Natural Cures for Cold Sores - Useful Home Remedies

Seeking effective natural cures for cold sores?

Cold sores occur as a result of a highly contagious infection spread through the herpes simplex virus. Though no known cure exists presently, many natural remedies can either prevent the onset or quickly treat a cold sore outbreak.

When using the natural remedies, act quickly at the first signs of a potential outbreak. These include pain or sensitivity around the mouth and lips, a low grade fever, sore throat, swollen glands, or other signs similar to those experienced with the onset of the flu or a cold. Often, a few hours or a day before the actual sore appears, the skin near the lips and mouth burns or exhibits tingling sensations.

The first step in using natural cures for cold sores, is to remove stresses from your life as much as possible, as this can weaken the immune system and invite the herpes simplex virus to take hold so a cold sore can form. When outdoors for long periods, wear natural sunscreen and lip balm, as excessive sunlight can also trigger sores. Be sure to properly wash hands and make it a practice not to share personal items with another person, as this can spread infection.

Avoid spicy or acidic foods that may increase the pain or otherwise aggravate the sore. Foods to avoid temporarily include jalapeno peppers and tomatoes. Remedies containing the compounds zinc, lysine, phenol, and tannic acid have antiviral properties, and therefore demonstrate an inhibitory effect on the herpes ability to replicate and form cold sore lesions; these are useful tools when using natural cures for cold sores.

Antibacterial agents will not have an effect on the herpes virus strain itself; however, remedies with antibacterial compounds will encourage an environment that allows prompt healing without the possibility of bacterial infection.

Lip balms containing petroleum or allantoin will moisturize the area, especially if a scab has formed. A moisturized scab will be less likely to crack and subsequently bleed. Try to use natural products that contain some lemon balm or sage in order to speed recovery.

Useful herbal remedies and natural cures for cold sores include:

• Echinacea - A potent antiviral herb, echinacea can thwart an infection due in part to an abundance of polysaccharides, which have been shown to stimulate white blood cell production. Echinacea certainly forms a key part of any natural cures for cold sores.
  
  
• Lemon balm - Known by the Latin as Melissa officianalis, lemon balm has tannins, antiviral substances that speed healing and can also prevent cold sore outbreak.
  
  
• Myrrh - A good herb for any mouth inflammation, myrrh works directly by attacking invaders and stimulating the body’s natural defenses.
  
  
• St. John’s Wort - A good stress-relieving herb, it has also been shown to slow the growth of viruses. The substances hypericin works especially well on controlling herpes simplex growth.
  
  
• Tea Tree Oil - The best quality tea tree oil will have high amounts of terpinen and low amounts of cineole. An excellent antiseptic, tea tree has been used as an infection fighting agent since ancient times, by the aborigines of New South Wales.
  
  
• Vitamin C - Otherwise known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C has been used extensively to boost immunity and fight infection.
  
  
• Ice - Other home remedies and natural treatments include applying ice to the affected area to take down the inflammation. Use the ice during the initial stage of the cold sore’s development, when the skin begins to tingle. Regular ice applications reduce the tissues' temperature and metabolic rate, so that the cold sore will develop more slowly, if at all. Use the ice in conjunction with black tea bag compresses containing tannic acid. This is surely one of the simplest to use home treatments and cures for cold sores.

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