Natural Remedy for Cold Sores

What are the Causes of Cold Sores?

Do you want to find a natural remedy for cold sores? Is there a cold sores cure? Learn how to treat cold sores so that they go away quickly and find out the causes of cold sores.

Causes of Cold Sores

Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex-1. This virus is highly contagious and can be easily transferred by mouth (kissing, sharing food or drink) and by touch (transfer from mouth to hand to you). If you have cold sores take every sensible precaution to not pass on the virus to others!

Once you have the virus, it may lie dormant in your system for years (or not). The symptoms of herpes simplex-1 are clusters of small liquid-filled blisters around the lips, mouth and, rarely, inside the nose. Usually, the virus is 'triggered' when you are over-tired, run down, or have another illness at the same time; your weakened condition provides the right environment for cold sores to appear.

The sores are often very uncomfortable and somewhat sore and painful. The area of the sore is red, swollen and the skin is hot and tight. The blisters will eventually drain, and then the area will start drying up and healing. Do NOT pop the blisters yourself - you may well make matters worse. You can shorten the healing stage by using a natural remedy for cold sores.

Cold Sores Cure: How to Treat Cold Sores

There is no known cure for herpes simplex-1; it is a virus that will stay with you for years. However you can minimize its effect and by managing the 'triggers' you can minimize or eliminate the conditions that will cause the virus to erupt into cold sores.

A natural remedy for cold sores is possible; to minimize their appearance ensure that you:

• Sleep well
• Drink lots of water - every day
• Minimize your stress and learn how to handle it (it’s impossible to live without some stress in your life; manage it better)
• Use sunscreen for your face and for your lips: sunlight and sunburn appears to be a trigger for the virus
• Similarly, extreme cold weather conditions appears to trigger the virus
• If you have a cold, the flu, fever or other illness, be aware that the virus might be triggered - try to get healthy as quickly as possible
• If you are having dental work done, watch out for scrapes and bruises on your lips and inside your mouth - that work might cause cold sores to appear. Rinse your mouth frequently with salt water for up to 24 hours after you’ve had work done in your mouth.
• Menopause and other hormonal changes may trigger the virus. Taking care of yourself during these changes will minimize the potential.
• Eat a healthy and nutritious diet; supplement with vitamins and minerals if necessary.

The weaker your immune system, the more likely that cold sores will appear.

What’s a Natural Remedy for Cold Sores?

In addition to all the above treatments to minimize and/or manage the triggers of the virus, as soon as you suspect that you are starting a cold sore (tingling in your lip, swelling starts, area is hot, etc.), then you need to act.

If you take quick action immediately, then the cold sore will have a shorter 'life span' (a normal period for a cold sore is 10 to 14 days; a shortened period of 4 to 5 days is possible).

Natural Remedies for Cold Sores:

• Use an ice pack (wrapped in clean cotton gauze) as soon as you feel the swelling start.
• Take aspirin or ibuprofen for pain.
• Naturopaths seem to be recommending Lysine most frequently. Lysine is an essential amino acid that you get in your diet (through red meats, dairy products, fish). Take a Lsyine supplement (up to 1000 mg 2 to 3 times a day - or whatever your doctor or pharmacist recommends - this is not a prescription drug) for up to 5 days.

• Harder to find, there is a Lysine ointment (check health food stores) that has had some reported success amongst users.
• Lemon balm cream has also had some success due to its anti-viral properties.

Product Recommendation - A Natural Remedy for Cold Sores:

Once the cold sore blisters appear, use a healthy, natural product to speed up the healing. Pure-Heal Gel is effectively formulated to heal blisters quickly and effectively. This product is FDA approved and is a safe and healthy natural remedy for cold sore treatment.

Additional Reading

• Toothache Home Remedies
• Baby Teething Pain
• Baby Teething Symptoms
• Canker Sore Home Remedy
• Home Remedy for Toothache
• Home Remedies for Canker Sores
• Home Remedies Cold Sores
• Natural Remedies for Cold Sores
• Preventing Cold Sores
• Treating Bad Breath