Home Remedies for Cold Sores

Cold sores or fever blisters are painful, often reoccurring, extremely contagious viral infections caused due to the Herpes Simplex Virus, type-1 (HSV – 1). The time between contact with the virus and the appearance of symptoms is mostly 2-12 days.

Pain, burning, tingling, or itching sensations occurs at the site of the infection before the sores appear. Then clusters of blisters erupt. This is the time when home remedies must be started to prevent from the blisters appearing at all. Herpes causes fever, tiredness, muscle aches, and irritability other than the blisters.

Things to Always Remember

• Take a soft bland diet to avoid irritation to the ulcers. This will also speed healing.
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
• For best results, repeat the home remedies as many times as possible, when you first start feeling the tingling sensation.

Further Prevention

Avoid touching skin or mucous membranes that have sores. Don’t touch saliva when the symptoms are showing.

What Not to Eat

Avoid acidic and salty foods. Foods such as chocolates, peanuts, grains, peas, seeds, oatmeal and whole-wheat are high in arginine, therefore they should be restricted. Avoid tea and coffee. Eat vitamin rich diet. Your diet must include vitamin A, C and E. Zinc and iron are also necessary. Include garlic in your diet. Add fresh lemon juice to the diet. Eat fresh food with high antioxidants and high complex carbohydrates. Avoid processed food. Eat lots of fruits and green leafy vegetables.

You can read more about oral herpes here.

These are the home remedies you could try before onset of the infection:

Raw Whole Milk

Applying raw milk is a well-known home remedy for cold sores. Raw whole milk contains a fat called monocaprin that kills the virus. Remember to use whole milk since it contains more fat. Just dip a cotton ball in raw whole milk and apply directly to the cold sore. Repeat as often as possible.

Garlic

Garlic is known for its ability to act like an antibiotic. It kills bacteria, fungus, yeast, viruses and parasites present in the body. It can destroy several virus types including HSV-1 and 2. Eating raw garlic helps. Eat 2-3 cloves of raw garlic when you start feeling the tingle before the outbreak.

Lemon

Cut a small slice of lemon and place it on the sore. Or squeeze the freshly cut slice of lemon, apply this juice on the cold sore with a cotton ball. This remedy should be used as a treatment at the beginning of an outbreak, when you feel the tingling sensation and not on open sores or crusts. Vitamin C in the lemon is a great cold sore remedy and it fights diseases too. Drink lots of lemon juice (in water). A homemade juice is preferred over packed ones. Try to drink lemon juice in between meals.

Tip : Look for Lemon Balm, if you get it, it works wonders for the blisters. Apply Lemon Balm on the sores few times a day.

Apple Cider Vinegar

A local application of apple cider vinegar to prevent fever blisters helps. Again, it should not be used on open sores because it stings. Pour a few drops on a cotton ball and apply it on the cold sore. You can also mix a few drops of lemon juice to increase its potential.

Tip : Add a table spoon of apple cider vinegar to your face lotion or toner, and apply this to the entire face. Not only will it help for the cold sore reduction, it will clear your skin of blackheads and prevent future cold sores. It stings less too.

Tea Bags

Apply a tea bag for few minutes on the blisters, repeat this every hour. You can also keep a warm tea bag on the blisters for about 30 minutes. It is very soothing.

Ice

Another very effective remedy is to place an ice cube on the sore. Keep it for 10 -30 minutes. Repeat this several times a day. It would be a good idea to start the ice treatment right at the initial stage, just as you see a red bump or feel like the outbreak is nearing.

More Self-Care Alternatives

Use acetaminophen like Feverall, Panadol, Tylenol or ibuprofen like Excedrin, Ibuprin, Advil, Motrin for fever and muscle aches due to the fever blisters.

Please remember:

These are simple home remedies, but should not be treated as medical advice. These can prevent the blisters from appearing, but not a cure. Herpes can be treated, but there is no cure for it. Some people may require to consult a doctor or hospital admission. Infants younger than 6 weeks and people with weakened immune systems may need professional care. Also if dehydration is severe then IV rehydration is required. When infection spreads to other organ systems or the local infection is severe, then medication treatment and hospitalization may be required.