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Cold Sore Remedies That Work Fast: Natural Treatments & Prevention

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.
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Dietary Recommendations

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Posted by Cathy (Johnsonburg, NJ) on 01/01/2009
 ★★★★★

I dealt with cold sore on my mouth (lips) for many years. Then I read somewhere to stay away from nuts and citrus to keep the herpes virus under control, which I have done for the past few years. I almost never ever get them anymore. Once in a great while I may eat a few nuts or citrus & if I overdo it (which I almost never do) I may get a very small sore on my lip. But, I usually don't mess with the nuts & citrus and as long as I don't, the cold sores stay under control. For me, keeping away from these two items seems to work really great. Cathy

Replied by Glenn
(Perth, Australia)
02/13/2009
★★★★★

I suffered frequently from cold sores most of my life. The embarrassment of a large outbreak on the lips is enough to want to hide away at home until the sore dimishes to just a small scab. But that's not possible when you need to work. It's even worse if, like in my job you need to interface with the public a lot.

A few years back I changed my diet by excluding or seriously restricting all wheat flour products because I was getting overweight and could hardly tie my shoe laces without needing to come up for air to finish the knot. It was hard to start with because these foods are so tasty and addictive. But as a result of the diet change I not only lost 15 kilograms but also found that I no longer suffered from cold sores or head colds either.

On the very rare occasion that I do get a cold sore now I can immediately trace it to a binge on bread, pizza, pasta or rice the previous day, and the lesion is tiny in comparison with the past. To control it I abstain from the flour products and rice and try not to lick my lips, and it goes away within days. Nuts, chocolate and citrus fruits are not a factor in my case nor are diet drinks because I don't really go for them much.

I wonder if genital herpes would respond to the same dietry restrictions.

Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Walter (West Palm Beach , Florida) on 09/28/2008
 ★★★★★

I started suffering from a form of herpes called gladiatorum herpes in my face from practicing brazilian jiu jitsu with someone who had the virus. It has one of the most, or perhaps the most horrible illness I ever had. Started taking L-lysine and it helped, stopped taking anything with Aspartame, it helped, however, everyweek for the last three months I was having outbreaks every single week!! Reading and researching on the internet, I figured I had a very acidic PH in my blood so I started doing the Gracie Diet (google it), I can say after a week and a half I am for the first time in months, free of outbreaks.

Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Mario (Olympia, Washington) on 10/17/2007
 ★★★★★

I felt my cold sore coming on like I normally do about this time of year when my core temperature drops, but because I've been changing my dieting habits I decided to fast on blended fruits and dark leafy green vegetables until it went away. The cold sore came to a head much like a pimple so I popped it and it just dissappeared. At the time I thought that perhaps it was just a pimple but now it is a few weeks later and it has reappeared as a cold sore much smaller and more towards the inner part of my mouth which has never happened in the 15 years I've had it. In fact it had spread within the last three years and I thought I had made it permanently bigger. I believe it has come back because within the last week I have eaten a lot of junky foods again. So my suggestion would be just eat fruits and vegetables either whole, blended, or juiced until the cold sore goes away. It will give your body a chance to regroup and deal with it and other ailments that you may be experiencing.

Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Shandra (Sacramento, CA) on 06/10/2007
 ★★★★★

About seven years ago I dated a guy who came with a prize, undisclosed to me! Within the first month I was breaking out. The first time was the worst; I experienced pain like no other, I quickly proceeded to visit my doctor who wasted no time to diagnose me with this lovely virus. I was getting large embarrassing blisters round my mouth at least 4-5 times a year and I would have genital outbreaks about 10 times a year... I seriously went into depression, gained weight and stopped having a life. I was embarrassed knowing that I could never address the issue with a potential counterpart and of course I could not be irresponsible, as the guy who was irresponsible with me. What have I done? How have things changed in my life? Well number one, I started a regular exercise program. I run 3-4 times a week. I topped eating processed meals - (no restaurants, no fast food, no packages, no cans, no boxes, and no microwave popcorn, nothing out of a package, nothing frozen). So what am I eating? I eat fruits all day, until I gag. I eat Vegetables all day, until I gag. I eat oats and whole wheat, in the form of "old fashioned oatmeal", "wheat bread" 'brown rice", you get the picture. I eat meat two to three times a week, mostly chicken and once or twice a month I eat fish. I keep beef to a minimum. I eat a variety of mixed nuts. . these are RAW nuts . almonds, peanuts with skin, cashews, sunflower, flax seed, pumpkin seed . you get the idea. I stopped drinking wine, coffee, tea and I stopped smoking. I drink water all day long, till I gag. I drink 8oz of milk daily and I drink home made smoothies and juices and vegetable juice. I take prenatal vitamins (I am not pregnant). Since, I am a girl and I have sugar cravings. guess what. there is honey. I use natural honey on toast, on my Oatmeal, in my milk.you get the idea.

I try to exclude white table sugar, white table salt, white flour, sodium, cholesterol, fats. But I don't count the natural sugars in fruits and the oils in the nuts. The only thing I really track is my protein intake; I try to make sure I have enough protein daily. (Protein is balanced according to ones height, weight, gender, activity level)

Since I started paying attention to my body, eating what my body needs, dinking what my body needs and taking all the vitamins that my body needs: I have not had an outbreak in over one year. ALSO, I have lost weight, I feel better than I have ever felt in my entire life. At 43, I feel that I am in GREAT shape! Of course I still need to overcome my fears of having a difficult conversation with the possibility of a rejection, which is something I will have to live with the rest of my life.

This seems to work for me. If you would like to try something similar please consult your doctor prior to making any changes in your diet. Good luck!

Replied by Surfcity
(Orange County, Ca)
12/06/2010

Kudos, it sounds like you are on the right track except cut out the nuts! Or at least the peanuts!!

Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Deb (Dayton, OH) on 03/15/2007
 ★★★★★

I just wanted to add to all the great info about herpes. I have found that the greatest culprits to preceed a herpes outbreak are the consumption of chocolate and nuts (except almonds). These are high in L-arginine, so whenever I eat these things, I take some lysine to counteract the effects of the arginine. I eat a natural diet and don't get outbreaks, except when I forget to do this. It's always "oh, yeah, I had a buch of nuts yesterday!

Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Tanya (Darwin, Australia) on 03/13/2007
 ★★★★★

I was told by a conventional Western doctor he has seen huge reductions in herpes outbreaks when people stop eating chocolate, almonds and peanuts. Hopefully this, along with never touching aspartame, may help people.

Replied by Mark
(Las Vegas, Nv)
03/31/2012

Raw Chocolate and Raw Almonds are both very good for your health. The processed version not so much. The problem is not these foods but the virus.

Christy
(Pennsylvania, United States)
07/27/2022

It doesn't matter if raw chocolate and almonds are healthy to eat or not, they are still high in L-Arginine, which is why eating them leads to a breakout. I don't usually get a cold sore just from eating these foods, but if I have a breakout, it gets bigger and lasts longer if I have them. That includes nut butters as well. Eating foods higher in L-Lysine and taking a Lysine supplement is the only thing that works for me.

Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Jennifer (San Diego) on 05/25/2006
 ★★★★★

I haven't been able to really find any other explanations or any information regarding this on the web but I have been on a low carb diet for 2 years now. I do consume splenda and aspartame (although I try to avoid aspartame) but since starting my low carb diet I have been breakout free. Prior to going low carb I typically had 5-6 breakouts a year for the 5 prior years I had the virus. Low carb diets have an effect on how your body metabolizes splenda and aspartame which may be why these have not caused more breakouts for me. I also know that a high-protein diet is high in natural l-lysine so that may be what has helped to stop the breakouts. The amazing thing is that although I have tested positive for years, I have been tested twice in the last six months and tested negative for the virus both times, which I am told is rare, but possible. I'm not getting too excited about those results just yet - but if anyone has had a similar experience I would LOVE to know!

Replied by Layla
(Australia)
07/16/2013

Did you have genetal or oral herpes?

Replied by Layla
(Melbourne)
07/16/2013

Have you had another test done recently and was it a blood test? What did your low-carb diet consist of exactly?

DMSO

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Posted by Russ (Decatur, AL) on 06/11/2026
 ★★★★★

6-8-26

Yes, I would like help drafting a clear, structured summary of my 30-year protocol that you could copy and paste onto public health forums or review boards?

Here is a clear, structured draft of your testimony. It is written in a neutral, informative format that review boards and public health forums accept, focusing entirely on your timeline, method, and the critical importance of timing.

[PATIENT REMEDY TESTIMONY]: 30+ Years of Successful Fever Blister Prevention Using 99.9% DMSO

Primary Use Case: Immediate prevention of fever blisters / cold sores (Herpes Simplex Virus-1)
Duration of Experience: 30+ consecutive years
Success Rate: Highly successful when applied within the exact timeline outlined below.

1. The Core Principle: Mastering the "Tingle" Window

The absolute key to this protocol is timing (It is better to catch the onset when possible). This method does not heal an already blistered or broken-out cold sore (This is not a true statement by AI, DMSO does start the healing process even if the sore has emerged); its sole purpose is to stop the viral replication before the blister emerges. (True, this is the best-case scenario).

  • The Trigger: Application must occur the exact moment the distinct, subsurface "tingle, " itch, or throbbing sensation is felt on the lip. (doesn't require precise timing to actually stop the virus)
  • The Timeline: If applied immediately during this warning phase, the fever blister is successfully blocked and fails to appear the following morning. (This is true statement but DMSO starts healing the sore even if applied after it has appeared and the “tingle” point is missed, and lessens pain also and the sore starts to dry up)

2. Application Protocol & Materials

  • Substance Used: 99.9% Concentration Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO).
  • Packaging: Sourced from commercial DMSO providers (commonly packaged in specialized plastic bottles).
  • Applicator: A standard cotton swab / Q-tip.
  • Method: The cotton swab is lightly (Highly is more accurate) saturated with the 99.9% DMSO liquid and precisely pressed directly onto the localized area of the lip where the tingle is originating. (After pressing initially for an undetermined time, maybe 1 to 4 minutes, I periodically over the next several hours recoat with a cotton swab until I think the DMSO has overcome the virus)

3. Personal Observations & Important Consumer Considerations

While this real-life test has provided over three decades of predictable, next-day prevention, anyone looking to replicate it must understand the unique chemical nature of DMSO:

  • The Solvent Effect: 99.9% DMSO is an aggressive chemical vehicle. It instantly penetrates the skin and carries anything it touches directly into the bloodstream. Users must ensure the lip area is completely clean and free of cosmetics, dirt, or chemicals before application.
  • Material Sensitivity: Because DMSO can dissolve synthetic glues, adhesives, or plasticizers, users should be aware that standard cotton swabs and plastic packaging carry a risk of introducing manufacturing impurities into the tissue.
  • Regulatory Status: This is a personal, long-term anecdotal case study. This protocol is not evaluated or recommended by the FDA, which has not approved DMSO for topical antiviral use.

DMSO
Posted by Kristi LMT (Moore, OK) on 03/03/2023
 ★★★★★

2 drops of 99.9% DMSO with 2 drops of reverse osmosis water on a q-tip. Apply to cold sore area. With 1 application, mine was completely gone in 4-6 hours. It was applied within hours of the start of it.

Replied by Lisa
(USA)
09/11/2023
★★★★★

Yep.. I'm amazed... that's the stuff!!! I feel it, but it never broke out in a sore!

DMSO
Posted by Rose (Bowie, MD) on 10/14/2021
 ★★★★★

Apply dmso at first sign of cold sore it will shrink and prevent it even becoming an open blister within 10-15 mins

DMSO
Posted by Melisa (Texas, Houston) on 10/18/2015
 ★★★★★

Fever Blisters:

I wanted to add my experience using DMSO helped me. I just clean my lips with hydrogen peroxide with a qtip then I apply DMSO with another q-tip leave it on for a few mins or untill it dries then I rinse with water n add olive oil for moisture. I used to get them every month before since I started I havent gotten them anymore for months now. I'ts great.

DMSO
Posted by Arwoody (29 Palms, Ca, Usa) on 09/08/2010
 ★★★★★

I have gotten cold sores for years, I used to pick it with a alcohol soaked cotton swab (burns like the Dickens) but dries it up and goes away quickly. Recently I have started using DMSO when I started getting one, 3 times a day. By the next it was nearly gone and by day two there was nothing there but a blemish which disappeared soon after. Since then I have not had a single out break! I still use dmso one or twice a week and I even tested myself by doing things to make an outbreak occur but nothing happened.

Also avoid nuts especially walnuts for some reason they used to make me have an incident almost every time especially when I was dehydrated.

DMSO
Posted by Nancy (Iqaluit, Canada) on 04/24/2007
 ★★★★★

Hi there I just have to say that I have battled cold sore for my entire life since I was a very small child. These are embarassing and very sore. I found out about DMSO and purchased some. I put it on my lip as soon as I feel that tingling feeling that comes prior to an outbreak. Since using this product the cold sore does not become visable. I am thankful and recommend others who suffer to give it a try.

Replied by Beachgirl
(Los Angeles, Ca)
02/09/2010
★★★★★

DMSO also works for me. I use it any time I think I feel a tingle. But first I drank liquid oxygen for a few months and used the DMSO every day even though I was not having break outs. It has been years with no breakouts.

Ear Wax

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Posted by Annie (Washington) on 03/25/2024
 ★★★★★

My partner is prone to cold sores, and after I found earwax suggested on EC, he tried it and IT WORKS! Amen for folk medicine, and this website!

Ear Wax
Posted by Sandy (Chapel Hill, NJ) on 11/23/2022
 ★★★★★

Ear wax 100% works and I'm so glad I found this remedy. The key is to get to it early and it will stop it from every getting visible. But even if you miss the early stages and wake up with one, ear wax still drastically cuts down how long its around. I find, now that I know this, the max a cold sore will be around for me is 48-72 hours and usually they aren't noticeable at all. The only unfortunate thing with this remedy is you're likely to not have/produce enough ear wax to apply ear wax multiple times.


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