Home Remedy For Cold Sores.

Tiny white blisters have popped up in the corners of your mouth and around your lips. And, if you're not very careful, they'll soon pop up on the lips of your spouse, your children, and anyone else with whom you smooch or share a glass.

Unfortunately, you have oral herpes, the kissing cousin of herpes simplex type 2, or genital herpes. And you have it for life. The herpes virus can't be cured, and when this permanent resident isn't loitering around your mouth, it's snoozing in the nerves near your brain stem.
But it's not a sound sleeper. A lot of different factors can wake it up. Stress. Too much sunlight or heat. A weakened immune system (which is why these blisters are also called cold sores or fever blisters. They occur more easily when your immune system is distracted by fighting off a cold or fever).

Some people get cold sores every once in a while, and some get them almost nonstop. Either way, if you're prone to cold sores, you'll be glad to know that there are great natural remedies for preventing them, shortening outbreaks, and providing pain relief.

LYSINE: An Effective Virus Blocker
The herpes virus reproduces itself by cozying up to the amino acid arginine in the "binding site" of a cell. But if the cells' sites are already occupied by another amino acid-lysine-the virus has no place to call home. That's why alternative healers suggest that you protect yourself against cold sores by increasing your intake of lysine.
If you have chronic cold sores, talk to your doctor about preventing outbreaks with lysine, says Amy Rothenberg, N.D., a naturopathic physician in Enfield, Connecticut. If your outbreaks are occasional, you can most likely take lysine just when you think you're about to have one. The usual signal is a familiar tingling or throbbing sensation in the area.

FOODS WITH LYSINE: Healing Help
During an outbreak, you may also want to eat more foods that contain lysine, says Flora Parsa Stay, D.D.s., a dentist in Oxnard, California. They include turkey, ricotta cheese, avocado, eggs, and chocolate.

FOODS WITH ARGININE: A Must to Avoid
If you're prone to oral herpes, you should steer clear of foods that contain arginine (that advice goes double during an outbreak). Those foods include nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts, and walnuts), seeds (sunflower and sesame), pork, milk, and cheese, says Michael Lipelt, N.D., D.D.s., a naturopathic physician and dentist in Sebastopol, California.

YOGURT: The Bacterial Fighter
The acidophilus bacteria found in some brands of yogurt help counter the herpesvirus, says Michael Olmsted, D.D.s., a biocompatible dentist in Del Mar, California. He recommends 2 to 3 cups a day of acidophilus-containing yogurt, both as a preventive measure if you have chronic cold sores and to speed healing during an outbreak.

ICE: Freeze Out Sores
At the first sign of a sore, cover the area where you think the outbreak is occurring with an ice cube wrapped in a napkin or washcloth. Hold it in place for as long as it's comfortable, take a break, then reapply. Keep it on your skin for a total of 15 to 30 minutes.
"Viruses don't do well in a cold environment, and the ice can stop the blisters from forming," says William Payne, D.D.s., a dentist in McPherson, Kansas.

ASTRAGALUS: A Virus Killer
The herb astragalus boosts your immune system and kills viruses, which is a must in fending off cold sores, says Beverly Yates, N.D., a naturopathic physician and director of the Natural Health Care Group in Seattle. She recommends taking it in capsule or tincture form at the first sign of a sore and continuing until the outbreak is over. Follow the dosage recommendations on the label.

CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM: To Prevent Problems
These minerals help keep the body's pH alkaline, which is a necessary step in preventing cold sores, says Dr. Olmsted. He recommends taking 1,000 milligrams of calcium and 1,000 milligrams of magnesium as a daily preventive dose for those with chronic sores and the same dose during an outbreak for rapid healing.

ZINC: It Does Double Duty
This nutrient builds the immune system, thus helping to resist cold sores, and also strengthens the epithelial tissue on the lips and the inside of your mouth so that sores can't get a foothold. Dr. Rothenberg recommends 15 milligrams a day as a preventive dose for those with chronic sores and the same amount during an outbreak for faster healing.

BETA-CAROTENE: For Fast Healing
This vitamin strengthens the mucous membranes of the mouth and speeds the healing of a cold sore, says Dr. Rothenberg. She recommends 80 to 100 milligrams daily during an outbreak. If you have chronic cold sores, talk to your doctor about taking this amount every day as a preventive measure.

VITAMIN E: Building Integrity
This nutrient also builds immunity and the integrity of the epithelium. Dr. Rothenberg recommends 400 international units a day as a preventive step for those with chronic problems and during an outbreak for speedier healing.


VITAMIN C WITH BIOFLAVONOIDS: For Healing and Prevention
These nutrients also speed healing, says Dr. Stay. Look for a vitamin C product with bioflavonoids and take 2,000 milligrams daily during the entire course of the outbreak. Dr. Rothenberg also suggests this as a maintenance dose for those with chronic cold sores.

LEMON BALM: Soothe the Pain
The herb lemon balm is particularly soothing to cold sores, says Dr. Lipelt. Look for a lemon balm ointment in a health food store, he says, and use it as often as needed throughout the episode.