Home Remedies for Cold Sores

Home remedies for cold sores are numerous, and there are many different things that you can do to stop the pain and blemishes caused by this condition. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and there is no cure, but treatments can greatly decrease the number and severity of these breakouts. One such treatment includes ice, one of the most common treatments for almost every illness. Apply ice to the area that is broken out in the sores for a few minutes every two hours. This will minimize redness, swelling, and pain, and make the sores look much better. A moistened tea bag can also provide relief, in two separate ways. Applying the tea bag for a few minutes every few hours can provide some relief. The teabag can also be warmed, and then applied as a compress to the blisters for half an hour three or four times a day, to provide more effective relief of the symptoms. Witch hazel can also provide very effective relief, and help to dry up the blisters, helping to heal them a little faster. Aloe vera gel or essential oils can be used topically on the blisters, and common household salt can be placed on your fingertip and rubbed on the blisters, and this will help to disinfect the area and dry out the blisters as well.

Home remedies for cold sores can include many different herbal remedies, as well. Common herbs used to combat cold sores include echinacea, lemon balm, chamomile, licorice, St. Johns wort, and Oregon grape root, to name just a few. Some of these herbal remedies can help by acting as a natural antiviral, while others help to boost your immune system so that you can fight off the virus much more efficiently. Echinacea can actually shorten the duration of the healing time of the blisters when an outbreak occurs, making them dry up and disappear faster. There are many different herbs that can help with the virus that causes cold sores, and these will vary in effectiveness, depending upon your specific physical and medical make up and history. It is important to find the right combination of treatments which work best for your individual condition.