Cold Sore Home Remedies

Looking for cold sore home remedies?

There is nothing worse than that tingling feeling telling you there's a cold sore breakout on its way, and once it comes; you know there is a very good chance it may be with you for the next 7 to 10 days.

Heartburn is basically a kind of indigestion in which the Stomach acid enters the throat and irritates it leaving you with a burning sensation in the chest area.

Fortunately there are a few things we can do to quicken the healing processes up. Bellow you will find some very effective healing methods that people have been using for years to treat cold sores.

Whether you are looking to combat a full outbreak of sores or hoping to treat the area before the cold sore even appears, you should easily find a cold sore home remedy to suit you here.

Cold Sore Causes

Cold sores are caused by the contagious herpes simplex virus. They are small blisters that are usually found on the outer part of the lips, chin and nose although they can also be found on other parts of the body to.

Quite often you can experience a tingling feeling for up to 24 hours before the sores appear.

Some people can get an outbreak just once, whiles others have them over and over again. Cold sores often come after having a cold, sore throat or a chest infection, but can also be trigger from stress, menstruation or tiredness.

Unfortunately there is no permanent cure for cold sores, but there are some very easy cold sore home remedies that you can try, and some good precautions you can take to avoid catching them from someone else, as cold sores can be highly contagious.

Cold Sore Precautions

To avoid spreading cold sores on yourself or others try not to touch them, if you do happen to touch them, wash your hands straight away. Cold sores can easily be spread to other parts of the body and can take up to 28 days before this new infection shows up.
Don't kiss anyone if you think you may have a cold sore on the way (the Infection is often passed on in childhood when someone kisses a family member who has a cold sore. The virus then passes through the skin, and travels up one of the nerves where it sits within the nerves root until it's activated).
Never share razors or towels with anyone.
Cold sores can be triggered by sunlight or strong winds. Wear a homemade lip balm daily that contains UV protection.
Cold sores can often be a sign that you may be run down, so take time out to rest and relax

Easy Cold Sore Home Remedies

Aromatherapy

This is the easiest and most effective way to treat a cold sore.

Use a cotton bud to apply a small amount of neat tea tree or lavender essential oil to the cold sore. Tea tree and lavender have antiseptic and healing properties and can also take the sting out of them.

Other very good oils to use are bergamot, lemon, chamomile and patchouli however these oils need to be diluted with carrier oils such as a light olive or almond oil. Dilute 3 to 5 drops of essential oil to 3 teaspoons (1/2 oz - 15ml) carrier oil and massage into cold sore. You can make up a little more than I've suggested here and store it in a dark colored bottle for convenience.

Herbal remedy

Use a spoonful of St. Johns wart tincture with a few drops of myrrh essential oil to make a soothing lotion.

Lemon balm or herb Melissa are very good herbs for preventing cold sores. Makeup an infusion or tincture and apply it daily to the lips with cotton wool.

Reflexology

For one minute, press the upper part of your big toe directly bellow your toenail (this point is known as the face reflexology point). Then press the other toes in the same positions.

Cold sore home remedies from the Kitchen cupboard

Vitamin c and bioflavinoids can help with the healing process of cold sores, along with finding these ingredients in supplements, vitamin c and bioflavinoids can also be found in green bell peppers, blackcurrants and citrus fruits. Adding these into your diet can help keep cold sores and mouth ulcers at bay.

Dabbing a few drops of undiluted lemon juice on to a cold sore will sting, but it will help with the healing process.

Visualization

As cold sores are often triggered by stress many people have managed to control and limit the outbreak of cold sores, mouth ulcers and spots using this calming visualization method.

As this treatment is to relive stress it works best when you are lying down, but you can also do this whilst sitting.

Close your eyes relax and imagine that you are in a peaceful place, imagine you are listing to a waterfall even better that you are sitting on a beach listening to the waves. Use this cold sore home remedy for about 15 minutes whenever you feel a cold sore on its way.