Cold Sores
Natural Remedies

Cold Sores - Editor's Choice

| Modified on Mar 23, 2025
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Cold Sore Natural Remedies

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are small, painful blisters that commonly appear around the mouth, caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Though there is no permanent cure for HSV, many natural remedies offer quick relief, reduce pain, and speed healing.

What Are Cold Sores?

Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that typically appear on or around the lips. They often break open, leaving behind crusty, uncomfortable patches. Before cold sores form, many individuals experience itching, burning, or tingling sensations at the affected site. Additional symptoms can include fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. These sores result from infection by herpes simplex virus types 1 or 2.

Effective Natural Remedies for Cold Sores

Vitamin C

Vitamin C boosts immunity, reduces inflammation, and promotes rapid healing. Taking vitamin C supplements (500-1,000 mg daily) or applying crushed vitamin C tablets topically to the sore can significantly shorten recovery time.

L-Lysine

This essential amino acid helps inhibit HSV growth and replication. Oral L-lysine supplements (1,000 mg daily) or topical lysine ointments are commonly used to prevent and heal cold sores quickly.

Myrrh Oil

Myrrh oil provides pain relief and helps eliminate infections. Apply diluted myrrh oil directly to cold sores to soothe irritation and accelerate healing.

Licorice Root

Licorice contains glycyrrhizic acid, known for its antiviral properties against HSV. Apply licorice powder mixed with water directly to the sore or drink licorice tea regularly for immune support and symptom relief.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has powerful antiviral and antiseptic benefits. Dilute a few drops in a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, and gently apply to cold sores several times daily for faster recovery.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil contains menthol, which has antiviral and soothing properties. Applying diluted peppermint oil to cold sores reduces pain, swelling, and irritation.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Lemon balm is widely recognized for its antiviral activity against HSV. Using lemon balm cream or balm regularly on affected areas can promote faster healing and help prevent recurrent outbreaks.

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera soothes inflamed skin and accelerates healing due to its anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties. Apply pure aloe vera gel directly to cold sores for comfort and rapid recovery.

Ice Packs or Cold Compresses

Applying ice or cold compresses helps reduce redness, swelling, and discomfort immediately. Apply for 10 minutes every few hours as needed during an outbreak.

Acetone (Most Popular Earth Clinic Remedy)

Though unconventional, some Earth Clinic readers have reported success using acetone (found in nail polish remover) to dry out cold sores quickly. Use cautiously by applying a tiny amount directly to the blister with a cotton swab, avoiding surrounding skin. Due to potential skin irritation, acetone should be used sparingly and with care.

Dietary and Lifestyle Tips for Preventing Cold Sores

  • Healthy Diet: Eat foods rich in immune-boosting vitamins C and E, such as oranges, berries, spinach, nuts, and seeds.
  • Limit Arginine-Rich Foods: Foods high in arginine (nuts, chocolate, and certain grains) may trigger outbreaks. Balancing with lysine-rich foods or supplements can help.
  • Stress Management: Manage stress through mindfulness practices, yoga, or exercise to reduce outbreak frequency.
  • Sun Protection: UV exposure can trigger cold sores. Regularly use SPF-containing lip balms or wear hats when outdoors.

Conclusion

Although cold sores can be painful and persistent, numerous effective natural remedies exist to manage outbreaks and provide quick relief. By employing treatments such as lysine, tea tree oil, vitamin C, and dietary adjustments, you can reduce symptoms, shorten healing time, and lessen recurrence.

Continue reading below to learn how Earth Clinic readers successfully treated their cold sores naturally, and share your own remedies and experiences with our community!

Related Links:

Effective Natural Treatments for Genital Herpes Relief
Genital HPV Remedies


The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Acetone

Posted by Jennifer (San Francisco) on 11/24/2020
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Acetone for cold sores works. I also have used ice directly early on for a few hours off and on and that helps too.

However, the MOST important thing you can do to PREVENT cold sores is to NEVER consume ANY artificial sweeteners, which all contain aspartame, including almost any type of gum these days, diet sodas, diet drinks of ANY form, etc, as the aspartame WAKES the virus and activates cold sores. I have not had a cold sore in many years as a result of avoiding aspartame. Hope this helps someone.


L-Lysine

Posted by Bethany H. (San Diego, Ca) on 02/10/2019
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

L-lysine for cold sores WORKS!!!

My mom, sisters and I suffer from cold sores- or at least we used to, because we discovered that taking L-lysine stops, actually STOPS cold sores in their tracks. As soon as you feel that “is that a cold sore funny sore feeling “ on your lip or around lips area, start taking L-lysine immediately! Take 1000 mg of L-lysine two to three times a day. So immediately effective and we all carry in our purse and on trips so we have immediate help in case it strikes while you're out and about. I've spent so much money or various cold sore lip creams but this is the best ever! L-lysine.


Colloidal Silver

Posted by Art (California ) on 10/19/2018 2519 posts
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

A friend of mine recently got a cold sore / herpes sore on her upper and lower lip. She tried colloidal silver applying twice a day and both sores were gone in three days or less. I told her next time to apply a CS wetted cotton ball and tape it to her lip area so the silver can have plenty of time and material to do its job in contact with the sore. On the second day she told me she thought it was reversing because she felt much less "pressure" at the location of the sore. By the end of the second day, the sore was obviously diminished!

Art


Lemon Balm

Posted by Cris01us (Honolulu) on 07/07/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

So I have tried many many things for the past three years to deal with embarrassing cold sores and surprisingly most are listed on this site and most do in fact work to some degree or another.

For instance, on a 1-10 scale with 10 being awesome: 1. ACV applied (3) 2. Acetone applied (6) 3. Ice applied (4) 4. L-Lysine taken (5) 5. Earwax applied (7) (hey when your desperate you'll try anything! ) 6. Zinc taken (3) 7. Lemon Balm (9)!!! 8. Organic Oregano Oil applied (7) (if the right strength is applied enough) 9. Tea Tree Oil applied (5) 10. Tea bag applied (2)

If you are reading this and looking for some relief then you have probably read a ton of others too, and what you should have noticed by now is that no one thing by itself is probably going to be a silver bullet. What I have found that works for me is: Lemon Balm oil (1oz bottle with dropper) apply to q-tip and hold that on the spot for 1-5 minutes at a time, do as often as needed through out the day. If done at the very first sign this is amazing with helping slow everything down. Then up the L-lysine to 3000mg (1000 each dose). Drink plenty of water - the body needs it! Eat healthy (I even fasted for a day once and it helped).

Take a zinc supplement and make sure your getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs and plenty of rest. I also have tried BHT and I think it helps....but that's not natural and is very controversial in this kind of community.

Mistakes: too strong of OOO - I burned my lip and it took as long to heal as it would have the cold sore (but it worked the sores were gone the next day)! . Topical Zinc Sulfate - also burns. TTO applied too often - burns and stops working after a while. Really in most mistakes it comes down to overdoing it. I know we all want it gone yesterday but NOTHING is going to do that so have a little patience. Best of luck!


Zinc

Posted by Canadiandave (Bc) on 01/28/2017 15 posts
★★★★☆

Editor's Choice

I developed an unusual itchy red rash all over my mouth after visiting a certain restaurant, but I could have had a problem for a while. I developed a sore on the corner of each mouth only once in the 2 years since, but get the itching and redness almost every day. I used LED lights to be environmental, but had to switch back, because it made the problem much worse. So as you can see, I did not have an advanced or long term problem, but it was reduced greatly with zinc.

I read that many people with fatigue have a copper/zinc imbalance, and I thought I'd give it a try. It's only been 10 days, and no results yet on the fatigue, but the itching is virtually gone already!

This research also says that people with too high copper/too low zinc have viral problems, as zinc kills viruses in the body, with copper being better against bacteria.

I hope that's true. Not very exciting, but cleaning up my smile is a relief!


Lysine, Vitamin C and Coconut Oil

Posted by Mia (Mi, Fl) on 03/24/2015
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I didn't have any acetone to use this time and I really didn't like using it at all so I used 4,000 mg of Lysine spread out through the day, 3,000 mg of Vit C spread out through the day, and I dabbed coconut oil on the sore twice.

In ONE DAY, it was dried up with barely a tiny scab left over and this thing had seven different bubbles and felt like my lip was really ready to swell up.

I will stick with remedy FOREVER.



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