficulty in eating and swallowing, it is of utmost importance that the fluid and electrolyte balance in the body is maintained. It is advised to drink lots of water, which not only helps restore the electrolyte balance, but also helps soothe the cold sores that occur. Taking Precautions to Prevent Recurrence: As there is no fixed cure, it is best to take precautions. The patients should try to avoid contact with uninfected individuals, not only to ensure that the disease is not passed on, but also so that it does not lead to a flare-up in this case. Avoid having multiple sexual partners, and maintain a healthy lifestyle so that you are not susceptible to other diseases, which might again cause a flare-up. This is a simple guideline which aids in a natural remedy. Mental Attitude: Most people when diagnosed with herpes get depressed and see it as a huge personal defeat. However, it is not so. Although the time to find a remedy may be indefinite, but with a positive attitude and a healthy lifestyle, the recurrence rate can be brought down considerably, thus, ensuring that one lives a healthy and normal life. Why Is It So Difficult to Find a Cure? Herpes cure is a highly researched topic, but yet there seems to be no end in sight, for this viral infection. The main reason behind this is that once a person is infected with it, the virus causes signs and symptoms like fever, cold sores, etc. Then, once antiviral drug treatment is started, the virus comes up with a brilliant escape plan. It hides itself in the nerve cells, which makes it untraceable for the drugs to identify. Then later, whenever a person's immune system is compromised, like during a bout of cold, fever or any other infection or disease, these hitherto hidden virus bodies spring into action, leading to a recurrence of the infection. Hence, it is difficult to completely eliminate the virus from the body, and more often than not, the treatment offered only helps to mitigate the symptoms rather than cure it. Research claims that scientists have found the viral genome that codes the protein of the virus, which allows it to become latent in the nerve cells. This is a huge breakthrough, which might help antiviral drugs show 100% efficiency in eliminating the disease. However, it could easily take a few more years before this becomes a reality. Till then, it's best to follow these simple guidelines and ensure that the disease occurrence is maintained at an all-time low so that one can lead a normal and happy life. Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only,and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.