Herpes and the Myth of Detoxing

"There's a sucker born every minute." - David Hannum

Years ago, when I was first diagnosed, there wasn't much information on the subject of herpes simplex; as a matter of fact, there wasn't even an Internet. The only access to any information about herpes was from a doctor, or you had to get up off your ass and go to the library. Even then a great deal of that information was somewhat outdated or access to real data was only accessible to scientists. 

Fast forward to 2020.

With the magical click of a computer mouse, any question you have can be answered in 30 seconds or less. Even with this overabundance of information a great deal of what we may find can be deeply anecdotal and not based on any facts. Unfortunately, it seems that critical thinking has been pushed aside for quick mental satisfaction because it sounds good; it happened to me as well. 

It should be evident that these intelligent marketing techniques have somewhat blinded our common sense, even though we are partially to blame for not asking the right question or digging deeper. This easy acceptance of what products claim can take place due to a simple need to make ourselves better and much healthier; plus it just sounds good, right? The manufacturers of certain products exploit this and circumvent particular words and phrases all for obtaining the almighty dollar by selling you well crafted promises. 

I realize that saying, "There's a sucker born every minute." may sting and be a tad offensive but years ago I was one of these suckers and was fooled on more than one occasion. Many of these fake cures, detoxes, and cleansing diets make promises to remove your herpes or even detoxify you of foreign contaminants or the buildup of scary chemicals with big unpronounceable words. Looking back, it is depressing to think about the amount of money I spent trying to alleviate my symptoms and other health issues, only to be punched in the face by the true meaning of getting scammed and the full force of the words, Buyer's remorse. 

Want to buy a beach house in Idaho? It's cheap.

I know that some will argue that their vitamins and herbal supplements do in-fact work and stating otherwise is just wrong. Well, that‘s true. Some herbal products do indeed work on suppressing herpes simplex symptoms; it's not just anecdotal. But the claims of products stating that they can Detoxify you (your herpes or other chemicals within), are empty claims and smart marketing. How do we know this? Simply put, a person may benefit from taking herbs and supplements and they may make you feel better; it's probable, but there's a lot of evidence to show why detoxing is BS. 

•  Detox diets rarely identify the specific toxins they aim to remove. The mechanisms by which they work are also unclear. In fact, there is little to no evidence that detox diets remove any toxins from your body. What's more, your body is capable of cleansing itself through the liver, feces, urine, and sweat. Your liver makes toxic substances harmless, then ensures that they're released from your body. - Healthline.com {1}
•  "Despite the fact they have no scientific backing, many 'detox diets' have emerged over the years and vary greatly. However, most tend to prescribe certain foods, detox teas, special juices or the elimination of whole food groups."
•  The next point of concern is the main promise of detox diets -- to detox the body. But our bodies do a pretty good job of that on their own.
•  "The body is naturally designed to be able to clear waste materials such as toxins, chemicals and old hormones in order to prevent an accumulation of potentially toxic and harmful byproducts building up in our systems," nutritionist Fiona Tuck told HuffPost Australia. {2}
•  "Let's be clear," says Edzard Ernst, emeritus professor of complementary medicine at Exeter University, "there are two types of detox: one is respectable and the other isn't." The respectable one, he says, is the medical treatment of people with life-threatening drug addictions. "The other is the word being hijacked by entrepreneurs, quacks and charlatans to sell a bogus treatment that allegedly detoxifies your body of toxins you're supposed to have accumulated."

If toxins did build up in a way your body couldn't excrete, he says, you'd likely be dead or in need of serious medical intervention. "The healthy body has kidneys, a liver, skin, even lungs that are detoxifying as we speak," he says. "There is no known way – certainly not through detox treatments – to make something that works perfectly well in a healthy body work better." {3}

So what's the answer?

Whether you are talking about detoxing body in general or even detoxing your herpes, it's not gonna happen. Please don't get me wrong here; I'm not saying that herbal products are a bad idea and do not have any value in your diet. To say that out loud would be ignorant and false. There are many beneficial herbs and healthy products that we can add to our diets. Besides the fact that eating plants is one of the best things you can do for yourself. 

For me, the science is pretty clear. If a manufacturer claims their product has the ability to detoxify you, it is making quite the extraordinary claim. This also means the manufacturer must show extraordinary evidence to prove that their product does indeed detoxify you. I have to be honest here, I have not seen any evidence of that. 

It's really just weird science.

Buyer Beware.

References

Environmental Determinants of Chronic Disease and Medical Approaches: Recognition, Avoidance, Supportive Therapy, and Detoxification

Nutritional Aspects of Detoxification in Clinical Practice

Cytochromes P450 and Metabolism of Xenobiotics

Blood, Urine, and Sweat (BUS) Study: Monitoring and Elimination of Bioaccumulated Toxic Elements

How does the liver work?

So, 'Detoxes' Or 'Cleanses' Don't Work. Here's Why

You can’t detox your body. It’s a myth. So how do you get healthy?

Supplemental 

A closer look at fake cures here

“Detoxification” Schemes and Scams

The Detox Foot Pad Scam

Functional Foods: Their Role in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

"How did you get herpes? It's really quite simple. You're a human being and you're alive. Welcome to the planet."

Author Richard Mancuso is not a doctor, a scientist or a medical professional. Articles created by Askingforafriend.us are for informational and entertainment purposes only. Scientific information and references found within these pages are provided to  corroborate factual information that is relevant to the topic being discussed. The opinions expressed within these articles and blog should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical ailments or  diseases. For medical questions or advice, always seek proper health care by a licensed physician or a licensed medical professional. Website links provided may change without notice at the website owner's discretion.