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Natural ways to get rid of Cold Sore

Do you want to get rid of cold sores? Cold sores are basically non-reparable herpes simplex infection. Most of the cold sore tends to fade away without the need of any treatment. However, it takes few weeks for the cold sore to fade away. To dispose it quickly you can use some of these home remedies.

Common cause of cold sores

Cold sores are mainly caused by the contamination of the HSV-4 herpes simplex infection type 1. It may not show any symptom when you get infected, but symptoms start at a later stage. The virus causing cold sore is highly contagious and can rapidly transmit from person to person by direct contact. Although when transmitted the virus remains dormant for some time, but gets activated with certain triggers resulting in an outbreak. The trigger may vary from person to person and can be anything from injury, fatigue to periods in women.

Let’s have a look at some of the natural ways to treat cold sore

  1. Use Vanilla extract

You can rub vanilla extract over the sore area.

  • Apply a few drops pure vanilla concentrate to the blister using a sterile cotton ball for about 4 times a day.
  • The vanilla concentrate further helps in decreasing irritation thus makes mouth blister less painful.
  • Always remember to use pure vanilla extract.
  • Use a cotton pad to soak vanilla. Apply the cotton directly to the sore by holding it there for a minute or two. Use this about 4 times a day for quick relief.

 

  1. Use Licorice for quick relief

Licorice is one of the most random natural remedy that you can think of. Licorice root contains glycyrhizic acid that has the unique property of countering viruses. The anti-inflammatory and anti-viral property of licorice makes it one of the best natural remedy. It is advisable to use licorice powder than using whips. Make cream out of the powder. You can also have licorice tea every day.

Mix about a teaspoonful of licorice root powder to ½ teaspoonful of fresh water. Mix this properly to get the cream. You can also use petroleum jelly as the base for mixing licorice powder. Petroleum jelly also helps in speeding up the healing process. To make a petroleum jelly based mixture, mix about a teaspoon or licorice with the same about of licorice. You can change the quantity for the desired consistency of the mixture. Use a cotton roll to spread the cream over the cold sore. Make sure to completely cover the area and leave it there for several hours.

  1. Get some milk

Using a milk compress on your sore helps in speeding up the process. The protein in the milk, such as immunoglobulin is basically anti-bodies that fight of viruses. It also contains I-lysine that helps in inhibiting the amino acid arginine that causes the outbreak and helps in speeding up the healing process. To help with the cold sore you can use a milk compress to ward of pain and virus.

Soak a cotton ball in a little milk and apply it directly on the cold sore for a few minutes. Also keep a clean towel nearby, to ward off the milky residue. If you feel the need, you can also use petroleum jelly after application.

  1. Use Peppermint

Peppermint oil has unique anti-viral properties. It can kill the viruses around the cells. It attacks on the viruses that are floating outside the cold sore. The herpes virus that causes cold sore normally lies dormant inside the skin and when a trigger occurs they erupts. When these viruses erupt, they can be treated by direct application of the oil. When applied, it helps in faster healing of the sores.

To start, use a little water to clean the surface of the cold sore. Cleaning it will some of the surface junk that could have hindered the oil to reach down below. Take a cotton swab and dip it in peppermint oil and water mixture. Apply the cotton directly on the cold sore. If the peppermint oil irritates your skin then try diluting it further with water. Use this twice daily for best results.

  1. Use Echinacea

Echinacea helps in boosting your immune system and defense. It can also help in avoiding cold sore which often occurs due to a weak immune system. So, by strengthening immune system it helps in preventing cold sore.

Place your Echinacea bag in a mug and pour some boiling water over it. Cover the mug for some time and let the Echinacea do its magic. Remove the bag and squeeze the water out of it to get the last good stuff from the bag. Take this tea regularly for building immunity.

  1. Include Vitamin C and E in your diet

Vitamins are good for your body. Vitamin C helps in boosting white blood cell count and hence helps in increasing body’s natural defense mechanism. When some infectious foreign body enters your blood stream these little cells springs into action to fight off infection. Vitamin E when used has been found to help in relieving irritation and pain from the cold sore and also helps in minimizing scars. You can have your daily intake of vitamin through supplements or through your diet.

There are several fruits and vegetable that are rich in vitamin C. Some of these are citrus fruits, kiwi, broccoli, red/green bell peppers, spinach and tomatoes. There are several other food items that are a good source of vitamin E like, nuts, grains, leafy vegetables and avocados.

  1. Use Aloe gel

Aloe is quite helpful in soothing minor skin ailments. It also fights off bacteria that can be causing irritation in the sore. It is so dependable that sometimes it is also referred as one of the best natural remedies available. You can either use an aloe plant or could buy the gel from the store.

If you have access to aloe plant then break off one end of its fleshy, juicy leaf and directly apply the gel to your sore. If you don’t have an aloe plant then you can use gel from the market. Dip a cotton ball in about ½ spoon of aloe Vera gel and apply it directly on the affected area.

  1. Use some cornstarch paste

Cornstarch is fine, silky in nature. It helps in soothing the itchy burning sensation of the sore when it is directly applied. The fact that makes cornstarch a perfect home remedy for cold sore is because it neutralizes the pH of the sore. The sore virus usually thieves only in the acidic environment, so when cornstarch is applied it reacts with the acidic environment due to its alkaline nature and hence neutralizes its effect. To get instant relief from the cold sore directly apply a thin paste of the cornstarch on the affected area.

Take about 1 tablespoonful of cornstarch and put it in a small bowl. Mix about a spoon of clean water. Add little water slowly thus making a paste like form. Put the paste on your cold sore before going to bed and wash it off next morning. Repeat the application until the cold sore is completely resolved.

  1. Use Ice

Cold sore can hurt a lot, but you can numb the part by holding a little ice cube on the affected area. After that you can put some petroleum jelly on the area. The jelly will help in keeping the bacteria out and will also help in loosening the tight skin that can occur if the blister goes dry.

Take about two/three ice cubes and hold it on your sore for as long as possible. You can also use an ice pack for the same. When you are done, pat off any residue water gently from the sore and apply a little petroleum jelly on the affected area.

  1. Use some witch hazel

The leaf of North American witch hazel is used for medicinal purposes for years. You can easily get yourself a bottle of witch hazel or hydrosol without worrying about finding plant and ripping it off. Since much oil can’t be extracted so commercially it is sold as hydrosol in general stores and pharmacies. It is also quite effective in a number of skin ailments like acne, insect bites, bruises, blisters, cold sores etc.

Take a cotton pad and soak it in the witch hazel. Use it directly on the sore and leave it there for a moment. You can repeat the same twice daily as per need.

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