Natural Cold Sore Remedies

When cold sores are painful, topical ointments or antiviral treatments are typically prescribed by doctors to hasten the healing process. These days, however , many people have a preference for natural cold sore remedies, avoiding many of the potential negative side-effects of prescribed medication.

The following are just some of the natural cold sore remedies that have been effective for a long time:

Lysine

This is a vital amino acid that prevents the development of HSV-1 in the body. The idea is to increase the intake of lysine, which can be found in foods such as fish, vegetables, yoghurt, and cheese. Supplements that include lysine is also a good choice. Arginine , however, also an essential amino acid, actually boosts the growth of the virus, so should be avoided if cold sores are active. This can be done by avoiding foods such as chocolate, nuts and oats which all contain arginine.

Aloe Vera

This plant is renowned for its healing properties in treating many infections, including cold sores. To use it, extract the juice from an Aloe Vera leaf and apply it to the cold sore 2 to 3 times a day, using cotton wool. This will soothe the skin and quicken the healing.

Tea Tree Oil

Another effective natural remedy for cold sores, diluted tea tree oil should be applied to the cold sore 3 to 4 times a day, using cotton wool. A big advantage of tea tree oil is that it is readily available from local shops and health stores.

Echinacea

This is a herb with the ability to provide a boost to the immune system. It aids the body in the production of interferon, a protein that plays a big part in the first line of defence against viral infections. Dab echinacea extract on cold sores 3 to 4 times daily, but not for more than 3 days.

Garlic

Garlic is renowned for its antiviral properties, which can assist in speedier healing of cold sores. Rub a piece of garlic on the cold sore for a few minutes a day, being careful not to overdo the process in order to avoid inevitable skin irritation.

Petroleum Jelly

Applying petroleum jelly helps to keep the infected area moist, which helps to avoid any pain and bleeding if the fever blister bursts due to dryness.

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Cold Sore Triggers

If you are conscious of your own personal cold sore triggers, then by steering clear of them, it is highly likely that cold sore outbreaks can be prevented.

A cold sore is attributable to the herpes simplex virus, is highly contagious, and easily spread via skin-to-skin or mucous membrane contact. When infected by the virus, the majority do not display any symptoms initially, but it will lay dormant until some form of stimulus re-activates the virus resulting in a cold sore.

Some of these stimuli or cold sore triggers include:

-Fever, colds or flu

-Stress or emotional issues

-Lip injury, including cracked lips and cuts

-Trauma resulting from dental or cosmetic procedures

-Exposure to sunlight or UV lamps

-Wind or cold weather contact

-Hormonal changes due to menstruation or pregnancy

-Fatigue

This is by no means an exhaustive list of common cold sore triggers, and not all of these factors will cause a cold sore to form. A great deal of research is needed to provide a definitive answer to why any particular person suffers an outbreak, and just how the immune system reacts to the virus.

However, some success has been forthcoming using a variety of home remedies for treating and preventing cold sores.

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When Are Cold Sores Contagious?

Watch the following video for expert advice about treating cold sores