Overview
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters are unwanted and painful sores that form on the mouth. The HSV-1, herpes simplex virus is the cause of fever blisters. In this article, we will discuss a home remedy for cold sore to treat cold sore symptoms.
There are plenty of over-the-counter medicines that can help you deal with cold sores. You can easily buy them at your local pharmacy. But, we will discuss some home and natural remedies that are worth trying.
There are plenty of home remedies for cold sores that can help relieve symptoms. Some even protect the blister from further exposure to germs.
Home remedy for Cold Sore
1- Use Of Tea Bag as a home remedy for Cold Sore
Apply a tea bag to the blister for up to 30 minutes. This remedy has been around for a long time and has been known to get rid of blisters in 4 to 5 days.
2- Petroleum Gel
Cover the cold sore with petroleum-based gel. This will protect the infected area from coming into contact with more bacteria. Using an ointment containing benzocaine will numb the sore, temporarily freeing you from pain. Both of these items can be found in most home medicine cabinets.
3- Licorice
Not a well-known home cold sore remedy is licorice. Specifically, glycyrrhizic acid which is an ingredient found in licorice is known to stop the HSV-1 virus. Try some licorice the next time you have a cold sore.
The key to success here is to only chew real licorice and not its candy counterpart. If the label lists licorice mass as an ingredient, then you have the real deal.
4- Licorice powder
An alternative treatment is to obtain licorice powder and apply a dab to the blister. You can also make a cream by adding a bit of vegetable shortening to the powder. Then apply the cream to the sore.
Remember, moderation is the prudent way to proceed. Natural home remedies for cold sores can have side effects, just like store-bought medicines.
5- Licorice root
An interesting cure for cold sore is licorice root. Try a quarter teaspoon of licorice root and add it to three-quarters of a cup of warm water. Mix it up, and then swish it around your mouth twice a day until the sore goes away.
This is known to reduce the severity of cold sores and heal faster. You can also dab a small amount of St. Johns Wort on the blister. Apply daily until the cold sore disappears.
6- Cold Milk
There are naturalists who insist cold milk lessens the severity of cold sores and promotes the healing process as well. The procedure is to dip a cotton ball into a dish of cold milk, and then apply it to the affected area.
There is fat in milk called monocaprin that may inhibit the HSV-1 virus which causes cold sore. Since it is a fat that is the active remedy, whole milk is recommended over its lower fat counterparts.
7- Use of Lemon
Lemon has been used as a home remedy for cold sore for a long time. This treatment should only be applied at the start of an outbreak, and not with open sores or when they have scabbed over.
You can also fill a small spray container with lemon juice that can easily be carried. The idea is to then spray lemon juice on the budding blister, perhaps when at work. Another choice is to drink lemon juice or apply lemon balm to affected area to help prevent outbreaks altogether.
8- Garlic
Garlic is considered to be one of the most powerful home remedies in the fight against cold sores. However, it does have a few drawbacks. While it may effectively help rid you of a blister, it does have a strong odor.
It can also cause upset stomachs and may burn your skin if used in its rawest form. A better choice is to use garlic extracts. This will help you to avoid the mentioned unpleasant side effects.
9- Aspirin
Most home medicine chests have a supply of aspirin or ibuprofen. Naturally, you will want to read the directions before taking these over-the-counter medications. However, they may help lessen some of the pain and discomfort of a cold sore. It’s a good idea to have a supply with you during an outbreak.
10- Sunscreen
Another good home remedy for cold sore is to protect your lips from the sun. This is because the sun can trigger a cold sore outbreak. Simply apply sunscreen to your lips or apply a lip balm on sores.
Precautions for a Home remedy for cold sore
When an outbreak occurs get yourself a new toothbrush. When the sore goes away then use a different toothbrush. Better yet, throw the toothbrush in the trash you used when you were nursing your cold sore. This way you won’t infect yourself again.
It might sound obvious, but don’t touch the sore. Doing so can spread the virus. In addition, the HSV-1 virus is very contagious. Avoid kissing or oral sex with special someone in your life when you have a cold sore.
Do not share cups, utensils, or towels. Wash your hands often, especially if you find yourself touching the blister. Following this advice will keep you from infecting others.
Equally important, is not to touch your eyes or genitals during an outbreak. You can spread the virus to other areas of your own body. It is a good idea to carry around a hand sanitizer in case you do touch the blister, and cannot wash your hands at that precise moment.
What to avoid?
Any mention of home remedies for cold sores is not complete without discussing how to prevent cold sores in the first place. Knowing what triggers fever blisters makes it easier to avoid a flare-up.
Stress can trigger an outbreak. Exercise, yoga, and reading are excellent stress reducers. Moreover, avoid high acid and salty foods, like potato chips, and citrus fruit.
Conclusions
In summary, cold sores are dreaded by most people. They usually are visible on the lips and can be painful. There is plenty of over-the-counter medications that may help lessen Cold Sore Treatment severity of a flare-up.
However, many home remedies are known to work, including licorice root, tea bags, lemon juice, and garlic. As with any cold sore treatment, home remedies should be used in moderation. You should contact with a specialist for medical advice because overindulgence may cause unwanted side effects.
