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Cold Sores

Natural remedies


Cold sores are also called fever blisters or oral herpes. They appear around the lips after being exposed to a virus, the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). There are several stages of development: from an itchy and red bump to a blister with a crust on the ulcer. Most cold sores disappear after 10 days, but once you had the virus, it does not go away. It stays dormant in your body until something triggers it again. Cold sores are very contagious and also very common.


Cold sores: What could be the causes of cold sores?

  • You have been in contact with the herpes simplex virus 1. Initial contact with the virus is normal but when cold sores recur, it is usually due to a low immune system.
  • Cold sores can be triggered by cold weather, stress, wind, sun, food allergies (especially nuts), or menstruation.
  • Low thyroid function could have a link as well.

Cold sores: what kind of food should I eat?

  • Foods rich in L-Lysine.
  • Foods rich in iodine (if thyroid is underfunctioning), especially seafood, fish, kelp, and onions.
  • Foods rich in vitamin E and in zinc for healing.
  • Foods rich in vitamin A to fight infections.
Foods rich in L-Arginine (such as nuts, sesame, lentils, peas, sunflower seeds, oats, corn, barley, buckwheat, chocolate, and coconut) should be avoided.

Cold sores: Do supplements help to get rid of cold sores?

  • Vitamin C with bioflavonoids prevent blisters from forming and speed healing.
  • Probiotics and zinc strengthen the immune system.
  • Vitamin A helps healing and get rid of cold sores.
  • Vitamin E speeds healing and prevents scarring.
  • Complex vitamin B if stress is a trigger to cold sores.
  • L-lysine helps fight cold sores.
  • Colloidal silver (internally and externally) is also one of the good remedies for cold sores.

Cold sores: Are there herbal home remedies for cold sores?

  • Echinacea, Goldenseal, lemon balm help minimize outbreaks.
  • Comfrey ointment on the affected area is relieving.
  • Aloe vera or tea tree oil help fight the infection.
  • Calendula cream on the cold sore is healing.
  • Licorice extract speeds healing.

Cold sores: Which essential oils can be used for external treatment?

Cold sores: What are the common homeopathic remedies?

  • Rhus toxidendron is one of the main homeopathic remedies for fever blisters.
  • Natrum muriaticum and Graphitescan can also be used.
Also see homeopathic remedies for skin

Cold sores: What about tissue salts for herpes infection?

  • Nat mur for watery blisters.
  • Kali phos for itchy cold sores.
Also see other natural therapies

Cold sores: External links

Cold sores: Other remedies, articles and interviews

Any other remedies for fever blisters that you tried? Feel free to leave a comment to help other people who are trying to get rid of a cold sore.

Comments from the community (4)

"me" on 2011-09-25 at 12:23:18
I used organic virgin coconut oil. That stuff heals it up in no time and if you get it during the early stages prevents the blisters. I have had some disappear in the early stages after using. It's not harsh and promotes healing. I've gotten rid of cold sores in as little as 2 days with this.
"Vanessa" on 2011-08-12 at 05:41:18
RE: How to get rid of a cold sore About two months ago, I had my usual "I'll be back!" Schwartznegger Cold Sore (my husband calls it). It always shows up over the same corner of my mouth. With no fail, it would reveal its ugly head whenever I was stressed, becoming sick, not sleeping well, etc. I tried over-the-counter ointments with no lasting results. I finally read a holistic post in one ezine category that suggested a useful site that tells you about safe solutions there are in your kitchen which can treat cold sores. I've tried 4 of the advised home remedies and so far three of them have worked very well in preventing or helping my cold sore disappear within about 3 days. Some of these household products include tea bags, toothpaste, ice, and lysine. But I discovered that it's not just the product, but how you apply it, what time of day, and how often. That really made the whole difference for me. I dug up the link for the cold sore site in my bookmarks: http://www.discolorationofskin.com/ColdSores I would suggest trying one remedy at a time so you know which ones work for you and eliminate those which don't. Cheers!
"Gothkitty" on 2010-10-04 at 16:05:26
best remedy i found is any black tea, unsweetened, one bag put to soak in a glass os hot water, to get all flavonoids and vitamins out of the tea, than cool the water off til u can freeze it, and make ice cubes, u can kep them stored in a take-away container for as long as u wish, and when cold sores appear use the tea ice cubes as soon as u notice the itching or blisters, before they break, one or two ice cubes should do (use kitchen paper towel to absorb the moisture while ice is melting on ur lips), the tea in the ice will dry the blisters off and the coldness of the ice relieves the pains and itching from them. do it 2-3 times per day, til they dissapear, it will take less then 10days, for sure. is a self trialed thing, after a friend of mine suggested hot tea bag one day, so later i trialed just the tea juices as ice cube.
"Michael" on 2010-10-04 at 13:22:52
I used to use solanum nigram (I think that is how it is spelt) as it would relieve the pain on application and speed up the healing. Then suddenly the Government had it's production stopped.
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