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.

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.