Homemade Cold Sore Remedies

The usual cause of cold sores, or fever blisters, is the Type 1 or Type 2 herpes virus. Cold sores are contagious. They can show up on the lips, in the mouth, in the nostrils, on the eyelids and even on the fingers. The sores consist of one or more small blisters filled with fluid and surround by an inflamed area. These sores may be very painful. Untreated, the blisters burst open within several days or weeks, dry, crust over and finally go away.

Common Remedies

Prevention Health Magazine reported that a zinc sulfate or zinc gluconate solution, in either camphorated water or plain water, applied every 30 to 60 minutes when the cold sore begins shortened the duration. This mixture is available in health food stores. Other aids recommended by this source include putting an ice cube on the sore when the tingling first begins or dabbing it with witch hazel.

Apply aloe vera directly to the blister to aid healing. Vitamin E oil used on the sores will help as well. Rinsing the area of the sore with a 1.5 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide after meals and at bedtime until the sore clears up is another recommended homemade approach. If you have more than three cold sores a year, take 4,000 mg of L-lysine for several days when a sore begins. Some people take 2,000 to 3,000 mg of L-lysine regularly as a preventative, but do this only with the concurrence of your physician since it may increase cholesterol. Some common herbs may help as well. You can try tea tree oil (topical) or lemon balm, both of which have an antiviral effect. Licorice will inhibit viral growth and cell damage but do not take this if you have high blood pressure.

Alternative Solutions

Various Web pages suggest many homemade remedies that include a wide conglomeration of substances to put on the cold sore including rubbing alcohol, garlic juice, tea bags, Preparation H and even a truly bizarre suggestion to apply earwax.

One of the most helpful suggestions found on many websites is to try to reduce stress in your life since this seems to be one of the triggers activating the virus. Despite the pain and annoyance of cold sores, in some cases only one tried and true remedy will make them go away---TOT (Tincture of Time).