Topical Cold Sore Home Remedies - Natural Treatments for Fever Blisters

by Webmaster, All4NaturalHealth.com

Looking for cold sore home remedies? There are some topical treatments, some involving herbs, which may be useful to you if you are wondering how to cure cold sores safely, naturally, and effectively.

Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are primarily caused by a herpes virus and certain trigger factors, such as stress, weakened immunity, and other illnesses.

Using an ice cube to cover the area where a cold sore outbreak is taking place or starting to occur can help to prevent and ward off full outbreaks, as viruses are believed to not do very well under such low temperatures.

Zinc may be useful in battling cold sores, both via internal consumption and topical application. As a topical application, however, the use of zinc is somewhat uncertain. It is said that the particular forms of zinc preparations which might be effective for fever blisters can only be obtained via prescription, while the one available on shelves is probably not useful. In any case, because too much zinc can irritate the skin, it is suggested that zinc should not be used topically without consulting with a suitable health care practitioner with know-how in this area.

Vitamin E may help against cold sores, both via internal consumption and external or topical application, too. As a topical cold sore home remedy, a couple of studies had found that the application of vitamin E oil onto fever blisters helped to reduce pain as well as hasten the healing of the cold sores.

The topical application of boric acid may help, as suggested in a particular double blind study. However, information on this is still rather sketchy, and there are also concerns about the potential toxicity of this substance; thus, usage of it is probably not advised at this point, based on available information.

Topical application of an ointment which contains propolis has been found to effectively relieve genital herpes. Due to the similarity of the two conditions, it is thus possible that such ointments may work well for cold sores, too. Information and research on this, however, are not available at the point of writing.

Herbs and Herbal Remedies

Lemon balm is one herb which exerts soothing effects on cold sores, as it has antiviral properties. The beneficial properties of lemon balm for this purpose can be harnessed through the use of natural lemon balm ointments or creams. The use of such topical applications has been studied in double blind trials, which have shown their effectiveness in enhancing one's recovery from cold sores or fever blisters. Lemon balm could thus form a useful part of herbal cold sore home remedies.

Test tube studies have also shown compounds in the herb witch hazel to have antiviral effects against the herpes simplex 1 virus. Research has shown an ointment or cream which contained witch hazel extract to be effective as a natural cold sore home remedy, in reducing the symptoms of the fever blisters.

Compounds found in the herb licorice, too, have similar benefits when applied via ointments, creams or gels. Less pain and faster healing are two possible benefits of such topical applications.

Tinctures of herbs such as chaparral, echinacea, goldenseal, myrrh and St John's wort may be used topically on areas affected by cold sores to hasten healing from the ailment. Echinacea, taken internally, is also an excellent immune boosting herb.

To learn more about natural cold sore home remedies, read the other related cold sores / fever blisters pages and articles.

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