Looking for more information on cold sore cures? Sometime it can be difficult to get the straight answers as there are many suggested cold sore remedies. Here we share a series of remedies, some of which have actually been tested.

The first input to the material in this article came from research at Johns Hopkins University. That input took the form of comments about more than one natural cold sore cure. That input pointed to the pain killing properties of wet tea bags and grape peels. Both of those substances can help to banish the amount of pain that is coming from any cold sore that is currently afflicting the patient.

The banishment of pain, however, does not cure a cold sore. We suspect that more than one person reading this article might hope to find information regarding how to cure a cold sore. Therefore, such information has been presented in the following paragraphs.

Ice has long been viewed as a proven cold sore treatment. When ice is applied to a cold sore, it drives away the virus that has caused that sore to appear. Still, the person with a cold sore should not use ice on an open sore. Ice only works if it is placed on a sore well before it has broken through the surface of the skin.

Another cold sore remedy involves the use of vitamin supplements. In fact, the absence of a good diet can contribute to the appearance of cold sores. If a traveler experiences both a poor diet and exposure to windy conditions, then cold sores are bound to appear on the traveler’s face. A wise traveler can avoid cold sores by taking a vitamin supplement along on any journey.

Alcohol helps to heal many abrasions, but it is not recommended for use on cold sores. Rather, the patient who must endure the pain of a cold sore should obtain some hydrogen peroxide. The application of hydrogen peroxide serves a dual purpose. It both cleans the wound, and at the same time adds oxygen to the virus infected cells.

The substances mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs need to be applied directly to the cold sore. Another cold sore remedy is one that the patient must take in orally. That remedy contains the amino acid lysine. By ingesting between 3000 and 5000 milligrams of lysine daily, a patient with cold sores can replace intracellular arginine with lysine. When the virus lacks available arginine, it can not divide and grow on the infected skin.

Unlike the other cold sore cures named in this article, tablets containing lysine introduce a man made product into the body system. The patient who hesitates to use such tablets should concentrate on acquiring and using the natural remedies that have a proven effectiveness. Those remedies have the ability to fight an infectious agent. Those remedies can destroy a particular type of Herpes virus.

Cold sores often appear at the most inopportune times, leaving the unfortunate sufferer searching for quick cold sore remedies. Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are commonly confused with canker sores inside the mouth. Cold sores however, will always appear on the external lips or right near the mouth and nose and regularly last anywhere from 7-10 days. They are also contagious, passed on by infected saliva or a blister in the early stages. They are caused by a member of the herpes simplex virus that stays dormant inside your cells even when there is no outbreak. There are fortunately a good number of natural cold sore remedies that can diminish both the number of outbreaks and their duration.

Before discussing any remedies for cold sore treatment, it is good to know what causes an outbreak. The herpes simplex virus stays dormant in certain nerve cells after infection, waiting until the opportunity is ripe. While not all triggers may affect everyone, there are several common noteworthy triggers. Stress on the body is the easiest way to sum up the main culprit; including, but not limited to lack of sleep, fatigue, fever, cold or flu, trauma, food allergies, and sunburn, especially on the face. Several nutritional triggers can be monitored, including caffeine, chocolate, nuts, oatmeal, wheat flour products (refined and whole), beans, and other arginine rich foods. While each trigger may not always cause an outbreak, it is helpful to limit the triggers you are exposed to. For instance, chocolate may not always cause an outbreak, but after not sleeping very well the night before, it may be the last straw. A final dietary recommendation to consider is to include foods that are rich in the amino acid lysine, which replaces arginine on nerve receptors, blocking an outbreak.

Once an outbreak occurs, pain management is the best that many treatments can do. There are over-the-counter ointments that shorten the duration of an outbreak, but many sufferers are not happy with these solutions and search out cold sore natural remedies. Homeopathic cold sore remedies can be beneficial but require research to determine the best fit based upon an individual’s total emotional and physical symptoms. Thankfully there are many cold sore home remedies that are budget friendly, natural, and effective. Ice remains one of the top contenders for this spot. Holding ice over the telltale tingling location a cold sore is taking hold of can drive away the virus, delaying, shortening, or even stopping an outbreak. Ice slows down healing, however, after the sore has broken open, and should not be used after this point. Two other promising topical solutions are hydrogen peroxide and garlic oil. Hydrogen peroxide cleans the area and provides additional oxygen to the sore which both speed healing. Garlic oil keeps the scab soft and is a powerful antiviral that can shorten the duration of an outbreak. Several supplements that promote healing include vitamins C, E, and a B-complex, minerals calcium and zinc, and an herbal licorice (not anise) supplement or tea.

While most conventional cold sore remedies can be costly, unnatural and poorly effective, leaving a lot to be desired, thankfully they do not present the only solution.

Although not all triggers can be avoided, careful monitoring and smart nutrition can prevent outbreaks from occurring. A little common sense and a few cheap and effective home remedies up your sleeve will go a long way towards reducing the number and duration of cold sore outbreaks experienced.

Once you are in the market for a cold sore treatment, products and remedies will begin to jump out at you from supermarket and drug store checkout stands. Abreva cold sore treatment is a non-prescription cold sore medication which contains the patented ingredient, 10% Docosanol, for the relief of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 cold sores. It works with healthy cell membranes to help inhibit the ability of the virus to fuse with the cell membrane; Docosanol is not an anti-viral. Recommended dosage is five times a day for up to ten days. Abreva is a smooth, white cream that dries clear, has no smell or taste, and will not tingle or burn. It the only product approved by the U.S. federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to shorten healing time.

The active ingredient in Releev cold sore treatment is Benzalkonium Chloride 0.13% (an organic chloride salt. Echinacea is the source of the plant-based extract in the formulation. This phyto-chemical has antiviral and antibacterial attributes proven in laboratory testing. Releev is the fastest treatment recorded in published literature, repeatedly easing pain within 5 – 30 minutes and relieving symptoms within 24 hours.

Effective natural cold sore treatment can begin with diet and the amino acids, Lysine and Arginine. Available in many common foods, Lysine is also marketed as a supplement, and is more effective when the additional nutrients Vitamin C, Bioflavonoids, and Zinc, are included. The effectiveness of Lysine is in preventing the activity of another amino acid, Arginine, which is the catalyst for herpes simplex replication. Results are noticeable and marked when the dosage of Lysine is 1250mg per day or higher. Some foods that contain Lysine are vegetables, fish, chicken, cheese, milk, brewer’s yeast and beans. Arginine is found in nuts, chocolate, whole and white wheat, oats and gelatin.

When pursuing natural methods of cold sores treatment, other topical suggestions you will encounter are black tea bags, Manuka Honey, Domeboro Powder, Baking Soda, cornstarch, and pure aloe vera gel for relief of various symptoms. Numerous essential oils are suggested for restoring the skin to a smooth appearance after the episode is over. Acupuncture has also been reported to give relief, as well as visualization, self-hypnosis, positive thinking, and prayer. Some recommended behavioral monitoring to control a herpes outbreak is over exposure to sunlight and consumption of refined sugars.

Researching a treatment for cold sore symptoms and discomfort, one must consider the emotional causes and repercussions. Stress and fatigue exacerbate any compromise of the immune system, so learning how to slow down, center, relax, and let go is essential to keeping the body’s natural protective mechanisms in top form. Embarrassment is a not uncommon accompaniment to a breakout, yet the eruption is no reflection on the value or worth of a person. Some of the topical remedies mentioned above allow the application of cosmetics over the affected area. Or a layer of petroleum jelly could be swabbed on an outbreak, providing a base for any concealer. Nothing beats a smile.

The search continues for an effective and reliable cold sore remedy. Unsightly, and even more uncomfortable, cold sores are liquid-filled blisters that often occur around or even in the mouth, are highly contagious, and can last for a week or more. Every individual that has experienced cold sores will have a different suggestion or fix for this common affliction; so what is, in fact, the best cold sore remedy being discussed and offered today?

One must first make a distinction between cold sores and canker sores. Although similar to cold sores, canker sores are generally less severe, can be triggered by different causes, and are treated by different methods. Cold sores are either a dormant virus that can be activated in situations that stress the body, or are a sexually transmitted disease that manifests as a form of oral herpes. Understanding the underlying causes of cold sores, and avoiding them by being mindful and aware, will help to prevent contraction of the virus, as well as future outbreaks. Therefore, prevention can be considered the first natural cold sore remedy. Other simple lifestyle choices to help prevent cold sore outbreaks include eating a well-balanced diet, getting adequate and regular amounts of sleep, doing some form of regular exercise, and seeking counseling to help avoid and deal with stressful situations.

Once a cold sore has started to appear, it is virtually impossible to make disappear. The best way to treat an outbreak is to find a solution that shortens its duration and soothes the discomfort that will inevitably be experienced. Consider looking at a cold sore home remedy before looking for commercial solutions, which are often much less cost-effective, and are not guaranteed to work more efficiently or effectively. Below is a list of documented at-home remedies that may help individuals. It should be understood that different solutions may be effective for different cases, and therefore the appropriate cold sores remedy for any one person is best found through trial and error.

Several cold sore natural remedy options, that can be applied at home, include, but are not limited to, the following: Resveratrol cream, Reishi mushroom powders or supplements, lemon balm, peppermint oil, vitamin E oil, propolis, and other herbs that claim healing properties, such as Echinacea. Many of the above-listed products contain anti-viral and/or anti-inflammatory properties. Although proven to work for certain individuals, they should not be experimented with until first consulting the specific indications and application instructions accompanying them as well as discussing options with a qualified professional. Other natural remedy suggestions include increasing lysine intake by eating foods rich in the amino acid, such as eggs, milk, red meat, brewer’s yeast, fish, and wheat germ, or simply taking supplements, and coating the affected areas with petroleum jelly in order to prevent further infection by external bacteria.

There are numerous advertisements online that claim to eliminate cold sores permanently. As the suggestions listed above, these adverts may have varied levels of success. Before resorting to expensive advertised solutions, consider trying a cold sore remedy from the options listed above, and remember that prevention is always the best solution.