Natural remedies for cold sores

Natural remedies for cold sores

There are several things that can be done and used as home remedies for cold sores, just as there are some things that can be done to prevent cold sores in the first place.

A cold sore often breaks out as a result of a cold - hence its name. It usually lasts ten days to two weeks. If they last longer or occur more frequently, even if the home remedy for cold sores works every time, the patient should see a doctor to determine the cause of the recurring outbreaks and combat them.

Here are various home remedies for cold sores that claim to work. Some are to be used in conjunction with others.

The first home remedy for cold sores is to apply ice to the cold sores for 5-10 minutes every hour. Another way to prevent the spread is to apply a wet and cold tea bag for the same period of time. The tea contains tannic acid, which has an antiviral effect. A warm tea bag applied several times a day for 20-30 minutes should work to remove the cold sore in five days. Foods that make cold sores worse and help clear them as home remedies for cold sores include chocolate, peas, nuts, seeds, oatmeal, and other whole grains. These foods are high in arginine, which makes the cold sore worse. Acidic foods, salty foods and coffee should be reduced to get rid of cold sores.

Vitamin B, especially vitamin B-12, and folic acid are dietary supplements that help rid a body of cold sores. Another home remedy combination for cold sores is a formula that can be made in advance and stored in a glass or plastic bottle. This is made with 100 milliliters of coconut oil, 2 ml of Dettol and 3 ml of carbolic acid. This is applied directly to the cold sores once or twice a day. This is not only a home remedy that works for cold sores, but also for boils, mild itching and mosquito bites. The formula has a shelf life of many years. Witch hazel is also said to help cure cold sores.

These B vitamin preparations scored “very good” in our test

Another praised home remedy for cold sores is taking four capsules of acidophilus with milk three or four times a day. Others swear by rubbing aloe gel or juice on the cold sore or applying a paste made from cornstarch. Still others say that extracts of lemon balm or camphor spirit work.

These probiotics with acidophilus not only have a positive effect on cold sores

This aloe gel convinced us in the test

The final home remedy for cold sores is a drink made from a combination of tea tree oil, herbal sage, and violet and herbal sedatives. This combination is made into a tea with two or three sage leaves and a piece of ginger root or some ginger powder added to a cup of boiling water. A cup of this tea should be drunk two to three times a day after a few minutes of steeping.

This tea tree oil scored “very good” in our test