Let’s face it, cold sores aren’t among the most comfortable problems to deal with. And unfortunately, when these “fever blisters” flare up they can certainly have an impact on self esteem and general physical health.
It’s easy to give up when dealing with these viruses. But believe it or not, there are natural remedies for cold sores that have been proven to be quite effective (note: we are not physicians and we always recommend consulting a doctor. There’s our disclosure :-). And one of those natural remedies is the use of essential oils, which we will be discussing in this post.
Take note: All of these natural essential oil remedies can be used to treat canker sores as well. Whether it be stress, a cold, or the flu, there are a number of triggers for these pesky little sores.
How to treat cold sores?
Sometimes caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), cold sores can affect both the genitals and areas around the mouth. They can be painful and produce an undesirable facial appearance.
Cold sores generally start to heal within a few days, in some cases, a few weeks. But even if they inflict pain or cause you to become embarrassed, they can be treated (depending on their severity). While you may not be able to eradicate flare-ups altogether, treatments may involve everything from:
- Skin creams and lotion
- Various ointments
- Sometimes oral medications
- Essential oils
These various treatments can eliminate cold sores faster, as well as easing painful blisters or other symptoms of discomfort. While there is no cure for the herpes simplex virus, treatment can curb the number of cold sores you suffer from while decreasing the severity of them.
Introducing essential oils
Essential oils are a natural remedy that can effectively treat cold sore outbreaks by applying the natural oil directly to the sores. They are a quick and quite successful organic solution. Note, depending on the oil, it is a good idea to dilute whatever product you are using with a carrier oil. This will help prevent any skin irritation. To name a few essential oils for remedying cold sores:
- Geranium: A simple, natural cold sore remedy that works wonders. Also promotes clear healthy skin while calming nerves and anxiety.
- Melaluca: Also known as tea tree oil, melaluca has a range of applications, including enhancing immunity and purifying skin.
- Lavender: More commonly used for stress and anxiety, lavender has wellness properties that can soothe skin irritation and quicken skin recovery.
The Protective Blend is a blend of several different essential oils, used to protect from seasonal and environmental threats, as well as safeguarding a healthy immune system. Applied topically, this blend delivers cleansing, therapeutic benefits. Ingredients include: Clove bud, wild orange, eucalyptus, cinnamon bark, and rosemary.
With just a little trial and error, you’ll likely find one or a combination of essential oils that best fit your needs. We recommend maintaining a journal of what you use at each specific episode. Recording things like how much and how you applied will help you determine the best overall solution.
A study on melissa essential oil
A 1999 study by Jill Hoppe in Medical Herbalism involved a placebo-controlled trial that studied the effectiveness of a topical cream derived from lemon balm – also known as Melissa. The substance which can be found in Melissa essential oil, was used for the treatment of HSL.
There were 66 patients in the trial, each of whom had at least four cases of herpes yearly. The lemon balm cream was applied directly on the skin four times daily for a total of five days. When compared to the placebo patients, a notable difference in the size of the blisters occurred by day two of the study.
The Melissa derivative significantly shortened healing time and eased symptoms of burning, itching, swelling, and tingling. In addition, the authors concluded that the lemon substance would prolong intervals between cold sore episodes.
Appreciation is the key to doing more that is why I have took some time out to thank some one who cured me of my 2 years Herpes Simplex problem. It became a major problem to me as it was affecting my marital life and I was no longer comfortable so I decided to look for a solution and I came across a post of Dr Lusanda and how he has been helping people of the same problem I contacted him and told him all I have been facing in my life. He told me how to get his product and how to take it after every thing I find out that all was now okay with me and that my Herpes problem was gone that is why I have come out today to say thank you to him and for any problem either from man or woman.