Cold Sore Remedies
Cold Sores are very easy to identify. Cold sores are small blisters that often are found around the mouth area. Cold sores are caused by a virus. There are two different forms of this virus, which is called herpes simplex virus. Type one is often the cause of many cold sores. Cold sore remedies exist that can eliminate cold sores fast.
Available Cold Sore Remedies
Lysine for cold sores & Abreva
Lysine is one of the most popular cold sore remedies. Lysine is a very popular over the counter treatment that can be taken as a cold sore is felt coming on. It is said to greatly decrease the amount of time that a cold sore sticks around. Lysine is an amino acid that is essential for good health.
Our body does not produce or create this acid, so it must be taken in supplement form or through a healthy diet. While Lysine has been proven to help with lowering the amount of outbreaks and shortening the time a cold sore last, there are a few side effects users should be aware of.
Lysine Side Effects
When taking lysine supplements users can expect higher levels of triglycerides in the blood as well as higher cholesterol levels as well.
Taking too much lysine can cause:
- Muscle cramps
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
Other Cold Sore Remedies
Rub ice on the affected area Cold sores are painful. Ice has natural pain relieving properties that can help alleviate the pain of the affected area. Rub the ice cube in circular manner instead of using a back and forth motion to avoid scratching the area. Do this for a few minutes each hour until the pain is tolerable. Resume doing this once the pain is too strong to bear. Personally this is one of my favorite cold sore remedies.
Use the healing properties of tea. Tea, regardless of any kind, has healing properties that’s been recognized in Chinese medicines for thousands of centuries. However, it’s commonly taken orally as a beverage. But it can also be used as a topical cure for many skin related diseases including cold sores. You can dip a tea bag in warm water and then pull it out. Let the excess water drip in the cup before putting the wet tea bag in your blisters. Leave this on for about five minutes. Repeat the procedure every hour.
Apply cold milk in the affected area. This is perhaps the most commonly available cure for cold sores since there’s guaranteed to be at least one bottle of milk in every refrigerator. Doctors believe that cold milk can also hasten the healing process of cold sores. Dip a part of a cotton ball or a cotton bud in cold milk and then gently apply it to your blister. The cold will ease the pain almost immediately while the nutrients contained in milk will help cure the blister faster.
Cover your blisters with bits of raw onion. One of the stranger cold sore remedies, the Chinese, East Indians, Egyptians and ancient Romans have long ago discovered the anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties of onion. The same properties can help reduce the inflammation of a cold sore and kill any bacteria in the area. Just cut an onion into small pieces and use it to cover your blisters. It’s best done when you are in a reclined position or lying down.
The last of the cold sore remedies, Rinse your mouth with plum juice. This sometimes sweet, sometimes tart fruit is eaten raw or in jams. But for the treatment of cold sores that has spread inside your mouth, you will use the fresh juice of a plum fruit to rinse your mouth. You can also use this juice as a topical treatment for the blisters. Use a ball of cotton or a Q tip to apply the plum juice in the affected area.
Sources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/coldsores1.shtml#cold_sore_treatments
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/home-remedies-for-cold-sores.htm