Home remedies for cold sores are effective alternate treatment for the problem. Cold sores or fever blisters are caused by herpes simplex virus and mostly occur on skin adjacent to mouth, lips, fingers, chin, nostrils or genitals. They are contagious and care should be taken to avoid them from spreading.
There are few simple home remedies to treat cold sores like applying ice on the blisters, rubbing a piece of ice on the blister for few minutes can suppress the infection. Tea bags can also be pressed against the blister for curing it, warm tea bags are more beneficial. Applying a pinch of salt is another home remedy for fever blisters. Moisten the finger and press on salt and then press it against the fever blisters, the acidic effect of the salt helps in alleviating the infection.
Treatment through herbs is also an effective natural home remedy for cold sores. Echinacea and golden seal extract mixture can prevent the cold sores from spreading as it boosts up the immunity system, one dropper in a day for 3 days only, helps immensely in treating cold sores. Applying witch hazel is also beneficial in treating cold sores. Application of aloe vera gel is also an effective treatment in curing fever blisters. Lemon balm is another very useful home remedy for cold sores because of its anti-virus properties. Lemon balm can be applied externally or lemon balm extract can be consumed internally for treating cold sores. Application of olive leaf extract on the blisters also alleviates the infection as it is a good natural antibiotic. L-Lysine consumed 500 mg in a day, is used for fighting the virus causing fever blisters.
Reishi and astragalus, a type of mushroom, is also used in controlling the effect of herpes virus. Peppermint oil is also a useful home remedy for cold sores. Propolis or bee propolis is an effective compound to control and cure the virus causing cold sores, it is easily available. Resveratrol, found in abundance in red grapes, is another effective treatment of cold sores, it can be applied topically on the blisters for at least 6 hours for few days. Corn starch paste or spirit of camphor, applied topically, are also used as a treatment and have been found as effective home remedies for cold sores.
Garlic is also an effective home remedy for cold sores, consuming it in the diet or applying a garlic clove topically on the blister after cutting it in two pieces also alleviates the problem. Tea tree oil applied topically is also an effective natural treatment. Tea of sage leaves with a piece of ginger root added to it is also used to cure the cold sores.
Proper diet also plays an important role in the treatment of fever blisters. Foods those are high in arginine shall be strictly avoided like chocolates, peas, seeds, peanuts, grains, oatmeal and whole wheat. Intake of tea, coffee and processed food shall be restricted. Consumption of diet rich in vitamin A, C and E is very beneficial. Diet full of anti oxidants and high complex carbohydrates and inclusion of fruits and all types of green leafy vegetables is very beneficial.
