Home remedies for cold sores are slowly gaining popularity among those seeking relief from this unpleasant infection. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. They usually appear as small but painful fluid filled blisters that are reddish or purple in color. They normally appear one at a time or in little bunches on the outer edge of the lip causing discomfort and pain for 2-3 days. The usual time frame of healing is 10-14 days. Cold sores are contagious and once we are infected the virus is with us for life. Infact, this infection is so common that about 90 percent of the population in the United States get infected by it, although many may never have any symptoms or mild ones at the most.

There are many over-the-counter medications and prescription medication available to treat cold sores but most of these tend to be expensive, have various side effects and are relatively ineffective. With the recent emphasis on healthy living, more and more people are turning to natural remedies for the treatment of these cold sores.

The first half of the treatment is to try and prevent cold sores from occurring frequently. The most effective way to achieve this is to look after our immune system and to prevent the virus from reactivating from their dormant state in our body. When our immune system becomes weak, the virus replicate themselves and move towards the surface of our skin where they appear as cold sores. Taking Vitamins, supplements and balanced diets rich in lysine but with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables are known to boost our immune system. Lysine is an essential amino acid found in food sources such as red meat, eggs, cheese and yeast. A lifestyle change which include regular exercise and reduce stress also helps to keep the virus at bay.

The other half of the treatment is to look at getting relief from the cold sores. There are many home remedies for cold sores but the following are more common ones:

a) Lemon balm creams which contain antiviral properties are found to heal blisters in as short as five days. When used regularly, it can reduce the re-occurrence of the cold sores.

b) The use of resveratrol, a compound mainly found in red grapes, in a cream form can prevent the development of cold sores.

c) The consumption of Reishi, a type of mushroom found in Asia, which is available in supplements or powder form are found to significantly strengthen our body’s immune system and can prevent the spread of the herpes virus.

d) Holding a piece of ice on the infected area for 15-30 minutes can prevent the virus from replicating to its full potential and therefore reduce the duration, size and impact of the cold sores.

e) Applying aloe vera cream on the affected area can reduce the duration, size and impact of the sores.

f) Applying a damp tea bag to the affected area every 5-10 minutes of each hour can reduce the severity and duration of the viral attack.

Most of these home remedies for cold sores will do alot to ease your suffering and promote faster healing especially if they are used at the onset of the viral attack. Click here for more faster relief and “cures” from cold sores

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