You are here: home > home remedies and natural cures > cold sores

Home Remedies

Herbal Products

Alfalfa
Apple Cider Vinegar
Chamomile
Cinnamon
Cod Liver Oil
Fenugreek
Flax Seed Oil
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginseng
Honey
Oil of Oregano
Tea Tree Oil

Cold Sores Home Remedy

Signs and Symptoms of Cold Sores

Cold Sores, sometimes also known as Fever Blisters, are small blisters that usually appear around the outside of your lips or mouth, and occasionally on your nose or cheeks. They are often very itchy and tend to cause a stinging sensation. They typically last for 7 to 10 days, and they sometimes ooze fluid or form a yellow colored crust. Cold sores are very common, with about 20 to 40 percent of the population experiencing cold sores at least once in their lifetime.

Some people experience a sense of tiredness or fatigue one or two days before the recurrence of a cold sore. Othes feel a tingling or numbness at the site of the future outbreak. Although there is no cure once a cold sore develops, the home remedies listed below can help to ease the pain and discomfort that is often associated with them.

Causes of Cold Sores

Cold Sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Once you have been exposed to this virus you are infected for life. Infection usually occurs when the virus enters through small breaks in the skin, possibly at the site of injury small cracks in the skin.

If you have the virus, cold sores can develop due to a variety of reasons:

Emotional and physical stress
Colds or other respiratory infections
Exposure to the sun or wind without protection
Hormone changes such as during menstruation

Since cold sores are contagious, you should avoid direct contact with other persons during the period when the blisters are developing. You should also avoid touching your eyes or genital area unless you have first washed your hands thoroughly. Oral sex should be avoided when cold sores are present, as this can transmit the infection.

Home Remedies and Natural Cures for Cold Sores Treatment

Cold Sores Home Remedy Using Whole Milk

A compress using whole milk can help ease the pain associated with a cold sore, as well as help to speed up the healing process.

Let a glass of whole milk sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
Soak a cloth into the milk and place the compress onto the cold sore.
Keep the compress on the cold sore for 10 minutes
Remove the compress and rinse the milk to avoid a sour smell.

Cold Sores Home Remedy Using Lysine

Lysine is an amino acid that counteracts arginine, which is another amino acid that is used by the Herpes Simplex Virus to replicate itself. Therefore, for people that experience frequent cold sores (more than 2 or 3 per year), lysine supplements of 2000 to 3000mg per day are recommended in order to inhibit the virus. Lysine supplments can be found in most health food stores.

It is also recommended that you limit your intake of foods that are high in arginine, such as chocolate, cereals, cashews, peanuts, cola, beer, and foods containing gelatin.

Natural Treatment for Cold Sores Using Ice

Ice cubes are a great way to ease the pain associated with a cold sore. Simply rub an ice cube directly onto the cold sore for a few minutes when it first begins to appear. Repeat this every 10 minutes for about an hour or so.

Using Aloe Vera as a Remedy for Cold Sores

The juice from an aloe plant can help ease the pain from a cold sore. Simply rub aloe juice directly onto the infected area for some fast relief. Aloe gels can also be used instead of fresh aloe juice.

Cold Sore Freedom in 3 Days

A new ebook claims to provide a 3-day cold sore cure without any prescription medications or expensive creams. If anyone tries it out, please post your comments below.

More Cold Sores Home Remedies and Treatments

Reader Comments

Posted by Mike Mullett on Jul 23 2010 11:25:39

There is a herpes simplex product at "Forces-Of-Nature.net" that does a great job of eliminating cold sores very quickly when dabbed every 2 hours onto a cold core.It is a pure all Natural Organic solution that seems to work well. Cost is around a bottle.It is extracted from living plants.Lasts a long time.

Posted by HomeRemediesWeb on May 30 2010 02:16:18

Hi Debbie, Oil of Oregano shouldn't be applied directly onto the skin in its concentrated form. Simply add 1-2 drops of Oil of Oregano into one teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil or organic coconut oil and apply this diluted oregano oil onto the affected skin 3-4 times daily. If irritation caused by oregano oil lasts for longer than an hour, discontinue its use. Also check your email for detailed response. I hope it was helpful!

Posted by Debbie Toner on May 29 2010 20:17:30

I am starting to try the orgeano oil, tried it first time today will get back to you on how it goes. Felt a bit of burning when I put it on, not sure how much to use?

Posted by FreeFromSores on May 26 2010 20:46:53

I was getting several outbreaks a year on my lips ocurring in the same areas on my mouth. It was a very depressing thing to deal with. I found colloidal silver aka silver hydrosol and have not had one sore since. Silver is amazing for so many health reasons. Also started taking oil of oregano, vitamin C supplements from a whole food source, hemp oil, and raw milk. All things that are amazing for our immune systems. Long Live the Immune System!

Posted by Sasha on May 21 2010 13:00:06

For me i only have this every other three year even longer just one for the year. And what i do is get the salt with lemon or lime juice on a cotton a rub it. Its very painful but in couple hour it start to fade. My friends pay me for giving that treatment lol

Posted by hooperpaul on May 06 2010 05:31:24

I have tried the creams that are really dear and they dont work. I dab on a few drops of meths as soon as i get a tingle and after two days it is totally gone. They never amount to anything and turn into sores. I just apply it as often as i think of it during the day and it never fails. It costs basically nothing as there is always some in the garage. I would take a 0.00 beat if it would help you try it. It stings a bit but hay it works. Try it next time. Paul

Posted by jw on Mar 27 2010 13:03:24

I agree with other writers regarding Lysine. I take it daily (1000 mg) and it helps prevent cold sores. However, the most amazing cure is apple cidar vinegar. If you start to get a cold sore (feel the tingling and or start to see the little bubble) pour apple cidar vinegar on a cotton ball and dab on your mouth. Do this several times a day. It will completely PREVENT the cold sore from progressing. It will dry it out and disappear within a few hours!

Posted by Dee on Mar 23 2010 15:18:53

The best remedy that I have found for cold sores is to take wax from your ears and gently rub it on the cold sore. I know it sounds gross but trust me it works. Keep doing this until it is gone.

Posted by craig on Feb 26 2010 20:44:51

I started taking 1000 mg of vitamin C on a daily basis just for it's anti-oxidant benifits. My cold sore outbreaks went from an average of 4 times a year to an extremely rare occurance.(one time in the past three years) Another source I read also confirmed this.

Posted by زيزى on Jan 26 2010 18:04:30

اننى اعانى من هذة المشكلة من6 سنوات وهى مشكلة قشور وتشققات الشفاة واننى استخدمت مرهم فيوسي(fusi)مضاد للبكتريا واستخدمت كريم purelan واستخدمت مرهم كاميزان واستخدمت مرهم ايلوكون(ELOCON)واستخدمت اوراكيور جيل لعلاج التهابات الفم واللثة(ORACURE-GEL) واستخدمت رونيتا لحالات التهابات الجلد كريم(RONITA)واتخدمت ميكوناز واستخدمت مرهم نيريسيد(NERICID)واستخدمت زيموس كريم فرنساوى(XEMOSE)واستخدمت مع هذا جميع المنتجات الطبيعية مثل العسل والقشطة وزيت اللوز وعشب القسط وغيرة من المواد الطبيعيةوكل هذا لم يجى بنتيجة واننى يئست من وصولى لاى مخرج في هذا الموضوع واننى اطلب من الاشخاص الذين يمرون بهذة القشور وتشققات الشفاةاذا وصلوا الى حل فى هذا الموضوع يكتبوا لىعلي هذا الاميل وهو(SPRING.FLOWER45)الاسم زيزى مصرية

Posted by زيزى on Jan 26 2010 17:37:46

اننى اعانى من هذة المشكلة من 6 سنواتوهى مشكلة تشقق وقشور الشفاة

Posted by Cindyq on Jan 16 2010 01:00:25

I used 2 get cold sores all the time but recently discovered a miracle worker. I got this @ walgreens for 1 dollar. Its a little round chapstick. It looks jus like carmax but it saids its medicated.

Posted by Deb McEnery on Dec 31 2009 19:49:18

Cold sores can also be caused by a B-12 deficiency. Honey put directly on the cold sore can help. Vitamin E helps ease it too. Drink lots of black tea, hold a tea bag on it too. Regular rinsing with salt water.

Posted by NTaylor on Dec 14 2009 19:08:00

Ok..So i've been suffering from coldsores since i was 4...SO I know the drill.first the tingling..then the pain,,then the humiliation. So i was thrilled when I threw a bunch of home remedies together and came out colde sore free! Step 1. (I have a problem with catching them fast, so this is after theyve blistered out.) POP IT.POP IT NOW! but make sure to rub with peroxide after. Step 2. Put some ice on it. put it on in 30 minute intervals. 5 minutes with the actual ice for 3 hrs Step 3. Put some aloe Vera (gel) on it with a cotton swab. (try to keep it on as long as you can) Repeat process for pretty much all day..and VOILA! colde sores goneee

Posted by justice on Oct 10 2009 12:51:06

I am a personal trainer/sports nutritionist and have had enormous success w/helping clients & friends w/this & many issues. before outbreak: build ur immune system daily. Superhydrate 3-4lts distilled H20 w/squeeze of Key lime juice. alkalizes ur sysytem, boots ur immune strength. Lysine supplementation 500mg3x a week. avoid arginine containing foods, almonds, chocolate..Onset of breakout: Bitter Melon supplement 3x a day, Lysine 500mg.6x a day, Go liquid next 1-3days (soups, shakes,structured water) & yes, apple cider vinegar is also worthy as it converts to highly alkaline in human system. Most of my clients who follow this regimen halt the virus w/in 24hrs. remember: Alkaline batteries last longer! If you have any more questions that I can be of help to anyone feel free to email me @ Leadership33@aol.com "Peace Be with you."

Posted by Tom on Sep 18 2009 16:40:53

I have gotten cold sore all my life but they sudden got much worse and more frequently in the last few years since I have been going through a particularly stressful time of my life. It got to the point where I was afraid to make plans because I didn\\'t know when a cold sore would strike. Finally, after doing research it dawned on me that my diet was having a huge effect. I had been eating a mostly vegetarian diet high in arginine--I\\'d been eating peanut butter every day--and low in lysine. I just started taking lysine supplements and working more chicken and fish back into my diet. Another big culprit: coffee. My advice-- exercise; cut back on caffeine, nuts and chocolate; eat more dairy; and take lysine.

Posted by Ken on Sep 08 2009 05:06:37

L-Lysine works for me and I orders it in a ointment as well.

Posted by Heather on Aug 10 2009 23:22:42

I've been taking grapefruit seed extract, so (knock on wood) I haven't had a cold sore lately. I've read that applying the gse directly to the coldsore helps if you actually have a break out. As I've said, I don't know if this actually works, but thought I'd share since no one has mentioned gse.

Posted by joy on Aug 08 2009 00:22:43

put some acetone polish remover on a swab and dab the swab on your fever blister/cold sore. this sounds crazy but it works good and fast. also take a lysine pill everyday. zovirax is a prescription if you prefer that but lysine works just as well if you take it regularly.

Posted by Katie Molina on Jul 03 2009 12:28:21

hi there ive been suffering from coldsores all my life i have them 1 or 2 a month and im 14 years old.ive tried everything i mean everything! my coldsores are huge and it takes away so much of my social life and everything if someone knows that 3 day cure thing please contact me im desprete i don't want to go like this for the rest of my life! my email is KatieMolina18@yahoo.com thank you!

Posted by Anonymous on Jun 18 2009 18:49:31

I used to get awful cluster cold sores, often, and i tried Lysine, and it works wonders!! As soon as you feel a cold sore coming - i would take 4 x 500mg pills every few hours, and 90% of the time they don't even come through!!! So, now I carry some Lysine with me wherever I go! If a cold sore does start, still take lots of Lysine and they won't be nearly as big and won't last nearly as long! You can also buy a Lysine gel in a tube to put on the cold sore, which even speeds them up more!! I was SO glad to find something that actually works, and it's not expensive, and you can't overdose because it's just an amino acid.

Posted by Mouth Sores Treatment on Apr 29 2009 00:20:05

I never heard that milk remedy before. I'll have to use that one next time. Thanks!

Posted by Anonymous on Feb 06 2009 14:51:31

For cold sores--Steep 1 tsp of dried sage (not powdered) in 1 cup of boiling water for 15 mins., strain and add 1 tsp dried ginger (powder) ( I add less cuz it is too hot) and sweeten to taste with honey (I have used sugar too) Drink 3 cps over the day. If you catch the sore early this reduces swelling, tingling and stops the sore from growing.

Posted by Beth on Feb 01 2009 10:53:49

I place oil of oregano and tea tree oil on a tissue and dab each of them onto my cold sore. I do this hourly when I feel the first tingles and I rarely have a full-blown cold sore. If I'm away from my oils when it begins I still use them when I get a chance and I find that it speeds the healing process.

Posted by Anonymous on Jan 30 2009 18:58:00

This is a very good website since I don't like to take medications for anything. I will always go natural first. Thank you for this. Diana

Sponsors