Cold Sore Remedy

It’s the evening before that important meeting or that big date. You feel a slight pain on your lip, and when you look in the mirror, you see a bunch of small blisters. By the next morning, it has grown into a painfully large, ugly sore. Not only is it very painful and uncomfortable, but it’s contagious, making people stay as far away from you as possible; perfect to suck out all your confidence and ruin your meeting.

This is a cold sore caused by the Herpes Simplex Type 1 Virus, this sore can easily be mistaken for a canker sore, except that a canker sore isn’t caused by a virus, and appears inside the mouth. The virus is a relative of the dreaded Herpes Type 2 Virus, which is sexually transmitted. Once you acquire the virus, you can never get rid of it, and it makes a home for itself under the skin around your mouth. You may have either acquired it by kissing somebody or as a kid when a relative with the virus kissed you. The virus resides in nerve endings, and it is not known exactly why it decides to suddenly show itself. Factors that may influence the outbreak include stress (from the big date or meeting), fever, prolonged exposure to cold or the sun, or other weaknesses in the immune system. Some allergies, menstruation, and trauma may also bring it on.

If you are prone to cold sores, then you’re likely to get them anytime. Your doctor may provide some creams that will stop the growth of the virus, but the outbreak will have to run its own course. Here are some natural treatments that might help.

Home Remedies:

• Cold sores are usually very uncomfortable and painful. To ease the pain and speed up healing, you could apply herbal balms like Lemon Balm, Chamomile, or Echinacea. Lemon Balm is known to kill the viruses that cause cold sores, and is one of the best remedies for Herpes. You could also try a tincture of St. John’s Worth. Dab a little of either of these on the sore many times a day.

• Chamomile is known to have a relaxing and healing effect, and Echinacea boosts the immune system, helping your body to fight the viruses better. You can take them internally, or use them in a gargle decoction many times a day.

• Licorice is also known to be another effective treatment for cold sores. You can apply some to the sore itself, or drink a licorice root tea. Carry this on as long as the sore is visible. Licorice stops the viruses from reproducing, which will help the sore to heal faster.

• Other herbal remedies like Aloe Vera, Selfheal and garlic will also help. Again, these are available as creams, and garlic is something that’s available in every kitchen.

If you’re prone to cold sores, you need to keep an eye on your diet and lifestyle, as any combination of factors may prompt them to appear. Try to identify factors which precede these cold sores. Hygiene is very important, and it is imperative that you keep your hands clean so as to not spread the virus. Remember that stress is often the biggest cause of most illnesses. Daily exercise and meditation should be incorporated into your life, if you want to stay healthy and illness free.