Method for treating herpes simplex

• US 5,133,352 A
• Filed: 04/12/1990
• Issued: 07/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nexmed Holdings, Peter H. Lathrop, Steve K. Johnston
• Original Assignee: Kent Lathrop and Johnston
• Inventors: Johnston, Steve K., Lathrop, Peter H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RICHARD, KAREN
• Application Number:
  US07/508,840
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 R, 128/421, 128/898, 128/362, 128/422
• US Class Current: 607/75
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/20 continuous direct currents

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for treating infectious skin conditions, such as Herpes Simplex 1 and 2. By the application of an electrical field and current to the area of the manifestation of the disease on the body there is activated a reaction at the cell level to combat the virus and disrupt its attack on the healthy cell structure. The present method comprises a direct application of a low voltage direct current, low amperage stimulation to the skin about the infected location for a few seconds every hour for a length of time sufficient to prevent formation and/or heal the resultant lesion.

Claims

1. The method of treating herpes virus infections of the human body by

inhibiting viral infections of healthy cells and the development of virus infected cells which comprises:

applying a low voltage DC current to the skin immediately adjacent the symptom site to penetrate the protein envelope of the Herpes virus infected cell,

break up the polypeptide structure of the virus core and disperse the lipid proteins;

increasing the mitochondrial function of the herpes virus infected cells and the healthy cells to restore cell capacitance to normal, thereby preventing development of the Herpes virus.

2. The method of claim 1 further defined by applying the defined therapeutic steps repeatedly at hourly intervals for very limited time durations of two to fifteen seconds for at least eight hours after onset of symptoms.

3. The method of claim 2 further defined by applying the electrical field to the skin at two points spaced apart a distance of one-half inch to one-and-one-half inches.

4. The method of claim 3 further defined by applying a nine volt DC field to the skin of the tissue under virus attack to cause a small milliampere current to flow through the cells in the tissue adjacent the virus attack zone.

5. In the treatment of the symptoms of Herpes Simplex 1 and 2, the method of inhibiting development of herpetic lesions in the human body upon occurrence of precursor symptoms which comprises:

applying a low DC electrical voltage directly to the body at the site of the precursor symptoms of developing herpes virus lesions;

applying said DC voltage for a very short period of time of less than one minute;

repeating the application of said DC voltage at regular intervals of time of less than two hours over an extended period of time until the precursor symptoms disappear.

6. The method of claim 5 further defined by applying a DC voltage to the body for a duration of 3 to 20 seconds at intervals between 45 minutes and 75 minutes.

7. The method of claim 6 further defined by applying said low voltage to the skin at two points spaced apart a distance of one-half inch to one-and-one-half inches.

8. The method of claim 5 including applying said voltage initially within fifteen minutes of the onset of symptoms.

9. The method of claim 5 further defined by:

applying a nine volt DC voltage to the skin within fifteen minutes of the onset of symptoms; and

applying said DC voltage periodically at intervals of approximately one hour for a duration of approximately 15 seconds over a period of at least eight hours.

10. The method of treating Herpes Simplex 1 and 2 virus infections of the human body which cause lesions to appear on the skin which comprises the steps of:

applying a low DC voltage directly to the body skin at the site of the virus lesions;

applying said DC voltage for a very short time duration of less than one minute;

repeating the application of said DC voltage at regular intervals of less than two hours; and

continuing the periodic application of said DC voltage for at least eight hours or until the lesions heal.

11. The method of claim 10 including applying said voltage initially within fifteen minutes of the onset of symptoms and continuing the periodic application of said DC voltage for at least twenty-four hours.

12. The method of claim 10 further defined by applying said DC voltage for a duration of 3 to 20 seconds at intervals between 45 minutes and 75 minutes.

13. The method of claim 12 further defined by applying the voltage to the skin at two points spaced apart a distance of three quarters to one-and-one-half inches.

14. The method of treating herpes virus lesions on the human body by inhibiting viral infections of healthy cells and further development of virus infected cells through increasing the mitochondrial function of the cells to stimulate both infected and healthy cells to normal functioning, which comprises:

applying a constant low voltage DC current to the skin immediately adjacent the symptom site;

applying said DC current repeatedly at regular intervals for durations of less than one minute at intervals of less than two hours; and

continuing said application of DC current for an extended period of time of at least eight hours;

thereby causing the affected cells to increase ATP production and thus cell energy so as to stimulate cellular inactivation of the herpes virus in infected cells and the rejection thereof by healthy cells.