Conversely, herpes virus infections can become quite serious, sometimes life threatening, in immune compromised patients such as those with AID's, recipients of bone marrow or organ transplant, cancer victims, people of advanced age or newborn babies. One of the most devastating public health concerns among industrialized nations is sexually transmitted disease. The prevalence of Genital herpes, caused by HSV-2 is escalating worldwide. It is estimated that 31 million Americans are infected with the virus and 1 in 5 people over the age of 12 has genital herpes. Up to 1 million new HSV-2 infections may be transmitted annually in this country.
Viruses can lay dormant in the body for years before exhibiting any symptoms.
The chronic effects of subacute infection by these viruses are being convincingly linked with coronary artery disease, lymphoma, multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative conditions. The traditional regimen for herpes virus conditions involves a course of pharmaceutical intervention. Unfortunately, for a significant number of individuals these drugs do not prove useful, especially in the case of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia. In looking at alternative approaches to anti-viral treatments researchers in Arizona began investigating larrea tridentata , a desert plant that is abundant in North America . Historical information tells us that the shrub has been used for centuries by the Native Americans as a medical panacea.