Natural Approaches for Cold Sores

TOPICAL

Lemon Balm tincture  - Apply directly to sores.

Myrrh Gum tincture  - can be applied directly to mouth sores. Add 1 dropper to water for a soothing mouth rinse.

Comfrey or Calendula Salve - Apply to lips for moisturizing and to increase the later stages of healing.

Vitamin E - Can also be applied to lips in place of a salve

Cold Sore Lotion - Apply topically to blisters with a cotton ball 2-3x a day. You can special order it from me for $13.00 an oz. already blended or Make your own with 10 drops each of  the following essential oils: Lavender, Tea Tree, and Thyme blended with 1 teaspoon of Lavender tincture and 1 Tablespoon of water.

FOODS

Increase Foods high in lysine with a good lysine/arginine ratio are cheese, eggs, chicken, milk, lima beans, fish, potatoes, brewer's yeast, and soy products.

Avoid foods with the worst arginine/lysine ratio are chocolate, peanuts, almonds, seeds, cereal grains, gelatin, carob, and raisins.

HERBS

Lemon Balm tincture  - 2 droppers 2-3x a day in water. OK to take at the same time as Lysine

ASHWANGHANDA ROOT  - 2 droppers - 2x a day

ASTRAGALUS ROOT - 2 droppers - 2x a day

SUPPLEMENTS

Lysine  - 500mg – 2 3x a day during outbreaks. To reduce recurrence, if you feel tingling on your lip or are under excess stress, or if you eat too much cholcolate or other argine rich foods, take 1 5oomg lysine 2xa day.

Zinc - 10-40mg a day depending upon how much else is in your multivitamin. Start with 10mg 2x a day and go up from there.

Vitamin C/B vitamins - Emergen-C powder by Alacer is one of the best. It is sold in packets at most health food stores and grocery stores in the supplement section. The tangerine is my favorite  – add to water and rink 1-2x a day. Helps to ease stress and increase water soluble vitamins easily.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Drink lots of water.

Keep out of bright sunlight.

Keep towels and linens separate from other family members. Wash or change pillow cases daily.

Avoid oral sex or kissing until the sores are gone. If there is genital herpes use condoms during intercourse.

Over consumption of food, especially rich or sugary ones, or alcohol, or exposure to environmental toxins, can benefit from a few weeks of drinking Detox Tea.