Home Remedies for Fever Blisters and Cold Sores
Learn How to Prevent Cold Sores
Home remedies for fever blisters can help them heal faster and relieve the pain. With home remedies for cold sores learn how to prevent them.
Cold sores are the same as fever blisters. They are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 and they are contageous. They begin as a collection of small blisters and in two or three days form thick scabs. Many people have the herpes virus and don't know it until something triggers a break out. Many different things can trigger the outbreak including stress, sun exposure, a cold, menstruation or any illness. Sometimes they just appear when life seems all rosy.
It is believed that foods containing the amino acid arginine can bring on an eruption. These foods are nuts, seeds, peas, oatmeal, whole wheat, gelatine, and chocolate. Coffee is also highly suspect.
A canker sore is not the same as a cold sore. A canker sore appears inside the mouth as a small white patch surrounded by red and it is caused by a bacteria. They are not contageous.
Both cold sores and canker sores can be extremely painful. Cold sores which appear around the lips or nose are unsightly and embarrasing.
How to Prevent Cold SoresEliminate the foods containing arginine which are listed above. Take a daily vitamin B12 supplement. Boost your immune system by taking vitamine C and vitamine E. Eat yogurt which contains live cultures every day. Yogurt contains L-ysine which is believed to help prevent cold sores. Get you yogurt at a health food store and make sure it does not contain gelatin. L-Lysine can also be taken in capsule form. Use a sunscreen if you are one of those people who get cold sores after sun exposure.
To prevent others from getting fever blisters from you:
If it is too late and you feel the tingly sensation of a sore developing try the home remedies for fever blisters below. Herbs for Cold SoresLemon Balm or Bee Balm as it is called in Europe has potent antiviral properties which make it effective for treating cold sores. Compresses soaked in tea or tincture made with fresh Lemon Balm leaves can help a sore heal faster. An ointment or salve containing lemon balm can also be used.
Olive Leaf is another antiviral herb which has shown effectiveness in preventing outbreaks of fever blisters. It is available in capsules and should be taken with food while drinking plenty of water before and afterwards. Do not take Olive Leaf if you are on insulin.
Black Tea is an antiviral and tea bags that have been steeped in hot water and then cooled can be placed on the fever blister and held there for ten minutes two or three times a day.
Tea Tree Oil not only helps a cold sore heal faster, it also reduces the pain. Mix a few drops of Tea Tree Oil with a few drops of water or olive oil and apply with a Q-Tip.
Goldenseal speeds the healing of cold sores. Just dab a little goldenseal liquid extract on the sore several times a day. You can also puncture a gel cap with a sterilized needle and squeeze a small amount onto the sore. Read more about this amazing herb at Benefits of Goldenseal.
Hopefully you will be able to prevent future outbreaks but if not, use these home remedies for fever blisters to lessen the discomfort and speed up the healing process.
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